Gangs of New York -reissue?

[DeadDog]

O.K. I'm going to chime in for a second and give my two cents. After reading all the horrible reviews of this movie I decided to stay away. I was then able to pick it up for real cheap, so I did and watched it. I can see both sides of the argument but I don't think either one is 100% right or wrong in their points.

Is the blu-ray better than the dvd....ABSOLUTELY. Both the video and audio (don't forget the audio ) are much better than the dvd counterpart. I am happy I purchased this movie and find the quality to be just fine.

Now, is this a great transer....NO. As it has been stated over and over and over again, this transfer has ton's of EE and DNR and for many that is unacceptable. I completely understand where these people are coming from. A "proper" release should have addressed these issues and given an image that is more representative of the version seen in theaters.

Given that, it comes down to a matter of preference as to what you consider terrible and unwatchable. For now I find the issues to be something I can overlook. And before you go saying that I shouldn't have to overlook anything I agree, but that's not my point. My point is, it is all subjective to the individual as to what is considered terrible. Simple as that.

[BStecke]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Again, this is your opinion and certainly not mine nor is it shared by everyone. Many of my family members and friends would also disagree with you. The important of Blu-ray is being better than DVD. Once it accomplishes that, the rest is all icing on the cake. This is obviously an opinion issue, so how long as we going to keep this going? We've all started our cases, and it really doesn't look like we are going to change each others minds.

No, it's really not. FACT: DNR is applied. FACT: EE is applied, very heavily.

As a "movie fan" you would think you would want movies presented as they're supposed to look. The goal of Blu-ray is to present films as they were originally presented. This is not the way GONY was originally presented, not even close.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by BStecke

No, it's really not. FACT: DNR is applied. FACT: EE is applied, very heavily.

As a "movie fan" you would think you would want movies presented as they're supposed to look. The goal of Blu-ray is to present films as they were originally presented. This is not the way GONY was originally presented, not even close.

It's also a FACT that the Blu-ray of Gangs of New York is better than the DVD. It is also a FACT that since this is better than the DVD this is a good release!

[BStecke]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

It's also a FACT that the Blu-ray of Gangs of New York is better than the DVD. It is also a FACT that since this is better than the DVD this is a good release!

I guess you're satisfied by mediocrity. Thankfully, most of us aren't. Gangs of New York for $25 or Casino Royale, Transformers, Hulk, or a hundred other discs for $25 . . . hardly a choice. I actually want a premium product for my premium price, not a marginally better product for the same premium price. But, I'm glad you're happy with sub-par.

[BStecke]

Just for the hell of it, here's a link to the thread at AVS that has comparison shots with the Blu-ray vs. the DVD that shows how much [sarcasm]better[/sarcasm] it really is. Notice that absolutely nothing was done with the master, and all of the defects are still present. Absolutely no effort at all went into this, other than presenting it at higher resolution. But what a quality product!

[GGX]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

It is also a FACT that since this is better than the DVD this is a good release!

A Blu-ray being barely better than a DVD version of the same movie is like getting a D- on a test. Technically better than an F but I wouldn't consider it a "good" grade.

[Old Bones]

for those who just don't get it........

[tvine2000]

Originally Posted by BStecke

Just for the hell of it, here's a link to the thread at AVS that has comparison shots with the Blu-ray vs. the DVD that shows how much [sarcasm]better[/sarcasm] it really is. Notice that absolutely nothing was done with the master, and all of the defects are still present. Absolutely no effort at all went into this, other than presenting it at higher resolution. But what a quality product!

i'm with you i hate dnr ee,since with bd you don't need those things.dvd was different.
i have seen a lot of anti dnr,ee all over forums.the real qustion is what can be done about it?and how can people like us get the studios to listen?

and how can you get people willing to accept sub-par bds to wake up

[SonOfArathorn]

When I started this thread I had no idea that someone out there was actually pleased with the release of GONY, the fact that the actors look like oompa loompas (read: orange skin) and that every line whether it be an acotrs face, the side of a building, or hair caught in the light is jagged and drastically over sharpened. Honestly, it's technically a bad disc, a bad release. It is assuredly not a fact that since it is better than the DVD that it's a good release, especially when you factor in how glorious the vast majority of Disney's releases have been.

