Do studios have to meet minimum quality standards for their movies to be put on BDs?

[Heart&Soul]

Shouldn't studios be required to display their movies at their best? Especially with a movie that's been released within the last year. Maybe Blu-ray could use THX.

[mdtulp]

I believe studios can release anything they want, crap or not, its up to us to decide how to spend the $$

[Whytewash]

Originally Posted by mdtulp

I believe studios can release anything they want, crap or not, its up to us to decide how to spend the $$

+1... as sad as it is, you are prolly right. I think there are no standards. although there must be some or they will get shit on by consumers if there isnt at least SOME quality to the release

[cajmoyper]

I'd say they all have to be 1080p, but then can bring up Justin Timberlake. And you can't say they require high-res audio, my reasoning I'd think is pretty obvious. So.....no.

[ixlegitballinxl]

studios need to upgrade sound!!!

[syncguy]

I wish to see at least guidelines on blu-ray transfers and set industry voluntary standards to maintain the standards/quality of the blu-ray movies.

I cannot complain about Hollywood yet but there have been many issues with foreign DVD productions. Simply some of them are not to the DVD specifications in relation to the picture resolution and quality. The excuse is the costs involved in the high quality transfer process. In particular, I have experience in Bollywood movies. I haven't seen the first and only Bollywood blu-ray Heyy babyy yet. But the rumors about picture quality of this and others scheduled for release in May is promising.

[WickyWoo]

The biggest thing that will keep them to high standards is because they have to show that HD offers a signifigant upgrade over DVD, even with upconversion.

I cannot complain about Hollywood yet but there have been many issues with foreign DVD productions. Simply some of them are not to the DVD specifications in relation to the picture resolution and quality. The excuse is the costs involved in the high quality transfer process. In particular, I have experience in Bollywood movies. I haven't seen the first and only Bollywood blu-ray Heyy babyy yet. But the rumors about picture quality of this and others scheduled for release in May is promising.

Part of that is that they look like crap to begin with, seriously. The home market in India just can't afford high standards for what amounts to a money laundering operation for organized crime (as virtually all Hong Kong and Bollywood film is) when the average income of most of the country is what, $10 a day? Maybe?

[syncguy]

Mainly Indian DVDs and blu-rays are aimed at the Asians live in the west and the rich/upper-middle-class Indians. If this category is 10% (could be higher) the numbers are substantial. For the rest of the India they have VCDs.

Bollywood blockbusters are in very high quality when watched in theaters. They get into the UK top 10 on a regular basis. Problem is with the DVDs. However, there are good Bollywood DVDs that are comparable to good quality Hollywood DVDs.

I have seen many favorable comments about the first Bollywood blu-ray movie Heyy Babyy. I sincerely hope this trend would continue and Bollywood would take this as an opportunity to open up the Indian cinema to the whole world.

Nevertheless, I wish to see de-facto /voluntary standards on blu-ray transfers. Just in case, if someone is shifting away from those guidelines, at least others could point the finger at them and also it will assist to keep up the image of blu-ray across the world.

[Malosch78]

Originally Posted by mdtulp

I believe studios can release anything they want, crap or not, its up to us to decide how to spend the $$

So you can crap in 1080p ... why!?

[wallendo]

The problem with "standards" is ...
how do you quantitatively determine quality? Do you count the number of grains per screen? Do you check histograms to assess color quality? Do you look for compression artifacts? Do you review software settings used for scanning and compression? Do you have different standards for new releases, recent releases, and "old" films?

Unfortunately, if Blu-ray completely replaces DVD we may see a fall off in quality as there would be little incentive for studios to "out-do the DVD".

Going forward, with most movies either filmed digitally or at least distributed in digital format to theatres, there should be little excuse for poor picture or audio quality on new releases (other than poor compression).

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by mdtulp

I believe studios can release anything they want, crap or not, its up to us to decide how to spend the $$

+1 Its a very sad reality.

[Quad]

Its the same as with DVD, some look good some look like old VHS transfers. I never bought into the whole THX DVD until I saw how good they looked upscaled.

[Blu n Gold]

I am concered with the fact that studios like WB release movies pretty quickly. They release a lot of movies. This is a plus. Now with studios like Sony, they release remastered, outstanding classics like Close Encounters, and they sell so poorly that they question whether or not it is worth it to do again. Top quality, reference releases are expensive. If these releases are not selling well enough to justify them, then we will get poorer blu-rays.

[Heart&Soul]

What I don't understand is why the studios don't want their product to look and sound their best. It reflects on them and when they put out an inferior looking movie, people shy away from future movies. How many times do people in here complain and certain studios?

[Heart&Soul]

Then how does THX come up with their standards?

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by mdtulp

I believe studios can release anything they want, crap or not, its up to us to decide how to spend the $$

Well, I gotta say that most of my Blu-rays are a helluva lot nicer than their DVD counterparts. Otherwise, I would have stopped buying them months ago.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by mdtulp

I believe studios can release anything they want, crap or not, its up to us to decide how to spend the $$

That sums it up just right.

[BaronVH]

Originally Posted by Heart&Soul

Then how does THX come up with their standards?

The studios have to pay for that, and many opt out due to cost. There are very few BDs with THX certification. Terminator 2 being one of them and that did not have lossless sound. In my opinion there are many BDs with perfect picture and sound, but with the THX stamp at least you would get some minimum standard. But as it stands the cost of THX seems to be the barrier.

[WickyWoo]

Then how does THX come up with their standards?

THX certifies the equipment and environment used in the telecine process meets their standards, and that there was no compromise

They do not assure quality of film elements provided (though they reserve the right to refuse based on them) or necessarily what is done with the master tape once it's handed over

[Heart&Soul]

Does anyone think that studios will train people to provide better elements? I'm sure there's an art to taking a film and making it digital for Blu-ray, but is it inexperience or a time limit that leads to inferior elements?