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Info: The Matrix - with original theatrical color timing?

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 (Edited)

Just wondering, Has there ever been an HD transfer of The Matrix from before it was re timed for the Ultimate Collection Box Set?

As great as the Blu-Ray looks, The extreme green tint is kinda distracting at times and I much prefer the original look of the film.

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It seems there is an HDTV broadcast. It seems a bit compressed and is in 1080i but it also looks less cropped on the top and bottom than the blu-ray. Looking more closely it looks slightly horizontally pixelated too. But it might be the best pre-BD version there is.

Here's the difference:

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7240/bscap0000yo9.th.jpghttp://img202.imageshack.us/img202/3599/798122e72df66bd49c61415.th.png

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Hmm. That's interesting! I do like the Matrix, and I knew that the color timing was changed but not to the extent as shown by your comparison. I'd definitely be interested in this HDTV Broadcast. You_Too, can you kindly PM me the links please (if it has been uploaded)?

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Ugh, I had no idea the new tint was so horrendous!  Jeez.  Hopefully an avisynth script can manage to make the BD match the colors of the broadcast if the quality of the 1080i version turns out to be subpar.  I know of colourlike but I haven't heard flattering things about it...

A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em

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I'm sorry I forgot to tell you where to find it! It's on rutracker. You guys can PM me and I'll give you the link.

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I downloaded this but it unfortunately is in Russian and split into 3 parts. It's in MPG format; I'll convert it to MKV. The frame rate is 29.97 so I'm curious if the initial DVD's audio will sync with it. I'll try it out and tell you guys if it works.

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Bump. I found an English version of the HDTV broadcast on thepiratebay. I haven't fully downloaded it yet but it's in the same format as the one on rutracker: about 10 GB and 3 MPG parts. PM me if you need the link.

EDIT: CRAP! Apparently, as a kind ot.com member pointed out to me, there are actually no seeders. My Torrent Client lied to me and was saying something was downloading under that torrent. It must have just been a glitch... Anyway, apologies for getting anyone's hopes up. Hope someone will eventually seed.

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Been trying to get a rot free copy of the laserdisc for years at a reasonable price, along with x-men and the world is not enough.

I collect those obsolete laserdiscs.

“Always loved Vader’s wordless self sacrifice. Another shitty, clueless, revision like Greedo and young Anakin’s ghost. What a fucking shame.” -Simon Pegg.

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Didn't know the Laserdisc had any rot problems. There are several copies for sale at the LDDB. At least two are under a hundred bucks.

Pity the Hong Kong LD is full frame. Not that I've ever seen one for sale...

Forum Moderator

Where were you in '77?

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Thought about the LD, but the expense combined with the fact that this is a good 5.1 movie kept me from it.

Still watch that original snapper case DVD. The 5.1 sounds nice cranked up. (Same 384 kbp/s ac3 that would be on the LD)

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

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I seem to recall there was some debate about the LD AC3 track sounding superior to the original DVD on alt.video.laserdisc back in the day.

There was certainly a belief that early DVD 5.1 soundtracks were being compromised to play better downmixed into Dolby Surround at the time.

Forum Moderator

Where were you in '77?

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http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/the-matrix-visual-comparison.html
Here are more comparison shots.

In order to make the video colors in The Matrix look consistent with the sequels, the Wachowskis changed the color timings to be more green for the original film. This was first updated for the Ultimate Edition DVD set in 2004 and then for the Blu-ray release in 2009.

Though the picture quality is superior to the 1999 DVD release, the environment in the movie just doesn't feel the same. Especially in the the lobby shootout scenes, I always remember the colors as a mix of brown and grey. I wish they would release a superior transfer video on DVD and Blu-ray, but with the original colors.

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At least the content of the films hasn't been 'tweaked' like another trilogy I could mention...

 

Heh...

My outlook on life - we’re all on the Hindenburg anyway…no point fighting over the window seat.

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Found this

The.Matrix.1999.720p.nHD.x264.AAC.NhaNc3

Original Colors and HD

but it is not original aspect ratio

it seems to have extra information on the top and bottom

comparing it to the dvd

 

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I was quite surprised how well the '99 DVD held up when upscaled. After digging around for info on the LD, I found some reports that even the '99 DVD had been color tweaked. Is this true?

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

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captainsolo said:

I found some reports that even the '99 DVD had been color tweaked. Is this true?

Hmm... I haven't heard of this tweaking. My '99 DVD's color timing looks pretty close to a "For Your Consideration" VHS (presumably for some awards show judge), which I found a few months back.

On a side topic, would my "For Your Consideration" VHS be 1) of original color timing and 2) be of any value?

Also, for anyone who is interested, there are now seeders, including me, on thepiratebay torrent of an HDTV broadcast of the Matrix with open matte picture and non-green-tinted color timing. It's identical to the one on RuTracker except it's not in Russian. Anyone interested should grab it now.

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I would appreciate any help in acquiring these files.

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Is this project still alive? I always loved the original colour timing of the The Matrix.

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The russian hdtv is not the correct format (some minor cropping on the sides) and has a green haze.

The Pal DVD is better and is the best representation of the original colors. I think I can remux it at 24fps using mkvtoolnix and get the soundtrack also back to correct pitch and speed with eac3to, it will display at 1024x576.

It not 720p, but pretty near. In fact, this can be done with most Pal DVDs. The vobs actually have the correct frames, they are just flagged to be read at 25fps. Using tools, you can without reencoding them, have them in a mkv at 23.976. From then it's just a matter of applying the correct audio track and subs.

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The PAL dvd is censored for violence.

They have removed Headbutts and lowered the sound of punch/Impact sfx.

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So are you all saying the original R1 DVD release has the colors monkeyed with?

I saw the Matrix in theaters 3 times, I never noticed a difference on the DVD (but definitely in the sequels).

I see no reason why an accurate source can't be used as a guide to build an avisynth script anyone can plug in to convert their Blu-Ray.

Dr. M

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Nope, Pal french disc is uncut. I DL the russian hdtv, what is the best format to reencode 1080i to progressive, 720p or 1080p? I assume 720p as 1080i to 1080p would just add extra size.

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1080p compression is more efficient than 1080i compression. The downside is higher decoder requirements.