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A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

#1
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9/21/06 at 7:30am
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Let's be honest.

Grand Prix is a beautifully mounted production, by one of our most respected filmmakers.

But it isn't one of the "great" films.

With a storyline more steeped in soap than racing, the film's value comes from its large format (65mm) cinematography of some of the finest Formula One racing footage ever exposed to film.

And this is precisely where Warner's HD-DVD of Grand Prix shines. The studio produced a specially matted 35mm interpositive element for the transfer, and the final result -- the first 65mm on high def, but the second large format, after Searchers -- is visually stunning.

Recommended, especially for large viewing surfaces.

RAH

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#2
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9/21/06 at 8:11am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Excellent news.

Been waiting to add this to my library since the first days of DVD. Glad I waited till the HD version became available.

Thanks Robert

Dennis
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#3
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9/21/06 at 9:28am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Robert,

I'm sure that I speak for many, when I say that it's always a pleasure to tune-in and find another installment of "A Few Words About...".

I'm curious about the up-coming release of "Spartacus" on HD. Given your perspective, is there any advance word, or curiosity, that gets you especially primed before the first viewing?
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#4
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9/21/06 at 10:32am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

I'm as curious re: Spartacus as anyone, and remain hopeful.

RAH

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#5
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9/21/06 at 11:03am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

I am "Robert Harris"!
;-)
Thanks for the GP OK.

Movies are: "The Greatest Artform".
HD should be for EVERYONE!

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#6
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9/22/06 at 9:30am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Great to hear about Grand Prix. Looking forward to receiving my copy from Amazon next week.
DVD Aficionado
DVD Profiler
DVD Spot
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#7
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9/25/06 at 8:12am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

The Grand Prix HD DVD does look gorgeous, and I highly recommend it.

"This movie has warped my fragile little mind."

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#8
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9/27/06 at 2:51pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
The studio produced a specially matted 35mm interpositive element for the transfer.
RAH

Robert, could you go into a little more detail about this IP. If it is anamorphically squeezed on the element, wouldn't it have an effect on the quality, as it is no longer spherical, as opposed to doing a telecine of a 65mm IP?
When you say matted, that refers to the protection of the original aspect ratio, likewise on the "My Fair Lady" IP, correct?

Steve Pickard

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#9
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9/27/06 at 4:13pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Precisely, Stephen...

No, there really isn't a degradation in quality for one simple reason.

The current functional 65mm transfer equipment are basically dinosaurs, with very, very little control over image.

The creation of a 35mm IP, derived from the O or restoration 65mm neg will yield an image with any number of fewer problems.

This is the way that we did it on MFL, and the way that Warner has been producing their elements.

IMHO, this is currently the way to go.

With a single caveat.

The IP must be of spectacular optical quality. Pacific Title has been, and is currently doing beutiful work on these.

RAH

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#10
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9/27/06 at 4:49pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Is it too expensive to do a 4k scan from the negative for video transfer?

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#11
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9/27/06 at 8:12pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

My goodness, what a marvelous image on my new Pearl. HD-DVD heaven.

Thomas Pfarr

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#12
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9/28/06 at 1:40pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Quote:
The current functional 65mm transfer equipment are basically dinosaurs, with very, very little control over image.
Exactly right and thats why every scan done from 65mm so far has has major problems. These problems are clearly visible on the DVD versions of:

Sound Of Music
Ben Hur
Oklahoma
The Toad-AO shorts

They include:

Color registration issues and
No fine detail

Ted
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#13
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9/28/06 at 2:54pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

From what I understand the R2 South Pacific looks great, and the R1 coming in November will be identical.

Quote:
The Toad-AO shorts

Too bad The Muppet Movie wasn't in 70mm; this is the format they'd have used!

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#14
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9/29/06 at 8:47am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

What is the status of the forthcoming Todd-AO version of "Oklahoma!"? Will it be the same bad transfer as last year?

Steve Pickard

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#15
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9/29/06 at 9:51am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Fotokem's 65mm Imagica scanner setup (used for "South Pacific") is probably the one exception to Mr. Harris's comment, at least in regards to home video masters.
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#16
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9/29/06 at 11:07am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Since they needed to restore the film and reconstruct the longer version from a faded 70mm print, the Imagica was used on South Pacific.

I wouldn't mind 4k scans on large format films for HD transfers and beyond (even on 35mm material), in fact I encourage them, but they are not cheap.

