Black Christmas (1974) - 11/15/13 - Page 4 - Blu-ray Forum

Braktastic · 01-22-2014, 05:00 PM

You can definitely see the compression artifacts on the US disc in the caps above. It's hard to tell if the US disc has more detail or not. My eyes tell it does, but I'm not sure. It looks list the DE disc has infinitely better compression, but it might also have some DNR too. Then there is the matter of framing. The DE is cropped tighter on the sides than the US disc. It's just unfortunate that Capelight saw fit to leave off the original audio, or I would've bought this for sure.

Dickieduvet · 01-22-2014, 05:03 PM

Look at all that noise in the US caps though, horrible. It's not grain folks

The German is 31GB vs US 12GB

Compression is waaaay better on the German, trust me!

Mr. Thomsen · 01-22-2014, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braktastic

It's just unfortunate that Capelight saw fit to leave off the original audio, or I would've bought this for sure.

Same here. They lost that sale to me because of that.

bgart13 · 01-22-2014, 07:34 PM

I watched the US bd last night, none of the issues that Capelight saw fit to fix are enough of a problem for me to spend the cash to upgrade. If it was a new scan, I'd do it in a heartbeat. However, you can't polish a turd. I'll wait for a new edition properly done in the first place. It may be a while, but I'm ok with that.

Rockercub · 01-22-2014, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgart13

However, you can't polish a turd.

Actually, you can. They did it on Mythbusters.

blueman_Richie · 10-26-2014, 10:35 PM

Is the 5.1 track on the German release a deal breaker? I would prefer the original mono audio really but does the remix (?) ruin the film or alter it irrevocably?

Rockercub · 11-04-2014, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueman_Richie

Is the 5.1 track on the German release a deal breaker? I would prefer the original mono audio really but does the remix (?) ruin the film or alter it irrevocably?

I wish I could tell you, but I still haven't gotten around to watching it all the way through. If I were you though, I'd hold off until we find out what the upcoming Japanese release looks like. It apparently will have both the mono and the 5.1 audio tracks.

Dickieduvet · 11-04-2014, 11:02 PM

The 5.1 track is okay on the German release, would've been nice to have the original track but hey-ho.

As for the Japanese version, well unless they have found a perfect print or unearthed the original negative it will be taken from the only existing HD Master.

Happinet are known for using existing US transfers for their market, also a few 1080i and upscale releases in their catalogue.

Rockercub · 11-05-2014, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dickieduvet

As for the Japanese version, well unless they have found a perfect print or unearthed the original negative it will be taken from the only existing HD Master.

Happinet are known for using existing US transfers for their market, also a few 1080i and upscale releases in their catalogue.

I've only heard about their Night of the Living Dead release,which everyone raves about. I'll try to keep my expectations in check, but I'm crossing my fingers.

OrchidClub · 03-09-2015, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dickieduvet

Believe me the Capelight is light years ahead of the US/Can version. It's not sharper it's just riddled with compression artifacts

Actually, judging from the screenshots, the U.S. disc IS sharper. Yes, you're right that it's riddled with compression artifacts, but the labels on the medicine bottles in that one shot are slightly more clear on the U.S. disc. The German disc has the same artifacts, they've just blurred it a bit so you don't notice it as much.

Dickieduvet · 03-09-2015, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrchidClub

Actually, judging from the screenshots, the U.S. disc IS sharper. Yes, you're right that it's riddled with compression artifacts, but the labels on the medicine bottles in that one shot are slightly more clear on the U.S. disc. The German disc has the same artifacts, they've just blurred it a bit so you don't notice it as much.

Watching both discs together (flicking from one to the other) it's obvious the German is superior, trust me. Screenshots are all well and good, viewing in motion is something else

UpsetSmiley · 01-30-2017, 08:01 PM

How does the new Scream Factory disc compare to this? Is there an improvement over the PQ/AQ?

Rockercub · 01-30-2017, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpsetSmiley

How does the new Scream Factory disc compare to this? Is there an improvement over the PQ/AQ?

Yes, but with the caveat that it's just never going to look fantastic due to source limitations. It's just an old, soft, grainy movie. There's really no increase in detail, but the grain looks so much better. It has a similar, but slightly higher, bitrate, and it's a new scan of the negative. There's been some debate on the colors, as the SF is a bit warmer, but I thought it looked fine. Additionally, it includes the original mono, although you need to make sure that you have the fixed version (lots of sibilance on the original). It will say V2 on the disc, and there's a replacement program if it doesn't.

