The Aluminum Falcon

Moth3r said:

The early Japanese laserdisc of The Evil Dead is a bit of a mystery. Why is it so dark and blue? I doubt the original prints were like this.

Actually, I've heard that the original run prints were timed very blue like the LD. The HBO VHS shows similar timing.

AFAIK, the BD is how the color appears on the negative... non-color-timed.

By the way, is anyone bothered by the way Vertigo is on BD? I saw a Technicolor IB print, and there is absolutely no comparison... the final scene simmers with neon blue hues completely muted and pink in the BD.

Sent you a PM, Harmy.

Spaced Ranger said:

This particular "fix" is for chromatic aberration fringing -- see post on the previous page describing the particulars: http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/THX-1138-preservations-Italian-Cut-available-see-1st-post/post/624565/#TopicPost624565. I wouldn't expect such a problem to be on a professional release.

Unfortunately, it is on the two BDs I described earlier. I believe I've heard it referred to as Technicolor Dye Registration errors. A color sometimes peaks out far beyond where it should be. Universal just used old masters for both and didn't bother fixing. As I am very fond of both movies, Rope more than the 1943 Phantom of the Opera, I'd love to see if there's a way to make a corrected version.

Anyway, thanks for the informative post. I didn't know EE could be reduced as well, that's great.

Moth3r said:

From Russia, would it be 1080i50?

Nope, it's 1080i60. So, IVTC'ing is all that's required.

Hello, sorry to get a bit off-topic, but Spaced Ranger, can you really fix color fringing with home computer tools? I'm only curious, since I know it is an unfixed issue on some BD releases, registration issues, that is. Some BDs that have it off the top of my head, (Rope, Phantom of the Opera, etc.)

Anyway, to get back on topic, I do love all the work you guys are doing. I've never seen THX-1138 before, and I want to see your guys' superior version rather than Lucas's terrible edition first.

I found a 720p HDTV version of the old master, but does anyone have the source 1080i version? It would presumably give far/much better quality. As rockin said, marrying it with the original PCM audio would be awesome!

rockin said:

What is the best audio to match with the 1080i HDTV version?

The 5.1 audio from the original WB DVD looks. It's 384kbps if I remember correctly, so it seems the same at the laserdisc. Anyway, I'm sorry, but I can't remember if I put a delay on it or not, but it eventually works.

Oh my, where can one get this Ghostbuster HDTV rip? I'd love to see it.

For anyone interested,

I downloaded the Russian Matrix HDTV rip from RuTracker. It appears to be taken from the same scan as the original DVD. However, the sides have unfortunately been cropped from 2:35 to approximately 2:20; yet, the top and bottom have the matte opened, giving more picture information. AFAIK, the color timing is accurate to the theatrical release (no green); it relatively appears to match the color timing of the Oscar "For Your Consideration" VHS I required.

DIY Guide

Anyway, anyone interested in making a BD out of the HDTV can do it like I did (which I've tested and it's working successfully.) You just need to merge the MKVs, using whatever program you desire (to be honest: I've forgotten the specific program I used). Anyway, after that, you need to re-encode with Handbrake, "De-telecining" it on "Auto" mode and changing the size to 1920 x 1080. This will produce a BD-compliant 1080p MKV, which you should insert in TSMuxer.

However, the audio is still in Russian, isn't it? So, what you do is just rip the audio from the initial DVD and mux it with the video stream of the MKV-- making an English BD of the Matrix with original color timing and open matte picture. I may have put a delay on the audio; sorry, but I forgot specifically what it was. In any case, it works after some nitpicking, and you get to enjoy the brilliant theatrical audio from the original release.

Hope this helps anyone interested in this.

Nice! I used to love that movie. Thanks for making it.

Fantastic. I'd be willing to wait for that release.

Bingowings said:

Has anyone thought of doing a fan edit of the film Goldeneye using the Dave Arnold score from the game remake? 

Hmm... was that score any good? I know some members were kicking around the idea of making a John Barry edit but that was superseded by an NSNA edit, of similar changes.

Speaking of games, I remember the FRWL game being enjoyable, if not just to hear an old Connery delivering his old lines...

Dr. No-- in IMAX- good idea, maybe; in 3D- oh no...

For what it's worth, I've seen the 3D BD conversion, or at least a rip of itThat being said, might as well post some thoughts: The rip was low quality SBS3D despite being 10 GB; it was stretched to 1:78 from 1:66. . It uses the Lowry master-- the BD audio tracks even sync to it still. Thus, all the flaws of the Lowry master are present- color timing and grain-wise.

Though I doubt this was official, there were appeared to be some scant moments of depth.However, I admit that I might be wrong. To me, the title's seemed to have a 3D effect, nothing obnoxious though. In the opening Three Blind Mice scene, the horizon looked like it was farther back in space. Additionally, the painting in M's office seemed oddly far back. I'm still watching the rest of the movie, but I sure hope the official conversion is better.

his isn't the worst I've seen (read: NOT obnoxious), but it could be much better. Still a misguided concept. Any souls wishing to find the rip I saw only need to look at the bay of pirates... ;)

Brilliant! Can't wait to see that thread eurospec19... Combining the PCM mono with the Italian BD video will simply blow the US release out of the water, more so than as of current.

ilovewaterslides said:

The Jonno's audio track does not fit the HDTV version, i had to make some cuts in lots of scenes. The film is not frame by frame the same.

Though it may not be frame by frame the same, it's "close enough" (subjectively speaking) that I can watch it without cringing. Just to make sure we're both referring to the same HDTV rip: it's the 1080p DXVA one, correct?

