The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - 2013 Pre-orders

[BigNickUK]

Originally Posted by chip75

It could lead to a lower video bit-rate especially as this movie is almost 3 hours, the disc would have to cram 338 minutes of video onto one disc.

it is my understanding this is not the case, hence my why question....when 3D is on the same disc as 2d the 2d is just one half of the 3d image, it uses the MVC codec so you do not lose quality by having the 3d and 2d on the same disc

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by LesPaul

It was filmed in 5K though http://www.thehobbitblog.com/?p=3933 so they could potentially release it at that some day.

Sure they could (ditto for anything shot on 35mm and finished at 2K, like LOTR) but as chip said, the visual effects would need to be rebuilt (or upscaled, like Spider-Man 3) which would need a fair amount of work for such an effects heavy film. That's not to say that it wouldn't ever be done, but the 4K future is a long way off to make such a project economically viable.

[Mavrick]

I just can't belive the short sightedness of these hollywood folk mastering stuff in 2k Nice way to limit your future profits.

[BigNickUK]

Originally Posted by Mavrick

I just can't belive the short sightedness of these hollywood folk mastering stuff in 2k Nice way to limit your future profits.

We got our rants on you and I this week

[Mavrick]

Originally Posted by BigNickUK

We got our rants on you and I this week

Haha I have been bit ranty this week.

It must be something in the air.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by BigNickUK

it is my understanding this is not the case, hence my why question....when 3D is on the same disc as 2d the 2d is just one half of the 3d image, it uses the MVC codec so you do not lose quality by having the 3d and 2d on the same disc

If the 2D film could fill an entire BD50 disc then the 3D version would take up more space so there would be compression issues (whether they're noticeable issues is another matter). I thought it would be double in size but due to the MVC codec it doesn't. It does require more space than the 2D due to the extra large 3D frame which is 1920 X 2,205 (1080 for 2D) running at 24fps.

So depending on the films length it either makes no difference having the 2 together or it makes little difference. Where the point between the two is I have no idea!

[BigNickUK]

Originally Posted by chip75

If the 2D film could fill an entire BD50 disc then the 3D version would take up more space so there would be compression issues (whether they're noticeable issues is another matter). I thought it would be double in size but due to the MVC codec it doesn't. It does require more space than the 2D due to the extra large 3D frame which is 1920 X 2,205 (1080 for 2D) running at 24fps.

So depending on the films length it either makes no difference having the 2 together or it makes little difference. Where the point between the two is I have no idea!

Yeah good call Chip, just read a bit more and they reckon it takes 1.5 the size of the normal 2D so I guess it could be an issue for long films

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by BigNickUK

it is my understanding this is not the case, hence my why question....when 3D is on the same disc as 2d the 2d is just one half of the 3d image, it uses the MVC codec so you do not lose quality by having the 3d and 2d on the same disc

I think the MVC coding stores one full frame and the differences between that and the alternate frame, rather than two complete frames. Even so, I doubt that there'd be a lot of wiggle room for that extra material on a near 3 hour movie with lossless audio, so the safer option is splitting the movie which I have no problem with.

I hope it's got the proper 2D disc in the 3D package, because I'll be watching the 2D version with Motionflow activated on my TV to try and get a feel for what the HFR version (which I didn't manage to see in the cinema) would look like.

Don't get me wrongo, normally I detest motion interpolation modes on TVs, but there's a 'Clear' option on recent Sony sets which IIRC adds a mix of duplicate and blank frames instead of fake inbetween ones. It gives the picture a natural smoothness without the horrible motion artefacts of the other modes, and the motion clarity is stunning at times. I watched Mann's Miami Vice a few days ago and was floored by how sharp and how real it looked.

That said, Clear mode still doesn't fit film-based movies because the motion still looks wrong, but there's something about digitally shot stuff that really works. I think it's due to the respective differences between film and video regarding the shutter angle; no matter how 'film like' the motion blur is on a digital show it's still got that video style cadence to it.

Unfortunately only the Smooth and Standard Motionflow settings - which look like gash no matter what you're watching - are available in 3D mode, so I'll be viewing that version without any extra processing. (Clear is not available in 3D because it uses backlight blinking to create the blank frames, which is a no-no for 3D because the backlight is set to maximum automatically.) So I'll be watching the 3D version as is, and the 2D version with some motion-enhanced goodness.

And for £17.99, it'd be rude not to.

[LesPaul]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Sure they could (ditto for anything shot on 35mm and finished at 2K, like LOTR) but as chip said, the visual effects would need to be rebuilt (or upscaled, like Spider-Man 3) which would need a fair amount of work for such an effects heavy film. That's not to say that it wouldn't ever be done, but the 4K future is a long way off to make such a project economically viable.

I agree but I think they at least see a possibility of releasing it in 5k at some point, otherwise they'd just have filmed it as normal.

[BigNickUK]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I think the MVC coding stores one full frame and the differences between that and the alternate frame, rather than two complete frames. Even so, I doubt that there'd be a lot of wiggle room for that extra material on a near 3 hour movie with lossless audio, so the safer option is splitting the movie which I have no problem with.

I hope it's got the proper 2D disc in the 3D package, because I'll be watching the 2D version with Motionflow activated on my TV to try and get a feel for what the HFR version (which I didn't manage to see in the cinema) would look like.

