DVDBeaver
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
DVDBeaver
New...
Legend Films - Region 1 - NTSC "The Girl on the Bridge" vs. Fox / Pathè - Region 2 - PAL
Divisa - Region 0 - PAL "Werewolf Shadow" vs. Deimos (Export Version with Spanish Scenes) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Deimos (US Edit) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC
Deimos - Region 0 - NTSC "Curse of the Devil" vs. Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC
ITV DVD - REGION FREE Blu-ray "Great Expectations" vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Carlton - Region 2 - PAL
Umbrella Entertainment (2 disc) - Region 0 - PAL "Picnic at Hanging Rock" vs. Pathe - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Second Sight (UK) 3-disc - Region 2 - PAL vs. Kinowelt (German) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Gaumont Boxset (France) CTVH - Region 2 - PAL
From the comments: "The extras (of the new Second Sight) actually include the longer theatrical cut giving many fans this rare chance to see it after all these years. Unfortunately, the condition is quite poor, and it is cropped, and we have added to full resolution screen caps at the very bottom of this comparison. Still, I was extremely happy to finally see it."
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Cheers,
P.S. By the way, all our Black Narcissus Blu-ray caps have been replaced with ones that more faithfully represent what is on the ITV BRD.
Legend Films - Region 1 - NTSC "The Girl on the Bridge" vs. Fox / Pathè - Region 2 - PAL
Divisa - Region 0 - PAL "Werewolf Shadow" vs. Deimos (Export Version with Spanish Scenes) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Deimos (US Edit) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC
Deimos - Region 0 - NTSC "Curse of the Devil" vs. Anchor Bay Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC
ITV DVD - REGION FREE Blu-ray "Great Expectations" vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Carlton - Region 2 - PAL
Umbrella Entertainment (2 disc) - Region 0 - PAL "Picnic at Hanging Rock" vs. Pathe - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Second Sight (UK) 3-disc - Region 2 - PAL vs. Kinowelt (German) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Gaumont Boxset (France) CTVH - Region 2 - PAL
From the comments: "The extras (of the new Second Sight) actually include the longer theatrical cut giving many fans this rare chance to see it after all these years. Unfortunately, the condition is quite poor, and it is cropped, and we have added to full resolution screen caps at the very bottom of this comparison. Still, I was extremely happy to finally see it."
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Cheers,
P.S. By the way, all our Black Narcissus Blu-ray caps have been replaced with ones that more faithfully represent what is on the ITV BRD.
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
Thanks David - sorry BN BRD is off the hard drive.
***
New...
Warner - REGION FREE - Blu-ray "Eyes Wide Shut " vs. Warner (2-disc Special Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC vs. Warner - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Europe) - Region 2 - PAL
WARNING NUDITY
- I can't support my conclusions with the resized caps, but when you click to the linked, full resolution, ones - the grainy and diffused lighting sequences show much more as intended, IMO.
New...
Warner - (Limited Edition Gift Set) - Region 1- NTSC "Batman Begins" vs. Warner - Blu-ray - Region FREE
NOTE: Server seems to be a shade slower due to the large screen capture downloads and guys (and gals?) perusing Ms. Kidman's buttocks.
This weekend we should have full comparisons with Criterion's High and Low, Vampyr and Trafic, plus Batman: Gotham Knight (Blu-ray vs. SD) if we get the chance.
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Cheers,
***
New...
Warner - REGION FREE - Blu-ray "Eyes Wide Shut " vs. Warner (2-disc Special Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC vs. Warner - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Europe) - Region 2 - PAL
WARNING NUDITY
- I can't support my conclusions with the resized caps, but when you click to the linked, full resolution, ones - the grainy and diffused lighting sequences show much more as intended, IMO.
New...
Warner - (Limited Edition Gift Set) - Region 1- NTSC "Batman Begins" vs. Warner - Blu-ray - Region FREE
NOTE: Server seems to be a shade slower due to the large screen capture downloads and guys (and gals?) perusing Ms. Kidman's buttocks.
