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Doug R:
How true! Mine isn't that much bigger than yours -- just a 55" Samsung -- and while there usually ARE improvements over DVD, too often I'm not hit in the face by them and find myself wondering why in the world I spent all that money for something I already had. But then there are times when I'm startled by how good a Blu-ray can look, and it's those that keep us coming back for more. For those who are into 3D, that'll probably be a big selling point for the "planned obsolesce" I've written about elsewhere here. But let's not forget that hard discs themselves are on their way out and that all those Blu-rays you've been collecting, not to mention DVDs and CDs, will eventually end up in closets along with your VHS tapes and LPs!
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Posted: |
Dec 15, 2013 - 12:55 PM
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By: |
Solium
(Member)
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Solium: Re: Ive been waiting years for "While You Were Sleeping" to come out on Blu Ray. What the heck is the hold up?! and, one year to the day later, Yet another holiday season and no While You Were Sleeping Blu Ray for the US market.
I assume, since it seems so dear to you, that you've long had that movie on DVD -- right? I've seen it several times on HD cable, and it's a cute movie and it's always nice to see Bill Pullman finally getting the girl, but unless it's one of your 25 favorite films I can't see the need to replace your DVD of it with Blu-ray. Yes, having bought nearly 200 Blu-rays, and nearly half of them upgrades from DVD, I probably shouldn't talk. But I think that those of us with large DVD collections need to step back and ask ourselves (1) if we really need it?, and (2) how many times are we ever going to watch it? Something we should think about?
While I did have it on DVD I actually sold off hundreds of DVD's in preparation of BluRays! ( I know dumb move on my part!)
In retrospect I agree with you for several reasons. BluRays are all over the map as far as quality. There's no consensus on what a BluRay should look like. Some are far to grainy for my tastes, other's are DNR'ed to death and that's just as bad. So I probably need to pick up my favorites I sold off on DVD again. Also in some cases the DVD versions of some films (which I prefer over directors cuts) are not available on BluRay.
As far as WYWS the film. I don't normally gravitate towards romantic comedies, but this one works for me. I think a large part of it has to do with the fact it's not a "relationship" film. The guy of her dreams is in a coma for most of the picture! So there's none of the regular "girly" relationship issues in the film. I thought Sandra Bullock was adorable, the supporting cast endearing, the script funny, and all of this was bookmarked with a lovely score. Charming film indeed.
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solium: Re "Charming film indeed."
I agree, but, again, how many times are you going to watch it? I've seen it on HD cable over the past several weeks and really have little need to watch it again. But then we all have our favorites, and heck, I just ordered seasons 1 and 2 and 3 (part 1) of MTV's "Teen Wolf" after buying all the seasons of Disney's "Kyle XY" (everything on DVD since I've finally given up on waiting for them to be released on Blu-ray), and how many times can I watch all of THEM again? Or my 8 seasons of "Dexter" on Blu-ray!
From the day I bought my first Blu-ray I accepted that a great many of my enormous number of DVDs (over 4,000) would NOT be replaced on Blu-ray, although I did give away some DVDs after I upgraded. But you'll probably be able to find WYWS for little more than the $3.99 shipping on Amazon (or maybe at a store specializing in used and discontinued DVDs). Good luck! (At the moment, the best price is $6.24 plus shipping, but that'll plummet, and it STILL might come out on Blu!)
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Posted: |
Dec 16, 2013 - 1:03 AM
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By: |
CinemaScope
(Member)
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I think that those of us with large DVD collections need to step back and ask ourselves (1) if we really need it?, and (2) how many times are we ever going to watch it? Something we should think about?
How very true. I certainly haven't attempted to replace all my DVDs with Blu-ray versions but I've upgraded a fair number and often ask myself, "What's the point?"; especially when in some cases the difference in picture quality is marginal at best. Unless watching on a huge projection screen the difference in quality is nowhere near that of VHS to DVD which is why so many people embraced DVD but have not done the same for Blu-ray. I'm glad to have replaced some titles where there has been a decent improvement but as you say, how often am I going to watch it? Most of the time I'm happy to watch the huge numbers of HD films available on subscription TV, which on my 47" screen look every bit as good as Blu-ray.
