The DVD/Blu-Ray Thread

[Johnny Ryall]

All the best Blu-ray transfers have the huge borders, it's the same aspect ratio as the original cinema version. Anything fullscreen is cutting the sides off the picture.

Fullscreen Blu-rays (barring Pixar) are actually the same transfers as the old DVD's, hence why they look soft.

I think I finally get it. NickSCFC is a parody account, right? Genuinely in stitches.

O.A.R. black borders and all is how the director wanted the film to be framed. So Nick is right about that.

I bet you stretch 4:3 DVDs to widescreen you monster.

Dear god. So depressing. I genuinely despair for humanity. Have neither of you seen a movie made prior to the 60s? He's completely wrong. 'Anything fullscreen is cutting the sides off the picture.' is monumentally wrong. It's a sweeping blanket statement of nonsense. Many films (mainly older films) were filmed in 1.33.1, or the Academy aspect ratio 1.37.1 which was a universal standard during the 30s to the 50s and the Blu-rays that faithfully show such films in fullscreen (or what will appear fullscreen to the untrained eye) aren't the 'same transfers as the old DVDs'. It's not just older films though, the aspect ratio is an artistic choice, films such as Gus Van Sant's Elephant, or recent BAFTA winning Fish Tank aren't widescreen. Nor is there any kind of correlation between something being shown in fullscreen, and a Blu-ray being an upscale. Complete utter nonsense.

Lots of the titles he mentioned aren't upscales, because they show more detail than the DVDs, however, may well be taken from HD masters prepared with DVD in mind (older masters). Predator has an interesting history for example, first released with an excess of scanner noise, likely sourced from an older master, and then later released riddled with DNR (digital noise reduction), a process which can result in loss of detail, and a waxy looking image. Some of the titles mentioned aren't issues with the transfers however, merely the encode. Of course none of this has anything to do with aspect ratio, because one isn't indicative of the other.

Not to mention, DVD is as far from the archaic mess he seems to believe. The vast majority of UK DVD releases were released in ratios as intended by the director, or if the directors’ intention was not known, as originally released theatrically, according to DVDAF. Of course many weren't, but that was a more pressing problem at the start of the DVD generation, with some releases even having two releases, one fullscreen and one widescreen.

So this really wasn’t a parody of modern consumerism and a growing trend of consumers who know very little about what they consume, passing nonsense off as fact, in online circles? What about the GGC stuff? Is that serious too?

Preaching to the choir here, the transfer thing is really a whole different issue. I remember the early DVDs you're talking about, bloody hated the two sided ones always ended up scratched.

I actually saw a really informative thing about aspect ratios a while back on some videos site. Seems super nerdy but I thought it was cool. Didn't know until I saw it that 16:9 was a comprimise between 2.39:1 (cinema) and 4:3 Ah found it -

[vimeo]68830569[/vimeo]

I want films as they were made, if that means bars (vertical or horizontal) so be it.

To think we used to have to put up with pan and scan. It makes me very sad when people buy lovely TVs and strawberry float about with zoom/crop settings.

[Pedz]

So, what setting should you use? I use auto, as 16:9 slightly cuts off the picture on the sides.

[Johnny Ryall]

Depends on your TV and your DVD player. There are literally whole forums full of stuff like that, as well as recommended colour/contrast/etc settings.

[BAKA]

Preaching to the choir here, the transfer thing is really a whole different issue. I remember the early DVDs you're talking about, bloody hated the two sided ones always ended up scratched.

Flippers were annoying as hell. Thank god we've moved on from those. Memories.

I actually saw a really informative thing about aspect ratios a while back on some videos site. Seems super nerdy but I thought it was cool. Didn't know until I saw it that 16:9 was a comprimise between 2.39:1 (cinema) and 4:3 Ah found it -

[vimeo]68830569[/vimeo]

I want films as they were made, if that means bars (vertical or horizontal) so be it.

