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Knightmessenger

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Join date
1-Nov-2005
Last activity
23-Oct-2017
Posts
819
Web Site
http://www.youtube.com/user/Knightmessenger

Post History

Post
#296654
Topic
2007 DVD repackage
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296654/action/topic#296654
Time
I thougth the set in Austrailia compiled all 6 movies from each individual release (so it includes the oot). This will likely just be identical to the 2004 set. Which is totally pointless, the first box set is still readily available. How many times can Lucas release the same exactly identical stuff year after year? Does he really expect us to buy a movie just because it's in a stupid slim case? The 2005 set did not sell well and I hope this likewise collects dust on store shelfs. People need to send Lucasfilm a message that they will no longer buy a video just because it says Star Wars on the box.
If it had the bonus disc and used the 2 disc '06 sets with the 2004 versions corrected, then there would be at least some point to it. But Lucasfilm is way too lame for that, even someone who prefers the special editions and likes the prequels has to admit LFL has done a poor job with their SW video releases. Look at the upcoming Blade Runner and Close Encounters of the Third Kind sets.
Post
#296465
Topic
How to use HuffYUV
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296465/action/topic#296465
Time
Just opened up the files and loaded the plugin from the vdub folder. But now I have this option box.
Pass thru
Source attributes
channels (keep all of them checked right?)
View
I assume video, vectorscope, wave form monitor and histograms are just different ways to look at the video and measure its attributes.
-hot pixel scan (is this referring to something overexposed)
-max IRE (I believe this has to do with black levels. Is 110 a good number?)

Do these plugins only work when the video is being captured? Or can they be added later. And is there a plugin to adjust the capture image area so that I can compensate for the up shift in the PDI captures? (notice how the smash bros. images are no longer centered within the black frame)
Post
#296272
Topic
Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296272/action/topic#296272
Time
So wait a minute, I could buy an HD movie and then discover it will no longer play on my machine because someone else from who knows where hacked the disc. That would piss so many people off, it would be the surest way to lose the format war.

Something just occured to me, will Titanic be on HD-dvd or Blu-ray? The film is owned by 20th Century Fox outside of the US and Canada, Paramount was brought in later on to help pay for the huge budget.
Post
#296253
Topic
"You Don't Believe in George Lucas, Do You?" - Star Wars Spoof (10th Anniversary Special Edition)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/296253/action/topic#296253
Time
You know if this was made today, Lucas would probably be the in the Empire (as Darth Vader) rather than part of the rebellion.
Actually I'm surprised no one has spoofed episode IV with Leia trying to deliver an original print of Star Wars to a film preservation organization before the Lucasfilm empire can destroy it or worse, add cgi with their supercomputer that has enough power to render a crappy fake looking Ronto in real time.

Lucas: I want to know what happened to the prints they sent you?
OOT fan: I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a member of the Hyperspace fan club on my way to buy the newest special edition dvd's for the 8th time in 7 years. I'm looking foward to even more CGI alterations in this release.
Lucas: You are part of the unaltered trilogy alliance who refuse to accept my evolving original vision. Take him away.
Post
#295833
Topic
Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295833/action/topic#295833
Time
Uncompressed (with lossless HuffyUV) captures make a difference, even if the source is only from Hi8 which has roughly the same resolution as s-vhs or laserdisc.
http://www.originaltrilogy.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=12&threadid=7640&STARTPAGE=3

And burning to dvd uncompressed (or at least far less compressed with a higher quality codec) would be possible with a blu-ray disc Maintaining the most quality is something that's very important to me. Sure, Hi8 video obviously won't use as much space as HD video but it still loses quality with lossy compression.

If the extra's on the Blade Runner dvd will be in 480p (wouldn't it be 720p since that's what regular dvd has anyways), then it might be interesting to compare the blu-ray and dvd versions to see if the less compressed blu-ray looks any clearer. Was Empire of Dreams on the '04 bonus disc 480p or 720p?
Post
#295821
Topic
Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295821/action/topic#295821
Time
When I referred to seeing something in 720p, I was referring to the extra features, not the movie itself. Because they're usually just interviews of people talking. But personally, I don't care about seeing something in 1080p even though my family does have an HD tv. Even though it's by Sony (Wega LCD) and sucks, I'm still want blu-ray to win.

And finally having read the latest news on the digital bits, I'm pretty pissed at Microsoft too. Did they pay Michael Bay to flip flop too in his comments. Ok fine, HD has some cool features and new players will become pretty cheap. But that doesn't mean you have to screw over those with blu-ray and artificially prolong this format war for Microsoft's ulterior motive.

