Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex

[UseY0ur1llusi0n]

Originally Posted by Vlad Draculi

I would, but the English audio is in standard dolby. My DVDs are superior than that because the audio is in DTS.

Your assumption that DTS is perpetually superior than DD 5.1 is unwise and not always true, as pointed out here.

I've done A-B comps between the DVDs and and the DD 5.1 track encoded @ (640kbps) on the BD is clearly stronger and flat out superior. In fact, this is the best the dub has ever sounded, unless it's ever given an HD mix. It's much more enhanced than the DTS track found on the DVDs, with better clarity and immersion throughout. The DVDs look like crap, and the JP BDs remain the ultimate AV presentation the series has ever received since 2009.

PS: If Mangle actually does release the series on BD, there's a good chance they'll botch the audio or subtitles, (if their recent GitS 25th Anniv Blu-ray is any indication), as noted on the first page by chronoclast. Chances are they'll also have trouble authoring the 1080i content for all 52 episodes as well.

Originally Posted by k_dog77803

Do any of you guys own the movie versions of SAC and 2nd GIG on blu? If so are they worth getting?

Nope, I don't. The SAC & 2nd GIG movie versions themselves are garbage. They're just condensed compilation films of the series, with a totally different dub cast to boot.

[Thomas Guycott]

Originally Posted by zrdb

Damn straight-subs only are for dead people. LOL-but that'd make me dead as I'm currently watching a subbed only series.

Wow, and I thought I was the jerk in the whole dub/sub debate...

[Vlad Draculi]

Originally Posted by k_dog77803

Do any of you guys own the movie versions of SAC and 2nd GIG on blu? If so are they worth getting?

NO!! Not only did a different studio dub the movies, but they are pretty awful in how edited together they are.

Originally Posted by UseY0ur1llusi0n

Your assumption that DTS is perpetually superior than DD 5.1 is unwise and not always true, as pointed out here.

Since I have the special editions, I have listened to both discs and the DTS track disc is indeed superior to the Dolby track disc.

I've done A-B comps between the DVDs and and the DD 5.1 track encoded @ (640kbps) on the BD is clearly stronger and flat out superior. In fact, this is the best the dub has ever sounded, unless it's ever given an HD mix. It's much more enhanced than the DTS track found on the DVDs, with better clarity and immersion throughout. The DVDs look like crap, and the JP BDs remain the ultimate AV presentation the series has ever received since 2009.

Interesting, but I'm still going to pass due to price. The DVDs looks perfectly fine though. At least, for DVDs.

PS: If Mangle actually does release the series on BD, there's a good chance they'll botch the audio or subtitles, (if their recent GitS 25th Anniv Blu-ray is any indication), as noted on the first page by chronoclast. Chances are they'll also have trouble authoring the 1080i content for all 52 episodes as well.

I doubt they would botch them for a high profile series. The movie is not as high profile as the series. Plus, if anything, they would partner up with someone again like they did for the DVDs. Hopefully Funimation.

[k_dog77803]

Thanks guys for the info about the movies not featuring the original dub cast. No Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as the Major equals me no buy!

[Cat III]

Originally Posted by zrdb

Damn straight-subs only are for dead people. LOL-but that'd make me dead as I'm currently watching a subbed only series.

You're confused. I didn't say anything negative about subs, just that I like the GitS: SAC dub. No need to take sides in a nonexistent sub/dub war.

[Girls With Guns]

That's just zrdb being zrdb again, as usual...

[Cat III]

Originally Posted by Girls With Guns

That's just zrdb being zrdb again, as usual...

I guess I don't spend enough time around these parts.

[UseY0ur1llusi0n]

Originally Posted by Vlad Draculi

Since I have the special editions, I have listened to both discs and the DTS track disc is indeed superior to the Dolby track disc.

On the DVDs, yeah! But have you listened to the Dolby Track (@ 640kpbs) on the BDs?

Nope, didn't think so.

Puts the DVDs to shame and is the best the dub has ever sounded until we get a lossless presentation, preferabley unbotched Mangle?