To think we used to have to put up with pan and scan. It makes me very sad when people buy lovely TVs and strawberry float about with zoom/crop settings.

Aspect Ratio has been, and still is, a very contentious topic with film aficionados, but a hugely fascinating one. There are lots of interesting issues still cropping up, particularly with older films where the director is no longer alive, where they've opened the vaults and are rescanning the original film elements digitally for the first time, only to find they're in a completely different ratio to what had been shown before, both theatrically and on home video.

I’ll give the video a watch when I have more time. Not sure if I’ve seen it or not. I’ve always admired Eureka’s Masters Of Cinema line for including a page in the back of their booklets illustrating how the film should look on your display. Very informative for people who aren’t as versed on such matters.

[Frank]

Just discovered the Disney rewards thing. Oh my Redeemed the codes from five discs I've had lying around for a while and I've already got enough points to get a free bluray. Went for the Aristocats in the end. Might nab Fantasia next time. I wouldn't pay a tenner for it, but it'd be a nice reward.

[Wedgie]

You know what I pretty much hate at the moment?

A TV series boxset that isn't consistent with its subtitles types.

Was watching Breaking Bad with my wife for the past two weeks and I just found out that Season 3 doesn't have Subtitles For Deaf/Hard of Hearing at all. Just plain English subtitles. This is pretty annoying as a lot of audio stuff isn't subtitled (like cell phone vibrating, phone ringing or gunshots.)

Pretty miffed.

[Gario]

Why are new releases like Thor 2 so basic these days, with no extra content? Is there generally a time gap now between no-frills first editions and special editions full of extras?

I like my Blu-rays to feel heavy and substantial and, well, a bit special. But what I end up getting is a plastic case that's flimsier than ever before and a lone disc inside. Not even a paper insert.

Weren't any of you lot expecting a fancy edition of Gravity packed with behind-the-scenes features etc? I guess something like this is a few months away.

[Joer]

I had both of these turn up today:

Excuse the large pictures, but both those cases were too gorgeous for me to turn down.

[massimo]

Finally received my copy of Gravity yesterday as well. Went for the 3D version but this will pretty much be the only bluray I buy in 3D. Mst 3D is pretty gooseberry fool, but this did make sense, I think. I'll have to compare it over the weekend. Now I need to find a good 3D bluray player.

[TigaSefi]

Hellava expense for ONE 3D film I think PS3 can play 3D movies if you have one of those lying around.

[Clarkman]

Got Blue Jasmine on it's way to me currently. Feels like the first time I haven't seen the DVD in a shop first. No shops left to see them in.

[No:1 Final Fantasy Fan]

Got Frozen 3D blu ray today so glad its topped Toy Story 3 to become the biggest earning animated film!

[Wedgie]

Got Frozen 3D blu ray today so glad its topped Toy Story 3 to become the biggest earning animated film!

It's good but Toy Story 3 is the better film.

[KjGarly]

[Joer]

Gorgeous. Where'd you get those from?

[KjGarly]

Both from Play.com, got the first film when it came out just thought it would compliment the pic more by including it

You can still get the first movie in Steelbook from Amazon sellers...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raid-Exclusive-Steelbook-Blu-ray-Print/dp/B009H2KLTC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407600936&sr=8-1&keywords=the+raid+steelbook

[Joer]

Cheers - just ordered the second one but the first is a bit beyond my paygrade for a film I already own at that price!

[Seven]

Guess I should include my Bluray purchases past week:



Figured it was good time to buy blurays considering they're fairly cheap these days.

[MagicMarker]

Got Frozen 3D blu ray today so glad its topped Toy Story 3 to become the biggest earning animated film!

It's good but Toy Story 3 is the better film.

Lies.

[D_C]

Got Frozen 3D blu ray today so glad its topped Toy Story 3 to become the biggest earning animated film!

It's good but Toy Story 3 is the better film.

Lies.

People, people. Let it go.