So much sense on display here! I really don't want to view a favourite film more than once every two years, as I don't want to spoil it for myself (on the other hand I can enjoy listening to a favourite soundtrack every week), & I have a recorder chock full of movies & programs to catch up on. I've bought quite a few Blu-rays this year, it's just nice owning a favourite movie, & they're so damn cheap! In the UK you can buy Ben-Hur, Lawrence Of Arabia & Doctor Zhivago for less than £6 each as part of Amazon's 3 for £17 offer (& a ton of other great films), & I've bought quite a few Blu's second-hand online. I like having a little film library, it's almost all older films, not much new stuff I want to own.
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Posted: |
Dec 16, 2013 - 8:32 AM
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By: |
mastadge
(Member)
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How very true. I certainly haven't attempted to replace all my DVDs with Blu-ray versions but I've upgraded a fair number and often ask myself, "What's the point?"; especially when in some cases the difference in picture quality is marginal at best. Unless watching on a huge projection screen the difference in quality is nowhere near that of VHS to DVD which is why so many people embraced DVD but have not done the same for Blu-ray. I'm glad to have replaced some titles where there has been a decent improvement but as you say, how often am I going to watch it? Most of the time I'm happy to watch the huge numbers of HD films available on subscription TV, which on my 47" screen look every bit as good as Blu-ray.
I've seen the not-much-improvement-except-on-a-big-screen thing a few times and I disagree! I do most of my movie watching on my 15-inch laptop, because I don't have a TV or other way to go about it, and while I'm not making the most out of BD quality there, there's often a huge upgrade apparent from DVD to BD even so. Partially just due to the resolution -- when I first bought my BD drive I compared the BD of Captain America to the DVD, and was amazed at how much clearer it was -- I could read the text of posters on the wall in the background in the BD, whereas on DVD they were too blurry to read, for instance. And that's not even taking into account the improved mastering. Sure some titles have been botched or have gotten cheap upgrades from old transfers, but many BD remasters and transfers are much, much nicer than the DVD versions were. So there's that. I just make sure to do some research before buying and avoid the bad ones that way (with some exceptions -- Donnie Darko got a crappy master, but I love that movie and my DVD is scratched all to heck so I went ahead and upgraded anyway).
As for the how often am I going to watch it thing -- it's true that some of my movies I won't watch terribly often, but I do find it nice to have a selection of movies that I haven't returned to over and over for when I want something new, or for when I have friends over. Also -- I occasionally buy a BD that I don't know whether I'll return to just because I can't rent it. For instance, I really wanted to see Robot & Frank, but it's only available as a DVD in USA. So I imported the UK BD because if I'm going to see it I'd prefer to see it in high resolution. Or Strange Days -- I'd never seen it, but really wanted to, but the US DVD is an old, non-anamorphic transfer, so I imported the BD to give it a proper try. Or Paul Verhoeven's new short film, which is enough of a trifle that it might not ever get a US release. If I really don't like them, I can resell them or give 'em away.
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Posted: |
Dec 16, 2013 - 11:02 AM
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By: |
Michael24
(Member)
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I've upgraded some films from DVD to Blu-Ray and have had the same "I see no difference" response. As a result, I've become very selective when purchasing BRs. Most tend to be new or recent films, but when I do buy an older film (whether it's to replace a DVD I have already or not), I try to read up on it and see some samples beforehand. I enjoy upgrading my favorite movies when it's possible to do so, but otherwise, I'm not really in a rush to replace my DVD collection with Blu-Ray. I have nearly 550 DVDs, but only 50 BRs, and that's fifty over the last, maybe, 2-3 years.
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Posted: |
Dec 19, 2013 - 9:17 AM
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By: |
Solium
(Member)
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If they include the fucked-up 5.1 audio track and crop it to the "fake" widescreen used on the Secret Of NIMH Blu, I ain't buyin' it.