Stephen, what's this you say about a new Oklahoma! I've heard nothing whatsoever about this or even replacement discs for the abominable treatment of the Todd-AO version on last year's DVD set.

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#17
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9/29/06 at 11:22am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by MatthewA
Stephen, what's this you say about a new Oklahoma! I've heard nothing whatsoever about this or even replacement discs for the abominable treatment of the Todd-AO version on last year's DVD set.

"Oklahoma!", I am certain, is in the new Rodgers and Hammerstein box set due in November.
I was hoping they might have a new transfer done during the year, if it isn't it will obviously be the one issued last year.

Steve Pickard

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#18
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9/29/06 at 6:35pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

I have the region 2 South Pacific and the transfer is certainly nothing to brag about.

Ted
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#19
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9/29/06 at 7:38pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by TedD
I have the region 2 South Pacific and the transfer is certainly nothing to brag about.

Ted

What exactly is the problem with the transfer?

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#20
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9/30/06 at 7:04am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

The "problem" is that the image quality isn't up to par with the best that can be done today on DVD. It's slightly soft and lacking in fine image details. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad looking, but it's certainly not comparable to the image detail present on the Grand Prix DVD (or the Moulin Rouge DVD).

For something reputedly done on a "state of the art" 65mm digital scanner, it just doesn't have that much detail. Of course, the compression to DVD is impacting what is displayed on the screen as well.

Played on an HTPC using Theatertek, ffdshow, lanczos2 scaling, DScaler sharpen, and displayed by a Qualia 004 at 1920x1080 at 5'x12' constant height screen.

Ted
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#21
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9/30/06 at 5:32pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

The first thing I noticed, after the overture, was the great MGM Lion. Hmmmm. I wonder how many other older MGM films Warner has the rights to release....

Thomas Eisenmann

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#22
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10/1/06 at 10:44am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Warner owns everything MGM ever made before 1986.

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#23
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10/1/06 at 10:57am
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

That can't be totally accurate because most of the Bond films were made before 1986 and Warner doesn't own them. What other major pre-'86 MGM productions are owned by a studio other than Warners?

When you have to shoot...shoot. Don't talk!

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#24
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10/1/06 at 1:46pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edwin-S
That can't be totally accurate because most of the Bond films were made before 1986 and Warner doesn't own them. What other major pre-'86 MGM productions are owned by a studio other than Warners?

Maybe this will help.

Quote:
MGM fully owns and can distribute its post-1986 titles, and all United Artists, ... Warner gets all the Turner pre-1948 Warner and pre-1986 MGM titles
http://www.dvdfile.com/news/special_...ationofmgm.htm

For a list of MGM films:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGM#1980s

Thomas Eisenmann

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#25
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10/1/06 at 2:07pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

sorry for little bit off topic,

where I can find numbers of movie titles owned by each studio ?
somewhere on avs or av forums I read that universal and warner had over 5.000 paramount over 4.000 ? and fox just over 500? is that true for fox ? or it was typo ?

thanx for any links..

Marek
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#26
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10/1/06 at 3:10pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

"number of movie titles owned by each studio" can mean many things.

As a start, what is a "movie title?"

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#27
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10/1/06 at 4:18pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
"number of movie titles owned by each studio" can mean many things.

As a start, what is a "movie title?"

I am sorry, I was not clear in my question.

"How many movies has each studio in their LIBRARY", or to how many movies they own rights for dvd and hd distribution. I just wanted to make a little table. To find out to how big library have access blu-ray and to how big library hd-dvd.

Marek

P.S. I hope I am more clear now.....
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#28
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10/1/06 at 5:03pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Sorry, what is a "movie?"

The holdings of studios are inclusive of feature films, newsreels, cartoons, shorts, documentaries, and occasionally a separate arena for "B" westerns.

Hence the query, "what is a movie?"

RAH

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#29
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10/1/06 at 7:10pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Thanks for posting the link to that old article. It explained a lot. I forgot that Bond titles were UA product.

When you have to shoot...shoot. Don't talk!

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#30
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10/1/06 at 9:48pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Grand Prix -- in HD-DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
Sorry, what is a "movie?"

The holdings of studios are inclusive of feature films, newsreels, cartoons, shorts, documentaries, and occasionally a separate arena for "B" westerns.

Hence the query, "what is a movie?"

RAH

feature films

Marek
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