Blu-ray's Grey Zone

[Maggot]

I started a thread a few weeks back asking the question of what constitutes your standard DVD PQ, using this site's rating system for Blu-ray. What I got back left me the impression that DVD would score a "0". As I grow my Blu-ray collection and read reviews, one thing stands out: There are a lot of transfers out there that sit in the 3.0 to 3.5 realm. I call this the Blu-ray's grey zone. 3.0 being the absolute "tollerable limit" for most with a 4.0 really being what the bare minimum should be. From my personal viewing experience, this rings true. At the same time, this worries me and I have stated that concern before. My concern, which I believe on some level is shared with most on this site, is that studios are putting far too many sub-standard transfers out there. This has lead to reply's stating that studios just can't pour money into each film's transfer. It was one thing with sub-standard DVD transfers as that format and the much smaller TV's they were watched on didn't expose issues the way we see them now. Unfortunately, there in lies the problem. The studios are pushing this HD format, yet are not truely understanding the double edge sword they have created. You have just about everybody and their mother now buying widescreen LCD's and plasma's along with Blu-ray players......both technologies that can clearly and frightingly expose a bad transfer, yet here we have so many movies that sit in this grey zone. Not a very good way to sell product. Word of mouth gets around very easily with the internet. Wasting money on issuing bad transfers and very few buying them as the word gets out about PQ, is a bad way to sell a format. The money wasted could have been used to make a better transfer in the first place. Sure, we can all say "double dip" here, but I hear more and more people every day saying they'll buy a Blu-ray player and just upconvert their existing DVD collection as there are too many titles out there that simply do not look much better than their DVD counterparts. That my friends, is a HUGE problem and the studios lack of understanding that each and every title that comes to Blu-ray needs, sorely needs, a good transfer is a major issue. This is why I think they have created a double edge sword here: They are either financially unwilling or unable to create transfers that do the format justice in EVERY instance. This is not standard def DVD here, people.....we are talking HD, where every little nuance and shred of an image can and is scrutinized with this technology's capabilities. It has to be done right the first time and every time!

[csdot]

i havent really run into that many problems, there isnt a single blu-ray in my collection that i wasnt satisfied with. (ok ONE - near dark) i think to say studios are putting out "far too many sub standard transfers" is a huge exaggeration

[Sponge-worthy]

On a personal level, I certainly agree with your sentiments. However, to expect the studios to give every catalog title a Wizard of Oz-type treatment while BD prices are in relative freefall is really asking for a bit of charity from the IP holders.

Ultimately, the movies that people want will see good transfers. Early-gen DVDs were of starkly lower quality than their contemporary brethren. Yet, when the demand is there, the 'remastered' versions get made. Yes there are economics involved, obviously--and 'double-dipping' does annoy some consumers, to be sure. However, as the technology to create good transfers becomes better and cheaper, and as consumer expectations of BD quality mature, I think your concern will gradually diminish.

Honestly, I think BD is starting off better than DVD did. Early MPEG-2 encodes were generally pretty bad, regardless of the source. At least with BD, good transfers were possible right out of the gate. Pirates of the Caribbean was the first BD I bought, and it's pretty gorgeous.

[recS-12]

I believe the studios have some sort of formula based on how much a transfer costs and what the projected income will be. If it makes financial sense to transfer a masterpiece they might do it. I.E. Gone w/the Wind. If it's just a so-so transfer it's probably because they don't think they'll re-coup their $$$. I think if they could shovel s*%t down our throats all week long they would, but then what would actually be the point of upgrading, right? I think the best thing a consumer can do is wait for a review and if it sounds like it doesn't live up to their expectations DON'T BUY IT. I stayed away from Gladiator, Gangs of New York,The 5th Element. And now my patience has paid off.