The Blu-ray Thread v1.0

Dirt_Mc_Girt · June 11, 2008, 2:03am

why you shoulda supported both formats

i got mine on HD DVD for $12

MiLky · June 12, 2008, 5:00pm

Need to subscribe to this thread now that I have the means.

Watching Blade Runner now, wow. I have seen this movie like 50 times, but it didn’t look near this good, even in the theatre.

King9999 · June 13, 2008, 4:18pm

Hey guys, I just got a PS3 so now I want to build a collection of Blu-Ray movies. Any good recommendations? I’ve been thinking about getting V for Vendetta and Ratatouille, the latter of which I’ve never seen but I like Pixar movies. Anything else worth getting? Any imports?

Septimus_Prime · June 13, 2008, 8:25pm

:u: Your best bet is to go to HighDefDigest.com and read the reviews for movies you want to watch. Just read about video and audio quality, though, since those reviewers have pretty bad taste.

f_man · June 13, 2008, 8:28pm

question about blu-ray

do older movies in bd format look significantly sharper and have significantly better sound?

i was thinking of picking up goodfellas for bd, but then i thought, maybe the pictures just good enough for dvd, and bd wouldnt help.

with this in mind, im thinking of starting up a collection as well…but keeping the action/high res movies on bd, and the more subtle stuff like tv episodes and older movies on dvd.

any takes?

Septimus_Prime · June 13, 2008, 8:35pm

Yes, they do. How much better depends on a number of variables, like the condition of the master and the transfer and compression, but in general, they all look better.

The reason this is so is because film (and later digital movies) are all shot in native resolutions much higher than DVD (and even Blu-ray). While you won’t get the full resolution of the movie with BD, you’ll at least be a lot closer (and some will argue that it doesn’t matter because your TV screen is not the same size as a movie screen, so it will still look better than it did at the movies).

Also, because of space limitations with DVD, you get more compression and incorrect color issues?particularly in dark and black areas. This is far less of a problem on Blu-ray, and you can notice the difference even on a standard-def TV.

King9999 · June 13, 2008, 8:55pm

Thanks, checking the site now.

How much am I missing out if I only have a 720p TV?

Septimus_Prime · June 13, 2008, 10:08pm

:u: To get that answered, you should go to Blu-ray.com and search for a thread regarding your specific TV model.

However, no matter what setup you have, you will be missing at least something, so don’t worry too much about it.

Septimus_Prime · June 18, 2008, 11:07pm

Toshiba controversially announces their new 1080p upscaling technology will rival Blu-ray

Early June a rumour emerged that Toshiba would be launching a new attack on Sony, via the magic of new ‘upscaling’ technology. Of course, this is nothing new, with Toshiba themselves working on similar products for “some considerable years, at least 3-5 years”, with DVD players, TVs and now laptops containing the upscaling chips, plus with their ‘Super-resolution’ imagery where SD-content is upscaled via an interpolation algorithm to 1080p.

However, today at a London event, Toshiba formally announced upscaling would be their next plan of attack on Sony, claiming they would be focussing on “taking standard content, and displaying in HD format”. This technology, upscaling standard definition content, such as a DVD, to a higher resolution, has long been controversial for not even comparing to the real high-def experience that comes via Blu-ray, or HD DVD.

Toshiba explained to the assembled press at today’s event that their technology would “add resolution”, and “fill in the gaps”, providing stronger colours and clarity where it was missing. They showed two TVs both displaying the same content, one at standard definition, and one using their upscaling device, and whilst the latter did look more impressive, it would pale in comparison if shown next to a true HD source. Which Toshiba obviously didn’t do, as they’re no longer endorsing HD DVD and will never support Blu-ray.

After receiving some far from publishable questions and insults from the assembled journalists (“fanciful nonsense” was one of the kinder remarks from a journalist during the Q&A session), the representatives, including Emily Shirley, Head of Product Marketing at Toshiba Europe were obviously getting irate. “Blu-ray is only a storage medium”, they retorted, explaining it was not the only way to view high-def content on your TV.

