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Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

#1
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1/2/09 at 2:54am
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Hi folks (and a very Happy New Year!).

Has anyone purchased a copy of the UK Blu-ray of Batman (1989) yet, and if so is the picture and sound quality worth upgrading over the ST DVD? On paper at least I'd imagine Batman would be a prime candidate for upgrading what with all of its dark shadows and eye popping colours - a problematic film for DVD but (I'm hoping) a great vehicle to show off what Blu-ray can do?

Thanks!

- John
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#2
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1/2/09 at 6:47am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Ordered my copy from Amazon.uk a few days ago and will post thoughts when it comes in.

"If you're good at something, never do it for free."

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#3
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1/2/09 at 9:49am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

One thing I admit I have NEVER known is....

There is NO issue of PAL/NTSC compatibility/speedup issues/etc with BD titles, correct? It's only a region code distinction that allows or prevents titles from being viewed in other countries?
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#4
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1/2/09 at 10:33am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Correct.
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#5
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1/2/09 at 10:52am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

...Although the PAL/NTSC issue still affects standard-definition supplements.

Carl Fink
Insect Politics

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#6
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1/2/09 at 10:58am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

HDnetmovies played the first movie last month. it look fine to me. batman returns has a better transfer.

Jacob

My Home Theater Equipment:

Philips 47pfl7403D/F7 Onkyo 605 7.1 Receiver Aiwa Speakers and Sub woofer Panasonic 80 Blu ray  Toshiba bdx2000 Sony PlayStation 3 Blu ray Direct TV in HD with DVR

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#7
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1/2/09 at 11:35am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

There screenshots look pretty decent.

Hundland.org: HD Screencaps Archive - B
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#8
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1/2/09 at 11:54am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Young
Correct.

If I were in the UK or anywhere else with the PAL standard, I'd be inclined to make the BD jump for that benefit alone, that's fantastic.
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#9
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1/2/09 at 1:29pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

I have them all, and they all look good IMO. They obviously improve as the series progresses, but as far as Warner titles that I expected very little from, they outshined my expectations.

Oh, and all the supplements are in 480p, so PAL/NTSC issues are irrelevant. FBI warnings upon discs loading.
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#10
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1/2/09 at 1:40pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

So they keep all the extras the DVD versions had?
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#11
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1/3/09 at 12:06am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Henry
I have them all, and they all look good IMO. They obviously improve as the series progresses, but as far as Warner titles that I expected very little from, they outshined my expectations.

Oh, and all the supplements are in 480p, so PAL/NTSC issues are irrelevant. FBI warnings upon discs loading.
Sound?

---------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicholas Martin
One thing I admit I have NEVER known is....

There is NO issue of PAL/NTSC compatibility/speedup issues/etc with BD titles, correct?
&
Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Young
Correct.
Any problem with mastering from PAL to BD?
Or, is that why:
Quote:
Originally Posted by cafink[/QUOTE
...Although the PAL/NTSC issue still affects standard-definition supplements.
Movies/films aren't mastered from PAL too HD.
Thanks.

HNY!

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

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#12
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1/3/09 at 6:42am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

I wasn't aware that any European/Australian BDs used PAL for special features. The main reason PAL DVDs exist is that the majority of old school PAL CRT TVs have difficulty with NTSC stuff. However, since one must have a fairly modern display in order to watch BDs - and all modern displays can cope just fine with NTSC, or rather 480i/480p - there's no point in converting special features into PAL. The only ones who would benefit from the inclusion of PAL would be those with an old PAL CRT TV... in which case they wouldn't be buying BDs anyway.

The only exception I can imagine is when the special features were shot/edited in 576i/576p, such as a BBC TV production or a European/Australian film where PAL video cameras are still used behind the scenes. This presumably would not pose a problem for potential importers in NTSC land, as their HDTVs are multi-format like ours. In other words, it's possible (but unlikely) for special features to be in PAL (576i/576p) but cheaper for the studios to keep special features in their original format (in the case of Batman, 480i) the world over.
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#13
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1/3/09 at 6:27pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Quote:
This presumably would not pose a problem for potential importers in NTSC land, as their HDTVs are multi-format like ours.
I wouldn't be so sure. I understand that Torchwood, which was produced in 25 fps, is only available on Blu-Ray in 30fps in order to allow the one disc to be used worldwide either because US HDTVs are generally not able to accept 25fps, or US Bly-Ray players don't accept it (I forget which). If they can't even watch a PAL-equivalent HD picture in the US, there is no way they will be able to watch an SD PAL image.
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#14
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1/3/09 at 7:51pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

We can't watch anything in PAL without having special multi-system DVD players or VCRs, unless we watch on computer.
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#15
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1/3/09 at 8:47pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

I'm in Melbourne, Australia.

