Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Ender14

This ended up being much more challenging than I had anticipated but I think it represents my favorite 100 films of all time. There are some I really wanted to make the list but I couldn't remove any of the ones I already had. But regardless of quality these represent the 100 that are nearest to my heart. Enjoy!

Casablanca
Seven
Nightmare Alley (1947)
Ghostbusters
The Avengers
Moulin Rouge
La La Land
The Empire Strikes Back
The Exorcist
Insidious
The Conjuring
The Shining
Doctor Sleep
The Fellowship of the Ring
Double Indemnity
V for Vendetta
It’s a Wonderful Life
Session 9
In Bruges
Home Alone
The Rocketeer
The Big Sleep (1946)
Glengarry Glen Ross
Aliens
The Asphalt Jungle
The Truman Show
Nobody’s Fool (1994)
Beautiful Girls
The Karate Kid
Batman Begins
The Silence of the Lambs
L.A. Confidential
Heat
Braveheart
Goodfellas
Out of Sight
Vertigo
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Cinema Paradiso
A Christmas Story
The Thing
The Abyss
The Breakfast Club
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Event Horizon
The Matrix
High Fidelity
Grosse Pointe Blank
Say Anything
John Wick
Back to the Future
Mission: Impossible
Army of Darkness
Halloween (1978)
A Nightmare on Elm Street
In the Mouth of Madness
L.A. Story
mother!
Reservoir Dogs
Pulp Fiction
Gilda (1946)
Die Hard
The Goonies
The Crow
Paranormal Activity
Point Break
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Shaun of the Dead
The Dark Knight
Citizen Kane
The Godfather
Schindler’s List
Serenity
A Knight’s Tale
Strange Days
Dr. Strangelove
A Clockwork Orange
The Hurt Locker
Zodiac
The Killing (1956)
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
The Purple Rose of Cairo
Chinatown
Memento
The Game
Grease
Blade II
Groundhog Day
The Quiet Man (1952)
The Princess Bride
Cape Fear (1991)
The Frighteners
Evil Dead II
In the Name of the Father
The Boxer
Brazil
Wall-E
Big Trouble in Little China
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Cool list mate.

Just picked up the Blade trilogy on Blu-ray. I remember enjoying Blade 2, looking forward to revisiting it. The vampire design of the reapers? (Can’t remember what they were called) was pretty cool.

Event Horizon makes my top 200 films list. Very atmospheric film.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Cool list mate.

Just picked up the Blade trilogy on Blu-ray. I remember enjoying Blade 2, looking forward to revisiting it. The vampire design of the reapers? (Can’t remember what they were called) was pretty cool.

Event Horizon makes my top 200 films list. Very atmospheric film.

I just re-watched Blade II a couple of weeks ago with the first Blade being about 6 weeks ago on 4K. I guess I should watch the third one to be complete with the trilogy even though it does not compare to the first two. And yes, they were called Reapers. I forgot Norman Reedus was in it.

[gotmule]

For those keeping score at home, a couple more additions are on their way for my system. Since I still had an itch for a new processor after the Lyngdorf did not work out leaving a bad taste in my mouth, I went ahead and ordered the Storm Audio ISP MK2 in a 24 channel configuration. I had toyed around with them and the Trinnov originally, but the more I researched and looked at the level of support, the Storm came out on top. The amount of control and fine tune adjustments is beyond belief, and the reviews are extremely positive. It should show up in about 2 weeks from France. For those interested, here is a review that does a deep dive into what it is about.

https://www.avnirvana.com/threads/he...rocessor.7780/

I also am switching out my Adcom amps which run my height channels, and grabbed another Sherbourn off of eBay with the goal of having 4 identical amps powering everything in the system. 3 down and 1 more to go. These have been my favorite amps for quite some time due to seemingly limitless headroom and tons of very clean power with 7 toroidal transformers in each amp.

Then it is waiting for the new JVC projector to come in, and I think I may be done for awhile.....maybe.

[canucksam]

Not sure if this was seen or discussed at all, but it suggests those of us who collect physical media will be doing so again and again as the first copy wears out. If true, makes me wonder if there's any sense in buying as used disc that came out in 2005 if it's almost on its last legs.

