Blues Brothers on Blu-ray, finally!

[42041]

Originally Posted by killowertz

That's a major issue right there. This isn't merely an average disc based on what was said in the review, which is likely pretty accurate. The PQ is really good and even though the audio is lossy, it is still solid as well. How does that equal an average disc? It blows away every other release of this movie as far as PQ goes, and even in lossy form, the audio would likely beat every other release of this too.

But that's the very point I'm trying to make. Studios like Universal have set the bar so low that anything that doesn't look like an ancient telecine blasted with EE/DNR is "really good". In a world where competent people staffed home video departments, this would be "average". As far as I can see, Universal has fulfilled the call of duty, no more and no less. It looks like a competent film transfer, probably from the interpositive. It doesn't look like a modern high-end 4K scan from the camera negatives. Now that would be really good.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by 42041

But that's the very point I'm trying to make. Studios like Universal have set the bar so low that anything that doesn't look like an ancient telecine blasted with EE/DNR is "really good". In a world where competent people staffed home video departments, this would be "average". As far as I can see, Universal has fulfilled the call of duty, no more and no less. It looks like a competent film transfer, probably from the interpositive. It doesn't look like a modern high-end 4K scan from the camera negatives. Now that would be really good.

It would only be considered average if you compare it to some movies made today, which isn't how a 31 year old comedy should be rated. I'm sure it does look really good to people who are being realistic.

They aren't going to do a high-end 4K scan for a 31 year old comedy. Studios will do one for movies of that age or older such as Star Wars, but definitely not for The Blues Brothers (no matter how good of a movie it is). Universal and the people who handled this Blu-ray release from a PQ standpoint should be given the credit they deserve for giving this a brand new remaster when they very well good have screwed it up like they did with Animal House.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by stevezissou

Yea because 35mm prints and 100,000 grand plus projectors are available in the consumer market.

Well it's what you seem to want. Lossless all around! You get what you pay for, right?

[Strevlac]

Originally Posted by killowertz

It would only be considered average if you compare it to some movies made today, which isn't how a 31 year old comedy should be rated. I'm sure it does look really good to people who are being realistic.

They aren't going to do a high-end 4K scan for a 31 year old comedy. Studios will do one for movies of that age or older such as Star Wars, but definitely not for The Blues Brothers (no matter how good of a movie it is). Universal and the people who handled this Blu-ray release from a PQ standpoint should be given the credit they deserve for giving this a brand new remaster when they very well good have screwed it up like they did with Animal House.

Bullcrap. Some studios are doing 4K scans for just about everything they release nowadays. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is about 46 years old and it got an 8K scan.

[Strevlac]

Originally Posted by retablo

Well it's what you seem to want. Lossless all around! You get what you pay for, right?

Retablo, you know your point regarding compressed video makes no logical sense. Uncompressed 1080P video for your average 2 hour feature film would probably require 15-20 bluray discs. Not the same as uncompressed sound at all.

[rickah88]

I believe I have a solution: Combine the video of Blues Brothers with the sound of Animal House = WINNER!

Like I said, I'll reserve judgement until when/if Universal releases some sort of explanation.

[stevezissou]

Originally Posted by Strevlac

Retablo, you know your point regarding compressed video makes no logical sense. Uncompressed 1080P video for your average 2 hour feature film would probably require 15-20 bluray discs. Not the same as uncompressed sound at all.

Yea pretty obvious by this point retablo is trolling. Just ignore his posts, don't feed the troll.

[Atreyu]

Listen first than decide. Yes lossless would have been the way to go, but if you are going to totaly refrain from buying this excellent classic without even bothering to listen first, than you are the one who is losing out.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Atreyu

Listen first than decide. Yes lossless would have been the way to go, but if you are going to totaly refrain from buying this excellent classic without even bothering to listen first, than you are the one who is losing out.

I can't wait until the first screencaps that play the lossy track are out!
Hopefully they aren't too green!

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by killowertz

They aren't going to do a high-end 4K scan for a 31 year old comedy. Studios will do one for movies of that age or older such as Star Wars, but definitely not for The Blues Brothers (no matter how good of a movie it is).

Why not? The movie did $115 million worldwide in 1980, which is $315 million in 2011 dollars. It's not like this is an obscure art film that won't sell. The question is, what will it sell? 20,000 copies? 50,000 copies? 200,000 copies? a million copies? That will determine whether it was worth spending money for a better scan.

As far as the audio is concerned, while I don't necessarily agree that most consumers can tell the difference between a lossless and lossy encode, the fact remains that there was no reason to not do a lossless. Having said that, if it said "lossless" but sounded exactly the same as the included lossy track, no one would probably complain.

As I've posted a number of time before (and I won't repeat all the details), I've seen a demo where it was possible to observe the exact differences between a lossless and lossy encode and there was almost no difference whatsoever.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by stevezissou

Yea pretty obvious by this point retablo is trolling. Just ignore his posts, don't feed the troll.