This is something everyone here should be angry about. The sooner the format war ends, the quicker recordable blank HD media (prefereably blu-ray since it holds more data) and burners will catch on. That would help so many people with all their dvd projects here. I'm sure the X0 project for example would love not having to split each uncompressed movie capture onto something like 8 discs. And we would be able to see their final result in a less compressed format.
I recently spent a lot of money to upgrade my computer to capture uncompressed video with the HuffyUV codec. It takes up more space but hey, I can buy a bigger harddrive. They now cost half for twice the data than when I last bought one in July '04. I would like a similar improvement in disc media to come eventually because I want my own videos to look the best possible. Having to squeeze them onto a dvd, even dual layer, would make all that effort to get better captures not count for much.
Post
#295775
Topic
Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295775/action/topic#295775
Time
I know about the increased quality with Blade Runner but still. There are three dvd's that have the different cuts. Final, all previously released and workprint. That could take 3 discs just like the dvd but why do we need the extras (besides the deleted scenes) in high definition? I don't care about seeing people talking in 1080p. Wouldn't 720p less compressed with a better codec/higher bitrate and more space already look much better than if it was squeezed onto a dvd.
And I thought there already was a player that could play both HD and blu-ray. Is it not that good or too expensive, why hasn't it caught on more?
Post
#295742
Topic
Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295742/action/topic#295742
Time
I'm not sure if I like how everything in the background in those Pirates 2 blu-ray screens is so much sharper. And some of the bright spots also seem to have really harsh edges instead of a gradual glowing area. I know it's not edge enhancement but it sure looks like it since the blu-ray screens just look more crispy. I was hoping the high definition release would show more of a clearer image with less compression rather than a sharper image.
The only reason I'm excited about blu-ray is because it has 5 times the capacity of dvd. I could honestly care less about the high definition capability. I'm surprised it hasn't been used for tv show season releases since the episodes could fit on one disc rather than four or five. It's annoying having anime shows be 4 episodes to each disc separately released when an entire season fansubbed can fit onto a data CD, good quality too! I also think blu-ray could have more potential for televised sports games to get video releases. Many dvd sets for the official championship video have not only season highlights but some of the best games in their broadcast entirety. Most sports games like that run about 3 hours which is difficult to fit onto one dvd. And many of the existing games released have very noticable compression. Most movies run 2 hours which is easy to fit onto a dvd. Many that are 3 or longer are split up onto 2 discs.
And hang on. The Blade Runner dvd will have 5 discs in the most elaborate set. Why will the HD releases also require 5 discs for the same stuff? Surely it could all fit on 3 blu-rays at the most.
Post
#295738
Topic
.: The XØ Project - Laserdisc on Steroids :. (SEE FIRST POST FOR UPDATES) (* unfinished project *)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295738/action/topic#295738
Time
"I know its none of our business but I can't help but think about Laserman every now and then...any updates? Please let him know that there are people here thinking about him and praying for him to get well and be whole...... "

My thoughts exactly.

By the way, X in roman numeral means 10, so 20X0 = 20,100 AD... Yikes, that would be a long time.

I've been wondering, would it be alright to ask how each of you became so knowledgable about video technology and Star Wars in the first place? Were you familiar with all the different video releases like the Special Collection, Definitive Collection and Faces or was this gradually learned through trying to learn about improving upon previous laserdics transfers such as the Dr. Gonzo set? Did any of you take filmmaking classes in college? Or did one of your jobs deal with technical aspects of computers that would have taught you about script functions like avisynth? Or how Laserman acquired such advanced video hardware?
I'm just curious. If you feel any of those questions are too personal, you don't have (as if I could actually force you) to answer them.
Post
#295518
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295518/action/topic#295518
Time
I think the 70's look has grown on me a bit since I first watched the OT in entirety in 2004. I had only seen parts of the movies on tv before. But yeah, the look of the original films and the prequel films is totally different. I think the pristine look of the prequels works well though because it takes place in the days of the republic when the Jedi are still around. Queen Amidala's costumes were pretty extravagant and some of them were unnecessary. Then again, they probably make perfect sense to a planet who elects a girl at 16 years old to be queen. I think it does keep with the idea of those in power being complacent and more worried about formalities and properness intstead of leading their people. It might have been more interesting if the other characters made a big deal out of her wardrobe. Like what would Han Solo have said if he saw Leia wearing that kind of stuff?

I used a fairly basic photo editing program, not something advanced like photoshop to make those corrections. I'm sure someone here could improve the actual video rather than still frames far better than those examples. Whatever you do, I'm really looking forward to this because there was just so much in the prequels that didn't feel right and not always in the sense of not having an OT feel. More like going to the trouble to set up all these ideas and concepts and not fully delivering them. Themes and personalities have places where they should be but aren't. I think I now understand why numerous people here have mentioned they saw the prequel films multiple times because they thought they missed something the previous time.
Post
#295419
Topic
Blade Runner 2, 4, and 5-disc sets in December
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295419/action/topic#295419
Time
http://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2401

Comparison between the 2 dvd versions. Some of the caps such as 7 and 12 have a blue tint in the new dvd which is dissapointing. Did Lowry Digital work on this too? Either way, what the hell is up with this blue tint showing up in "digitally remastered" films. It's not restoration, it's Turnerizing.