UpsetSmiley · 01-30-2017, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockercub

Yes, but with the caveat that it's just never going to look fantastic due to source limitations. It's just an old, soft, grainy movie. There's really no increase in detail, but the grain looks so much better. It has a similar, but slightly higher, bitrate, and it's a new scan of the negative. There's been some debate on the colors, as the SF is a bit warmer, but I thought it looked fine. Additionally, it includes the original mono, although you need to make sure that you have the fixed version (lots of sibilance on the original). It will say V2 on the disc, and there's a replacement program if it doesn't.

Nice one! Thanks for the info, really appreciate the response. As an owner of the German Blu, I'm not quite convinced it's time to upgrade.

Rockercub · 01-30-2017, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpsetSmiley

Nice one! Thanks for the info, really appreciate the response. As an owner of the German Blu, I'm not quite convinced it's time to upgrade.

It's a personal call, but I consider the SF to be the definitive release (with Capelight as the runner-up). You can check out the caps here:

https://www.caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d...d2=9472&c=3828

SymbioticFunction · 08-19-2017, 11:08 PM

Was going to order this from Amazon.de. I checked Amazon UK to see if it could be had even cheaper and saw that a UK version is to be released on Nov the 6th. Think I'll now wait to see which transfer is used on the upcoming UK release - I would prefer to own the more recent SF transfer (but am not region friendly).

01-22-2014, 05:00 PM	#61
Braktastic Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Nov 2007 4K collection:595 Blu-ray collection:595 Trading Score:13	You can definitely see the compression artifacts on the US disc in the caps above. It's hard to tell if the US disc has more detail or not. My eyes tell it does, but I'm not sure. It looks list the DE disc has infinitely better compression, but it might also have some DNR too. Then there is the matter of framing. The DE is cropped tighter on the sides than the US disc. It's just unfortunate that Capelight saw fit to leave off the original audio, or I would've bought this for sure.

01-22-2014, 05:03 PM	#62
Dickieduvet Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Sep 2008 Location:England 4K collection:638 Blu-ray collection:3908 DVD collection:90 Blu-ray reviews: 6 Trading Score:7	Look at all that noise in the US caps though, horrible. It's not grain folks The German is 31GB vs US 12GB Compression is waaaay better on the German, trust me!

01-22-2014, 07:34 PM	#64
bgart13 Power Member Member since:Aug 2010 Blu-ray collection:34 DVD collection:1 Trading Score:2	I watched the US bd last night, none of the issues that Capelight saw fit to fix are enough of a problem for me to spend the cash to upgrade. If it was a new scan, I'd do it in a heartbeat. However, you can't polish a turd. I'll wait for a new edition properly done in the first place. It may be a while, but I'm ok with that.

10-26-2014, 10:35 PM	#66
blueman_Richie Power Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2009	Is the 5.1 track on the German release a deal breaker? I would prefer the original mono audio really but does the remix (?) ruin the film or alter it irrevocably?

11-04-2014, 11:02 PM	#68
Dickieduvet Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Sep 2008 Location:England 4K collection:638 Blu-ray collection:3908 DVD collection:90 Blu-ray reviews: 6 Trading Score:7	The 5.1 track is okay on the German release, would've been nice to have the original track but hey-ho. As for the Japanese version, well unless they have found a perfect print or unearthed the original negative it will be taken from the only existing HD Master. Happinet are known for using existing US transfers for their market, also a few 1080i and upscale releases in their catalogue.

01-30-2017, 08:01 PM	#72
UpsetSmiley Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Oct 2013 Location:UK Trading Score:6	How does the new Scream Factory disc compare to this? Is there an improvement over the PQ/AQ?

08-19-2017, 11:08 PM	#76
SymbioticFunction Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Oct 2009 Location:Chichester, UK 4K collection:153 Blu-ray collection:994 DVD collection:121 Prime collection:2 Blu-ray reviews:2	Was going to order this from Amazon.de. I checked Amazon UK to see if it could be had even cheaper and saw that a UK version is to be released on Nov the 6th. Think I'll now wait to see which transfer is used on the upcoming UK release - I would prefer to own the more recent SF transfer (but am not region friendly).

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