What is your "belief" about Blu-ray?

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by WrongEyedJesus

Does that include the annoying couple that talk all the way through the film?

Could be a bonus feature for Blu-ray "theater experience" get cell phones ring, people talking, shadows walking in front of the screen as you watch....the full theater experience

[MaCruz]

Audio > Video

[MarkWM]

I believe I need to cut back on my spending for Blus.

[boxterduke]

I'm like the OP and others where I only buy big action/special effects/ etc... on bluray.
Now I truly believe that bluray just makes the movie look awesome and sometimes it is annoying watching a DVD.
However I will never buy a comedy/romantic/normal no effect movie on bluray.
I only collect special movies that I would know I will watch over and over. These movies are a few so I probably would never have a huge library. Just like back in DVD days, I did not pass the 200 movies.

[seigneur_rayden]

Blu-ray is best way possible to watch a movie at home!!!

[seigneur_rayden]

Originally Posted by jjbsn5192

Blu's are like buying Tiny Pieces of Jesus

This is very wrong man!!! I am probably sure that you are not christian.

[bsmith6470]

Originally Posted by Blu2U

While I first opted to ignore this thread, I realized that I do have a belief.

It starts with why movies are made.

They are made for a theatrical experience (mind you I said movies not TV blu-ray).

My belief is.....


Wait for it......





I want on Blu EXACTLY what was presented in theaters with their first print (if not digital) .

Meaning whatever it looked like in the movie house and the director was happy with it, that is what I want on blu.

Not what I "think" it should look like, or how clear or un-grainy it should be. I just want what I saw in the theater.

Many IMO are spoiled HT owners who do not go to the movies then complain that SPR did not look good when in all actuality it looked EXACTLY as it did in the theater.

Blu -ray is not about how you think it should look but how close did they get to replicating the ORIGINAL presentation.

This is definitely something I am taking into consideration when looking at older titles, i.e., many of the Criterion titles. I never gave any of those movies a first much less a second thought when dealing with DVD.

[KrugStillo]

O.K. I'm sure this will be similiar to other posts but here goes:

When I started collecting VHS in the early 90's it was about amassing a large collection of films (all genres).

When I hopped on the Laserdisc bandwagon it was about collectability and quality.

When I jumped, reluctantly I might add, to DVD it became about both the above mentioned reasons. Finally there was a way to own more films in there OAR and the sound was awesome. At this point the collection grew to large numbers.

Then comes HD DVD and BD (originally I wanted to go with HD DVD just because it still said DVD in the title, I figured that made more logical sense, whoa was I wrong). I loved the idea but kept telling myself, how much better can a film look at home. On most of the displays I had seen the quality of DVD was pretty close to theatrical. Being a projectionist who knew what a movie looked like in theaters I was happy with the quality of most DVD's. Unfortunately or fortunately, I finally realised when the format war was over and BD won that this new format could be the nail in the coffin for DVD so I probably should hop on board. Plus quite a few of my old DVD's were starting to have issues playing or were rotting away. So the collecting concept was getting frustrating. Why collect for posterity if it was all just gonna rot away or not play when I wanted it to. As soon as I found out BD discs were as well made and durable as they are I hopped on board. Of course once I realised the amazing quality of BD I was also surprised. But like most I decided I would only re-buy my favorites and new movies. Whatever, that eventually became replacing everything I own and I'm OK with that now.

So to sum up, I just wanted to replicate the theater experience for home as best as I could and have a collection of discs that will be around a while from now. I got that and more from BD so there is no reason to hop to another format after this. I have achieved my goal and I'm more than happy with the cimena-like quality of BD. I even skip the theater for certain movies and just get them on BD the day they come out (it costs about the same as my wife and I going to the theater and I then own it).

Most films will never look any better than there current BD versions and even if they did they still currently look better than thier theatrical presentations. So what more could you want if your goal is to create a realistic home theater experience? The answer is nothing.

[Aristide Massaccesi]

Blu-ray is my religion.

Like many others who post here I started out from the position that I would only buy 'visually remarkable' movies on blu-ray, meaning movies with special effects sequences or astounding cinematography. It did not take me long to abandon that restriction.

I was pretty big on collecting dvd's and owned a collection of about 1000 discs, most of them cult and genre movies. I had dipped in the waters of classic and art cinema a little bit, but it was blu-ray that truly enabled me to start to branch out and explore the wholeness of cinema. My dvd collection had one Criterion title and one silent film. Now, I own 11 Criterion titles, I'm collecting the MoC releases and I am slowly guided by blu-ray in my exploration of silent cinema. The somewhat restrained release schedule of silent pictures is actually convenient, because it allows me to take it slow and truly digest before I get on to the next film.

