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HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

#61
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4/18/08 at 8:25am
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Graham
there's just no reason a big budget movie made within the last 20 years should look this mediocre on Blu.

Well, technically, PREDATOR wasn't made within the last 20 years...

Does that depress the hell out of you as much as me?
Ernest Hemingway once wrote, \"The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.\" I agree with the second part...
--Det. William Somerset, SE7EN

http://www.dvdanthology.com/Filmmaker-movielist.html), http://LDDb.com/collection.php?actio...user=Filmmaker
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#62
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4/18/08 at 8:50am
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

I just find it sad at how Fox is treating some of there Blu-ray releases, it's not that I'm bother paying the £22+ price tag (here in the UK), or even that they're not porting over all the extras - it's the fact that there's NO extras apart from a couple of trailers and the way they keep skipping the unrated/extended cuts when we all know they could release them via seamless branching.

I really, really want Predator and Commando in my Blu-ray collection but when Fox are treating there releases so badly, why should I buy them and support there efforts?
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#63
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4/18/08 at 10:08am
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

Quote:
Originally Posted by Travis Brashear
Well, technically, PREDATOR wasn't made within the last 20 years...

Does that depress the hell out of you as much as me?


Good grief - you're right. I'm only 28, I shouldn't feel this old!
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#64
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4/19/08 at 11:15am
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

Viewed "Predator" Blu-ray last night.
Great movie!

Thanks Michael for the review.

Purchased this movie with HD DVD rebate money form Amazon.
IMO, the movie has never looked or sounded better viewed on 110" screen with DTS-HD MA lossless sound.

Sure, the movie, in its entirety, would look better if the demand was high enough for a complete restoration expenditure, but it hasn't happened.
A couple of night scenes have abundant grain, but I've seen reruns of older movies in the cinema having as much in similar segments - and I love the resolution regardless.

Exciting at cinema volume, even when you know what comes next!

Paul
My Blu-ray / HD DVD / DVD Collection
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#65
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4/19/08 at 11:59am
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

Dammit Paul! I keep reading comments such as yours across the web and it is tempting me to pick it up, I know I would be happy with how the movie looks - I know the production problems that Predator had, so it's not like I would be expecting miracles from the transfer.

Hmmmm.
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#66
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4/19/08 at 4:23pm
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

I don't think a restoration would be necessary, just a new digital transfer would do wonders. I have to assume from watching the BD that they are going off the same master used for the original non-anamorphic DVD. Take a look at the shot at 47:50-47:51 from behind Bill Duke. I would highly recommend a rental before anyone spends 27.99-29.99 on this.
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#67
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4/20/08 at 7:03am
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

Being stripped of the bonus material alone makes this not worth the $27 - $30.

The PQ was the best I've ever seen this film (and I've seen this more times than I can remember counting). Not perfect but way better than upconverting the DVD. The vibrancy of the colors in HD especially sets this apart.

If this goes on sale it's worth the $15 - $20 range to me. Keeping the SE DVD for the bonus material is a must though a shame.
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#68
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4/20/08 at 8:33am
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

I picked up ID4, Predator and Unbreakable at Target this morning. The $19 ea. price tag was enough for me to ignore Fox's mediocrity for now.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Travis Brashear
It pains me to say this (since I fear that purchases of this release will only help reinforce for Fox that it's okay to continue presenting Blu-rays in this weak manner), but it appears that Target will be selling the PREDATOR Blu-ray for 50% off ($19.95) five days after its release (the week of April 20-26).
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#69
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4/20/08 at 8:48am
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

so you're saying unbreakale is $20 at target this week too?
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#70
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4/20/08 at 9:53am
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

It appears so.


Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
so you're saying unbreakale is $20 at target this week too?
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#71
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4/20/08 at 12:15pm
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

Incidentally, the image quality on Predator is amazingly decent. I wasn't expecting too much from it. There was still a bit of dirt and increased grain in the opening shot but it smoothed out nicely and is a notable improvement over the DVD. The sound is improved as well. I've only sampled the core DTS track but it is so much better than the thin sounding DTS track on the DVD.

Do get it at a reduced price, though. It is still not worth the average retail cost.
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#72
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4/20/08 at 1:34pm
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
so you're saying unbreakale is $20 at target this week too?
Yes, it is along with Commando and a few others. I did buy Predator this morning, but passed on Commando.
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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#73
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4/20/08 at 2:33pm
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

Picked up Predator, Ice Age, and Independence Day this morning. Probably be a while before I watch any of these though as I want to get an HDMI receiver before watching any more Fox DTS titles. I have to admit I was a bit conflicted about purchasing Predator based on the reviews I've read but decided at a $20.00 price point that I could not pass up even a marginal version that improves on the SD DVD.

(Like Robert, had to take a pass on Commando. Perhaps in a moment of weakness in the future I'll add this to the collection, but not today.)

- Walter.

Fidelity to the source should always be the goal for Blu-ray releases.

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#74
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4/20/08 at 2:36pm
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter Kittel
Picked up Predator, Ice Age, and Independence Day this morning. Probably be a while before I watch any of these though as I want to get an HDMI receiver before watching any more Fox DTS titles. I have to admit I was a bit conflicted about purchasing Predator based on the reviews I've read but decided at a $20.00 price point that I could not pass up even a marginal version that improves on the SD DVD.

(Like Robert, had to take a pass on Commando. Perhaps in a moment of weakness in the future I'll add this to the collection, but not today.)

- Walter.
I was conflicted too, but decided to go ahead since I like the movie a lot. By the way, I thought they were sold out of Predator, but found a copy hidden behind a couple of Commando BRDs.
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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#75
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4/20/08 at 2:41pm
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

I went to Target around 8:20 A.M. (pretty early for me on a Sunday ) and everything was pretty well stocked except for Burton's Planet of the Apes. Kind of surprised at that, but perhaps it hadn't been stocked yet.

- Walter.

Fidelity to the source should always be the goal for Blu-ray releases.

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#76
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4/20/08 at 6:12pm
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

I happened to be at Target and decided to get I Robot and ID4 on impulse. I passed on Commando and Predator for now since they appear to be old transfers, single layer and featureless. Also passed on Unbreakable since $20 is the regular price at Amazon, so I'll wait and see if I can get a better deal down the road.
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#77
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4/21/08 at 6:15am
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Re: HTF BD REVIEW: Predator

I totally agree!! $30 for a movie that came out when I was in High School. When the entire Matrix collection is $44. None of this makes any sense to me. We pay $1000.00 for a Sony BD Player that comes with a remote with no back light, we pay a premium for the movies because they are supposed to have all these great features and this is the crap that we get. All we heard when HD vs BR first started was about how they now have all this room on these discs so they can provide better quality, better sound, all the extras etc, etc. But now that we have bought all their equipment we get the garbage discs. I am sick to death of constantly seeing the sd DVD versions coming out with all the extras or the extended cuts but the HD versions get squat. Isn't this the reason why we bought into this format!? Isn't this why we pay a premium for the movies and the equipment to play them!? I am tired of feeling like I am being used by the studios....buy this now and then in a few years we will re release it the way it should have been so you can buy it again. These studios better get their crap together or I will just go back to the SD versions and save my money. These greedy studios are so arrogant they act as if we are too stupid to see what they are doing. All they need to do is stop counting their money for a minute and take a look around at what people are saying. I personally think the people that bought into this format are some of the most educated hobbyists around!!!!!
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