This weekend we should have full comparisons with Criterion's High and Low, Vampyr and Trafic, plus Batman: Gotham Knight (Blu-ray vs. SD) if we get the chance.
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Cheers,
- colinr0380
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
- Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK
I did notice that the full resolution Blu-Ray image of that picture is saved under the file name "large %20 nicoles bum", which (if you'll pardon the pun) seems a bit cheeky!Gary Tooze wrote:NOTE: Server seems to be a shade slower due to the large screen capture downloads and guys (and gals?) perusing Ms. Kidman's buttocks.
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
First you'll have to explain what you were doing looking at the full res of that particular cap.
I name them in such a way as I can remember the file - cause I have to link to it after.... and I believe Kubrick himself entitled that opening scene in the script 'Nicole's bum' - look it up!
BTW, just finished High and Low (Prince commentary) and caps are looking sweet... my top 5 Kurosawa films. Might have done later today.
Cheers,
G
I name them in such a way as I can remember the file - cause I have to link to it after.... and I believe Kubrick himself entitled that opening scene in the script 'Nicole's bum' - look it up!
BTW, just finished High and Low (Prince commentary) and caps are looking sweet... my top 5 Kurosawa films. Might have done later today.
Cheers,
G
- colinr0380
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
- Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK
No objections to Nicole's bum - just wondering if she might be offended by the word 'large' used with it (and 20% large to boot)!
I have to admit that I often save interesting screencaps as my computer screensavers, but since mine is a family computer that is why I often prefer the non-nudity pictures (though I usually allow the odd bottom to pass for the humour it can cause if such a picture turns up in the screensaver rotation!)
Actually on that note I was wondering if it would be possible for the Blu-Ray only reviews to feature similar sized screen captures to the normal DVD reviews (something I see you are doing with the comparison reviews) - only because I find the latter to be a perfect 'screensaver size'!
Though I don't mind if this would not be possible for space or bandwidth reasons.
I have to admit that I often save interesting screencaps as my computer screensavers, but since mine is a family computer that is why I often prefer the non-nudity pictures (though I usually allow the odd bottom to pass for the humour it can cause if such a picture turns up in the screensaver rotation!)
Actually on that note I was wondering if it would be possible for the Blu-Ray only reviews to feature similar sized screen captures to the normal DVD reviews (something I see you are doing with the comparison reviews) - only because I find the latter to be a perfect 'screensaver size'!
Though I don't mind if this would not be possible for space or bandwidth reasons.
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
New...
Criterion (2-disc REISSUE) - Region 1- NTSC "High and Low" vs. Madman - Region 4 - PAL vs. BFI - Region 2- PAL vs. Criterion Region 0 - NTSC vs. MEI AH (Hong Kong) Region 0 - NTSC
****
Atlantic Film (Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL "Trafic" vs. Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC
Warner - (Single Disc) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC "Batman - Gotham Knight" vs. Warner - Blu-ray - Region FREE
Trafic
Atlantic (Scandinavian edition)
Criterion (more info in 'le' frame)
New...
Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC "Vampyr" vs. Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC
Image Entertainment
Criterion
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Cheers,
Criterion (2-disc REISSUE) - Region 1- NTSC "High and Low" vs. Madman - Region 4 - PAL vs. BFI - Region 2- PAL vs. Criterion Region 0 - NTSC vs. MEI AH (Hong Kong) Region 0 - NTSC
****
Atlantic Film (Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL "Trafic" vs. Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC
Warner - (Single Disc) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC "Batman - Gotham Knight" vs. Warner - Blu-ray - Region FREE
Trafic
Atlantic (Scandinavian edition)
Criterion (more info in 'le' frame)
New...
Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC "Vampyr" vs. Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC
Image Entertainment
Criterion
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Cheers,
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
New comparison...
Warner SD (Single disc) - Region 1 - NTSC "Blood Diamond" vs. Warner - REGION FREE - Blu-ray
New...
