Harmy said:

The problem is that the other HD version is crap as well only in other respects (it's the same master as the 2001 DVD, only not downscaled), so it's hardly a good comparison. I saw somewhere on this forum some really nice HD screenshots from TPM, which seemed to be from a completely different source (or possibly the same source as the BD only prior to all the additional meddling) and those looked beautiful.

I'll check out the archives for the high quality screenshots if they're still around. That link I posted earlier with the info about re-assembling the film digitally has a section on grain in the conversion process being an issue since it's 'mono' and a true stereo image would have independent grain structures. Sucks if they DNR'd it for 3d and used that version for the blu. Saw some internet comments claiming the film was not DNR'd in 3d and there was grain, but that's probably random digital grain and their eyes are deceiving them. I guess it would also 'help' the compression process. Oh well...