Every time I browse for Blu-rays and check the back of each case, NEVER have I seen special features in PAL. So it looks like we all get the same stuff, folks.

It's nice to see there's finally a universal format.

If only they ended the region coding BS.
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#16
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1/4/09 at 10:44am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

This sounds like Warner is planning on releasing this exact disc in the US.
My Collection
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#17
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1/4/09 at 2:15pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Commissioner Gordon of the Burton/Schumacher films passes away:

Veteran actor Pat Hingle dies at 84 - BostonHerald.com
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#18
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1/4/09 at 4:59pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Young
I wasn't aware that any European/Australian BDs used PAL for special features. The main reason PAL DVDs exist is that the majority of old school PAL CRT TVs have difficulty with NTSC stuff. However, since one must have a fairly modern display in order to watch BDs - and all modern displays can cope just fine with NTSC, or rather 480i/480p - there's no point in converting special features into PAL. The only ones who would benefit from the inclusion of PAL would be those with an old PAL CRT TV... in which case they wouldn't be buying BDs anyway.

The only exception I can imagine is when the special features were shot/edited in 576i/576p, such as a BBC TV production or a European/Australian film where PAL video cameras are still used behind the scenes. This presumably would not pose a problem for potential importers in NTSC land, as their HDTVs are multi-format like ours. In other words, it's possible (but unlikely) for special features to be in PAL (576i/576p) but cheaper for the studios to keep special features in their original format (in the case of Batman, 480i) the world over.
The UK release of Pan's Labyrinth has special features in 576i.
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#19
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1/5/09 at 6:35am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Young
I wasn't aware that any European/Australian BDs used PAL for special features. The main reason PAL DVDs exist is that the majority of old school PAL CRT TVs have difficulty with NTSC stuff. However, since one must have a fairly modern display in order to watch BDs - and all modern displays can cope just fine with NTSC, or rather 480i/480p - there's no point in converting special features into PAL. The only ones who would benefit from the inclusion of PAL would be those with an old PAL CRT TV... in which case they wouldn't be buying BDs anyway.

The only exception I can imagine is when the special features were shot/edited in 576i/576p, such as a BBC TV production or a European/Australian film where PAL video cameras are still used behind the scenes. This presumably would not pose a problem for potential importers in NTSC land, as their HDTVs are multi-format like ours. In other words, it's possible (but unlikely) for special features to be in PAL (576i/576p) but cheaper for the studios to keep special features in their original format (in the case of Batman, 480i) the world over.

Yeah if you're talking about a PAL CRT circa 1990! they've been able to handle NTSC for years.
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#20
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1/5/09 at 12:55pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

My apologies for not replying sooner, but the sound on all four movies is TrueHD 5.1. All the extras have been ported across from the 2005 special editions.

A word on PAL extras on certain discs: It DOES happen, but not from any of the major studios. You can guarantee 100%, that a Warner/Fox/Universal, etc disc bought in the UK or any other PAL territory, the extras will be in 480p. This only deviates with the likes of Hellboy II which like the US release, has a DVD of special features.

It's the smaller studios where you run the gauntlet on PAL extras. There are many discs out there which are region free, but have PAL content. I believe that it's player dependent on how the PAL material is handled,(or NOT handled). The other problem is movies that not only have PAL extras, but PAL opening logos, trailers, etc. The UK Son Of Rambo disc has plagued many US purchasers, it has numerous adverts and trailers in PAL format, before you even get to the disc menu. You may well be faced with a blank screen, wondering just what the hell is going on.

P.S. There is a rumor that the US release of Batman, will be a BD-25, with a 2nd DVD for the special features...
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#21
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1/5/09 at 5:49pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lance Rumbolt
Yeah if you're talking about a PAL CRT circa 1990! they've been able to handle NTSC for years.
I realise that. My point is that when the DVD format was ratified, the majority of people in PAL land owned TVs which could not handle NTSC in any shape or form. Therefore, it would have made no sense to make the DVD format NTSC only. However, nowadays anyone buying a Blu-ray in PAL land will own a new TV which is fully capable of handling NTSC, so the actual need for PAL content on Blu-ray is diminished. I'm guessing that the handful of European/Australian BDs containing PAL extras only do so because it was cheap and convenient for the studio to re-use them from the PAL DVD release. There would be no point in converting them to 480i/480p, as they're not catering for the NTSC market.
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#22
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1/6/09 at 12:08pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Henry
My apologies for not replying sooner, but the sound on all four movies is TrueHD 5.1. All the extras have been ported across from the 2005 special editions.

A word on PAL extras on certain discs: It DOES happen, but not from any of the major studios. You can guarantee 100%, that a Warner/Fox/Universal, etc disc bought in the UK or any other PAL territory, the extras will be in 480p. This only deviates with the likes of Hellboy II which like the US release, has a DVD of special features.