Warner (original) - Region 1 - NTSC "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" vs. Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Original 'snapper cased' SD
Blu-ray
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Cheers,
Warner SD (Single disc) - Region 1 - NTSC "Blood Diamond" vs. Warner - REGION FREE - Blu-ray
New...
Warner (original) - Region 1 - NTSC "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" vs. Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Original 'snapper cased' SD
Blu-ray
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Cheers,
- HerrSchreck
- Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:46 am
- The Fanciful Norwegian
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:24 pm
- Location: Teegeeack
Don't take this the wrong way, Gary, but I was kind of amused by this bit from the Help Me Eros review:
(No big surprise that the disc itself turned out the way it did...I should mention that the running time suggests a PAL-to-NTSC transfer -- pretty much everyone, Strand included, gives the proper runtime as 103 minutes.)
I'm glad you're not letting your legendary prudery keep you from recommending a film :)...filled with sex and nudity but I do endorse seeing it...
(No big surprise that the disc itself turned out the way it did...I should mention that the running time suggests a PAL-to-NTSC transfer -- pretty much everyone, Strand included, gives the proper runtime as 103 minutes.)
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
I'll try to get Facets Satantango, but it ain't cheap and I'm running low on funds. Facets has only sent me stuff once - many years ago. I'm not as optimstic as some about the transfer... we shall see. I understand the phone call went like this:
"Hey Bela - they are finally releasing Satantango on DVD in the US"
"Really - that's great"
"Yeah - will you approve the transfer?"
"But I'll need to see it first"
"Well, they have those pics of your wife - and they'll put them on the Net..."
"Okay, okay - fine - whatever"
***
Is "Prudery' really a word? Come one. Really?
***
New...
LionsGate - Region 1- NTSC "Dirty Money (Un Flic)" vs. Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Optimum Home Entertainment - Region 2 - PAL
Artisan Entertainment - Region 1- NTSC "First Blood" vs. Lionsgate (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Lionsgate (Ultimate Edition) - Region 1- NTSC vs. Lionsgate - REGION FREE - Blu-ray
Warner (original) DVD - Region 1 - NTSC "The Cowboys" vs. Warner Deluxe Edition 1,2,3,4 - NTSC vs. Warner REGION FREE - Blu-ray
Columbia Tri-Star (old edition) - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC "The Professionals" vs. Columbia Tri-Star Region 1, 2 ,3 ,4 - NTSC (Special Edition) vs. Sony REGION FREE - Blu-ray
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Cheers,
P.S. Regarding the AE Satyajit Ray's - there was a problem with the transfer of two of the films (Nayak- layerbreak freeze and Charulata - chapter freeze) and they are redoing them. Our reviews will be up as soon as we can.
.
"Hey Bela - they are finally releasing Satantango on DVD in the US"
"Really - that's great"
"Yeah - will you approve the transfer?"
"But I'll need to see it first"
"Well, they have those pics of your wife - and they'll put them on the Net..."
"Okay, okay - fine - whatever"
***
Is "Prudery' really a word? Come one. Really?
***
New...
LionsGate - Region 1- NTSC "Dirty Money (Un Flic)" vs. Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Optimum Home Entertainment - Region 2 - PAL
Artisan Entertainment - Region 1- NTSC "First Blood" vs. Lionsgate (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Lionsgate (Ultimate Edition) - Region 1- NTSC vs. Lionsgate - REGION FREE - Blu-ray
Warner (original) DVD - Region 1 - NTSC "The Cowboys" vs. Warner Deluxe Edition 1,2,3,4 - NTSC vs. Warner REGION FREE - Blu-ray
Columbia Tri-Star (old edition) - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC "The Professionals" vs. Columbia Tri-Star Region 1, 2 ,3 ,4 - NTSC (Special Edition) vs. Sony REGION FREE - Blu-ray
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/
Cheers,
P.S. Regarding the AE Satyajit Ray's - there was a problem with the transfer of two of the films (Nayak- layerbreak freeze and Charulata - chapter freeze) and they are redoing them. Our reviews will be up as soon as we can.