Not trolling at all. I never said it was logical, I was just asking a question that was never answered. But you're happy with compressed video and not happy with compressed audio, I get it now.

No need to discuss it further.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Strevlac

Retablo, you know your point regarding compressed video makes no logical sense. Uncompressed 1080P video for your average 2 hour feature film would probably require 15-20 bluray discs. Not the same as uncompressed sound at all.

But if indeed digital downloads are the way of the future, then all you need is a hard drive and enough bandwidth to download it. So its not out of the question at all.

But again, that wasn't my question, nor my point.

I'm done making my excellent points, though. They seem to be lost when people refuse to even address them.

[Sean72]

Originally Posted by retablo

Not trolling at all. I never said it was logical, I was just asking a question that was never answered. But you're happy with compressed video and not happy with compressed audio, I get it now.

No need to discuss it further.

If I may, I believe the point would simply be that they want to see the full potential of this particular format utalized.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by retablo

But if indeed digital downloads are the way of the future, then all you need is a hard drive and enough bandwidth to download it. So its not out of the question at all.

But again, that wasn't my question, nor my point.

I'm done making my excellent points, though. They seem to be lost when people refuse to even address them.

That's a pretty big IF.
Exactly when is the target completion date of the worldwide infrastructure to handle all that bandwidth? 5yrs, 10, 30?
Actually that probably won't matter as much, because in 5yrs time we ALL could, easily, be paying per downloaded data size....ie no more unlimited downloading. Because THAT's how all the network corporations will obtain the money to do all the infrastructure upgrading to accomodate blu-ray quality downloads. BUT, also by then, blu-ray will be the dvd of today...meaning there will be a new home meida device superior to blu-ray.
Wow...I'm just going to quit now!

[tylergfoster]

I know this is sort of a dumb question before I ask it, given what Ken wrote in his review, but there's no chance the packaging and menus are just wrong? I was trying to figure out if Universal had a UK-specific home video website to see if it said anything about the UK edition, and I ended up on the US page. Usually what Universal puts on their own home video website is accurate, and the listing there does say DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

http://www.universalstudiosentertain...lues-brothers/

Play.com's listing for the UK Blu also says DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, but who knows where that info came from.

[FrankV]

Originally Posted by droidguy1119

I know this is sort of a dumb question before I ask it, given what Ken wrote in his review, but there's no chance the packaging and menus are just wrong?

I'm sure the reviewer checked the disc.

Originally Posted by droidguy1119

Play.com's listing for the UK Blu also says DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, but who knows where that info came from.

The press release from the German release (which came from Universal Germany) also states that the audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. It's possible. Uncle Buck in the US got a DTS 2.0 track while the European releases got a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track.

[erock515054]

Seems every month there is new thing for ppl on here to complain about ohh well ummm well lossy or lossless DAY ONE PURCHASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PPl went nuts over green tint and well that $70 to $90 set went #1 for 2 str8 weeks.... So until the next big huh bub laterz

ohh yeah BTW Ken Brown keep up the good work

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by droidguy1119

I know this is sort of a dumb question before I ask it, given what Ken wrote in his review, but there's no chance the packaging and menus are just wrong? I was trying to figure out if Universal had a UK-specific home video website to see if it said anything about the UK edition, and I ended up on the US page. Usually what Universal puts on their own home video website is accurate, and the listing there does say DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

http://www.universalstudiosentertain...lues-brothers/

Now that you mention it, it is strange he didn't look at his receiver to see what it was reporting receiving, assuming he has his player set to bitstream. I always take a quick look at my receiver when the movie starts to see what it's receiving, a habit I acquired from the early Warner releases that didn't have a main menu and defaulted to the lossy audio.

[Scooby Blu]

Originally Posted by The Duke

Now that you mention it, it is strange he didn't look at his receiver to see what it was reporting receiving, assuming he has his player set to bitstream. I always take a quick look at my receiver when the movie starts to see what it's receiving, a habit I acquired from the early Warner releases that didn't have a main menu and defaulted to the lossy audio.

I always take a quick look as well. Almost to an obsession. For I bought a Rotel receiver back in 2007 and found out it did not decode the hi-rez audio. I was shocked at my own stupidity for spending 1,500 that did not decode my precious audio. So I sat glum faced until I saved up and got my Integra 9.9 receiver and when I did....... I was set. Just to see the hi-rez logos on my receiver was a secret pleasure long over due. And to this day I am well pleased when I see the hi -rez audio symbols on my Integra.

Since this is one of my favorite movies I feel that it is no less than a crime that lossless audio was not used for this epic film. That being said I will force my hand to pick this up just to see how Jake and Elwood look on 1080p. Then perhaps in the future they will give this classic the treatment it so much truly deserves.

[Maggot]

I think it will sound excellent. A good DTS track can sound fantastic. I remember the DTS Dances With Wolves DVD was so much better then the Dolby Digital. I have a few DTS 5.1 music discs as well that sound excellent. I may be dissapointed and somewhat dismayed in this day and age that this Blu-ray will have lossy audio, but I'm confident it will still sound excellent.