A few words about... Unforgiven -- In High Definition - Page 2

JohnPM · 05-20-2006, 07:53 AM

Very good summary, Michel. If the source materials for these HD-DVD's were prepared four, or even two, years ago, I would expect to be dissappointed with the final product today. With techicological progress in this area coming at the rate that it is, I should think that much of what's being today will be somewhat obsolete a year from now. How long will our new HD-DVD players be current? Will this new software format continue for another five years? The mind boggles at all these developments ...

http://greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.com/

Paul Borges · 05-20-2006, 03:29 PM

I get concerned when I read some reviews (I don't know which, I just remember reading a few) that say 'there is still grain visible' or 'there's too much grain' as a sign its a bad transfer. Hopefully the movie studios don't decide its best to make films look like airbrushed photos and remove all signs of grain.

JohnRice · 05-20-2006, 04:03 PM

Amen to that Paul. An awful ot of people get caught up in the trees and completely disregard the forest. I suspect Robert Harris has greater understanding of the entire process than anyone even remotely involved with this forum. I think of how great the SE of Unforgiven looks. I can only imagine what the HD version looks like. I'll take Mr. Harris' feedback over anyone who seems to be doing nothing but pressing their face to the screen looking for the slightest thing they consider a flaw any day.

It isn't film, and it won't look like it. Even if it was, I suspect there would be still plenty of complaints.

Shawn.F · 05-20-2006, 06:18 PM

I watched my copy today. I thought it looked and sounded superb.

Robert Harris · 05-20-2006, 07:11 PM

Film grain is going to be more evident in HD.

The thing to keep in mind is that, within reason, and based upon the specificities of the various film elements and their age, it is supposed to be there.

RAH

JohnRice · 05-20-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Film grain is going to be more evident in HD.

I had never thought about it, but I expect that is true.

I'll apply some fairly detached math to the issue. I often scan the high end Architecture shots I do at 3,000 dpi, and that comes out distinctly beyond the resolving power of any film I use. Consider that this is typically 120 Astia F, which not only has a thinner base than 35mm stock, but has higher resolving power and lower grain than (I suspect) basically anything use for feature films. Now, I realize people often interchange dpi and grain in ways that are not realistic in real-world applications, but I'll try to apply the figures as best I can. I am also just going to consider 35mm stock, for the sake of simplicity. So, I expect that under even the best of circumstances, any resolution above 2,000 dpi is going to be beyond the actual resolving power of virtually any film stock. Considering that the 35mm film frame must be about 18x24mm (please correct me if this is not right, Mr. Harris) which is roughly 3/4x1" (smaller considering the actual image area used for widescreen) the maximum resolving power of the source film would only be roughly 1,125 x 2,000 on a 1.78:1 movie. Of course, the vertical resolution should be higher with anamorphic. Throw into the mix the fact that the actual final resolving ability of the film will be less due to less than ideal situations, pushing, pulling, at least a couple generations of duplication in editing & due to timing and who knows what else, and the result should be that the capabilities of HD are greater than what most features can provide.

"Problems" with the image seem inevitable.

JonZ · 09-22-2006, 07:30 PM

Does anyone else think this transfer looks REALLY dark?

Larry Sutliff · 09-22-2006, 09:06 PM

Jon,
I do remember thinking that the scene near the end where Clint returns to the saloon was a bit dark.

JohnRice · 09-22-2006, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Does anyone else think this transfer looks REALLY dark?

Robert Harris doesn't seem to think so.

Mark Bendiksen · 12-31-2006, 08:18 PM

I referenced this HD DVD briefly in my review of the Toshiba A2 player. However, I must add a comment to this thread to say that this transfer is absolutely top-notch and gorgeous in every sense imaginable.

Show this HD DVD to any of your friends who might be on the fence about taking the plunge into the new format. I think you'll probably find yourself a few converts in the process.

Douglas Monce · 12-31-2006, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonZ

Does anyone else think this transfer looks REALLY dark?

I was a projectionist when this film came out, and at the time I thought the film looked dark. At first I thought the lamp was dieing. After the last show I put on a SMPTE test film and was getting just under 16 footlamberts. I have to assume that’s the way it’s supposed to look.

Doug