The Descent MPEG vs AVC (need help from AVC owners)

[cyborgLIS]

I'm interested in the US release since it offers 2 cuts and the most extras. Plus it's a different--not necessarily better or worse (though most would argue worse)--transfer. So I was wondering if the MPEG-2 disc has any advantages over the original AVC disc. If so, I'd probably be less concerned about tracking down the AVC print.

[HeavyHitter]

The MPEG-2 disc is not encoded well by today's standards. The image generally looks a bit soft and film grain in not rendered as tight or defined. Detail in general on the disc cannot hold a hair compared to the Aussie disc which looks far better and is excellent. Some scenes are just breathtaking. Definitely go for the AVC disc though since you are insistent on the U.S. version.

[Rockercub]

Well, I just finished watching the Aussie disc for the first time. There are things I liked about it, particularly the darkness of the caves. But I think the outdoor scenes looked better on the US disc. And I thought the US disc looked more generally natural, not as stylized. I'd be curious to know if Neil Marshall actually gave his stamp of approval to one or the other. Anyways, I too would love to get a hold of the US AVC disc, so if anyone ever sees one or hears of one, please let me know. I think it's probably near impossible to find one anymore, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[HeavyHitter]

Good review here and screencaps. It should be noted the Aussie disc is of the same color as the UK DVD according to the reviewer...which would mean it more likely resembles what Marshall was aiming for. Earlier Lionsgate transfers were notorious for being off, as well. To my eyes, the gamma and brightness is whacked out on the Lionsgate disc.

http://whiggles.landofwhimsy.com/arc...he_rescue.html

[waxHead]

Originally Posted by Rockercub

Well, I just finished watching the Aussie disc for the first time. There are things I liked about it, particularly the darkness of the caves. But I think the outdoor scenes looked better on the US disc. And I thought the US disc looked more generally natural, not as stylized. I'd be curious to know if Neil Marshall actually gave his stamp of approval to one or the other. Anyways, I too would love to get a hold of the US AVC disc, so if anyone ever sees one or hears of one, please let me know. I think it's probably near impossible to find one anymore, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

If you find a sealed US release, check the white strip on the top of Blu-ray case. The AVC encode should have numbers on that top strip, where the later MPEG-2 release did not.

EDIT: My post wasn't accurate, the catalog number on the sticker is not a way to check for the AVC version...

The catalog # on the sticker is not a 100% guarantee it's the AVC encode. A few years back I wanted to grab a second copy because Walmart had them cheap, and their copy was exactly like the AVC one I had right down to the sticker number, but it was an MPEG-2 version.

[Kriztoffer Swank]

The catalog # on the sticker is not a 100% guarantee it's the AVC encode. A few years back I wanted to grab a second copy because Walmart had them cheap, and their copy was exactly like the AVC one I had right down to the sticker number, but it was an MPEG-2 version.

[Rockercub]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Good review here and screencaps. It should be noted the Aussie disc is of the same color as the UK DVD according to the reviewer...which would mean it more likely resembles what Marshall was aiming for. Earlier Lionsgate transfers were notorious for being off, as well. To my eyes, the gamma and brightness is whacked out on the Lionsgate disc.

http://whiggles.landofwhimsy.com/arc...he_rescue.html

Thanks! Yeah, that's the article that pointed me in the direction of the Aussie disc. I agree that matching the UK disc seems to suggest accuracy, but after the whole Dog Soldiers debacle, I'm not sure what to think about Neil Marshall's involvement with home video releases of his movies. And I agree that the Lionsgate disc has some issues, but with the Aussie disc, I sometimes felt like I was watching an Argento movie. The reds were very red, and the greens were very green. I'm not sure that I'll have a go-to disc with this one. I might just go back and forth.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Good review here and screencaps. It should be noted the Aussie disc is of the same color as the UK DVD according to the reviewer...which would mean it more likely resembles what Marshall was aiming for. Earlier Lionsgate transfers were notorious for being off, as well. To my eyes, the gamma and brightness is whacked out on the Lionsgate disc.

http://whiggles.landofwhimsy.com/arc...he_rescue.html

The Lionsgate BD looks washed out.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Rockercub

Thanks! Yeah, that's the article that pointed me in the direction of the Aussie disc. I agree that matching the UK disc seems to suggest accuracy, but after the whole Dog Soldiers debacle, I'm not sure what to think about Neil Marshall's involvement with home video releases of his movies. And I agree that the Lionsgate disc has some issues, but with the Aussie disc, I sometimes felt like I was watching an Argento movie. The reds were very red, and the greens were very green. I'm not sure that I'll have a go-to disc with this one. I might just go back and forth.