It is an opinion to say it is unwatchable, true.
It is also an opinion to say that because it's better than the DVD it's the best we can hope for.

I would ask moviefan to kindly supply the specs for the system he is using to judge these things by because if GONY does indeed look great on his display and he can give me pictures to prove it I just may consider switching to the miracle tv that he has that apparently none of us do. I thought my system was exceptional but even it shows GONY to look like shit.

To further the discussion to other movies I also thought Master and Commander was an absolutely terrible transfer as well and would easily benefit from a remastering. In fact those two are the worst looking of all my 120+ BD's. But compared with Gangs Master and Commander looks actually decent, which goes to show in yet another way how bad Gangs actually looks.

[tvine2000]

Originally Posted by Old Bones

for those who just don't get it........

i get it old bones.heres the problem,most people who don't like grain just won't leave this issue alone.so on and on it goes.

the good news is according to bill hunt [who really talks to studios] they are trying to find a balence or cutting back on dnr.
all hd masters have some dnr in them.the issue has been over use of dnr.

once they find that balence will start seeing more of that wow pq.
so let grain haters cry.this is a battle they are going to lose.

[Old Bones]

Originally Posted by SonOfArathorn

To further the discussion to other movies I also thought Master and Commander was an absolutely terrible transfer as well and would easily benefit from a remastering. In fact those two are the worst looking of all my 120+ BD's. But compared with Gangs Master and Commander looks actually decent, which goes to show in yet another way how bad Gangs actually looks.

I agree , and it's to bad , I love this movie , at least the audio track was reference quality .
As for GONY , if they ever do put out a properly mastered version I'll bet Moviefan1203 double dips day 1

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by BStecke

I guess you're satisfied by mediocrity. Thankfully, most of us aren't. Gangs of New York for $25 or Casino Royale, Transformers, Hulk, or a hundred other discs for $25 . . . hardly a choice. I actually want a premium product for my premium price, not a marginally better product for the same premium price. But, I'm glad you're happy with sub-par.

How is it mediocre? It's a better release than the DVD so therefore it is a great release. There's nothing mediocre about it.

Originally Posted by GGX

A Blu-ray being barely better than a DVD version of the same movie is like getting a D- on a test. Technically better than an F but I wouldn't consider it a "good" grade.

I disagree. It's the best out there. A D- would be a release that equals the DVD, something that has been released on Blu-ray but really offers no upgrades. Since Gangs of New York is better than the DVD release it is no where close to receiving a D.

Originally Posted by SonOfArathorn

When I started this thread I had no idea that someone out there was actually pleased with the release of GONY, the fact that the actors look like oompa loompas (read: orange skin) and that every line whether it be an acotrs face, the side of a building, or hair caught in the light is jagged and drastically over sharpened. Honestly, it's technically a bad disc, a bad release. It is assuredly not a fact that since it is better than the DVD that it's a good release, especially when you factor in how glorious the vast majority of Disney's releases have been.

It is an opinion to say it is unwatchable, true.
It is also an opinion to say that because it's better than the DVD it's the best we can hope for.

I would ask moviefan to kindly supply the specs for the system he is using to judge these things by because if GONY does indeed look great on his display and he can give me pictures to prove it I just may consider switching to the miracle tv that he has that apparently none of us do. I thought my system was exceptional but even it shows GONY to look like shit.

To further the discussion to other movies I also thought Master and Commander was an absolutely terrible transfer as well and would easily benefit from a remastering. In fact those two are the worst looking of all my 120+ BD's. But compared with Gangs Master and Commander looks actually decent, which goes to show in yet another way how bad Gangs actually looks.

There are lots of us that are very satisifed with Blu-ray release. And why shouldn't we? It's a solid release dammit! I have a Sony television - KDL 52W3000. I have a Sony Blu-ray player - BDP-S3000. The actors don't look like Oompa Loompas at all. Where do you get this from? They look like regular people. And I certainly haven't noticed any problems with the skylines or anything of that nature. I think some of you are way to picky when it comes to grading Blu-rays. It's a great film that has been released on Blu-ray and looks better than the DVD. What's not to be happy about? And I find it absolutely hilarious that you found Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World to be disappointing. It's a great film that I am proud to have in my Blu-ray library. It's another solid release.

