thegroovologist

This Blu-ray would be awesome. What do you think?  >>>

eXistenZ  (1999)

>

Video source: 

Blu-ray "eXistenZ / Malevolent / B. Monkey" (Miramax Triple Feature)

Audio source:

Blu-ray "eXistenZ" (Echo Bridge Entertainment)

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)

Special Features source:

Alliance 2-Disc DVD (Canadian exclusive)

Commentaries: Audio commentary by director David Cronenberg Audio commentary by cinematographer Peter Suschitzky Audio commentary by visual effects supervisor Jim Isaac

Extras:

"The Invisible Art of Carol Spier" FX documentary (53:44)

English theatrical trailer (2:08)

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

As the grain size was really similar to grain 2, to show something different I decided to create a grain 2.5 with a grain size that is a bit bigger... take a look at this, and let me know what do you think.

test clip 3 with grain 2.5: http://www.sendspace.com/file/ldi4ls

That's way too much grain. I don't like it.

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

Sure think! Here you are:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/te7cgs

contrast doesn't seem bad to me, but this grain plate definitely *seems* to improve perceived details... isn't true? Ah, how easy is to fool the brain...

Yep, grain plate 2 looks good! Black levels/contrast look very healthy.

There should definitely NOT be more contrast since we'd get black crush.

Can you also upload testclip1.mkv with grain plate 2 ?

I also prefer grain plate 2.

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

As I watched and rewatched the test clips with added grain, I thought that this kind of grain plate is too subtle... I mean, grain should not be very noticeable, but only a bit; with the grain plate used until now, it was less than a bit...

So, I decided to test two new grain plates; they are similar, not very different when saw in static images, but quite noticeable in comparison to the old one; I must test them in motion!

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/61213 - new grain plate 1

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/61214 - new grain plate 2

for comparison:

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/60531 - old grain plate

opinions?

Very interesting. Please test them in motion.

In a previous post you wrote:

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

Actually, I just overlaid the grain plate to the image, but it improved a bit contrast and brightness as consequence!

I've noticed that the two new grain plates you tested boost the contrast even more. I have the feeling that it's a little bit too much contrast now. We don't want black crush to occur. It's difficult to judge contrast levels from one frame only though.

That looks so much better! It's a joy to see it with healthy black levels.

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

@thegroovologist: this shot?

from this frame

Yes, from this frame on for 30 seconds.

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

Well, I'd like to make a test clip; let's choose two clips - 30sec each; first thegroovologist, as you are following this thread from a long time; just post starting time (min:sec); DoomBot, you are the second, only because entered late in the discussion, not for importance - you know it!

>>>

1:20:00 (h:min:sec)

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

I'm not sure if the KinoWelt german DVD has the same material found onto the Pioneer boxset laserdisc, but I HAVE to know it... best method will be to make an A/B comparison, but I have only the B part (laserdisc) while missing the A part (DVD)... anybody can help?

I found this information >>>

R2 Germany - Kinowelt Home Entertainment

• Extras:
  Making of "The Arrival" (7 minutes) - featurette
  Behind the Scenes (5 minutes) - featurette
  Interviews with Charlie Sheen, Ron Silver, Lindsay Crouse, Teri Polo, David Twohy, Thomas G. Smith, Cyrus Yavneh, Chuch Finance (7 minutes)
  Theatrical Trailer (German / English)
  Bonus Trailers:
  - Million Dollar Baby (German)
  - Tresspassing (German)
  - Mr. and Mrs. Smith (English)
  - The Second Arrival (German)
  - True Lies (German)
  - The Thing (German)
• Subtitles:
  German and German HOH (Optional)
• Aspect Ratio:
  1.85:1
• Picture Format:
  Anamorphic
• TV System:
  PAL
• Soundtrack(s):
  English Dolby Digital 5.1
  German Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
• Case type:
  Keep Case

Source:

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=1507

By the way...here's an example where they actually added grain because the HD picture (shot with an Arri Alexa camera) looked too clean (Blu-ray "It's a Disaster")  >>>

