Gotta admit: I'm impressed with Blu-Ray

[photorebel]

I started out with HD-DVD, and the PQ on 300 and The Departed, was quite impressive. So I get online to see if there are any HiDef forums, and there were, and Digital Bits was stating why they felt Blu Ray would win the format war. Everything else I read seemed to indicate that, so I returned the HDDVD player, bought a Sony 500 BD player, and honestly ..couldn't be more pleased.
But this isn't about the brand player, but the Blu-Ray format. What really impressed me was Omega Man. I was stunned at the PQ on a movie over 30 years old.
So far I've watched : Omega Man, 300, Planet of the Apes, Terminator 3 (yeah..I know about the 1080i...but it still looked great.) It's like watching these movies for the first time, all over again. The PQ is that stunning, compared to DVD, and that's saying something as DVD is quite good also.
In short, there aren't many things I've bought in my years that just impressed me, but Blu Ray is one of them. Even my wife, who likes movies, but not obsessed with them like me, is impressed. Heck, everyone who sees them is impressed.
That's one reason I want this format war to end, and we can have even more choices.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by photorebel

I started out with HD-DVD, and the PQ on 300 and The Departed, was quite impressive. So I get online to see if there are any HiDef forums, and there were, and Digital Bits was stating why they felt Blu Ray would win the format war. Everything else I read seemed to indicate that, so I returned the HDDVD player, bought a Sony 500 BD player, and honestly ..couldn't be more pleased.
But this isn't about the brand player, but the Blu-Ray format. What really impressed me was Omega Man. I was stunned at the PQ on a movie over 30 years old.
So far I've watched : Omega Man, 300, Planet of the Apes, Terminator 3 (yeah..I know about the 1080i...but it still looked great.) It's like watching these movies for the first time, all over again. The PQ is that stunning, compared to DVD, and that's saying something as DVD is quite good also.
In short, there aren't many things I've bought in my years that just impressed me, but Blu Ray is one of them. Even my wife, who likes movies, but not obsessed with them like me, is impressed. Heck, everyone who sees them is impressed.
That's one reason I want this format war to end, and we can have even more choices.

You made an excellent choice and I am very confident that Warner will agree with you!!!

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by photorebel

I started out with HD-DVD, and the PQ on 300 and The Departed, was quite impressive. So I get online to see if there are any HiDef forums, and there were, and Digital Bits was stating why they felt Blu Ray would win the format war. Everything else I read seemed to indicate that, so I returned the HDDVD player, bought a Sony 500 BD player, and honestly ..couldn't be more pleased.
But this isn't about the brand player, but the Blu-Ray format. What really impressed me was Omega Man. I was stunned at the PQ on a movie over 30 years old.
So far I've watched : Omega Man, 300, Planet of the Apes, Terminator 3 (yeah..I know about the 1080i...but it still looked great.) It's like watching these movies for the first time, all over again. The PQ is that stunning, compared to DVD, and that's saying something as DVD is quite good also.
In short, there aren't many things I've bought in my years that just impressed me, but Blu Ray is one of them. Even my wife, who likes movies, but not obsessed with them like me, is impressed. Heck, everyone who sees them is impressed.
That's one reason I want this format war to end, and we can have even more choices.

Good to have you here! The line about seeming like you are watching the movie for the first time is very common. Blu-ray really opens your eyes for the first time it seems. Welcome and have fun in your/our addiction.

[jeffcapfiat]

It's a funny thing. My friend recently bought a PS3 and is starting to buy Blu-ray movies as well. He confirmed something I have been thinking as well. Blu-ray makes movies that used to be ok into very enjoyable experiences due to the amazing level of detail, color vibrance, and sound quality among other things. Spidey 3 is a great example of this. Saw it in theatres and thought it was mediocre. On Blu-ray it's freakin awsome.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by jeffcapfiat

It's a funny thing. My friend recently bought a PS3 and is starting to buy Blu-ray movies as well. He confirmed something I have been thinking as well. Blu-ray makes movies that used to be ok into very enjoyable experiences due to the amazing level of detail, color vibrance, and sound quality among other things. Spidey 3 is a great example of this. Saw it in theatres and thought it was mediocre. On Blu-ray it's freakin awsome.

