The Last Starfighter (25th Anniversary Edition)

[kdo]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

I really wish they had done a better job with bringing this film to blu. I doubt it would have taken much more effort to make things turn out a lot better.

The sound is so flat and the DNR is so heavy in places that it makes me twitch.

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

I don't think a restoration was necessary. I'm not asking for a big-bucks clean-up job. Just scaling back on the DNR alone probably would have done wonders.

It could have looked better. I've seen this movie in the theater, so I know it can look better. I bet it could have sounded better with just a tiny bit of love as well.

Of all the Blu-ray discs I own, if I could choose one to be redone, this would be the one. And I completely agree that a major restoration and/or remastering of sorts is unnecessary for this film...All they needed to do was skip the excessive DNR filtering.

[TLOE]

This is currently $6 at frys.com for anyone interested, although it's delayed in ship time. While this blu-ray isn't highly rated, it's far better than the old DVD version (I just ordered the 2 disc version and compared them).

[kdo]

Originally Posted by TLOE

This is currently $6 at frys.com for anyone interested, although it's delayed in ship time. While this blu-ray isn't highly rated, it's far better than the old DVD version (I just ordered the 2 disc version and compared them).

No, it's not. The Blu has been heavily DNR'd, and a lot of fine detail that was noticeable on the old DVD has been lost. There used to be some screenshot comparisons I had up on this thread that showed just how much, but they were taken down.

[tilallr1]

Originally Posted by kdo

No, it's not. The Blu has been heavily DNR'd, and a lot of fine detail that was noticeable on the old DVD has been lost. There used to be some screenshot comparisons I had up on this thread that showed just how much, but they were taken down.

Yeah, unfortunately in this case your right. One of the rare examples where the DVD is actually superior to the Blu-ray. I also saw the screen comparisons and they really were horrible. Such a pity.

Probably the screen grabs got taking down due to hurt sales.

[kdo]

Originally Posted by tilallr1

One of the rare examples where the DVD is actually superior to the Blu-ray. I also saw the screen comparisons and they really were horrible. Such a pity.

Yes, "Starfighter" is the one film I have in my collection that I wish more than any other could be remastered and re-released on Blu, but I doubt it'll ever happen (given Universal's track record, and the fact that they continue to use generous amounts of noise reduction on their even more recent catalog releases). Granted, the Blu of "Starfighter" isn't downright awful, it is watchable, and there are some scenes that look great, much better than the old DVD (namely the space effects shots), but it just could've been so much better. I think part of the problem is that when the HD-DVD release came out (which also had a good amount of DNR, though not quite as much as the Blu), it was generally panned by critics as barely looking better than the standard-def DVD. However, the main problem wasn't so much the HD-DVD transfer, as it was the fact that most of "Starfighter" was shot with that typical 80's soft-focus style, that's not ever really going to look wonderful no matter how you remaster it. So instead of leaving the film true to its original photographic form (the grainy & soft look), I think Universal basically decided to simply "clean, polish & shine" the picture to make it look nice (figuring most people would deem that a big improvement), added one quality bonus feature that wasn't available on the original DVD, and then called it a day.

Originally Posted by tilallr1

Probably the screen grabs got taking down due to hurt sales.

Possibly. All I know is that I had the link up, but then after a couple of weeks it was no longer available.

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by kdo

Yes, "Starfighter" is the one film I have in my collection that I wish more than any other could be remastered and re-released on Blu, but I doubt it'll ever happen (given Universal's track record, and the fact that they continue to use generous amounts of noise reduction on their even more recent catalog releases). Granted, the Blu of "Starfighter" isn't downright awful, it is watchable, and there are some scenes that look great, much better than the old DVD (namely the space effects shots), but it just could've been so much better. I think part of the problem is that when the HD-DVD release came out (which also had a good amount of DNR, though not quite as much as the Blu), it was generally panned by critics as barely looking better than the standard-def DVD. However, the main problem wasn't so much the HD-DVD transfer, as it was the fact that most of "Starfighter" was shot with that typical 80's soft-focus style, that's not ever really going to look wonderful no matter how you remaster it. So instead of leaving the film true to its original photographic form (the grainy & soft look), I think Universal basically decided to simply "clean, polish & shine" the picture to make it look nice (figuring most people would deem that a big improvement), added one quality bonus feature that wasn't available on the original DVD, and then called it a day.

I wished I had read the review before buying this last year; now, I'm not sure what to do with my copy. At this point, I'm not going to get much if I unloaded this on Amazon Marketplace or eBay, and I don't want to throw it in the bin. What to do, what to do.....

[benzgrl]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

I wished I had read the review before buying this last year; now, I'm not sure what to do with my copy. At this point, I'm not going to get much if I unloaded this on Amazon Marketplace or eBay, and I don't want to throw it in the bin. What to do, what to do.....

Just re-sell to Amazon (trade-in) - you'll get $4 for it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/s?ur...st+starfighter

[kdo]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

I wished I had read the review before buying this last year; now, I'm not sure what to do with my copy.

You could trade it in and get a few bucks for it, but I'm hanging onto my copy only because it has the additional "Heroes of the Screen" documentary, which isn't on the original C.E. DVD.

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by benzgrl

Just re-sell to Amazon (trade-in) - you'll get $4 for it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/s?ur...st+starfighter

I forgot about the trade-in program. Thanks for the reminder (time to scrounge up some other unwanted titles from my collection while I'm at it.....)

[ObiWanShinobi]

That sucks. You know every time I see this movie on the rack I always think "Is now the time? Should I turn around and pick this up.....nnneeehhh next time" and now after hearing these recent comments of heavy DNR I can't help but be thankful I didn't buy it. It just really sucks that it will probably never get a re-release on Blu.