Considering it's a British horror directed by him - my guess is it's more accurate, but of course cannot say for certain. Personally, I think the Aussie stylization works much better for this kind of movie and is more in line with the colors, the pitch black internal caves, reds, etc. Not to mention, the film grain and detail is the a clear step above the U.S. (AVC ). Is your display professionally calibrated? That can have a big impact on the color (and overall image) as well.

[MisterFantastic]

The US MPEG-2 disc is certainly watchable

[Rockercub]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Considering it's a British horror directed by him - my guess is it's more accurate, but of course cannot say for certain. Personally, I think the Aussie stylization works much better for this kind of movie and is more in line with the Aussie disc with the colors, the pitch black internal caves, reds, etc. Not to mention, the film grain and detail is the a clear step above the U.S. (AVC ). Is your display professionally calibrated? That can have a big impact on the color (and overall image) as well.

Not professionally calibrated, but home calibrated with a Spears & Munsil disc. It has made a huge improvement. Yeah, I can't argue with a personal preference. I'm just not as convinced that it's exactly what Marshall wanted. Country of origin isn't really the best evidence, as a UK company could have tweaked the image just as easily as a US company. Again, look at Dog Soldiers with the UK DVD looking so much darker than the director-approved US release. I do hope you're right though.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Rockercub

Not professionally calibrated, but home calibrated with a Spears & Munsil disc. It has made a huge improvement. Yeah, I can't argue with a personal preference. I'm just not as convinced that it's exactly what Marshall wanted. Country of origin isn't really the best evidence, as a UK company could have tweaked the image just as easily as a US company. Again, look at Dog Soldiers with the UK DVD looking so much darker than the director-approved US release. I do hope you're right though.

Aside from country of origin, the fact UK and Aussie are aligned but the U.S. isn't...that makes me wonder. Lionsgate also botched a lot of stuff in the earlier days. It would be interesting if someone could contact Marshall.

[Rockercub]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Aside from country of origin, the fact UK and Aussie are aligned but the U.S. isn't...that makes me wonder. Lionsgate also botched a lot of stuff in the earlier days. It would be interesting if someone could contact Marshall.

After what he went through with Dog Soldiers, he might not be so willing to insert himself into a PQ debate.

[mzupeman]

Is ezydvd still the best option for purchasing the Aussie disc?

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

The Lionsgate BD looks washed out.

It's exactly the way I remember it looking in theaters. The Lionsgate discs have a very natural color timing whereas everything was boosted for the Aussie disc. The latter looks really impressive and I love having both it and the AVC Lionsgate disc.

Whichever looks best just comes down to preference. Like with Silent Hill, the German/US discs are the timing I saw in the theater but the director-approved French regrading is just a better looking presentation all-around.

[mzupeman]

Originally Posted by Kriztoffer Swank

It's exactly the way I remember it looking in theaters. The Lionsgate discs have a very natural color timing whereas everything was boosted for the Aussie disc. The latter looks really impressive and I love having both it and the AVC Lionsgate disc.

Whichever looks best just comes down to preference. Like with Silent Hill, the German/US discs are the timing I saw in the theater but the director-approved French regrading is just a better looking presentation all-around.

Part of the problem, though, is that it's kind of impossible to tell which version of the film you're getting in the United States unless you buy the thing and pop it into a Blu-ray player that tells you what encoding was used. It's also just generally difficult to find this Blu-ray in the states on retail shelves anymore, anyway. So trying to track down a new copy of the AVC encode in the states is basically not worth attempting.

And if detail is more important to someone, the Aussie is a no-brainer.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by mzupeman

Is ezydvd still the best option for purchasing the Aussie disc?

I got mine from JB Hi-Fi. I think I paid around $18 and some change which included shipping.

[HeavyHitter]

The detail, analog look and grain structure on the Aussie has the look from a 4K scan. It projects extraordinarily well. It's one of the best overall discs I've seen and the compression is also extremely good.

[cyborgLIS]

I've read that the UK and Australian disc have similar PQ, but the UK has extras while the Aussie is barebones.

[Kriztoffer Swank]

I believe the UK disc is Region B–locked so that could be a barrier for some.