Originally Posted by Vlad Draculi

Interesting, but I'm still going to pass due to price. The DVDs looks perfectly fine though. At least, for DVDs

The DVDs are incrediblely poor, and were put through an eye cancer inducing "Q-TEC-esque" blur sharpen combo, smudging the linework and wiping away detail. The DVDs are nearly unwatchable IMHO. They are also riddled with compression artifacts, macroblocking, and posterization up the ying yang, all of which is almost nowhere to be found on the BDs. The 1080i transfer actually does a very impressive job at hiding the abundant instances of banding seen on the cruddy DVDs. I only noticed probably about 2 or 3 severe shots in all of 2nd GIG and 5 or 6 shots in all of SAC.

But hey, with your satisfaction on Viz's recent Sailor Moon abortion, I can't say I blame you for being pleased with the DVDs. We all got our own set of standards I guess.

Originally Posted by Vlad Draculi

I doubt they would botch them for a high profile series. The movie is not as high profile as the series.

They certainly made it sound "high profile." ↓

Mamoru Oshii will be receiving his award on our opening night, July 17, before a special screening of the new HD master of GHOST IN THE SHELL, being re-issued by Manga Entertainment and Anchor Bay Entertainment in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the original manga's publication. This will be the first time the GITS HD print has been made available outside of Japan, lovingly restored, unadulterated and awe-inspiring in its beauty.

[Show spoiler]Only to botch it for release.

I wouldn't trust Mangle™ if my life depended on it, they just can't seem to ever be able to get GitS right.

[Vlad Draculi]

I said the video quality was fine for DVD.

I also don't have any compression or macroblocking issues. Maybe it is just your player?

[robgmun]

Saving up for these babies from japan too, the Yen seems to be weakening against the British pound too so i will wait until after christmas

[Futurhythm]

There's a South Korean Blu-ray boxset coming out next month. Pretty pricy, but it looks like a very swanky set. Comes with a booklet and each disc has a lenticular cover as well. Most important of all, it has English subs!

[madlost1]

Originally Posted by Futurhythm

There's a South Korean Blu-ray boxset coming out next month. Pretty pricy, but it looks like a very swanky set. Comes with a booklet and each disc has a lenticular cover as well. Most important of all, it has English subs!

Thats an excellent price compared to shelling out for the Japanese sets especially sine it comes with both subs and dub.

[Futurhythm]

Originally Posted by madlost1

Thats an excellent price compared to shelling out for the Japanese sets especially sine it comes with both subs and dub.

I'm pretty tempted. I've had the Japanese boxes on my wishlist for a while now, but this seems like a more economical alternative. Hopefully they'll put one out for 2nd Gig too.

[Sinthetic]

100 times nicer than the Japanese box. That's 7 x Lenticular goodness.

I'd imagine it's identical PQ wise too seeing as 7 discs are included.

[Bobo1313]

Originally Posted by Futurhythm

There's a South Korean Blu-ray boxset coming out next month. Pretty pricy, but it looks like a very swanky set. Comes with a booklet and each disc has a lenticular cover as well. Most important of all, it has English subs!

Thanks for the info, ive been saving for the japanese version for a while. I might just go for this set, its much cheaper and looks pretty nice also. Plus it has english dub and sub.

[Tellymon]

I'm jumping all over that thing

[JackKnightStarman]

Originally Posted by Futurhythm

There's a South Korean Blu-ray boxset coming out next month. Pretty pricy, but it looks like a very swanky set. Comes with a booklet and each disc has a lenticular cover as well. Most important of all, it has English subs!

I'm hesitant on price. Don't get me wrong, I would love to own it. But with my luck an north American release would be announced in January.

[Radical Ed]

Originally Posted by Futurhythm

There's a South Korean Blu-ray boxset coming out next month. Pretty pricy, but it looks like a very swanky set. Comes with a booklet and each disc has a lenticular cover as well. Most important of all, it has English subs!

Must. Resist. Urge. To. Double. Dip.

[Girls With Guns]

Originally Posted by Radical Ed

Must. Resist. Urge. To. Double. Dip.

Haha, hell with that - I'm double-dipping, even though I already own both of the JP sets... I already have an account setup with KimchiDVD, bought from them before...

[Cat III]

That is one gorgeous set and the price is reasonable. Could stare at lenticular covers like this all day: