A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Shane Black's script for Lethal Weapon was at the top of the industry news in 1987.

The news almost two decades later is that Warner's new High Definition release of Lethal Weapon is yet another perfect transfer and release in the new format. If there is a 1080i problem here, I'm not seeing it.

The image, which is screen-filling at 1.78:1 has the stability, color definition and overall resolution of a film print when viewed from a nominal distance. I take that back. It has better image stability than a film print.
Grain structure is perfect, as can be measured by the high contrast main title sequence running over high speed negative footage shot over L.A. at night. The difference between the foreground lettering and background film element tell the entire story. Everything is at it should be.

What a pleasure to be able to view this crowd pleaser in full HD resolution.

I couldn't be happier with this release, which comes Very Highly Recommended.

RAH

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Thanks for the review Robert. I'm picking this gem up on Tuesday!

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Hopefully my preorder will be early enough at Amazon to get it soon. I'm still waiting on Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.

- Steve

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

I heard the transfer is not the "Director's Cut." True? And if so, how much am I missing?

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Thanks for the VHR, Robert!

Anyone, which cut of the film is this?
DTS?
Thanks.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

theater version, no DTS

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Is this another a 1080i master 'faked' to 1080p? Just asking since it's a catalog title.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

I thought Warner pulled those from future releases like this week's release of Lethal Weapon?




Crawdaddy

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

My opinion (full review at http://www.digitallyobsessed.com/sho...w.php3?ID=8746 ) is that this is one of the worst HD-DVDs released yet from a video standpoint. The grain is very sparkly and poorly compressed in the night sequences, and there's almost zero shadow detail. Things are very murky indeed, and such material is usually HD-DVD's long suit. Day sequences and brightly lit ones look very nice, and for once Murtaugh's suit isn't a mess of shimmer and moire. It's a step above the 1997 DVD but not a very big one.

I don't have any firm information as to whether it's a 1997 HD transfer, but considering the way it looks I wouldn't be in the least surprised.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

I will be picking this bad boy up!

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

It sounds like there is a definite difference in opinion especially if you're saying this release is not much better than the 1997 dvd release. I might have to get this disc, even though I prefer the DC of the film.





Crawdaddy

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

I will be getting this one, for sure.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Robert, as far as I understand, there has been no statement from Warner (or any studio) about not using these kind of masters. I do know, however, the issue has been brought to their attention.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Well, you usually wouldn't get such a statement anyway, these type of issues are handled internally by the studios most of the time. You would probably be surprised how similar PQ stuff was resolved without any of us knowing about them.




Crawdaddy

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Here's another viewpoint on this transfer from Peter M. Bracke at the "High-Def Digest" site:

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/lethalweapon.html

He seems to think it's "not a home run", but *is* a "good-looking presentation of a film almost two decades old." In particular, he stated that
"Blacks are rock solid, and contrast quite good. The image does pop quite often, especially some of the night scenes, which can look nearly three-dimensional. Sharpness is also not too shabby, though a bit soft most of the time. I was almost impressed with the lack of any pixelization -- for a transfer minted from a print that's somewhat inconsistent, I noticed no blocking or other motion artifacts, even on the grainiest scenes or those with a lot of fast action. "

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

I finally gave up on Amazon and last week's WB titles. If they have Lethal Weapon at BB tomorrow, I'm just gonna pick it up there. If you pre-order Lethal Weapon today, the estimated ship date doesn't even stick the street date as it usually does with pre-orders. It puts it out in July (like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Syriana). Since they still have yet to ship last week's titles, I'd be surprised if this week's makes it out anytime soon.. But, I'm just theorizing. They weren't doing too bad up 'til last week.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

I can wait if the difference in price is too much. I can buy Lethal Weapon from amazon for 17.99 with free 2 day shipping, what's the price BB is charging?




Crawdaddy

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

It will end up being $24.99 plus tax at BB.

Buy.com seems to be doing better (based on last week) than Amazon. I have heard reports of last week's titles shipping from there. Prices are comparable and they have a $5 off $50 promo that automatically gets applied to the cart... at least, it did when I checked it out this morning. Free shipping would probably result in about the same wait, though.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Amazon still offers the best deal so far for me. I might not have Lethal Weapon this week, but I can buy it from Amazon for $8.50 cheaper than BB.

As for Buy.com, I haven't try them since the early days of dvd.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

My views on Lethal Weapon in HD, are not based upon the film looking like an HD demo disc, but rather, looking very much as the film did in 35mm.

RAH

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Does this make LW the first HD DVD NOT to have all the features/extras of a DVD release?
Any guesses why the DC wasn't used?

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

The first DVD release of Legal Wreckin had the theatrical cut and the trailer. The second DVD had the DC and the trailer(along with a DTS track).

The HD-DVD has the theatrical cut, the DC scenes offered as extras, and the trailer. So technically WB didn't leave anything out.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Good to know!
Thanks.
So all's thats missing feature wise is the DTS track. I'd ask if any one compared the DD+ against the SD DVD DTS, however we ALL know what kind of posts that would produce! ;-)

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Whenever you get Lethal Weapon Robert Crawford, I like to know your opinion, since it seems we have a wide range of opinions.

I'm sure this will look nice on my 1080p DLP TV, but I just would like one more opinion.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

This is also the way I have looked at my HD DVD's of Goodfellas & Full Metal Jacket. These movies never had their 35mm prints restored, or have they? I hate it when people want every older movie to look like Star Wars Episode III or any modern day film.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Goodfellas HD DVD looks terrific. It looks like film. That's not the issue. The issue is that the same grade-A treatment wasn't given to FMJ or Lethal Weapon, apparently since they use antique HD transfers with poor compression techniques. The white skies of FMJ are frequently alive with writhing white worms that I found highly distracting. The film version most emphatically does not have that effect. Lethal Weapon has very sparkly, instead of natural, grain, and no shadow detail at all. While some movies are designed to have a very high contrast in order to virtually eliminate shadow detail (such as DOOM), I have no reason to believe that LW was a case of that kind of stylized visual experience. Take for instance the scene where the dealer is brought into the dark room to meet McAllister and Joshua. There's virtually nothing that you can make out in the shadows for much of the sequence--indeed, it's hard to make out what's going on at all. I was expecting a much higher level of clarity there, but it's still the same murky mess as the 1997 DVD. Same situation to a lesser extent in the torture rooms. If someone can demonstrate that Donner actually intended this effect, I'm more than happy to revise my opinion, but I remain highly skeptical.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

It's extremely disappointing that studios are releasing discs with inferior, older transfers on purpose just so they can milk the consumer later with a "deluxe,special,uber" edition with the newer transfer.

I can understand releasing older transfers IF newer ones didn't exist, but this is just pathetic.

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

I watched LW last night and thought it looked very good. Better then it ever has on a home video format. The movie is dark and murky to begin with and has never been one to show off home video equipment. Its just not that type of film.

FMJ and Fugitive i have watched and both do have there problems. However Lethal Weapon is not one of them

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

This is just another example why you have to judge a dvd by what you see and not what somebody else is telling you. No offense to any reviewers, but there has been more times than I can count in which I disagreed with a dvd review after viewing it on my own HT setup with my own eyes and expectation level.

My disc of this title shipped today so I'll have it by Friday and plan on watching it on Friday night.





Crawdaddy

Re: A few words about... Lethal Weapon -- in High Definition

Watched Lethal Weapon last night and it is the best looking version I have seen yet. The colors pop nicely, there is more detail in far off shots of LA (I have seen this movie more times that I can remember and immediately notice "new" things like more detail), and Eric Clapton's guitar riffs come through the speakers nicely. Well worth the price, at least to me, a long time fan of this particular franchise. Bring on the sequels!