If you've made an edited version of Jonno's track that is frame by frame accurate to the HDTV version, as you describe making cuts, would you be willing to share that, please?

---

SIDE NOTE: To anyone interested, the BTTF HDTV caps floating around on tehparadox and torrent sites seem to stem from a 1080i HDNet Rip (which can be found unaltered on RuTracker at around 14-16GB a movie). Judging by screen caps, this HDNet rip would appear to be inferior to the WOWOW rip, of which caps are shown on AVSForum.

Prior to ilovewaterslide's post, I assumed that all DVD/HDTV/BD masters of the BTTF trilogy stemmed from the same old 2K scan. Though it would appear, if this were indeed true, that not only is the BD filtered to death, but has had frames removed.

For any one interested, Jonno's audio track does indeed sync to the HDTV rip on RuTracker. A delay of -2500 is required. Would be interested in seeing the source for the one on RuTracker; excessive compression seems to have created digital artifacts and not entirely preserved the grain structure.

Bingowings said:

Missing episodes of Doctor Who?

I believe toho-scope was referring to the episodes of Doctor Who, which had not yet been released on DVD at the time-- not the actual "missing" lost episodes.

Ziz said:

Not that I disagree with all of them, but "revisionist color timing" isn't always a mistake.

I understand this, but I only label something with "revisionist color timing" if the general online consensus is that it is not an accurate representation of what appeared in the theaters. Example, Suspiria's multiple HD transfers with blown out contrast and oversaturated colors are said to look absolutely nothing like IB prints. I do admit that I don't have visual evidence to support all my claims.

If there's something specific item on the list, you believe is actually more like the theatrical timing, feel free to point it out.

Are you basing all these on personal preference and your own comparisons or are you accounting for professional reviews from video and home theater sites?

I'm basing these on online screenshot comparisons, personal screenshot comparisons, and general forum opinion.

If a BD has color timing that is more theatrically accurate, but I just personally don't like that re-discovered aesthetic: it will not go on the list.

SilverWook said:

I've heard Dragonheart and Apollo 13 look much better on HD DVD, but I don't have those films yet.

Online review sources corroborate your opinion. I'll add them to the list, creds to you, of course.

Been wondering if someone should collect the info out there about converting HD DVD to Blu Ray. For preservation purposes only of course.

It's rather easy, in fact- if you have an HD-DVD ripper attached to your computer.

Once the HD-DVD is ripped, no re-encoding is required for the video (usually VC1, which works with BD); typically, if you just take the movie from HDDVD30s, they'll end up fitting comfortably on a BD25. Of course, anything from an HDDVD15 will fit on a BD25. However, there are a few that do go slightly over the BD25 size requirement.

As far as the audio side of things, Dolby Digital + sadly does not work on most BD players. You can either re-encode in DTS or just take the 640kbps core out (what I tend to do).

For those that do not have HD-DVD computer players (myself included), nearly-uncompressed HD-DVD remuxs are available from the torrent side RuTorrent; PM me if you want links to something specific, but the site is pretty easy to navigate on its own.

So far, I've been able to preserve to BD the following superior HD-DVDs with relative ease: Army of Darkness, The Sting, Terminator 2: Judgment Day- Extended Cut, and The Thing. I'm looking at Deer Hunter next but that one may need video re-encoding.

Altered list a bit and added a few, if anyone is interested. Still would love to know about more superior HD-DVDs. Welcoming suggestions if any at all.

Anyone think this thread would garner more interest in the other preservations section?

Jonno said:

Anyway, I've synced it to the Blu-ray video so it's an easy job to create a disc or file with tsMuxer or whatever. If you'd like a listen, drop me a pm.

Very, very, very interested. Shot you a PM. Plan to marry it with HDTV rip video (superior quality).

djsmokingjam said:

The upcoming Koch Media 6-disc set from Germany will include all four official versions of the film...

Oh my god... that's unbelievable. Might have to look into importing if the word's good. Wouldn't be surprised if the quality of the TV cut was bad though.

Great alternate ending. Much better than the theatrical. Love how Caine simultaneously acknowledges both Bruce and the audience. It feels like a cinematic "thank you" from Nolan, if you will.

How's the video quality of the new Blu-Rays in comparison? More detail, less DVNR, I hope.

AntcuFaalb said:

(For now, let's say that "best" means "most accurate to the original theatrical presentation".)

By your standard of best, here is what I know.

2. Pinnochio

1987 CAV LD- Technicolor Color Timing

12. Cinderella

1995 Special Collector's Edition CAV- RKO Logo, Original Timing, No Restoration Errors, and Original Mix Available (as LD Audio track option).

14. Peter Pan

1999 DVD- Original Color Timing (blue/non-revisionist and not yellow shifted) in DVD Video Quality (not sure about audio).

I know the above isn't much, but hope it helps.

Did anyone ever manage to get this? The old HD version is definitely a curiosity... color-timing wise.

borisanddoris said:

Thanks again to everyone who helped me and all of us realize this dream.  I'm curious to see if Universal uses the original 5.1 or a remix for the upcoming 3D re-release.  One thing is for sure: the trailer's 2D image looks to have improved vastly over the Blu-ray video master.  With any luck, we'll get a nice, new Blu-ray as well!

I'd assume they'd continue to use the remix. I don't think that they'll make a new encode for the 2D BD video master (to save costs), but they'll probably issue it on a nice 3D BD. If that happens, one would have to extract the 2D image from the 3D BD for a high quality Jurassic Park. I'm just speculating, of course; this is what happened to Beauty and the Beast. Time will tell.