Oscilloscope brings It's A Disaster to Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that has its own peculiarities but seems absolutely true to source. What's unusual here is that while the film was shot digitally using the ever-popular Arri Alexa camera, director Todd Berger thought the crisp HD picture looked too clean—he mentions this in his commentary track—and decided to put a layer of film grain on top of the image in post- production. The sometimes heavy grain you see in the picture was very much an aesthetic choice, then, and not the result of camera noise or compression. And actually, the image does look very filmic; if you didn't know it was shot digitally, you'd have a hard time telling. Does the added grain detract from the sense of clarity? Maybe a little, but only if you're pixel-peeping screenshots. From a normal viewing distance, the picture looks excellent, with visible fine detail in hair and faces and clothing, especially in closeups. The color grading starts off realistically, with neutral skin tones and white balance, and as the "disaster" of the title ramps up, the light shifts towards a green-tinged warm cast, hinting at the poisonous air outside. Saturation, black levels, and contrast are all even-handed and unobtrusive, and there are no obvious compression/encode issues.

Source:

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Its-a-Disaster-Blu-ray/70554/

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

Strangely, they were all right... but fear not, we have a solution! (^^,)

Latest tests: left BD, right BD with contrast correction and grain plate applied (click for larger version):

Very nice tests!...looking good!

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

I will NEVER do an MP3 version of it!!! (^^,)

So, you should wait for the project release... I want to add ALL the extras - still don't know if release movie + extras as 2x BD-25 or single BD-50 - but I need the german Kinowelt DVD; plus the french and spanish soundtracks!

Fair enough. I only asked since I just don't know if there actually will be a release. This thread was started in 2006. I've been wanting to listen to the commentary track for a long time.

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

thegroovologist said:

I'd really go with the Blu-ray version.

 It seems is the only way to go... unless someone is aware of a "hidden jem" HDTV broadcast buried somewhere... and then, it should be analyzed to see if it will be really better than BD...

Also, what about eventual HD streaming?

At the end, BD is not a tragedy; it isn't perfect, it's true, but not completely rubbish... infact, even if grain is almost gone, many details are still retained; as now, it's the best HD version we have, I'm afraid...

I think at this point it doesn't make sense to wait any longer for the magic hidden HDTV version. This project will never be finished otherwise. If an HDTV existed somebody would have mentioned it in this thread by now.

By the way; would anyone be able to upload the audio commentary (MP3 File) ? I would really love to listen to it.

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

I found all over the web, but still not found an HDTV version... does it *really* exist?!? If someone has it, or know where to find it, please let me know!

I have never seen an HDTV version on the internet.

I'd really go with the Blu-ray version.

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

Can you provide a small clip (let's say 1 min) from the BD, not re-encoded? Choose the part you like less - for grain lack in particular; I'd like to test the grain plate in motion.

Sorry, I'm not able to provide a clip since I'm using a Mac (no BD drive).

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

As I still have no news about an eventual HDTV, I'm starting to think there isn't one available; so I checked the BD against the DVD in the caps-a-holic site: it is not a total mess... yes, it's DNRed - more than a bit, and grain is gone, but many fine details are still there... not as much as they should, but enough to say it's better than the DVD.

At this point, I don't think a laserdisc preservation of the whole movie - even using the X9 as player - can be better than this... of course, it will useful for the alternate ending.

So, just for joke, I applied a grain plate over one of the screenshots, to improve perceived resolution, and here you are the result:

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/60531

not a huge improvement, but a bit better IMHO... opinions?

Plus, the BD seems to need contrast & brightness tweaks, and maybe a saturation too, so these will be taken in account in an eventual preservation project.

Thanks for keeping the project alive!

It actually does look better with some added grain. Brightness & contrast tweaks would be most welcome. Your processed screenshot looks so much better (colors, contrast, brightness) than the original. I own a copy of "The Arrival" on Blu-ray. It would be fantastic to watch it with your tweaks and I would love to watch it with the audio commentary. I'd also be very interested in the documentaries and alternative endings.

Any news on the progress?

P.S.: I love this movie!