Other comparisons available on Bullets n Babes (the 2006 Star Wars dvd's are among them):
http://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1900
Post
#295338
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295338/action/topic#295338
Time
I think the color on Phantom Menace looks really good. I actually wasn't that impressed with the color and cinematography on the original films. The lighting looks rather flat, made worse on the 2004 dvd, and the most of the sets look rather drab and dull. Cloud city interior looks like a hospital wing, Jabba's place looks more like a dark cave than a palace. The wall on the Hoth base where 3PO pulls down the wampa sign in a deleted scene looks like molded plastic rather than a cave that was carved through ice. Even Endor doesn't seem that colorful for a forest. I know it's supposed to be a used future look but still so much seems to take place on confining corridors with either white, gray or black walls. I'm not very fond of 70's style and architecture so that might be part of it too.
When I first watched Phantom Menace in '05, I was completely blown away by the varied landscapes and vistas, detailed set design and colors that were very vibrant while still looking natural. The visual effects looked great and I think they still hold up fairly well even today. They just don't have that much resolution but I think after a certain point, trying to add more detail to CG just makes it more obvious because that just brings out the fake texture and unnatural sharpness. Ironically, I think the biggest aspect of where the prequels actually improved on the original films was not visual effects but rather set decoration and design, costumes (especially prosthetics masks) and the minature sets. It's a shame so much of II and III used blue screen.

Anyways...
I decided to try color correcting some screenshots from episode II.
I thought this shot looked pretty good to start. How was the landscape generated (if it was real world, where was it shot?) and how was the house made?
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4319/084resizewt8.jpg[URL=http://imageshack.us][/URL]

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1869/0844resizeod2.jpg[URL=http://imageshack.us][/URL]

I don't think this correction is perfect (part of R2 becomes overexposed) but I think it gives you a good idea.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/3935/00134resizeuy7.jpg[URL=http://imageshack.us][/URL]

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/6263/001342resizene0.jpg[URL=http://imageshack.us][/URL]

This is probably one of the better examples of the oversaturation that TM was referring to. But if you were to jack up the saturation on the image all the way, you would reveal the problem with the shot. Padme's face will look pretty much the same color as the sand she's lying in. So basically the face of someone and desert sand under broad sunlight is not able to be differentiated by the camera in regard to color. The image is also too far red shifted and fixing that makes Padme's shirt more white. I think I adjusted the contrast/midtones with the shot but not very much. I also desaturated it which was more effective with the other fixes.
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/3369/aotcpadme156resizemr8.jpg[URL=http://imageshack.us][/URL]

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5396/aotcpadme1563resizeom4.jpg[URL=http://imageshack.us][/URL]
Post
#295123
Topic
How to use HuffYUV
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/295123/action/topic#295123
Time
I just downloaded the file and saved it to the virtualdub folder on my desktop. Now I'm not sure how to get it to appear in the virtualdub program. The plugin is an unknown file and can't be opened itself. I suspect that it is like the Huffy codec and isn't meant to be opened itself but rather loaded into the vdub program. Am I right?
Post
#294927
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/294927/action/topic#294927
Time
I think the color correction that you did to change the time of day will look pretty good. Lucas did it with Star Wars after all. The most digital looking scene for me in episode II is the start of the Clone War. Uggh, but I know you reedited that to give it a sense of purpose and a point. I think the problem with the colors was that the camera never picked up the full vibrancy and muddied some of the images, especially the CG and dark scenes. I just don't know how that can be fixed. With the saturation, some of the scenes probably looked a little too sweetened to cover the lack of good color vibrancy but then desaturating them reveals the lack of good subtle color pickup in the first place. I know you added a little grain but did you do anything else besides darkening and desaturation in most scenes. I feel there might be other ways to cover up the sickeningly sweet shinyness without having to take away the color. Would boosting the midtones or contrast work?
Using LotR as an example, I'm afraid desaturation alone would just make it look more like the top image. Any way to make it more like the bottom (my fix)?
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/6316/1frodo376correctedresizwu4.jpg[URL=http://imageshack.us][/URL]

The color tint issue I saw with some of the bar scenes is similar to the top image here. But I agree that it needed a more Mos Eisley cantina atmosphere.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8584/1aragorn4correctedresizxj5.jpg[URL=http://imageshack.us][/URL]

I was also wondering, what do you think about the cinamatography and color of The Phantom Menace?