A basement location with a dehumidifier really seems to help!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainmen...-dvd-1.6245540

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by canucksam

Not sure if this was seen or discussed at all, but it suggests those of us who collect physical media will be doing so again and again as the first copy wears out. If true, makes me wonder if there's any sense in buying as used disc that came out in 2005 if it's almost on its last legs.

A basement location with a dehumidifier really seems to help!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainmen...-dvd-1.6245540

Nope, I think that’s a load of crap to be honest.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by gotmule

I just re-watched Blade II a couple of weeks ago with the first Blade being about 6 weeks ago on 4K. I guess I should watch the third one to be complete with the trilogy even though it does not compare to the first two. And yes, they were called Reapers. I forgot Norman Reedus was in it.

It’s a strange one in the sense that I remember really enjoying it at the cinema but for whatever reason, didn’t pick it up on Blu. I have rectified that now.

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Nope, I think that’s a load of crap to be honest.

It's crap because you don't like the implications...

I've never bought a disc thinking that it would last forever. The one thing I've learned from buying discs is that no purchase will ever be the last purchase of a title that I care to own.

Long before a given format wears out, I will be buying the title on a newer format or in a remastered version on the same format. T'was ever thus chicken little...

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

It's crap because you don't like the implications...

I've never bought a disc thinking that it would last forever. The one thing I've learned from buying discs is that no purchase will ever be the last purchase of a title that I care to own.

Long before a given format wears out, I will be buying the title on a newer format or in a remastered version on the same format. T'was ever thus chicken little...

Well your experience is different from mine. My thousand strong DVD collection starting 2000 is still absolutely fine, as is my Blu-ray collection from 2008. As long as they are looked after, they last.

Therefore, I stand by my first comment.

It wasn’t about upgrading titles, it was about discs not working.

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Well your experience is different from mine. My thousand strong DVD collection starting 2000 is still absolutely fine, as is my Blu-ray collection from 2008. As long as they are looked after, they last.

Therefore, I stand by my first comment.

It wasn’t about upgrading titles, it was about discs not working.

What are you actually watching on DVD? I mean really??

Even upscaled to 4K, they look like ass in 2021.

I still have a handful of LDs mostly out of complacency. I have a few video nasties on DVD that I never bothered to upgrade. For the most part, if a title didn't make the upgrade list from DVD to Bluray, then I can probably, with increasing probability, stream it in either 1080p or even 4K now. No matter what your bias is against streaming, it will still look better than digging out that old DVD.

The list of titles that represent an enormous difference in quality on physical media over straeming warranting a purchase decreases with each new format. It's ironic that many of the remasters made for physical media make for an improved streaming experience.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

What are you actually watching on DVD? I mean really??

Even upscaled to 4K, they look like ass in 2021.

I still have a handful of LDs mostly out of complacency. I have a few video nasties on DVD that I never bothered to upgrade. For the most part, if a title didn't make the upgrade list from DVD to Bluray, then I can probably, with increasing probability, stream it in either 1080p or even 4K now. No matter what your bias is against streaming, it will still look better than digging out that old DVD.

The list of titles that represent an enormous difference in quality on physical media over straeming warranting a purchase decreases with each new format. It's ironic that many of the remasters made for physical media make for an improved streaming experience.

Have you seen SD digital films? They look like crap. DVD is superior.

What do I have on DVD? Louis Theroux documentaries (which come and go on streaming services)

Ghost Stories for Christmas boxset (look fine, never released on Blu-ray)

Mrs Merton show (comedy chat show)

Worzel Gummidge boxset

Thriller (70’s tv boxset)

Plus hundreds of films that didn’t get a Blu-ray release.

Oh and a few adult titles from Vinegar Syndrome.

I love 4K but I still enjoy some of these DVDs.

Like I said, digital SD looks like ass compared like for like.

Plus digital films are just a waste of money. I don’t own them and they are ripe for censorship or alterations depending on what some lowlife on Twitter is moaning about that week or month. Cancel culture is real.

[Lee A Stewart]

Steedeel:

No anime on your 100 favorite list?

[unberechenbar]

Just saw House of Gucci. Was a step down from The Last Duel but maybe my expectations were too high. It started out pretty strong but I felt like the movie kind of lost its focus towards the end. It looked amazing though.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Steedeel:

No anime on your 100 favorite list?

Not a huge fan of anime.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Not a huge fan of anime.