.
- Kirkinson
- Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 5:34 am
- Location: Portland, OR
It is, actually.Gary Tooze wrote:Is "Prudery' really a word? Come one. Really?
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
New...
Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL "Satantango" vs. Facets - Region 0 - NTSC
I kind of rushed through this hoping to catch those who may wish to cancel their pre-orders.
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Cheers,
Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL "Satantango" vs. Facets - Region 0 - NTSC
I kind of rushed through this hoping to catch those who may wish to cancel their pre-orders.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/
Cheers,
- HerrSchreck
- Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:46 am
Hey Gary--
Just a heads up that-- among some potentially dubious information-- a reply from Facets came in regarding Satantango that, if true, should probably find its way into your overview/stats on the film. He claims (among other stuff) that Tarrs film was not shot with an anamorphic lens (i e there's nothing to unsqueeze in the transfer process) and that this is the reason the two video releases of the film are non anamorphic widescreen transfers. Here's his quote:
Just a heads up that-- among some potentially dubious information-- a reply from Facets came in regarding Satantango that, if true, should probably find its way into your overview/stats on the film. He claims (among other stuff) that Tarrs film was not shot with an anamorphic lens (i e there's nothing to unsqueeze in the transfer process) and that this is the reason the two video releases of the film are non anamorphic widescreen transfers. Here's his quote:
Of course another major issue is whether they observed this as a Pal transfer off of a pal digibeta on Pal equipment, in Hungary. This would not include the image-degradation that would occur when encoding a nonpreconverted PAL tape to an NTSC encode. So of course unless he's responding after having spun the Facets discs themselves on NTSC equipment, his observations regarding the image are less authoritative.Ed Husayko wrote:Dana forwarded your message and your concerns about our SATANTANGO release to me. I wanted to address the anamorphic issue you raise -- SATANTANGO is not, in fact, anamorphic and the aspect ratio that you see in the Facets DVD release is exactly as it should be. Are there other issues which disturb you in the SATANTANGO release which would lead you to conclude that it is a "poor release"? For your information, the transfer and digitization were checked against all existing source materials by the Hungarian Film Laboratory which controls the negative, and personally by Bela Tarr at several stages of the production process. The gray scale and tone that you have in the Facets Satantango release is that specifically preferred by Bela Tarr.
- chaddoli
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 11:41 pm
- Location: New York City
- Contact:
Does this guy not get what an anamorphic transfer is? Obviously there is a difference between an anamorphic transfer for dvd and an anamorphic cinematographic process (2.35:1). On a 16x9 TV, Satantango should have vertical small black bars on the sides, instead there are larger 4x3 bars AND small horizontal bars. I guess it shouldn't surprise me that no one at Facets knows what an anamorphically enhanced dvd looks like.
- HerrSchreck
- Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:46 am
In that sense, you're of course right... they could anamorphiize the transfer from the spherical-lens shot film, ie widescreen enhance. Methinks either Tarr wanted a low def, dark foggo look to it, or Tarr himself and whoever did the transfer really just don't know what they're doing in videoland.
Did Facets themselves actually do telecine on this release? Anyone know?
Did Facets themselves actually do telecine on this release? Anyone know?
- denti alligator
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:36 pm
- Location: "born in heaven, raised in hell"
If the film itself was not shot using an anamorphic lens then it's best that the DVD remains non-anamorphic. This is why Criterion's release of Withnail and I remains non-anamorphic, even after CC began releasing anamorphic discs.
Now they could have created an anamorphic DVD anyway, by some process that actually results in a less sharp image. For an example of the difference, compare the beautiful Czech DVD of The Cremator (non-anamorphic) with the hazy Second Run edition (made anamorphic). If the result would have been similar, it's best to have a non-anamorphic transfer, even with the resulting loss in resolution. I'm assuming that's why AE and Facets did it this way.
