The Arrival

[Clark Kent]

To be frank Lionsgate has butchered most of their older catalog titles when releasing them to Blu-ray. They are doing the bare minimum to transfer them to Blu-ray and hence picture quality is horrible. The problem is that a movie like The Arrival does not have the popularity to support a second release, so this is the best version we will be getting on the U.S. market for the next decade. I would pray that a foreign company decides to release this movie and hopefully it will turn out better.

[Mike_In_HD]

^^^ Why do they even bother? Are they making that much money off catalog releases? Don't they understand that we bought into a technology hoping they'd match it in quality?

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Mike_In_HD

^^^ Why do they even bother? Are they making that much money off catalog releases? Don't they understand that we bought into a technology hoping they'd match it in quality?

I think they view a release like The Arrival as a low-investment, low-return item. But Lionsgate has been very cheap on all their catalog titles so far, including popular movies like Terminator 2 and Basic Instinct. They seem to be targeting a lower-margin product that can be carried in retail stores like Wal-Mart.

[SquidPuppet]

When the Lionsgate "gears and machinery" thingee was rolling before the movie, I was oh no, I hope the movie does not look like this...but it did.

[SleeperAgent]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

I think they view a release like The Arrival as a low-investment, low-return item. But Lionsgate has been very cheap on all their catalog titles so far, including popular movies like Terminator 2 and Basic Instinct. They seem to be targeting a lower-margin product that can be carried in retail stores like Wal-Mart.

First Blood defeats this whole argument. Some stuff gets crappy transfers. It's not the company out to get you. (this isn't heroes season 1)

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

I think they view a release like The Arrival as a low-investment, low-return item. But Lionsgate has been very cheap on all their catalog titles so far, including popular movies like Terminator 2 and Basic Instinct. They seem to be targeting a lower-margin product that can be carried in retail stores like Wal-Mart.

Even Weeds looks smooth/soft.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

I think they view a release like The Arrival as a low-investment, low-return item. But Lionsgate has been very cheap on all their catalog titles so far, including popular movies like Terminator 2 and Basic Instinct. They seem to be targeting a lower-margin product that can be carried in retail stores like Wal-Mart.

I agree 100%. I will probably buy this one once it get to $10. It is a fun watch. I give props to Squid for the heads up.

[SDon1969]

I was considering this title, warning appreciated, Squid!

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by TheSoviet

First Blood defeats this whole argument. Some stuff gets crappy transfers. It's not the company out to get you. (this isn't heroes season 1)

The company is not out to "get" anyone, but the quality of their catalog releases are all the residue of business decisions Lionsgate has made. Their day-and-date releases for new movies have been excellent, because the cost of transferring new movies is already baked into the original production budget of the movie. They are simply deciding not to spend the necessary amount of money that these older movies need to look great on Blu-ray. Lionsgate is not alone, other major studios have had selective problems like this also.

[Rovic]

Yeah, i second that, thanks for the heads up op, i was planning on getting it soon, but i'll wait till the price drops dramatically...

[Clark Kent]

It would not surprise me to see this as one of the $10 Blu-rays at Wal-Mart in the future.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

I agree 100%. I will probably buy this one once it get to $10. It is a fun watch. I give props to Squid for the heads up.

Originally Posted by SDon1969

I was considering this title, warning appreciated, Squid!

Originally Posted by Rovic

Yeah, i second that, thanks for the heads up op, i was planning on getting it soon, but i'll wait till the price drops dramatically...

You are welcome. But to be VERY honest, if this was a movie I loved, I still wouldnt buy it at $9.99. I strongly suggest a rent first. I own a lot of WB "smoothies" but this (Lionsgate) one is in a league of its own...and it aint even triple-A. I am not a complainer, or a "scientist", I sit back and enjoy the movie. When the PQ is reference, thats a plus. When its just OK, my attitude is, its better than DVD. But this puppy took me "out-of-the-movie". There are other problems too....seriously oversharpened edges that go BOING at you.

Just my 2 cents.

[Col. Zombie]

That's a bummer to hear about the PQ. This movie is one of my guilty pleasures from when I was younger and I just picked this up at Fry's. Oh well, the PQ might not be the best but the movie is enjoyable.

[KenThompson]

Thats to bad. I really wanted to replace my dvd. Guess I'll save my money. The dvd is a flipper with Arrival 2 on other side.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by KenThompson

Thats to bad. I really wanted to replace my dvd. Guess I'll save my money. The dvd is a flipper with Arrival 2 on other side.

Give it a rent. You may think I'm

[stick99]

I sadly had this shipping at the time I saw these posts. I was hoping that maybe expectations were too high and that maybe it wouldn't be that bad. I was wrong, this is in 1080p and 7.1 DTS Master Audio, so it should be sweet, no? It's AWFUL. It looks like someone cranked the contrast way up, and honestly this sound, considering the potential is poor. I'm not going to rant about the studio pressings, but this is a disapointment, The look and sound of my Dolby Digital laser disc, is actually superior, maybe not as slick, but has a lifelike film quality, that's missing on this Blu-Ray. I thought this was a slick little sci-fi film, that's just awful on Blu-Ray. As mentioned, it's not worth a $10 Wal-mart investment.

[saginawjuggalo]

Next time, just say NO to DNR!

[owa]

Hmm, I kind of agree with the review at DVDBeaver. It looks a little better than I expected. Closeups, especially, have pretty good detail. They have screenshots so you can check it out.

DVDBeaver review with screenshots: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...al_blu-ray.htm

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

The Blacks were gray at best.

I do agree with this though.

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

I think they view a release like The Arrival as a low-investment, low-return item. But Lionsgate has been very cheap on all their catalog titles so far, including popular movies like Terminator 2 and Basic Instinct. They seem to be targeting a lower-margin product that can be carried in retail stores like Wal-Mart.

I actually thought that Basic Instinct looked great. I've never seen it with that much clarity. While the colors seems to have a goldish hue to them, the overall look of the picture was great. T2 was indeed a letdown though.

[gvortex7]

BTW, I have the Arrival/Arrival 2 double pack on DVD which was released in 2001, and the PQ on that version is absolutely atrocious. So, basically any improvement for the better will be a major one compared to that version.