Casablanca (1942) (70th Anniversary Edition)

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by mzupeman

DVDBeaver is one of the worst sites to get 'accurate' screencaps from. Honestly.

Regardless, I really don't know how one can assess that the previous Casablanca release was sharper. It's softer, without question. The digital noise reduction made sure of that. Furthermore, the previous releae also had boosted contrast levels... maybe you're mistaking the boost in contrast somehow for sharpness when you're A/B-ing the discs? Because this releasea is more detailed and edges are more defined than they previously were as a result.

What he said ^^^^^. The previous release looks like video, decent looking video, but still video nonetheless. The new release looks like film, film from the 1940s.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by the duke

what he said ^^^^^. The previous release looks like video, decent looking video. The new release looks like film, film from the 1940s.

+1.

[wd40cloud]

According to next week's Target ad, they will be offering two version of Casablanca on BD, the Collector's Edition for $39.99 and another version for $19.99. Hopefully the $19.99 is the new disc without swag and not the one from 2008.

Target Ad-scan

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by wd40cloud

According to next week's Target ad, they will be offering two version of Casablanca on BD, the Collector's Edition for $39.99 and another version for $19.99. Hopefully the $19.99 is the new disc without swag and not the one from 2008.

Target Ad-scan

I'm not sure I'd bite at $20, but maybe $15. This is assuming that it is the remastered version.

[Maggot]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

+1.

Glasses........get um.........just saying

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Maggot

Glasses........get um.........just saying

20/20 here my friend. You might want to research DNR, EE, boosted contrast, artificial sharpening, and over-saturated colors (N/A with Casablanca of course) while you're at it.

[tama]

Originally Posted by Maggot

Glasses........get um.........just saying

I've read enough of your commentaries on several film transfers to assess you have a distorted view on what qualifies as a film like transfer.

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by wd40cloud

According to next week's Target ad, they will be offering two version of Casablanca on BD, the Collector's Edition for $39.99 and another version for $19.99. Hopefully the $19.99 is the new disc without swag and not the one from 2008.

Target Ad-scan

Hopefully a Target employee can chime in on that $19.99 version.

[whitesheik]

Originally Posted by mzupeman

DVDBeaver is one of the worst sites to get 'accurate' screencaps from. Honestly.

Regardless, I really don't know how one can assess that the previous Casablanca release was sharper. It's softer, without question. The digital noise reduction made sure of that. Furthermore, the previous releae also had boosted contrast levels... maybe you're mistaking the boost in contrast somehow for sharpness when you're A/B-ing the discs? Because this releasea is more detailed and edges are more defined than they previously were as a result.

No one is A/B-ing the discs - they are comparing screenshots which is a fool's game.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by whitesheik

No one is A/B-ing the discs - they are comparing screenshots which is a fool's game.

I'd be glad to do that, but I am not paying $45 for the new disc.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by dougotte

I have the HD-DVD (and the original BD was apparently identical), and always thought it looked great, if a bit too smooth.

Looking at the comparison shots at DVDBeaver, I don't see any more detail in the new BD. However, I do think the contrast looks better. In comparison, the original BD was too bright overall.

Doug

Looking at the DVD Beaver comparison is your problem. haha Compare the Blu-ray.com screenshots, and you'll see a more pronounced difference.

I also thought the original BD looked pretty good, though I was a bit disappointed by how smooth it was. More so because of all the glowing reviews, which hyped it up, and set my expectations so high. The (more reliable) screenshots from the 70th Anniversary BD looks much like I was expecting the original release to look, based on the praise it was getting at the time.

Originally Posted by wd40cloud

According to next week's Target ad, they will be offering two version of Casablanca on BD, the Collector's Edition for $39.99 and another version for $19.99. Hopefully the $19.99 is the new disc without swag and not the one from 2008.

Target Ad-scan

Hmmmmmm...I'd definitely bite for $19.99. But I'm not gonna take the chance of getting the same BD I already have, so I guess I'll have to wait for confirmation that it's the new transfer.

[Mr. Cinema]

I could also see Walmart getting another exclusive movie only version. They got the Ben Hur disc as an exclusive.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

I could also see Walmart getting another exclusive movie only version. They got the Ben Hur disc as an exclusive.

I actually bought that one and then sold it when I got the Best Buy box for $10.99. Worked out nicely.

[Maggot]

Originally Posted by tama

I've read enough of your commentaries on several film transfers to assess you have a distorted view on what qualifies as a film like transfer.

If the detail was captured and if it's there to be had, then it should be there in the transfer. Go back to school and relearn your critical thinking.

[Strevlac]

Originally Posted by wd40cloud

According to next week's Target ad, they will be offering two version of Casablanca on BD, the Collector's Edition for $39.99 and another version for $19.99. Hopefully the $19.99 is the new disc without swag and not the one from 2008.

Target Ad-scan

I really hope they aren't referring to the existing BD as the $19.99 version. I'd jump on a Target digibook in a heartbeat.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by Maggot

If the detail was captured and if it's there to be had, then it should be there in the transfer. Go back to school and relearn your critical thinking.

Critical thinking takes into account the fact that captured detailed can - and often is - smoothed out and flattened via DNR prior to a transfer's encode. Which is what happened with the 2008 transfer of Casablanca, as any discerning critical eye can see.

It still looked decent...but it didn't look great. The new transfer leaves grain (as well as detail and texture) intact.

[42041]

Originally Posted by Maggot

If the detail was captured and if it's there to be had, then it should be there in the transfer. Go back to school and relearn your critical thinking.

Conversely, if detail was not captured (because of intentionally soft filming for example) then it should not be artificially enhanced.

[Oblivion138]

Indeed. The appearance of sharpness is one thing, the level of detail is another. An image treated with DNR and EE may give the impression of a sharper image, while providing less in the way of actual fine image detail than an untampered presentation.

For those who are content with the edge-enhanced flatness of the 2008 presentation, let them remain content. For those who demand a more filmic presentation, the upgrade will soon be available.

[mzupeman]

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/54244/casablanca/

Another glowing review.

[Brian81]

I was at first hoping there would be a 2-disc BD edition, but I looked over the review again and the 2nd disc has content that isn't even specific to the film. It's like the Gangster Movie disc paired with Goodfellas digibook or When The Lion Roars paired with both The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind. I guess a 1-disc edition will suffice...