Don't get me wrongo, normally I detest motion interpolation modes on TVs, but there's a 'Clear' option on recent Sony sets which IIRC adds a mix of duplicate and blank frames instead of fake inbetween ones. It gives the picture a natural smoothness without the horrible motion artefacts of the other modes, and the motion clarity is stunning at times. I watched Mann's Miami Vice a few days ago and was floored by how sharp and how real it looked.

That said, Clear mode still doesn't fit film-based movies because the motion still looks wrong, but there's something about digitally shot stuff that really works. I think it's due to the respective differences between film and video regarding the shutter angle; no matter how 'film like' the motion blur is on a digital show it's still got that video style cadence to it.

Unfortunately only the Smooth and Standard Motionflow settings - which look like gash no matter what you're watching - are available in 3D mode, so I'll be viewing that version without any extra processing. (Clear is not available in 3D because it uses backlight blinking to create the blank frames, which is a no-no for 3D because the backlight is set to maximum automatically.) So I'll be watching the 3D version as is, and the 2D version with some motion-enhanced goodness.

And for £17.99, it'd be rude not to.

What he said

[Mavrick]

The HFR in cinemas was 1million times better than any of the fake stuff TVs produce. Sometimes the scenes looked so real I thought I was actually staring at the real world.

But then the film is sped up to look like it's in real time which is a bit off putting sometimes, mostly when it involves human movement.

But you get used to it after 20mins. I just cant wait for Avatar 2 with it's 60fps 3D.

Films are finally catching up to games

[coulson96]

Finally a UK release date!!! Love the cover really seems very classic lord of the rings style with the brownish natural sort of background!!! Should fit in very well with people's blu ray releases of lotr!!!!! Gonna go and pick up the lotr blu ray trilogy today from sainsburys as i've reserved it!! My mates say its brilliant on blu ray!!! But there are a lot of negative reviews on the fellowship of the ring! But £10 for all three on blu is a steal!!!! Anyone seen the theatrical blu rays that can say something about em?

[SymbioticFunction]

LOTR extended cut picture quality is far superior to LOTR theatrical cut picture quality. The theatrical bds were heavily criticised upon release. Having said that, extended FOTR does have an odd slight green tint throughout...

[chip75]

Originally Posted by BigNickUK

Yeah good call Chip, just read a bit more and they reckon it takes 1.5 the size of the normal 2D so I guess it could be an issue for long films

Below is what a 3D frame looks like on BD, left and right are on top of each other with 45 pixels in-between (the reason for the 1920 x 2,205 resolution (2205 is 1080 times 2 plus 45). The process is called frame-packing.

Frame_Packed_Full_HD_3D.jpg

[coulson96]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

LOTR extended cut picture quality is far superior to LOTR theatrical cut picture quality. The theatrical bds were heavily criticised upon release. Having said that, extended FOTR does have an odd slight green tint throughout...

Strangely enough i watched fotr from the theatrical trilogy Slim edition uk and the picture was incredible sharp as tack and the colour was completey different to what the dvd and the screenshots of the bds were. In fact when gandalf fell into the pit the orange glow that it had on the dvd was completely gone!! Instead the scene boasted quite a bit of colour seperate colours in fact!!! Still this may be something to do with the colour grading they did on fotr. Can't wait to see the rest though especially if this is the worst picture if thats true i'm in for a treat!!!!

[FastAndFluid]

Originally Posted by coulson96

Strangely enough i watched fotr from the theatrical trilogy Slim edition uk and the picture was incredible sharp as tack and the colour was completey different to what the dvd and the screenshots of the bds were. In fact when gandalf fell into the pit the orange glow that it had on the dvd was completely gone!! Instead the scene boasted quite a bit of colour seperate colours in fact!!! Still this may be something to do with the colour grading they did on fotr. Can't wait to see the rest though especially if this is the worst picture if thats true i'm in for a treat!!!!

The thing I most remember from the theatrical edition of FOTR is Gandalf arriving at Bilbo's place. Look at his beard. It looks terrible and is just a general shade of grey with no detail at all and his skin is just a waxy mess. I'm afraid it was so bad I didn't make it past that scene. Was very happy to see it much improved on the extended editions.

[RedCellUK]

I remember just the opening shots of the Shire before Gandalf even gets to Frodo, they looked like bad dvd quality..... FOTR remains one of very few blu rays to disappoint me and the fact its from a major studio........

[Buzz201]

Do we think the extended cut will be in 3D or not?

Cos if the extended cut is likely to be in 3D I'll wait, if not I'll consider buying both the 3D and the extended...

[Mavrick]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Do we think the extended cut will be in 3D or not?

Cos if the extended cut is likely to be in 3D I'll wait, if not I'll consider buying both the 3D and the extended...

Good question. I would have though so, but if it's not, then the Theatrical 3D will have dropped in price by then so it's win win.

[Buddy Ackerman]

I've read somewhere that WB confirmed to someone (may have been The Digital Bits) there would be a 3D version of the Extended Edition. Not the most concrete of replies but there you are!

EDIT: It was The Digital Bits:

Other important details: Warner Home Video has now officially confirmed that an Extended Edition will be available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD “in time for the holidays.”