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Paul_Scott · 06-19-2006, 05:37 PM

Randy, I have no familiarity with the film, so I don't know how it's supposed to look (in regards to the grain- there is other quite visible artifacting that is not grain related present also).
however
I got a chance earlier today to see The Fifth Element and I can tell you that disc shared many of the same characteristics as House.

at first glance they have a vividness that is eye catching- especially with TFE and its pop art colors, but if you sit down and look at it for any length of time longer than a minute, the flaws in the compression come more and more to the fore.
The grainy look I saw with both titles was not normal film grain.
If it was film grain at all, it was exacerbated by poor compression.
both images were 'harsh' and not natural looking at all- and certainly didn't look like film (as HD DVD looks).
No doubt about it in my mind after 2 different viewings of HOFD and one of TFE, these are seriously weak in relation to the competition.

The longer you watch these, the uglier they get

Both discs displayed macro blocking in areas of relatively flat color (the sky in HOTFD and a red backdrop in TFE). I slow mo'd thru it and the blocking is intrinisc to the disc. that right there makes it an also ran, as I have not seen that phenomenon once in the dozen or so HD titles I've viewed so far.

But I don't expect anyone to take my word for it (although the reviews at HighDefdigest seem very consistent to what I experienced). I would recommend everyone get out to BB or CC and see it for themselves.

06-19-2006, 05:37 PM	#10 of 14
Paul_Scott Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Local Time: 08:48 AM Local Date: 12-03-2008 Posts: 5,843	Re: House Of Flying Artifacts Randy, I have no familiarity with the film, so I don't know how it's supposed to look (in regards to the grain- there is other quite visible artifacting that is not grain related present also). however I got a chance earlier today to see The Fifth Element and I can tell you that disc shared many of the same characteristics as House. at first glance they have a vividness that is eye catching- especially with TFE and its pop art colors, but if you sit down and look at it for any length of time longer than a minute, the flaws in the compression come more and more to the fore. The grainy look I saw with both titles was not normal film grain. If it was film grain at all, it was exacerbated by poor compression. both images were 'harsh' and not natural looking at all- and certainly didn't look like film (as HD DVD looks). No doubt about it in my mind after 2 different viewings of HOFD and one of TFE, these are seriously weak in relation to the competition. The longer you watch these, the uglier they get Both discs displayed macro blocking in areas of relatively flat color (the sky in HOTFD and a red backdrop in TFE). I slow mo'd thru it and the blocking is intrinisc to the disc. that right there makes it an also ran, as I have not seen that phenomenon once in the dozen or so HD titles I've viewed so far. But I don't expect anyone to take my word for it (although the reviews at HighDefdigest seem very consistent to what I experienced). I would recommend everyone get out to BB or CC and see it for themselves.