Thats a good point. I have purchased movies on BD that I semi-enjoyed on DVD (nothing special) but really ended up enjoying on blu-ray. It really changes the whole movie experience.

[photorebel]

Originally Posted by jeffcapfiat

It's a funny thing. My friend recently bought a PS3 and is starting to buy Blu-ray movies as well. He confirmed something I have been thinking as well. Blu-ray makes movies that used to be ok into very enjoyable experiences due to the amazing level of detail, color vibrance, and sound quality among other things. Spidey 3 is a great example of this. Saw it in theatres and thought it was mediocre. On Blu-ray it's freakin awsome.

I got to agree. Movies that were just ok, are much better on BluRay. Not to sound like a broken record, but Omega Man was a good example of this. It was on Direct TV (Starz or something) awhile back, I didn't even bother finishing the movie.
But on BluRay, it was better. Ok...so maybe it's not the greatest film ever made, but I'm nostalgic. Saw it when I was a kid.

[doctorD]

Welcome aboard! If you are into some of the older movies on Blu ray, you should also check out "Viva Las Vegas" which is even older than Omega man. I was quite impressed how good a 1960's movie looked. You should pick up Casino Royale if you are a Bond fan.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by photorebel

I started out with HD-DVD, and the PQ on 300 and The Departed, was quite impressive. So I get online to see if there are any HiDef forums, and there were, and Digital Bits was stating why they felt Blu Ray would win the format war. Everything else I read seemed to indicate that, so I returned the HDDVD player, bought a Sony 500 BD player, and honestly ..couldn't be more pleased.
But this isn't about the brand player, but the Blu-Ray format. What really impressed me was Omega Man. I was stunned at the PQ on a movie over 30 years old.
So far I've watched : Omega Man, 300, Planet of the Apes, Terminator 3 (yeah..I know about the 1080i...but it still looked great.) It's like watching these movies for the first time, all over again. The PQ is that stunning, compared to DVD, and that's saying something as DVD is quite good also.
In short, there aren't many things I've bought in my years that just impressed me, but Blu Ray is one of them. Even my wife, who likes movies, but not obsessed with them like me, is impressed. Heck, everyone who sees them is impressed.
That's one reason I want this format war to end, and we can have even more choices.

Welcome to the brighter side of life!!! Now, for other impressive catalogue titles from an era far far away, also check out 'Close Encounters Of The Third Kind' & 'Blade Runner'. My eyes continue to pop out of my head with each of these new Hi-Def remastered classics.

[Grisle]

I gotta give Blu-ray props for another successful conversion.

[Kirsty_Mc]

photorebel: Gotta admit: I'm impressed with Blu-Ray

Great... another convert. Great choice in players (mine is a BDP-S500 too). Glad you are enjoying your movies as they should be watched. 1080P certainly brings out the detail and with a good high bitrate disc it makes your panel shine .

PS.

I saw a BD demo disc playing on a BDP-S1 and a 40" Sony in "House of Frazer" yesterday... It was showing Lawrence of Arabia. Cripes... the picture quality was fantastic... this must be what we are going to get. It certainly looked like Sony has done a heck of a job on it. One to look out for as you like classics.

[makingmusic476]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

Thats a good point. I have purchased movies on BD that I semi-enjoyed on DVD (nothing special) but really ended up enjoying on blu-ray. It really changes the whole movie experience.

Same here. I was never an avid movie fan, aside from the greats (LotR), and I only bought 12 DVDs over a span of 7 years (I got a ps2 in 2001). In comparison, I bought my ps3 just over a year ago, and have thus far bought 18 BRDs!

Blu-Ray has really changed me. I used to be very selective in what movies I purchased, and only bought those that I REALLY loved (like LotR), but now I find myself buying just about any movie I consider great (like the Fifth Element) just to see it in HD.

Things are so impressive now, and I can't wait to see how LotR looks on Blu-Ray. If New Line does things right, those could be THE benchmark against which all other movies are judged, and could become demo material for all, and not just fans of the series. Just imagine Rivendell, Minis Tirith, or the Grey Havens in HD! And the sooner they go Blu, the greater the chance that has of happening.