Originally Posted by Old Bones

As for GONY , if they ever do put out a properly mastered version I'll bet Moviefan1203 double dips day 1

Why would I go and do something as stupid and idiotic as that? We already have a very solid release that I am more than happy with. If it isn't broke, there is no sense in fixing it.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by GGX

Moviefan I shutter to think about what you would consider a bad release on Blu-ray. Considering the fact that you are happy with all the Blu's that universally panned.

I have excellent standards thank you very much. I did not appreciate that comment.

These releases are better than the DVDs so why wouldn't I be happy with them? They are the best releases out there!

[Sussudio]

i dont think its really necessary to directly insult someone because of their own personal preferences. he isn't antagonizing you or trying to force you into accepting his beliefs, not sure what's with the cheap shots if moviefan likes the movie and is ok with that, what's the big deal? im not terribly bothered by the transfer but i do agree with both you GG and BStecke that i dont think calling a release incredible or great/etc should only be based solely by the fact that it's better than the DVD. hopefully this one will be rereleased at some point.

[GGX]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I have excellent standards thank you very much. I did not appreciate that comment.

These releases are better than the DVDs so why wouldn't I be happy with them? They are the best releases out there!

I'm starting to believe that if Full Metal Jacket or The Fifth Element was never re-released on Blu that you'd be saying the original releases look "damn good".

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by GGX

I'm starting to believe that if Full Metal Jacket or The Fifth Element was never re-released on Blu that you'd be saying the original releases look "damn good".

I wouldn't say that GGX. I love Blu-ray, it's the greatest format we film aficionados have ever had. And it's going to be the dominant format for a very very very long time. It's essential that all movies get released on Blu-ray, and slowly but surely the vast majority are going to be. And that is a fantastic thing for people like us.

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by BStecke

I wish I could be happy having no standards.

LOL, it's impossible for me to be that way. I expect Blu-ray to deliver a great experience. I'm not a huge nit-picker because I sit around 12 feet away from a 46 inch TV, but Gangs of New York is a noticeably bad transfer even at that distance. I shelled out $25 for it so I have a right to expect a good transfer and it's far from being a good one.

[GGX]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I wouldn't say that GGX. I love Blu-ray, it's the greatest format we film aficionados have ever had. And it's going to be the dominant format for a very very very long time. It's essential that all movies get released on Blu-ray, and slowly but surely the vast majority are going to be. And that is a fantastic thing for people like us.

I'd rather have nothing than a half-assed, DNR and EE infested release like the current release of GONY on Blu-ray. Don't get me wrong, the movie itself is great. It deserves a faithful transfer to the source.

[Hep]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

How is it mediocre? It's a better release than the DVD so therefore it is a great release. There's nothing mediocre about it.

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

These releases are better than the DVDs so why wouldn't I be happy with them? They are the best releases out there!

From my perspective the flaw in your logic rests with the scope of quality that blu-ray represents. The worst transfer on blu-ray should always look better (if only marginally) than the DVD. However, a great transfer on blu-ray should shame the DVD release.

So when you say that just because the BD is an upgrade over the DVD, or that it's the best release currently available says nothing about its location along the BD quality scale. Most people think that in order to be a great BD release it must be compared against what could have been achieved given the format; and since GONY obviously falls short of its true BD potential it can't be considered a great release.

[tvine2000]

look if some of you want to settle on sub-par bd movies,help yourself.
it is a fact that studios use to much dnr on catalog titles mostly.
take a look at 2001 and ben button,those are 2 bds that look great.theres even grain and they still look great.

my point and others here is blu-ray can look better,if the studios stop trying to make film look like something else.all studios have to do is back off the dnr.
how many here that hate grain[if you even know what grain is]go to the local movie house and say ''man startrek had to much grain i hate the movie''.if you don't care at the movie house why does it bother you at home.what i think is ,studios should give us is bds raw with grain and you grain haters can go to your menu on you tv and find your dnr and turn it on simple.