Now they could have created an anamorphic DVD anyway, by some process that actually results in a less sharp image. For an example of the difference, compare the beautiful Czech DVD of The Cremator (non-anamorphic) with the hazy Second Run edition (made anamorphic). If the result would have been similar, it's best to have a non-anamorphic transfer, even with the resulting loss in resolution. I'm assuming that's why AE and Facets did it this way.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
- Location: Worthing
- Contact:
It looks to me as though there's a single master telecine, framed at 1.66:1 but not anamorphically enhanced, and that both the Artificial Eye and Facets releases have been sourced from that - given the cost of telecineing the film from scratch, it's highly unlikely that either label would have done their own if an existing one could be pulled off the shelf.
But because the master is presumably PAL (coming from a Hungarian source), Artificial Eye has a built-in advantage because no standards conversion was required.
I'm also guessing from that message from Ed Husakyo that Tarr approved the master Digibeta, but not necessarily the Facets encode from that Digibeta. Anamorphic enhancement is pretty rare on Hungarian DVDs (even recent ones), so Tarr may well have thought this was normal practice.
The crucial thing is whether anamorphic enhancement was applied at the time of the telecine from the film materials, which may not be the case if it was done cheaply or several years ago. And if it wasn't, then you're right in saying that the distributor has two choices - release it non-anamorphically, or apply artificial enhancement, which won't add any detail.
That said, there are two acclaimed releases out there from respected labels which I know for a fact were sourced from non-anamorphic masters - but I'd best not name them here!
But because the master is presumably PAL (coming from a Hungarian source), Artificial Eye has a built-in advantage because no standards conversion was required.
I'm also guessing from that message from Ed Husakyo that Tarr approved the master Digibeta, but not necessarily the Facets encode from that Digibeta. Anamorphic enhancement is pretty rare on Hungarian DVDs (even recent ones), so Tarr may well have thought this was normal practice.
Actually, the lens is utterly irrelevant - anamorphic lenses are only normally used for Scope ratios, whereas countless 1.66:1 and 1.85:1 films that were shot flat and masked are available in excellent anamorphic DVD transfers.denti alligator wrote:If the film itself was not shot using an anamorphic lens then it's best that the DVD remains non-anamorphic. This is why Criterion's release of Withnail and I remains non-anamorphic, even after CC began releasing anamorphic discs.
The crucial thing is whether anamorphic enhancement was applied at the time of the telecine from the film materials, which may not be the case if it was done cheaply or several years ago. And if it wasn't, then you're right in saying that the distributor has two choices - release it non-anamorphically, or apply artificial enhancement, which won't add any detail.
That said, there are two acclaimed releases out there from respected labels which I know for a fact were sourced from non-anamorphic masters - but I'd best not name them here!
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
Two new...
New Line Home Video (original) - Region 1 - NTSC "Dark City" vs. New Line Home Video - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Artisan - Region 1 - NTSC "King of New York" vs. Artisan (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Lions Gate - Region A - Blu-ray
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Cheers,
New Line Home Video (original) - Region 1 - NTSC "Dark City" vs. New Line Home Video - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Artisan - Region 1 - NTSC "King of New York" vs. Artisan (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Lions Gate - Region A - Blu-ray
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Cheers,
-
- Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:29 pm
- Location: Boston MA
I take issue with this. Almost every Super-35 film, whether masked to 1.85:1 or 2.35:1 is routinely given an anamorphically-enhanced DVD (as well, of course, for 'scope films shot with an anamorphic lens). In short, I don't think anamorphically enhancing a DVD has anything whatsoever to do with whether a film was shot 'scope.denti alligator wrote:If the film itself was not shot using an anamorphic lens then it's best that the DVD remains non-anamorphic. This is why Criterion's release of Withnail and I remains non-anamorphic, even after CC began releasing anamorphic discs.