It's the smaller studios where you run the gauntlet on PAL extras. There are many discs out there which are region free, but have PAL content. I believe that it's player dependent on how the PAL material is handled,(or NOT handled). The other problem is movies that not only have PAL extras, but PAL opening logos, trailers, etc. The UK Son Of Rambo disc has plagued many US purchasers, it has numerous adverts and trailers in PAL format, before you even get to the disc menu. You may well be faced with a blank screen, wondering just what the hell is going on.

P.S. There is a rumor that the US release of Batman, will be a BD-25, with a 2nd DVD for the special features...
Thanks for the update!

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

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#23
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1/6/09 at 2:38pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Saw a bit of it on HDNet last night and immediately turned it off.

That had to be upconverted DVD with excessive DNR, because there was NO detail in the image at all. I seriously doubt the Blu-ray will resemble that broadcast at all. It looked as though I turned the sharpness on my TV to -10 or something, making it too soft.

As for the sound, I could care less about a lossless track with this particular film, because I've never liked the artificial 5.1 mix anyway.
The mix on the original 1997 DVD was the same as the 2005 Dolby and DTS versions, and a TrueHD version won't make it any better.

Of course that applies ONLY to this one film, not Returns or Forever. With those latter films, I'd expect the results to be VERY impressive as the DVDs already sound fantastic as is.
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#24
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1/6/09 at 3:21pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

I caught Batman (89) on some HD cable channel last year (it may have been TBS - can't remember) and I thought it looked pretty good. The way this movie was filmed and given the source, it's never going to look like eye candy - something some reviewers at other sites are going to miss.
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#25
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1/6/09 at 3:26pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

What I was basically saying is that the Blu-ray WILL look great, superior to the HD broadcast in every possible way, but the sound format won't make the sound mix better than it is.
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#26
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1/6/09 at 9:54pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

My copy arrived today from amazon.UK but didn't have time to play it yet. I plan on a Batman viewing tomorrow. I haven't seen this film in it's entirety since watching the very first dvd issue back in 1997.

Should be fun...
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#27
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1/8/09 at 5:20pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

i bought this blu ray yesterday and eagerly slipped it into my playstation 3, running HDMI to a 46 inch sony bravia.

viewing random scenes i could tell that this was the clearest and cleanest version of batman id ever seen.
however i then slipped in my batman DVD from 2005 and I really couldnt tell many significant differences between upscaled DVD and the blu ray.

All the dark scenes, which make up most of the film look nearly identical. the only scenes where you can really notice picture quality improvement are the brighter scenes such as the bruce wayne function, bruce visiting vicki's apartment, and a few of the scenes with jack napier and carl grissom.

its hard to explain, you dont really see any more detail in the blu ray version over the upscaled DVD but the picture just looks more fuller. colours are slightly more vibrant also, with eye reflections slightly more pronounced. Im actually now thinking the DVD version was really good to begin with, or the ps3 is a really good upscaling player?
In the beginning when the actors names are on the screen the text doesnt really look HD. i like to look at text as good test to the sharpness of the film. if you turn on the subtitles then that is how sharp it should be.

All in all it's a very slight improvement over upscaled DVD.

sorry i dont have a good audio system so i cant comment on the audio.

i will still recommend getting the blu ray though for the very slight picture improvement, but not at full price...wait for a price drop.


p.s i have 2 ps3's, i ran dvd and blu ray version simultaneously and switched TV inputs to compare.
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#28
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1/9/09 at 10:13am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

I'll likely NOT buy this simply because I don't watch these films often enough on DVD as it is, but I love the extras they have.

I sampled this film on my PS3 upscaled and like you, I found the DVD image quality to be just fine. I'll take your word for it regarding the BD being a minor improvement over the DVD version, and stick with the DVD only.
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#29
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1/10/09 at 11:11am
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

Not the greatest Blu-ray in the world for sure....the audio though is even worse. I realize it's from 1989 but I actually had to check to see if both of my subs were even on. VERY weak LFE and just felt extremely dated. The Superman films from the late 70s and 1980 sound much fuller compared.

I no longer have the original dvd to compare but the sound design was lacking.

I know I'm sounding negative but man this film has NOT held up well after seeing the Batman world that Nolan has made.

Funny how time and another adaption can change our views.
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#30
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1/10/09 at 2:22pm
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Re: Batman (1989) - Any UK Blu-Ray reviews?

The mix on the Blu-ray is more than likely the same as both DVD versions, so lossless won't make it better. The fake surround mix isn't much different than what Dolby Pro Logic decoding does.

As for the film itself, while I am so in love with the Nolan films that I don't even care if I ever see these four films again, the nostalgic feel they create is too strong to ignore them.

I was 7 years old, turning 8 three months after Batman was released in June of 1989, so that whole phenomenon was the greatest thing since sliced bread to me...Batman was my Star Wars in that sense.
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