My problem with NIMH was the hideous piece of crap video transfer. Looks like shit to the tenth degree. The "fake" widescreen mimics the matting used for it's theater presentation and I believe the BluRay came with a full screen option. (How it was actually filmed)
For those that don't know about the American Tail audio debacle here are the notes I made:
American Tail Region 1 DVD changes:
Time approximate. I've made some notes where I am not sure if they are actual changes from the original theatrical version.
(1)
Time: 2:37
Scene: Opening credits/zooming in on village.
Changes: Off screen voice over of (mice) children and adults laughing and chatting.
(2)
Time:4:53
Scene: Papa telling the tale of Giant Mouse of Minsk. Shadow hand puppets on wall.
Changes: Spooky sound effect.
(3)
Time: 7:03
Scene: Fievel being pushed in the snow towards another cat. A collision is about to happen.
Change: Choo Choo train sound effect. (I presume for comedic touch)
(4)
Time: 9:57
Scene: Mama Mousekewitz rocking baby in arms on boat.
Changes: Mama Mousekewitz humming song to baby.
Notes: That may have been in the original. But it sounds different to me.
(5)
Time: 14.31
Scene: End of song, "No Cats In America"
Changes: Added sound effect of port hole window slamming shut. Ruins impact of last note in Horner's score.
(6)
Time: 17:35
Scene: Monster wave.
Changes: Monster wave sound effect. Moans like a monster.
(7)
Time 19:19
Scene: Mouse Immigration Office
Changes: New voice over. Tanya says off camera, "Papa, why did you change my name to Tilly?"
Notes: That may have been in the original. I don't remember.
(8)
Time: 24:28
Scene: People standing out side of (human) immigration office.
Changes: New off screen voice over. "Come on, Come on, keep it moving, keep it moving."
(9)
Time: 24:57
Scene: Mouse selling Apples.
Changes: New off screen voice over. "I'll take one".
(10)
Time: 31:57
Scene: Fievel hears music. Crosses rope over to window next to phonograph record player.
Changes: New off screen voice overs. People laughing and talking from inside window.
(11)
Time: 32:42
Scene: Fievel on phonograph record player
Changes: New off screen voice overs. "Oh my word, a mouse!" and girls screaming in "terror" until Fievel is knocked out side the window and falls to the street.
(12)
Time: 32:58
Scene: Continue of above. Fievel falling out of window.
Changes: New off screen voice overs. "Whats going on up there?!" "Hey shut up, up there!"
(13)
Time: 52:46
Scene: Cat hand reaches out from sewer hole and grabs Fievel after Fievel thought he escaped the cats down below.
Changes: New off screen voice over. Cat devilish laugh after grabbing Fievel.
(14)
Time: 53:54
Scene: Cat prison. Panning in on scene with bird cages.
Changes: New off screen voice overs. Tiger and another cat talking. Cannot make out entire dialogue. Something to do with Tiger relieving "cat on guard" and Tiger taking his place.
(15)
Time: 1:02:51
Scene: Secret weapon spinning in place.
Changes: New sound effect. Sounds of wheels spinning in place.
Notes: If this sound effect was in the original release it sounds different on the DVD.
(16)
Time: 1:03:00
Scene: Release of the secret weapon.
Changes: New "monster" sound effect of the "Giant Mouse of Minsk".
Notes: If this was in the original the sound effect sounds different and it lasts until the cats are chased into the water.
(17)
Time: 1:04:34
Scene: Warren T Rat and his gang being hosted onto the boat.
Changes: New Warren T Rat voice over. "Hey wonder how you say, trust me in Chinese?"
(18)
Time: 1:06:40
Scene: Mice running away from burning dock.
Changes: New off screen voice over. Mouse saying, "Out of my way!"
(19)
Time: 1:07:25
Scene: Tiger listening in on Tony and Papa speaking about Fievel missing.
Changes: New voice over. Cutting to Tigers reaction he says, "Hmmmm."
(20)
Time: 1:08:32
Scene: Orphan Alley
Changes: Two of the three bully mice voices are re-dubbed with new voice actors.
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