Now they could have created an anamorphic DVD anyway, by some process that actually results in a less sharp image. For an example of the difference, compare the beautiful Czech DVD of The Cremator (non-anamorphic) with the hazy Second Run edition (made anamorphic). If the result would have been similar, it's best to have a non-anamorphic transfer, even with the resulting loss in resolution. I'm assuming that's why AE and Facets did it this way.
After some discrepancies early on, nearly all 1.66:1 films are now anamorphically enhanced. And I think most viewers greatly prefer this.
In the early days, Criterion did not enhance their discs solely because the downconversion on non-widescreen/non-squeeze capable sets had reduced resolution when compared to un-enhanced discs. Criterion subsequently changed its policy - rightly, IMO - and now enhances every film with a ratio wider than your TV screen, including 1.66:1 ratios. And I don't think "Withnail" was released un-enhanced for the reasons you provide - after all, why single this one film out and yet release every other 1.66:1 film with anamorphic enhancement?
As for the Second Run "Cremator" disc - which I haven't seen - there may be a variety of other factors causing it to come up short against the un-enhanced disc, including poorer original elements, an improper standards conversion, bad telecine or compression, or a non-progressive/interlaced transfer.
That said, I have on very rare occasions seen the softening you mention on some releases compared on the Beaver - I believe Gary has referred to this as "mouldering" - and I don't have a clue as to what causes this.
EDIT: my apologies for a totally superfluous post. I now see that MichaelB has already addressed this much better than I.
- Gary Tooze
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:07 pm
- Contact:
Frankly, I'm at a loss to ascertain the what the controversy here is. Now Facets themselves are sending me emails - asking if I even own the DVD set because 'they never sent it to me'.
Whether Facets had the resources, money, or contacts to produce or obtain an entire a new telecine to create an anamorphic video master is really not my concern. I am simply reporting that their DVD transfer, of a 1.66:1 ratio film, is non-anamorphic. Simply put this is not an improvement, in this specific area, over the existing Artificial Eye release. We also indicated the Facets was from a PAL source (see the running times) yet is housed on NTSC discs. This creates certain artefacts as well as 'ghosting/combing/trailing' anomalies. We showed a screen capture example of this and many others comparing the two editions.
The bottom line is that the AE, with the superior image quality, is almost half the price of the Facets. If the poorly encoded 4th Facet disc is worth the $25+ difference to you then it might be worth obtaining. I happened to think it's not. My opinion.
Best,
Gary
P.S. Rich the 'moulding' term we used may be described as the softness produced through transfer of a non anamorphic video master encoded anamorphically. To steal from 'volger' in the other thread on this topic:
Whether Facets had the resources, money, or contacts to produce or obtain an entire a new telecine to create an anamorphic video master is really not my concern. I am simply reporting that their DVD transfer, of a 1.66:1 ratio film, is non-anamorphic. Simply put this is not an improvement, in this specific area, over the existing Artificial Eye release. We also indicated the Facets was from a PAL source (see the running times) yet is housed on NTSC discs. This creates certain artefacts as well as 'ghosting/combing/trailing' anomalies. We showed a screen capture example of this and many others comparing the two editions.
The bottom line is that the AE, with the superior image quality, is almost half the price of the Facets. If the poorly encoded 4th Facet disc is worth the $25+ difference to you then it might be worth obtaining. I happened to think it's not. My opinion.
Best,
Gary
P.S. Rich the 'moulding' term we used may be described as the softness produced through transfer of a non anamorphic video master encoded anamorphically. To steal from 'volger' in the other thread on this topic:
Looking now, I believe he is correct.This is because the resolution has to be adjusted and the image blown up to fit the anamorphic DVD format. There are probably quite a lot of DVDs that have been authored this way by converting non-anamorphic masters to 16:9 DVDs. This is just fake anamorphic though. No resolution is being gained, only the shape is changing and probably some image quality lost in the process. The new 'remastered' Dario Argento DVDs of Tenebre and Phenomena have been made this way. "