- Joined: February 2003
- Post Count: 1,303
The CE is excellent. I bought it when it first came out, which was 1998 I believe. Back then it cost something like $40 (Can.), so you should be so lucky to find it for 12 bucks.
- Joined: August 2002
- Post Count: 159
I'm a bit surprised by the above comments, but not for the reason you might be thinking ... I entirely agree with them! The part that surprises me is that they aren't in line with most of the opinions I've read previously.
I rented the DD version and bought the DTS version on the basis of the apparent consensus that the soundtrack is much better and one of the best reference tracks around. I honestly couldn't tell any difference, although I didn't have the DD around for comparing head to head. I'm one who almost always prefers the DTS track, for what that's worth.
The part that always seemed odd to me is the soundtrack in general doesn't seem all that spectactular compared to some others. Great clarity, to be sure, but not a ton of impact. Even the oft drooled over rocket launch sequence is fairly average sounding.
My major dilemna was the extras. I've grown pretty tired of extras in general and watch them infrequently these days, but I can't think of a DVD with better extras than the DD version of Apollo 13. Entertaining and informational, both of which seem to be a rarity. I probably wouldn't watch them again any time soon unless with company, but who knows.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder if I ought to make the switch... I'll have a projector in <2 weeks, so I should have a basis soon for addressing the picture quality question.
Dan
My obligatory DVD collection\"We\'ve always been ready for female superheroes. Because women want to be them and men want to do them.\" - Famke Janssen
- Joined: June 2000
- Location: Tulsa, Okla.
- Post Count: 386
I was about to post the same thing Joe...
The isolated score is DD 2.0, not 5.1.
Still sounds great, though! 
“Do I really look like a man with a plan, Harvey? I don’t have a plan. The mob has plans, the cops have plans. You know what I am, Harvey? I’m a dog chasing cars. I wouldn’t know what to do if I caught one. I just do things. I’m a wrench in the gears. I hate plans. Yours, theirs,...
- Joined: August 2002
- Post Count: 410
Funny this. I was watching my DTS LD of it today just to hear the music over the end credits (sounds fantastic on DTS, better than the DD5.1 R2 DVD anyway), but I may pick up the r1 SpEd at some point.
I think it's odd that in Ron Howard's commentry he praises the DTS sound during the lift off sequence, yet his track was recorded for the Signature LD which did'nt have a 5.1 soundtrack on it at all (because of the 2 commentries). Just made me laugh.
sad I know.................i'll get me coat.
\"So, Jeff Beck pops his head \'round the door, and mentions there\'s a little sweets shop on the edge of town. So - we go. And - it\'s closed\"
- Joined: August 2002
- Post Count: 159
Quote:
| This thread seems to support the view that dolby digital done well is just as good sonically, even when compared to full-bitrate dts. |
Hmm, I wouldn't quite agree with that. A solid DD track holds up well against a rather uninspired DTS track in this case, but that doesn't really tell us anything. Apollo 13 wouldn't rank in the top half of the soundtracks in my collection...
To quote a coach I worked with for a few years, "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t." I suspect full-bitrate DTS isn't all that meaningful if the material isn't overly dynamic in the first place.
Dan
My obligatory DVD collection\"We\'ve always been ready for female superheroes. Because women want to be them and men want to do them.\" - Famke Janssen
- Joined: October 2001
- Post Count: 382
Quote:
| Apollo 13 did win the Oscar for Best Sound in 1996 |
Actually, the ceremony was held in 1996, but the film was a 1995 release, as were the other films mentioned.
AJG
\"It\'s been my lifelong ambition to be a movie usher, and I have failed, as far as I am concerned\" - Bob Dylan
- Joined: August 2002
- Post Count: 159
There was a very recent discussion about this, and the consensus sort of surprised me (I was in agreement): the DTS version is not worth it. No apparent improvement in sound quality, none of the very worthwhile special features, and supposedly lower video quality. As I said in the other thread, I almost always prefer a DTS track when available, but this is one case where it definitely appears to be over-hyped. I actually "downgraded" to the Collector's Edition as a result...
Since you plan on keeping your CE, I see no point in getting the DTS version. You'll watch it once and realize it offers nothing your other version doesn't... Better to throw the $7 at another Columbia House title.
Dan
My obligatory DVD collection\"We\'ve always been ready for female superheroes. Because women want to be them and men want to do them.\" - Famke Janssen
- Joined: January 2003
- Post Count: 683
Quote:
| And for anyone to think that they are actually LOSING image content when watching a 2.35:1 scope ratio film is ludicrous! |
No, it's not. Welcome to Super-35, baby!
There is no spoon...
but there is a fork with a cork!
- Joined: January 2003
- Post Count: 683
No. You're actually getting less. However, you're not getting the director's intent.
There is no spoon...
but there is a fork with a cork!
