msycamore said:
I didn't like the new look of certain scenes in the Directors Cut DVD either but the blu-ray seems very much improved to me, going by these new comparisons: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare2/alien.htm
Unfortunately it seems even more cropped than the DC DVD.
I've just realised that there's something else which may be relevant here, judging by those DVDBeaver shots...
Going by those, it seems that the earlier pre-'Quadrilogy' ALIEN NTSC and PAL dvds may have different colours to each other! As I'm in the UK, my whole dvd collection has always been PAL versions, and I've only had to source the odd few NTSC versions where there was never a PAL release done. It looks to me as if there is a difference between the 'region' release colours going by the screenshots shown in those examples...so I may end up ordering the old NTSC 'Theatrical' release to compare them properly.
Another thing - I'd say that most of those particular screenshots are quite unrepresentative of what I'm talking about, and not the best examples, and can understand how some are unconvinced that there isn't much of a difference anyway...especially if they are looking at the old NTSC examples compared to the newer versions in those DVDBeaver shots!
I can assure everyone that my pre-'Quadrilogy' 'Theatrical' PAL version looks very warm and vibrant-looking throughout, with a more 'naturalistic' look to everything that I far prefer, compared to the later PAL 'Quadrilogy' branched version.
However, it turned out that the comparison link with a few examples from my original PAL 'Theatrical' version and my PAL 'Quadrilogy' branched 'Theatrical' version that I posted yesterday on page 6 wasn't typed properly. So here's the proper link now. (Of course, actually looking at the dvds on tv is a far more effective comparison than a handful of static screenshots can ever manage) - http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Alien-Appendix-7-The-ALIEN-SAGA-Archive/post/425702/#TopicPost425702 (hairy_hen, you may be interested in my thoughts on Hicks and Newt further up that same page there, considering your own views on the sequels...)
It's very interesting that it now seems to be confirmed by dark_jedi's 'Anthology' blu-ray screenshots that the colouring of Brett's "Here Jonesy..." scene is far closer to the pre-'Quadrilogy' dvds once again, though. dark_jedi, I'd really like to see a blu-ray shot of the 'slow zoom-in towards the narrow doorway opening' that Brett eventually enters into (you can see the doorway opening on the left-hand side of the first screenshot you showed on page 7), if you can manage sometime. Ideally, if you have a copy of the pre-'Quadrilogy' 'Theatrical' release too (whether NTSC or PAL), then I'd like to see the same shot taken from that to compare. I'll try and get the PAL version up sometime if not.
I'm personally pleased this particular scene has been restored to something approaching it's non-'golden'/'stylized' look, even if nothing else has, compared to the PAL version's look I prefer...and it's good to know that they've restored the original 'Theatrical' logo.
Lastly, I sure hope that the blu-ray's actual transfer hasn't been 'cropped' as those DVDBeaver examples seem to show! Surely not...