And my favourite cult/genre movies are along for the ride, thanks to Arrow Video, Blue Underground, Roger Corman collection, etc.

Being able to appreciate films in pristine condition (older films in particular) has truly fired my love for cinema and collecting habit. Dvd was great but blu-ray is the format I've been waiting for my whole life.

[HD Goofnut]

I had accumulated probably 100 VHS tapes when I was growing up and starting in 2001 I started collecting DVDs. By early 2007 I had stopped buying DVDs other than $5 or less titles that will probably never see the light of day on BD. After seeing the huge difference in 1080p versus 480p with HD DVD in 2007 I stuck with it and accumulated about 200 HD DVDs before selling some that had poor transfers or had no replay value. After collecting so many films on three different formats I was hesitant about getting into BD. All of that changed when the 40GB PS3 hit $299 coupled with a $100 Wal-Mart gift card in June of 2008. It was such a good deal that I walked out of the store with the PS3, Ratatouille, and The Fifth Element.

Now, 2 years later I have acquired 411 BD titles after selling about 20 or so and I have no intention of looking anywhere else for movies. Downloads are barely in their infancy and it will take fiber optic cabling or better to every backbone in the U.S. just to make it close to the present quality of BD without having to wait a long time for the movie to load. We are looking at a decade or more before that happens since that's a lot of infrastructure to pay for in such a POS economy. BD is here to stay as long as 1920 x 1080 is the standard resolution for HD and that's likely to be quite some time since there are many channels on cable and satellite that are STILL broadcasting in SD only and download quality is no better than SD in most cases. That about sums it up I think.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Could be a bonus feature for Blu-ray "theater experience" get cell phones ring, people talking, shadows walking in front of the screen as you watch....the full theater experience

If I was a filmmaker with enough clout, I would totally put my own money into making one of these bonus track features for my Blu-ray release. I've thought about it before and it really is quite a tongue-in-cheek joke that many people would get a laugh out of. I would have a live audience recorded and shadowed along the base of the screen during the film. In fact, it could become a neat little interactive game! You could have cell phones randomly light up and you could use your remote to smack the person in the back of the head. When you hear someone start to talk you could select a "shush" option which, if used repetitively on the same person, could progress to a full fledged "SHUT THE HELL UP OR I'LL COME OVER THERE AND SHUT YOU UP FOR YOU!" And, all in the name of preserving the theatrical experience! That sounds like fun!

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

If I was a filmmaker with enough clout, I would totally put my own money into making one of these bonus track features for my Blu-ray release. I've thought about it before and it really is quite a tongue-in-cheek joke that many people would get a laugh out of. I would have a live audience recorded and shadowed along the base of the screen during the film. In fact, it could become a neat little interactive game! You could have cell phones randomly light up and you could use your remote to smack the person in the back of the head. When you hear someone start to talk you could select a "shush" option which, if used repetitively on the same person, could progress to a full fledged "SHUT THE HELL UP OR I'LL COME OVER THERE AND SHUT YOU UP FOR YOU!" And, all in the name of preserving the theatrical experience! That sounds like fun!

You know that I am surprise that we never saw such a feature on a Mel Brooks DVD or Blu-ray

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by bsmith6470

I couldn't come up with a good title, so bear with me.

When I first got into blu, I told myself I would only buy , new sci-fi, action, blow em' up type movies. After seeing the quality of some of the older movies, I started looking at them with a different eye.

My personal belief is that blu-ray may be the best movies may ever look. New or old. So I have been thinking about them in more a film preservation light.

I have been looking at older titles and thinking I should get this one or that one for the historical value. There are many Criterion titles for example I am interested in.

It has been an interesting shift in thought. What do you all think about it? Or am I just a goofball?

For the longest time I wondered what drove people into the movie theaters back in the 1950's. Mind you television was coming onto the scene and acted as ample competition in one's daily or weekly entertainment schedule.

Then, haven seen some movies from the early 1970's back to the 1930's and I was amazed at what those people back then must have been seeing with their eyes. A lot of the detail that made it into the near-adult movies back then was lost on analog SDTV, which made it safe to air, but the viewer, being all ignorant and whatnot, was lost.

I realized this before I bought my first old movie on Blu-ray. While watching HDnet and HDnet movies several years ago, there was something about seeing Farrah Fawcett in a nightgown and all sprouty upstairs in glorious high-definition.

Now I see a lot of old movies where the women are occasionally wearing something titillating that can only be done justice via HD, and with that it means BD and/or HDTV. I now find myself enjoying again, and more, some old movies, and enjoying some of them for the first time.

[Buddy Christ]

Originally Posted by WrongEyedJesus

Does that include the annoying couple that talk all the way through the film?