[tylergfoster]

You guys are saying the old DVD is better? Does the accompanying DVD look the same as the Blu, basically, just in SD?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by droidguy1119

You guys are saying the old DVD is better? Does the accompanying DVD look the same as the Blu, basically, just in SD?

No. It's certainly better than the DVD, but it's not by a large margin. I paid less than $10 for my BD so I don't feel guilty at all as it is a childhood favorite of mine.

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

No. It's certainly better than the DVD, but it's not by a large margin. I paid less than $10 for my BD so I don't feel guilty at all as it is a childhood favorite of mine.

Same here (I even had the comic book adaptation as well). I think I would have been more forgiving if it was on the DVD format, but the level of DNR applied to the Blu-ray release isn't something I can get past, not when it's so apparent with almost every frame.

[kdo]

Originally Posted by droidguy1119

You guys are saying the old DVD is better? Does the accompanying DVD look the same as the Blu, basically, just in SD?

Yes, the original 1999 Collector's Edition DVD is the one you want to own. The DVD that comes with the Blu-ray uses the same remastered & DNR'd transfer (just downconverted) that was done for the 25th anniversary.

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

It's certainly better than the DVD

Ummm, no. Certain shots (namely the space scenes) do benefit from the higher resolution, but the rest of the film really suffers from the DNR.

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

I think I would have been more forgiving if it was on the DVD format, but the level of DNR applied to the Blu-ray release isn't something I can get past, not when it's so apparent with almost every frame.

The 25th anniversary DVD looks just as bad as the Blu-ray.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by kdo

Ummm, no. Certain shots (namely the space scenes) do benefit from the higher resolution, but the rest of the film really suffers from the DNR.

So you're trying to tell me that a 720 x 480 image looks better than a 1920 x 1080 image with moderate DNR?

Dr.Evil Riiight - YouTube

[kdo]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

So you're trying to tell me that a 720 x 480 image looks better than a 1920 x 1080 image with moderate DNR?

Dr.Evil Riiight - YouTube

"Starfighter" didn't get "moderate" DNR, it got "Heavy" DNR, and yes, the DVD does look better overall (as I said, there are certain aspects of the Blu that are superior). The C.E. DVD looks more like film, despite the limitations of the format, and much more closely represents the original theatrical presentation. "Starfighter" ranks as my 3rd all-time favorite film, it's not one I take lightly .

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by kdo

"Starfighter" didn't get "moderate" DNR, it got "Heavy" DNR, and yes, the DVD does look better overall (as I said, there are certain aspects of the Blu that are superior). The C.E. DVD looks more like film, despite the limitations of the format, and much more closely represents the original theatrical presentation. "Starfighter" ranks as my 3rd all-time favorite film, it's not one I take lightly .

I suppose I understand where you're coming from, but I owned the original 1999 DVD and sold it. I am not about to go buy it again so I'll just stick with the BD. I had the HD DVD, but I noticed that it contained the same transfer that was later used for the BD. I know how you feel as I have been steering people to the best editions of my favorites as well such as Dune and Equilibrium.

[kdo]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I suppose I understand where you're coming from, but I owned the original 1999 DVD and sold it. I am not about to go buy it again so I'll just stick with the BD. I had the HD DVD, but I noticed that it contained the same transfer that was later used for the BD.

Yes, if it's not one of your favorite films, then it's probably not worth it to rebuy the DVD. Are you sure the HD-DVD was the same transfer? I never owned (or saw) it, but from what I gather, additional clean-up work was done for the Blu-ray. I know both were VC-1 encodes, and considering Universal tends to port many of their previous HD-DVD releases straight to Blu-ray, I wouldn't be all that surprised. I did see some caps of the HD-DVD release, and the DNR was evident there as well, so maybe it was the same. What are your thoughts?

I know how you feel as I have been steering people to the best editions of my favorites as well such as Dune and Equilibrium.

As film and home-theater enthusiasts, I feel it is our duty to do this . I want everyone who watches home-video to be able to experience movies in their best possible form.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by kdo

Yes, if it's not one of your favorite films, then it's probably not worth it to rebuy the DVD. Are you sure the HD-DVD was the same transfer? I never owned (or saw) it, but from what I gather, additional clean-up work was done for the Blu-ray. I know both were VC-1 encodes, and considering Universal tends to port many of their previous HD-DVD releases straight to Blu-ray, I wouldn't be all that surprised. I did see some caps of the HD-DVD release, and the DNR was evident there as well, so maybe it was the same. What are your thoughts?



As film and home-theater enthusiasts, I feel it is our duty to do this . I want everyone who watches home-video to be able to experience movies in their best possible form.

The HD DVD and BD transfers both seem to be exactly the same with the same amount of DNR it seems. This one needs a restoration and remaster badly, but I seriously doubt we're going to get it.

[kdo]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

The HD DVD and BD transfers both seem to be exactly the same with the same amount of DNR it seems. This one needs a restoration and remaster badly, but I seriously doubt we're going to get it.

It doesn't need a restoration, it needs a remaster...and yes, I highly doubt we'll ever get it. Universal has already pretty much made DVNR the "trademark stamp" of their HD catalog releases, there's little chance they're going to re-release any of them .

However, all in all, the "Starfighter" Blu is an acceptable viewing experience, and people need to realize that it's a soft-shot film that will never dazzle onscreen regardless of what's done to it. It's just that, as is the case with so many other disappointing HD releases, it could've been better...