Digital downloads are proving to be a lucrative business for all concerned, particularly Microsoft, and it was obvious from today’s meeting that Toshiba will be supporting that side of the new format war for the foreseeable future. “The fact that Bill Gates and everyone in the industry is talking about downloads is illustrious”, one of the panel members responded with, when asked about the worth of downloads in comparison to Blu-ray, however they hastened to add “we’re not necessarily saying anything negative about Blu-ray”.

It’s unclear as to what products Toshiba will be launching in the next few months with the upscaling chip, however the Qosmio laptops announced today all feature the technology. All eyes will be on the IFA technology show on August 20th in Berlin, where Toshiba is expected to introduce their new Blu-ray ‘killer’.

Good ol’ Toshiba. I can’t wait for this stupid shit to totally fail. Again.

System_1 · June 19, 2008, 12:02am

Wow, that’s just…
…
-_-

System_1 · June 19, 2008, 12:03am

You guys are gonna miss out. I’m using my entire 401k to buy toshiba stock!

asianhitler · July 5, 2008, 8:34pm

Batmin Begins on bluray July 8. I am hyped!

King9999 · July 5, 2008, 9:10pm

Nice. I need another movie to get, and it looks like it’s gonna be Bats. :tup:

bokchoy · July 5, 2008, 9:53pm

I’m actually kinda looking forward to this. Obviously, it can’t possibly come close to matching Blu-Ray PQ, and offers no improvements to audio. Toshiba is dreaming if they think this shit can threaten Blu-Ray’s success, but if Toshiba can actually pull it off and if their 1080p upscaler is REALLY that much better than what we have now, I might just have to buy one to watch DVD’s on. I doubt it’ll be anything to write home about and if that’s the case, I’ll just continue to point and laugh.

SystemsOn · July 5, 2008, 10:46pm

anyone picking up Batman: Gotham Knight next tuesday? link

i think the story of this animation occurs in between batman begins and dark knight. i’m glad kevin conroy is the voice of bats in this animation.

System_1 · July 5, 2008, 10:54pm

well most people can’t really tell the difference between upscalers and 1080p blu ray because they either have 720p tv’s or small 1080p tvs or just don’t care

most people don’t want to rebuy their entire collection and if they can just make it look “better” with a cheap player they’ll go for it

i love HD DVD and blu ray, but i don’t really see blu ray taking off like they think

TheRock-BoS · July 5, 2008, 11:39pm

That’s the point though, isn’t it?

Most Blu-Ray players upscale DVDs anyways, so they DON’T have to rebuy thier collection.

System_1 · July 6, 2008, 12:02am

yea but Blu ray is $400 to upscLe their collection vs $100 for an upscale DVD player at walmart

YellowS4 · July 8, 2008, 12:48am

Nolan and Thomas both brought up the anticipated Blu-ray version and its capabilities. Nolan summed it up by saying, “The Blu-ray, in particular, will be able to actually use the shifted aspect ratios as it appears on the IMAX screen because the 16:9 aspect ratio is sufficiently different from the 2:4 that you’ll actually see a shift on the Blu-ray. The resolution on the Blu-ray is clear enough that you can actually see difference in grain structure and sharpness. So I think it will be quite spectacular.”

There are a couple of elements that fans will not be seeing. Thomas said that it’s “unlikely” that the DVD will contain alternate takes of Heath Ledger as the Joker [during the junket, the filmmakers and fellow cast members mentioned how Ledger would occasionally riff or improvise some of his dialogue], but pointed out that they have not decided anything for sure yet.

Another popular feature that THE DARK KNIGHT DVD won’t have according to Roven: deleted scenes.

“We know there won’t be any deleted scenes because there never are,” says Roven, noting director Nolan puts everything of importance in the actual movie. “There weren’t any on BATMAN BEGINS and there weren’t any on this one.”

Apart from that, Nolan promised us some “very interesting extras”. The man hasn’t failed us thus far, so we’ll be waiting in excited anticipation.

http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=6466

System_1 · July 8, 2008, 12:53am

One of the first Bluray’s I ever bought was Stargate, it was an OBVIOUS buy compared to the DVD version. Some DVD’s upscale better than others, but watching Stargate, It was obvious to choose the BR version over the regular DVD version.