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04-28-2006, 08:53 PM
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#1 of 59 
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Motion Picture Archivist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Local Time: 04:18 PM
Local Date: 10-07-2008
Posts: 2,525
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A few words about... Apollo 13 -- In High Definition
Viewing Universal's new High Definition release of Apollo 13 this evening, an interesting thought kept going through my mind.
I believe Mr. Kubrick would be thrilled to see this.
One of the photographic elements, quite difficult to achieve on screen is a solid black sky offset by pure white, well-defined stars.
Apollo 13, as represented on Universal's High Definition disc handles this with absolute perfection.
This is the first important film to make it to High Definition, and the technical staff at Universal could not have done anything to create a more superior entertainment.
Color, contrast, resolution, shadow detail, film grain, and the cinema look are nothing less than perfect. I was surprised to see this title receive a 14 or thereabouts on the new Bits 0-20 scale.
There is nothing else that could have been done to this disc to make it more perfect.
Using the same scale, I would have to rate it a full 20.
Apollo 13 looks like film projected without weave, dirt or wear.
Hats off to Universal, for joining Warner Brothers in the pursuit of perfection in home video.
I can only use the word once again, which I used for Phantom, but this time for a piece of superior entertainment.
Amazing!
With High Definition we're in for the home entertainment ride of a lifetime.
This disc could not be recommended more highly.
RAH
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04-28-2006, 09:07 PM
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#2 of 59
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Local Time: 04:18 PM
Local Date: 10-07-2008
Posts: 399
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Re: A few words about... Apollo 13 -- In High Definition
Looking forward to seeing it.
"Hats off to Universal, for joining Warner Brothers in the pursuit of perfection in home video."
This Club needs more members
Thanks RAH
Jack
You arn't dead until you read your Obituary in Variety.
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04-28-2006, 10:17 PM
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#3 of 59
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Member
Location: Naperville, IL
Join Date: Nov 2001
Local Time: 06:18 PM
Local Date: 10-07-2008
Posts: 1,823
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Re: A few words about... Apollo 13 -- In High Definition
I don't see a review for Apollo 13 at the Bits. Weird.
Anyway reviews like this aren't making it easier for me to wait, but I am still waiting until 2007.
I want a player with HDMI 1.3 so I'm not left behind when receivers start coming out that handle the new audio. I don't want black level clipping over HDMI to DVI.
I don't trust the studios to not invoke ICT.
I'd love to help the format succeed, but Toshiba and the studios just haven't slam dunked it yet.
If they gave us some more A list titles like Apollo 13 and guaranteed no use of ICT, I'd buy in.
My DVD, Blu-Ray and HD DVD Collection @ DVDSpot
Last edited by Andrew Bunk : 04-28-2006 at 10:19 PM.
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04-28-2006, 10:53 PM
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#4 of 59
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Member
Join Date: Sep 1998
Local Time: 07:18 AM
Local Date: 10-08-2008
Posts: 132
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Re: A few words about... Apollo 13 -- In High Definition
[quote]
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Robert Harris
There is nothing else that could have been done to this disc to make it more perfect.
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Mr. Harris, thanks a lot for your excellent review. But, could you please give us a few words about this title's audio? How is it compared to the previous release with DTS?
Thanks again. 
Last edited by Jude Faelnar : 04-28-2006 at 11:06 PM.
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04-29-2006, 12:08 AM
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#5 of 59
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Local Time: 07:18 AM
Local Date: 10-08-2008
Posts: 7
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Re: A few words about... Apollo 13 -- In High Definition
I would like to know the audio performance, too
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04-29-2006, 01:24 AM
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#6 of 59
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Member
Join Date: Jul 1997
Local Time: 06:18 PM
Local Date: 10-07-2008
Posts: 5,284
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Re: A few words about... Apollo 13 -- In High Definition
Thanks so much for the review, Mr. Harris. I concur wholeheartedly. CGI sure has come a long way in 10+ years, hasn't it?
As for the sound, I'll have to spin the original full bitrate DTS DVD to really compare it, and listen carefully now that I have introduced power management and line filtering to the sound system. Without comparison, I thought the DD+ 5.1 track was very good, not quite as enveloping as Serenity, but still with the punch I remembered in the launch sequence. Dialog was also very distinct. And yes, the sound is mastered at a sufficiently loud level, unlike the Warner releases.
Supplements are on-par with the 10th anniversary DVD releases. The only thing missing is the isolated score track which was included with the original DVD release.
- Steve
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04-29-2006, 04:55 AM
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#7 of 59
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Local Time: 07:18 PM
Local Date: 10-07-2008
Posts: 266
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Re: A few words about... Apollo 13 -- In High Definition
Can anyone enlighten us as to how these HD-DVD's compare with a typical HD satellite broadcast of a movie from HBO or Showtime? That's the only basis for comparison I can think of at this time, and I'd be curious to know if the DVD of "Apollo 13" would look better on DVD than it would on HD television.
http://greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.com/ |
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04-29-2006, 05:54 AM
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#8 of 59
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Ricardo C
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Location: Venezuela
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Re: A few words about... Apollo 13 -- In High Definition
Quote:
Apollo 13 looks like film projected without weave, dirt or wear.
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Coming from Mr. Harris, this is one hell of an endorsement.
That resolve I said was being tested by the HD-DVD release list? 'tis broken, now. Off I go to import the damn thing. Thanks a lot, RAH!  |
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04-29-2006, 07:33 AM
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#9 of 59
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Member
Join Date: Nov 1998
Local Time: 07:18 PM
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Posts: 4,835
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Re: A few words about... Apollo 13 -- In High Definition
Heh, heh always nice to have someone to blame.
Every man is my superior, in that I may learn from him.
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04-29-2006, 07:42 AM
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#10 of 59
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Motion Picture Archivist
Join Date: Feb 1999
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Local Date: 10-07-2008
Posts: 2,525
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Re: A few words about... Apollo 13 -- In High Definition
To JohnPM...
There is no comparison between HD DVDs and HD satellite, which is very heavily compressed.
BTW, you have a superb website, which I recommend to readers, wholeheartedly.
Re: the audio...
The HD DVD sounded full and clean, but I'll leave it to audiophile reviewers to do an analysis against the DTS release. The new audio is superb, and certainly in line with the image quality.
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