Moth3r said:
Actually, I've read that most players run the signal through a comb filter regardless, do some chroma and luma processing, then recombine for the composite output.
Only top of the range players, like the X0, or some industrial models give a "clean" composite output.
You find something new about this hobby every day...so of course I fiddled with s-video and composite cables back and forth for a good 30 minutes today. ;)
SilverWook said:
Has anyone ever checked out the earliest LD release of FRWL for this? They generally used the same video master across all formats back then.
That's an idea. It would correspond to the initial CBS/Fox pan n' scan LD with Connery at the gypsy camp on the cover, which was later repackaged for MGM with the flare gun cover.
Figured I go ahead and give a quick rundown on the other Laser titles for those interested:
AVTAK: Has that softness of the first three Glen directed Bonds and in fact looks wonderful. Some moments it even looks like film instead of video, with color accurately represented instead of the sometimes garish hues inserted for the UE. Also present is the haziness that has always been a part of the film's visual look which may be due to it being printed by MGM. The sound is phenomenal, very natural warmth and range to this track which really comes across in Barry's hugely underrated score. (especially the Stacey themes!) Wipes the floor with the pitiful DD track on the UE. Oddly I did notice what appears to be a camera originated negative scratch on a shot in the Main Strike mine. Cropping is looser and accurate unlike the unnaturally tight UE.
TLD: Of the three discs I bought, this one was a risk being a former rental, but was still in shrinkwrap and I had wanted to see this disc for so long that I gave it a shot. Damn glad I did. Though I have not yet seen the LDs for LALD, Moonraker, Octopussy and the MGM Licence to Kill, I'm going to go ahead and proclaim this the best looking of all the pre-90s era on Laser. For once a 2.35 film looks good on CLV without tons of noise. Full of shots that look like film, full of moments restored that were tweaked by Lowry unnecessarily, almost completely free from video noise and with sound so good it's almost as if you've had veils off your ears. One scene at the fair even has audible background noise that can quickly be recognized as a game of Galaxian. Even the ghetto blaster and Necros' Walkman have punch and clarity. This felt like listening to a vintage 1st press LP of a favorite album mostly, but with the experience of the original presentation to match. I love this movie.