logo Sign In

Doctor M

User Group
Members
Join date
1-Feb-2005
Last activity
28-Nov-2023
Posts
2,520

Post History

Post
#1566057
Topic
VR.5 - AI Upscaled Edition
Time

Ok… I’m trying to remember what I learned from the fan group back in the 90s. I did find my Viewers Guide (publicity booklet with a lot of details about the series. I should scan and share that.), and a Polaroid photo with a post-a-note signed by Samoset offering me Duncan’s Tequila painting for $50.

Anyway, what I recall is they used different film for the real world and VR. I BELIEVE that real world footage is shot on film at 24p like regular TV was at the time and telecined to 29.97i. VR footage, on the other hand, IIRC was filmed using a different stock (possibly B&W) so they could colorize and manipulate it with the final modified version being in video format. So, although it’s all 29.97i, if you bob the VR footage you’ll find it to be 59.94 unique fields.

The conversion to PAL 25FPS means that there is a lot of blending that affects VR and real world footage differently.

If you are upscaling, I’d recommend going 720p60 since you can’t convert to 24p.

Post
#1565486
Topic
VR.5 - AI Upscaled Edition
Time

VR5 was released commercially on VHS in the U.S… (Although some music was changed to save money.) I have my old VHS tapes from back then, but most importantly there are is pretty good TV rip available. I believe it is Russian. There is also a movie version of the first two episodes together that includes some deleted footage.

The only problem is it needs labor intensive conversion to NTSC (which has been on my to-do list for years since I love this series).
In and out of VR scenes changed between 24p telecined to 29.97i and native 29.97i footage.
As a result the PAL conversion needs different restorations for different scenes.

Post
#1562876
Topic
Info: Recommended Editions of Disney Animated (and Partially Animated) Features
Time

Tonight I noticed there are two different restorations of Who Framed Roger Rabbit on 'spleen.
One from a 4k master and one from the standard Bluray.
Even reading the details, I have no idea which is better. I see mention there are color timing differences, but of course restoring the censored bits takes talent.
Anyone know which is better, the pluses or minuses?

Post
#1554817
Topic
Harry Potter Extended Editions (Released)
Time

CamSMurph said:

Doctor M said:

PodracingThisIs91 said:

Oh wow!, when is this releasing and where? HBO Max or blu ray?

Not at all. Some of those scenes were alternate takes that weren’t consistent with the source. Some were just test images that were rejected by the director before the effects were even finished. Heck, some of the scenes I haven’t even heard they ever filmed.

I’m nearly a year late responding to this, but never in my time as a casual Harry Potter fan have I heard this claim regarding the unreleased footage. I’m not trying to argue with you, Doc, but I believe the scenes I mentioned last year exist somewhere in the WBD vaults. I could be wrong, but who knows? 😁

Movies aren’t made by the original author writing the script, handing it to the director who films it as written and the actors recite the dialog word for word.

There are always alternate takes, changes in dialog, ad libbing, multiple revisions to scripts, etc. Hours and hours are filmed for any movie, but all the footage isn’t intended to be used for one reason or another. As such, they don’t necessarily spend money on vfx for that footage.

Heck, it’s one of the reason some movies are on hold right now with the writers strike; changes in dialog while filming is considered writing in most cases.

I’m not saying the footage doesn’t exist (it probably does) or has been destroyed. I’m saying it doesn’t necessarily belong in the movies.

Post
#1552479
Topic
Info: Recommended Editions of Disney Animated (and Partially Animated) Features
Time

JadedSkywalker said:

Anyone else excited for Snow White in 4k? After the Cinderella release i am looking forward to it. Its coming in October, and is reportedly a brand new scan off the original negative.

TheDigitalBits had a screenshot comparison, but always consider, they can ‘new scan’ all they want, it’s what they do to it afterwards that can be anything.

Post
#1541146
Topic
Info: Recommended Editions of Disney Animated (and Partially Animated) Features
Time

I had a chance to skip around and look at a lot of scenes on Friday. Wow. The movie has probably never looked that good.
I can’t be sure of the colors without comparing them to other releases, but they just feel like Disney didn’t do their usual messing around with them.
Don’t know who is running things there now, but if this is the start of the trend, I’m going to be very happy.

…don’t get me started on the Darby O’Gill release though.

Post
#1531285
Topic
Info: Recommended Editions of Disney Animated (and Partially Animated) Features
Time

Thanks jolennon. Checked them out and cautiously optimistic.

My biggest hatred for Disney’s ‘restorations’ is when they scrub the image and then use edge enhancement.
The images look computer generated instead of hand drawn
Lines can get thicker and thinner as they go and the ends are smoothed to a point.
Those screenshots don’t that issue.

Btw, the Digital Bits is reporting that Snow White is getting a 4k this year as well.

Oooh.