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A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

#1
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6/9/09 at 5:38pm
  • Joined: February 1999
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Do the Right Thing is now twenty years old.

20.

This tale of a neighborhood imploding upon itself in the summer heat holds its spell. Brought to the screen by Spike Lee, with whom I share an alma mater, DtRT is a wonderfully satisfying example of production design and cinematography done right, while wrapping around a good story.

All of the color is still there, with good shadow detail, blacks, and... those reds!

If it were not for a bit of an electronic texture, I'd be loving this Blu-ray. As it is, I'm not certain what was intended, as I'm seeing problems that drop the release down a notch or two. Will these problems disturb the casual viewer? I would think not.

But for clarity's sake and in fairness, they cannot go unreported.

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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6/9/09 at 8:49pm
  • Joined: July 2003
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Re: A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

Are we talking grain removal, RAH, or something else? Electronic texture could suggest many things.

\"My opinion is that (a) anyone who actually works in a video store and does not understand letterboxing has given up on life, and (b) any customer who prefers to have the sides of a movie hacked off should not be licensed to operate a video player.\"-- Roger Ebert

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#3
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6/9/09 at 9:27pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

I hope it's not grain removal, Ernest Dickerson supervised the transfer on the Criterion version. OK Robert, is it worth double dipping and replacing the Criterion DVD from 2001? When will they learn NOT TO TOUCH THE GRAIN.
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#4
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6/10/09 at 5:47am
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Re: A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen_J_H
Are we talking grain removal, RAH, or something else? Electronic texture could suggest many things.

While I'm seeing some grain, I'm also seeing occasional "ringing," or a slight "force field" effect.

"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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6/10/09 at 5:49am
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Re: A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Husar
I hope it's not grain removal, Ernest Dickerson supervised the transfer on the Criterion version. OK Robert, is it worth double dipping and replacing the Criterion DVD from 2001? When will they learn NOT TO TOUCH THE GRAIN.

This is an upgrade as it most likely will not be revisited, especially with all the extras along for the ride. I'm a fan of Mr. Dickerson's work, but what I'm seeing is something not captured in his original negatives.

"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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#6
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6/10/09 at 10:23am
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Re: A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
This is an upgrade as it most likely will not be revisited, especially with all the extras along for the ride. I'm a fan of Mr. Dickerson's work, but what I'm seeing is something not captured in his original negatives.

Thanks. I will look forward to it. From what I see Universal has been hit and miss with there transfers. They still seem better than Fox though.
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#7
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6/10/09 at 10:28am
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Re: A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Husar
Thanks. I will look forward to it. From what I see Universal has been hit and miss with there transfers. They still seem better than Fox though.

Fox's new transfers seem fine. They're doing nice work. There are still a few coming from olden days however.

"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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#8
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6/10/09 at 11:28am
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Re: A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
While I'm seeing some grain, I'm also seeing occasional "ringing," or a slight "force field" effect.
Thanks for the clarification.

\"My opinion is that (a) anyone who actually works in a video store and does not understand letterboxing has given up on life, and (b) any customer who prefers to have the sides of a movie hacked off should not be licensed to operate a video player.\"-- Roger Ebert

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#9
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6/10/09 at 11:48am
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Re: A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
Fox's new transfers seem fine. They're doing nice work. There are still a few coming from olden days however.

Thanks for that. I am still judging them by Patton.
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#10
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6/10/09 at 1:20pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Husar
Thanks for that. I am still judging them by Patton.

We're all well past Patton.

Judge by Sand Pebbles.

"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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#11
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6/10/09 at 5:56pm
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Re: A few words about...™ Do the Right Thing -- in Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
We're all well past Patton.

Judge by Sand Pebbles.

Mr. Harris, have you seen The Diary of Anne Frank by any chance? Is the transfer good?
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#12
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7/9/09 at 8:39am
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Mr. Harris, you are aware that this transfer does NOT have "those reds!". In fact I'm quite disappointed to be honest. The 2001 Criterion DVD has the warm look that I remember and that Mr. Dickerson approved of. The difference is quite noticeable and reported by many. This release has a cooler look, which takes away from the hottest day theme that is such a large part of the film. The fact that neither Spike Lee nor Mr. Dickerson have said anything, is hard to understand. If this release was indeed the "intended or correct" look, then Mr. Lee would have said something on the new commentary track. He doesn't. Nobody has said anything. All I know is that it looks different and not what I remember it like. And that Mr. Dickerson approved the Criterion look. So? On a properly calibrated system, the difference is quite obvious. This is just as important as grain removal, but somehow not really discussed as much...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris View Post

All of the color is still there, with good shadow detail, blacks, and... those reds!

RAH


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#13
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7/9/09 at 10:12am
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I watched the BD the other night.  It's odd the color timing is so much different from the DVD.  The disc does have some edge enhancement and a little DNR, as well.
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#14
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7/9/09 at 12:07pm
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I can get over a bit of DNR and EE, but when the color/white balance of the entire film (which BTW is central to the theme) is changed, then it ruins the film for me. The most surprising thing is that Spike Lee has a new commentary track and makes no mention of this - one way or another. I wonder what Ernest Dickerson would say. For now, I'm sticking with the Criterion, since he approved that. Until someone comes up with some explanation that is.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave H View Post

I watched the BD the other night.  It's odd the color timing is so much different from the DVD.  The disc does have some edge enhancement and a little DNR, as well.


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#15
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7/9/09 at 9:14pm
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I agree...hopefully someone makes a statement about it.
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