Crossroads (1986) - January 12, 2021

[Fat Phil]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Not going to beat around the bush -- the compression on all of these Sony catalog Mill Creek discs coming out next week is bad. I've seen THE FRESHMAN, which is as badly authored as the site review states, plus LIKE FATHER LIKE SON, which is equally poor.

Any English subtitles?

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Thanks...buddy!

Wow awesome comeback. Someone who hasn't even seen the transfer has already made up his mind and trolls someone who has.

Enjoy this terrible disc and its awful compression -- the two of you deserve one another

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by Fat Phil

Any English subtitles?

Yes, English subs

[Fat Phil]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Yes, English subs

Ta. Sounds disappointing overall, but will likely be a win for me nonetheless. I'll be happy to just get rid of my Region 2 DVD with the PAL speed-up. It'll tide me over until a more reputable label picks it up. I've a feeling Indicator in the UK will get to it eventually since they have access to a lot of Sony titles and they like Walter Hill (they're releasing Geronimo this month).

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by slimjean

Sheena has serious compression issues but unwatchable?? I think it looks fine enough and that is blown up on 4K.

It does look better than DVD. 24fps. HD sound. There were moments it actually looked good.

As for streaming, it isn't a reliable save state and not sitting on my wall so not really in the equation for me.

Sheena on streaming may look like pumkin pie but you'll never catch me watchin the muddafudger.

There are times SHEENA looks okay -- the night-time sequences I found unwatchable because the macroblocking was most obvious there. It's still a horribly compressed disc, one of the worst you will find in the format. Is it better than DVD? Yes I'd agree with you, but that still doesn't mean it's a good Blu-Ray.

Your experience with streaming is your experience. All I know is through Vudu or Itunes the digital stream of SHEENA looks a hell of a lot better for me than Mill Creek's Blu-Ray. So does THE FRESHMAN, so does CROSSROADS. None of them have the compression/encoding issues Mill Creek's discs do. It's not even close, and it makes it abundantly clear how deficient Mill Creek's encoding is.

If you aren't picky and don't really care about how poorly authored the disc is, this is still probably "OK for $10" and admittedly it's cheap. But so is the digital stream much of the time, and in my experience it's far better, minus the encoding issues Mill Creek brought to this disc.

This is entirely Mill Creek's problem too. They're using AVC and decent bit-rates and their encoding is garbage some of the time. Not all of the time, but on some of their releases it's bottom of the barrel. It certainly is here, same deal for THE FRESHMAN and LIKE FATHER LIKE SON.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by Fat Phil

Ta. Sounds disappointing overall, but will likely be a win for me nonetheless. I'll be happy to just get rid of my Region 2 DVD with the PAL speed-up. It'll tide me over until a more reputable label picks it up. I've a feeling Indicator in the UK will get to it eventually since they have access to a lot of Sony titles and they like Walter Hill (they're releasing Geronimo this month).

That would be an ideal landing spot that would offer the best a/v for us. Streaming certainly isn't ideal but when the digital is better than Blu-Ray that's a problem, and Mill Creek really misfires with their encoding at times. Sadly this is one of those instances, even though the disc is basically a throwaway under $10 and I can understand people will be getting it any way because it's so cheap.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Wow awesome comeback. Someone who hasn't even seen the transfer has already made up his mind and trolls someone who has.

Enjoy this terrible disc and its awful compression -- the two of you deserve one another

Lol I can practically see the steam emitting from your droopy ears. I'm the one content to finally own an elusive catalog title from my favorite director in a physical format while you're blasting the hell out of it and petulantly engaging in petty bickering.

If we're using the most base and accurate definition of the term "troll", you're wearing a tailored suit...buddy.

Take your streaming advice and shove it, this is a forum for physical collectors and right now people who have been long anticipating this release have no other options.

[DukeTogo84]

Yeah, I'm just glad this is getting a physical release. Mill Creeks recent release of Blind Fury is supposed to look pretty good, so while this one might have an issues, I'm sure it will look better than a DVD release.

[slimjean]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Is it better than DVD? Yes I'd agree with you, but that still doesn't mean it's a good Blu-Ray.

I don't think anyone is arguing that it is a good bluray.

If it is better than DVD then it is absolutely watchable.

DVD's often have macrblocking and overall worse compression.

Guess what, they are still quite enjoyable.

Sheena I would gladly re-buy if it gets put out better. Unwatchable? People are spoiled and forget how bad it used to be.

Mills Creek is deficient...yeah got it, but at least it got released and improved on what came before.

Streaming sucks for reason I mentioned. I don't support buying air in a dynamic data flurry.

Save states rule...even less than elite presentations.

"Unwatchable" is grossly overstated. Unwatchable TO YOU is a better way to describe it. I respect that opinion if it is framed that way.

