Quality Control of blu-ray releases Megathread

[Q?]

This thread is intended for movies with different released version's
i.e.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
U.S. version got a MPEQ-4 AVC encode (region free)
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...38&show=review
And the UK version got a VC-1 encode (region B)
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=1945

In the U.S. Review, it's claimed that the PQ is refence quality.
And I got the UK version which is NOT a refence PQ!
Though the UK PQ is not poor I suspect the U.S. release to be more worth the money!
And Planet Earth for example, some of the version's are 1080i (interlaced)
and 1080p (progressive). My copy from 2 Entertain with Sir David Attenborough narrating is 1080p fortunately.
It can be confusing which copy to order as you can't be absolutely sure
if this is the best version.
Let's help each other with finding the best version of blu-ray releases!

[Kynch]

This the thread I'd be reading most if people put their minds into it.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Kynch

This the thread I'd be reading most if people put their minds into it.

I will certainly make sure all of my future copy's are the best!
I will write on this thread as much as I can.
Have you had any problems with inferior blu-ray quality?

[richieb1971]

The Prestige gets a 5 for the USA version (region locked A)
The Prestige gets a 3 for the UK version (region B)

Although there are circumstances where its the other way around.


Total Recall, Terminator 2 are 4.5er's on UK, where as they get 2 for the US version.


I can understand if the UK version comes out after the USA version and looks better. But I can't understand if it comes out afterwards and looks worse. I mean thats just stupid. If they bought the rights they can/should just copy what someone else did surely?

[Rantlers]

I think dvdcompare.net does a pretty good job of this already.

[Q?]

The U.S. release (region free) is reviewed here:
"The blue color and material of the prisoner outfits appeared so rich and detailed", "The brightness of the sunlight".
This Release has a VC-1 encode.
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...74&show=review

The UK release (region B) is reviewed by a user:
"The PQ is solid and consistent, but not the sharpest you'll ever see. Colours are not very vivid, but that's in line with the movie"
This release has a MPEG-4 AVC encode.
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...ow=userreviews

It seems like the U.S. is better in terms of PQ.
Any thoughts?

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Rantlers

I think dvdcompare.net does a pretty good job of this already.

I checked it out... it's confusing and it's not all of them...
We must be vigilant!

[Kynch]

Originally Posted by QQQQ!

I will certainly make sure all of my future copy's are the best!
I will write on this thread as much as I can.
Have you had any problems with inferior blu-ray quality?

No, it's more the fact that I've been partially uninformed whereas to which version to go for. Although sometimes region-locking limits the horizon of choices.

But it's always nice to hear that a region-free US version of a movie is better than the French counterpart.

Originally Posted by richieb1971

I can understand if the UK version comes out after the USA version and looks better. But I can't understand if it comes out afterwards and looks worse. I mean thats just stupid. If they bought the rights they can/should just copy what someone else did surely?

Release date has little to do about it, it's simply up to what masters the different distributors own.

[Sky_Captain]

Some points for the OP to chew on:

1. The UK Hellboy II disc is an AVC transfer as well. I own it and have checked it especially for this thread. This site is incorrect in its listing.

2. The UK and US Shawshanks are indistinguishable PQ wise, with the US disc's advantages being lossless audio and NTSC extras.

3. Vertical Limit's US disc is supposedly an MPEG-2 release. The UK disc is confirmed as an AVC transfer.

4. US Training Day is MPEG-2. UK release is VC-1.

[HumanMedia]

From AikonEnt in the Fountain thread:

The Fountain (UK release) - Fox, BD50, DTSHD-MA
The Fountain (US release) - Warner, BD25, DD

[HumanMedia]

And of course the international releases of The Thing, Man on Fire and Jarhead have all of the DVD extras and is on a BD50 (but the main feature is the same encode).

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

Some points for the OP to chew on:

1. The UK Hellboy II disc is an AVC transfer as well. I own it and have checked it especially for this thread. This site is incorrect in its listing.

2. The UK and US Shawshanks are indistinguishable PQ wise, with the US disc's advantages being lossless audio and NTSC extras.

3. Vertical Limit's US disc is supposedly an MPEG-2 release. The UK disc is confirmed as an AVC transfer.

4. US Training Day is MPEG-2. UK release is VC-1.

1. there's nothing wrong with my setup, then why can't I see the
reference quality I've read about?
2. Ok, where have you got your information from? And does this mean
we can't trust the user review, as we can't be sure that he has the UK copy
or other?
3. and 4. Which of them have better transfer?
I encourage this kind of corrections! Thanks for the response!
I for one do not want this thread to give wrong info.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by HumanMedia

From AikonEnt in the Fountain thread:

The Fountain (UK release) - Fox, BD50, DTSHD-MA
The Fountain (US release) - Warner, BD25, DD

The only problem with that is the UK release is region locked to B. I would get it in a heartbeat if it wasn't.

The new U.S. Zodiac BD stomps all over the international Warner version.

[HumanMedia]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

The only problem with that is the UK release is region locked to B. I would get it in a heartbeat if it wasn't.

Yeah I'm region neutral now with a region free player. I dont have to be restricted by those silly regions anymore, so I can get the best release as I see fit - the way it should be!

[HumanMedia]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed to something like "Best release of a blu-ray title" or something more explanatory?

[Kynch]

Originally Posted by QQQQ!

2. Ok, where have you got your information from? And does this mean
we can't trust the user review, as we can't be sure that he has the UK copy
or other?

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...on_blu-ray.htm

I have the UK copy so I can confirm it's only got Dolby Digital.

[2099net]

Originally Posted by HumanMedia

And of course the international releases of The Thing, Man on Fire and Jarhead have all of the DVD extras and is on a BD50 (but the main feature is the same encode).

Jarheads BD50 video encode is just under twice the US's video encode bitrate. It is most certainly not the same encode.

There is already a thread about this:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...hlight=jarhead

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by QQQQ!

1. there's nothing wrong with my setup, then why can't I see the
reference quality I've read about?
2. Ok, where have you got your information from? And does this mean
we can't trust the user review, as we can't be sure that he has the UK copy
or other?
3. and 4. Which of them have better transfer?
I encourage this kind of corrections! Thanks for the response!
I for one do not want this thread to give wrong info.

1. Reviews are subjective.Stop taking everything on this site as gospel! That said, Hellboy II is a bloody good transfer.
2. I repeat, reviews are subjective. Having had the benefit of actually running the discs side by side, they are virtually indistinguishable. Can you really tell that much difference here? :http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...on_blu-ray.htm
The reviewer's not even sure that that there's any differences at the end of the day.

3. They apparently look identical. I have the AVC encoded UK disc and it's not exactly mindblowing.

4. The UK disc looks the best, the US disc is tepid at best.

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by Kynch

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...on_blu-ray.htm

I have the UK copy so I can confirm it's only got Dolby Digital.

Yeah, the US is obviously the way to go in terms of wanting a lossless soundtrack,(and NTSC extras). Regarding the PQ,(oops, looks like we used the same Beaver link, my apologies), there's nothing really between them.

[Kynch]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

Yeah, the US is obviously the way to go in terms of wanting a lossless soundtrack,(and NTSC extras). Regarding the PQ,(oops, looks like we used the same Beaver link, my apologies), there's nothing really between them.

I might actually get around to purchasing the US import, that digibook looks ace.

And don't worry, it's good to see other people go on websites you surf on.