[beeruss]

I also went neutral on xmas with a 40Gb ps3.. I have around 35 hd-dvd's and I will easily pass that number on blu soon. I have 12 already. I dont like to get into the whole war scene, I just like to watch flicks. The more movies i get for each player the less worried I am about one of them failing.

Originally Posted by Grisle

I gotta give Blu-ray props for another successful conversion.

[haushausman]

Originally Posted by photorebel

so I returned the HDDVD player, bought a Sony 500 BD player

Nice... you resisted purple. Investing any money into HD-DVD will ultimately end in wasting your money.

Very wise choice my friend. I think you will see a big difference over HD-DVD with any movies by Disney, FOX, or Sony. Once Blu-ray wins all the studios will utilize the BD50 and make the best possible transfers.

[xwingsct]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

Good to have you here! The line about seeming like you are watching the movie for the first time is very common. Blu-ray really opens your eyes for the first time it seems. Welcome and have fun in your/our addiction.

I used to watch a lot of shows on my HD-DVR that I record off the air.
I can tell the big difference in PQ after owning BD player.
Now I barely watch the show I recorded anymore.
Hopefully someday Network HD channel will look as good as BD.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by photorebel

I started out with HD-DVD, and the PQ on 300 and The Departed, was quite impressive. So I get online to see if there are any HiDef forums, and there were, and Digital Bits was stating why they felt Blu Ray would win the format war. Everything else I read seemed to indicate that, so I returned the HDDVD player, bought a Sony 500 BD player, and honestly ..couldn't be more pleased.
But this isn't about the brand player, but the Blu-Ray format. What really impressed me was Omega Man. I was stunned at the PQ on a movie over 30 years old.
So far I've watched : Omega Man, 300, Planet of the Apes, Terminator 3 (yeah..I know about the 1080i...but it still looked great.) It's like watching these movies for the first time, all over again. The PQ is that stunning, compared to DVD, and that's saying something as DVD is quite good also.
In short, there aren't many things I've bought in my years that just impressed me, but Blu Ray is one of them. Even my wife, who likes movies, but not obsessed with them like me, is impressed. Heck, everyone who sees them is impressed.
That's one reason I want this format war to end, and we can have even more choices.

hmmm seems to me he likes blu-ray

[seto]

ようこそ! Welcome to Blu-ray. Good to hear that you returned that HD DVD player. ^^

[Bourne1]

Welcome my friend. On the right side of the room you will see the coffee and donuts, every wednesday is waky tie day, on thursday evenings we sit in the Blu theater lounge and watch Blu movies all day. Enjoy yourself.

[bkbluray]

Good choice in investing in something that will last.

Also, Spider-man 3 is much more enjoyable on Blu-ray. It looks and sounds incredible. I can tolerate that "emo" part much more now because I know how good the action scenes will look and sound afterwards!

[dperrone]

Good choice, and to all that is a great point of movies that were o.k. on dvd and you seem to like them much better on Blu. That is 100% true

[blu-ray-only]

Originally Posted by Kirsty_Mc

photorebel: Gotta admit: I'm impressed with Blu-Ray

Great... another convert. Great choice in players (mine is a BDP-S500 too). Glad you are enjoying your movies as they should be watched. 1080P certainly brings out the detail and with a good high bitrate disc it makes your panel shine .

PS.

I saw a BD demo disc playing on a BDP-S1 and a 40" Sony in "House of Frazer" yesterday... It was showing Lawrence of Arabia. Cripes... the picture quality was fantastic... this must be what we are going to get. It certainly looked like Sony has done a heck of a job on it. One to look out for as you like classics.

I have been thinking a lot about what Blu-Ray player I should buy. Reading your reviews were one of the things that made me buy it. It arrived on Friday, and I am very pleased about the PQ, design etc

It is not a big issue that it is not profile 1.1. I use it for playing videos, have watched 300, The last samurai and Closer so far. And it worked perfect for me!

PS! Was easy to upgrade to firmware 3.5!