[murphywmm]

"Macroblocking" always sounds like more fun than it actually is.

[Bluyoda]

Luckily, this movie mostly takes place outdoors and during the day, so poor compression won't be as visible, but Mill Creek are certainly a terrible studio, with really poor encodes. I have just looked at their releases in my collection, and none of them are very good.
I am 100% sure it will blow the terrible DVD away though, and let's hope the transfer is a recent Sony 4k remaster, and not some ancient DVD era master, with EE, DNR, and blownout highlights, and this could actually look pretty good, if not great.

[meremortal]

Already have this on Vudu and guess I'll just stick with it.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by meremortal

Already have this on Vudu and guess I'll just stick with it.

How does it look? New or old transfer?

[DukeTogo84]

My copy shipped and should be here by Monday. Looking forward to watching this.

[meremortal]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

How does it look? New or old transfer?

Looks pretty good to me. Haven't seen the blu, but someone posted above that it appears Mill Creek botched the encoding and so the streams may be superior pq despite lower bitrates.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Not going to beat around the bush -- the compression on all of these Sony catalog Mill Creek discs coming out next week is bad. I've seen THE FRESHMAN, which is as badly authored as the site review states, plus LIKE FATHER LIKE SON, which is equally poor.

That leaves CROSSROADS. Just for fun, I did an A/B comparison with my Vudu stream and, once again, the Vudu stream has none of the macroblocking and compression issues the Mill Creek disc does. This is the same thing we've seen on SHEENA and assorted other MC titles. There's more sharpness in the MC disc, but many more artifacts that make it borderline unwatchable at times.

I have no idea why this keeps happening, because their bit-rate is more than sufficient. It's their encoder that sucks, and this is one more disc of theirs you're better off buying a digital HDX stream of than the disc itself.

Oh no. That sounds extremely disheartening.
So bummed out.

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

There are times SHEENA looks okay -- the night-time sequences I found unwatchable because the macroblocking was most obvious there. It's still a horribly compressed disc, one of the worst you will find in the format. Is it better than DVD? Yes I'd agree with you, but that still doesn't mean it's a good Blu-Ray.

Your experience with streaming is your experience. All I know is through Vudu or Itunes the digital stream of SHEENA looks a hell of a lot better for me than Mill Creek's Blu-Ray. So does THE FRESHMAN, so does CROSSROADS. None of them have the compression/encoding issues Mill Creek's discs do. It's not even close, and it makes it abundantly clear how deficient Mill Creek's encoding is.

If you aren't picky and don't really care about how poorly authored the disc is, this is still probably "OK for $10" and admittedly it's cheap. But so is the digital stream much of the time, and in my experience it's far better, minus the encoding issues Mill Creek brought to this disc.

This is entirely Mill Creek's problem too. They're using AVC and decent bit-rates and their encoding is garbage some of the time. Not all of the time, but on some of their releases it's bottom of the barrel. It certainly is here, same deal for THE FRESHMAN and LIKE FATHER LIKE SON.

Do you think companies are doing this on purpose by releasing inferior physical discs to try and push us the consumers towards streaming etc?

I hope not because I love physical media and in my opinion when a disc is done right and not done ugly they are far superior to streaming. Usually streaming has compression issues etc not a properly done disc.

I for one will always prefer discs over streaming, although I’m thinking of cancelling my pre-order now.

[Bluyoda]

Found one youtube review by some dude,who takes a frustratingly long time to even mention the video and audio quality, and at 7:15min in essentially just says it looks and sounds amazing. I just wanted to put it here to have more opinions.:

Crossroads Blu Ray Review - YouTube

Does anyone know him and his reviews?

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

Found one youtube review by some dude,who takes a frustratingly long time to even mention the video and audio quality, and at 7:15min in essentially just says it looks and sounds amazing. I just wanted to put it here to have more opinions.: Crossroads Blu Ray Review - YouTube

Does anyone know him and his reviews?

No, but I’ll watch your video post. The site review was none to complementary. Surely it’s better than the dvd?

Edit;-He hardly mentioned the picture quality. He said the sound was amazing because of Ray Cooder and Steve Vai and how could it not be because it’s them. I think he’s got his like for the music mixed up with the technical aspect. He comes across as if he doesn’t really know what he’s talking about in that area. He’s more of a movie reviewer.

Still I’ll reserve judgement on the picture quality until I get it. I’ve decided to keep my pre-order. Like I say it’s got to be better than the dvd surely. Mill Creek are a bit of a disaster aren’t they. I think their best release was the Krull Blu-ray when it comes to picture quality. Sheena wasn’t great but slightly better than the dvd. It will be such a shame if the PQ on this is sub par because I love this film.

[Bluyoda]

Well, this doesn't bode well....at all. Official review on this site is up: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Cross.../44148/#Review

Damn you, Mill Creek!