I only see movies in the morning when the crowds are minimal, I mean scant!

So I never have that problem

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by BarkingGhost

Farrah Fawcett in a nightgown and all sprouty .

Blu-ray certainly provides resolution not seen before in the home setting...... but back then, and even before DVD...... details seen in the theater couldn't be replicated....... Theater is still "king" in my book, and I view content that can be viewed from inside your home as a completely different thing from what can be viewed in the theater...... much like live music is a completely different animal from what can be recorded from the soundboards etc.

[jerzdawg]

My "belief" for blu right now is this...

I buy any/all Pixar/Disney releases (this is mainly because I want to watch them with my kids.. none yet)

I buy me and my wife's personal "classics" that are a good price and transfer (Grease, Karate Kid, Goonies)

I started to collect what are mainly considered must own classics (Wizard of Oz, The Godfather, Gone with the Wind) for film preservation support and to eventually re-watch.

I originally picked up Blu's just for the sake of it and I wish I hadn't because I feel like I wasted $$ (Transformers, Hancock, etc)

I also collect just personal favorites with great PQ/AQ (Life, Planet Earth, Foresst Gump, SPR)

So future purchases for me will only be movies that I know I will watch for a 2nd time (I am looking at you Marley and Me)

[Banned User]

Well since I have so many DVD's I went into Bluray thinking I was only going to buy new release movies or must have titles. Since then I can't control myself. When I look to the future I think. if a new format comes out no triple dipping for me. I'm not so sure of myself now.

[SpotOn]

If a lot of people are b!tching about the "grain", then its probably a GREAT transfer!

[tilapiah6]

Originally Posted by bsmith6470

I couldn't come up with a good title, so bear with me.

When I first got into blu, I told myself I would only buy , new sci-fi, action, blow em' up type movies. After seeing the quality of some of the older movies, I started looking at them with a different eye.

My personal belief is that blu-ray may be the best movies may ever look. New or old. So I have been thinking about them in more a film preservation light.

I have been looking at older titles and thinking I should get this one or that one for the historical value. There are many Criterion titles for example I am interested in.

It has been an interesting shift in thought. What do you all think about it? Or am I just a goofball?

I completely agree with you. I recently upgraded to a 60 inch Sharp Aquos LCD TV, and after having viewed everything on a 46 inch screen for so long, it really allows Blu-ray to breath better. As such, I truly believe that Blu-ray is the format for all movies. The preservation of movies must be taken into account for true movie lovers, and if one takes their movies seriously, every movie they wish to own should merit a Blu-ray purchase. In other words, if somebody truly enjoyed and loved She's Out of My League, and they wish to own it, I feel as though they should pay the few extra dollars to own it on Blu-ray.

I started out only getting movies that were full of action and basically eye candy for HD, but as I've matured, I believe all genres belong in HD unless the director specifically shot a film in SD, or less than HD, in which case sucks to be fans of those movies! (Think Inland Empire, which would have been breathtaking on Blu-ray had it been shot with a higher quality digital camera)

It sucks having to explain to somebody why I bought Gone With The Wind or Sleeping Beauty on Blu-ray. I think movie preservation should speak for itself.

Originally Posted by SpotOn

If a lot of people are b!tching about the "grain", then its probably a GREAT transfer!

Not necessarily, but on the flip side, the absence of grain is usually a bad thing.

Originally Posted by seigneur_rayden

This is very wrong man!!! I am probably sure that you are not christian.

Exactly! Blu-rays aren't made of bread or wine!

[Dreemworx]

Blu Ray is the closest thing we have atm, to theater projection experience and clarity.

That is the bottom line.

Blu Ray makes every 'old film' look good as well because...it blows away DVD format and Television format regardless of even 1080i.

I have even one further point, in that I can control the color and variable levels to view the film with and that is a big reason that I in many cases, prefer my own BluRay theater to that of a common movie house.
Besides I can stretch out on my leather couch whereas some theaters have limited recline chairs and sticky floors but, I digress.

IMAX 3D theaters have no equal.

Alot of 'old films' special effects actually get exposed as cheezy in the light of BluRay and in some cases, newer films may be using a "grainy" effect to hide or tone down the actors flaws or the special effects short comming by introducing grain as well as giving it the "classic surreal feel".

Just as the jump from LP to CD music sounded 'sterile' and in some minds, not dirty enough (hence retro re-release of LP's now...needle and groove is unique sound), the BluRay can show alot of flaws in an inperfect film.

This is why War of the Worlds, Avatar, Dark Knight, etc type gems are so seamlessly perfect...they are BluRay tested and approved as reference quality PQ.