Still it has its share of drama/horror/supernatural/fantasy/mystery. As you know it’s the equivalent of comic book content for Japan. Several movies based from Manga series such as Alita: Battle Angel are all based from this content. I never watch much until Netflix had a lot then found it can possess a lot of drama. Demon Slayer, which had it first series on Netflix, came out with a sequel movie for that about a demon using a train to feast that made $452 million in 2020. Yes #2 worldwide in 2020.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Still it has its share of drama/horror/supernatural/fantasy/mystery. As you know it’s the equivalent of comic book content for Japan. Several movies based from Manga series such as Alita: Battle Angel are all based from this content. I never watch much until Netflix had a lot then found it can possess a lot of drama. Demon Slayer, which had it first series on Netflix, came out with a sequel movie for that about a demon using a train to feast that made $452 million in 2020. Yes #2 worldwide in 2020.

I have watched it just not my thing in terms of collecting.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

What are you actually watching on DVD? I mean really??

Even upscaled to 4K, they look like ass in 2021.

Pink Floyd the Wall for one thing.

My DVD copy of one of my favorite movies upscaled looks better than the online HD version. I have them both to compare.

DVD looks ok on my system still.... it's not the best but I prefer it to online HD because it doesn't dip into potato vision if someone else in the house is using the network. I understand Fiber Optic networking is on the way but we don't have it yet where I live.

I don't know if there will be another physical format for video. I have to say UHD BD leaves me wanting for absolutely nothing as it really delivers and is quite fun to collect. If there is no new physical format then I sure hope there is a downloadable format of some type beyond the HD offered by iTunes and other streaming services. I like to have a movie in house before I host a movie for others. I would love to be able to DL my 4K iTunes even though they are inferior to the UHD BD versions. (Some are not available on disc.)

I tried to host Promising Young Woman which I only had on iTunes 4K at the time. It went fine but in the last few minutes someone else must have bogged down my connection or there was some type of problem because it went blocky yuk I guess I should be glad it didn't pause to buffer. I was holding out for a UHD release but caved and purchased the Blu in case I ever host it again.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Pink Floyd the Wall for one thing.

My DVD copy of one of my favorite movies upscaled looks better than the online HD version. I have them both to compare.

DVD looks ok on my system still.... it's not the best but I prefer it to online HD because it doesn't dip into potato vision if someone else in the house is using the network. I understand Fiber Optic networking is on the way but we don't have it yet where I live.

I don't know if there will be another physical format for video. I have to say UHD BD leaves me wanting for absolutely nothing as it really delivers and is quite fun to collect. If there is no new physical format then I sure hope there is a downloadable format of some type beyond the HD offered by iTunes and other streaming services. I like to have a movie in house before I host a movie for others. I would love to be able to DL my 4K iTunes even though they are inferior to the UHD BD versions. (Some are not available on disc.)

I tried to host Promising Young Woman which I only had on iTunes 4K at the time. It went fine but in the last few minutes someone else must have bogged down my connection or there was some type of problem because it went blocky yuk I guess I should be glad it didn't pause to buffer. I was holding out for a UHD release but caved and purchased the Blu in case I ever host it again.

Nothing worse than potato vision.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

Even upscaled to 4K, they look like ass in 2021.

Just like any other video the look of DVD is totally dependent on the source. Given an excellent source a DVD can look fairly good played on a player like the Oppo UHD BD players. Then you have madVR (I do not have).

The reason I still have my DVD collection is simple, the titles are not available on HD disc or streaming. Some DVD's I have done DVD2DHD but I keep the disc just in case the streaming version goes away or is changed.

Then in a few cases there is an HD version of a DVD title on HD disc and/or streaming but they screwed up the sound track. As in the DVD has a really good Dolby Surround track while the HD version sounds like it is in mono.

At this point I believe some of my DVD titles will never see a HD version of any kind. I still have a few D-VHS D-Theater titles that have not made it to disc and/or streaming so I will keep those tapes as well.

[Vilya]

Happy Thanksgiving to each and every last one of you here at blu-ray.com! You are all in my thoughts. Enjoy the holiday. Enjoy each other.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Happy Thanksgiving to each and every last one of you here at blu-ray.com! You are all in my thoughts. Enjoy the holiday. Enjoy each other.

Good to hear from you. All the best.

Waiting for your top 100 films when you feel better!