A few words about... The Fugitive -- in High Definition

Robert Harris · 05-20-2006, 06:19 PM

The Fugitive is a film capable of showing off the new format beautifully.

While not as new as titles like Phantom of the Opera, it still looks superb. It should be noted that the latest titles will look virtually grainless, based upon the newest taking stocks.

These HTF pieces will continue to get shorter, as there is little to say except that...

Once again, Warner Home Video has given us a superior product in an incredible new format.

Once again...

Very Highly Recommended.

RAH

Paul Hillenbrand · 05-20-2006, 06:45 PM

ST

P!

Your recommendations are killing my wallet!

Must resist, but -

Don't think I can now.

Paul_Scott · 05-20-2006, 06:48 PM

a reviewer over on the Home Theater Spot is claiming to be seeing compression related artifacting (blocking) in very dark scenes on this.

were you able to notice this on the Ruby- Did you watch the whole film straight thru, or just spot check it?

Robert Harris · 05-20-2006, 08:11 PM

Spot checked. I noted no problems.

I'm wondering if people are sitting the proper distance from their screens.

RAH

DaViD Boulet · 05-20-2006, 09:27 PM

I love this movie. Time to sell off my SD-DVD copy...

**HTF Ads**

Paul.S · 05-21-2006, 04:49 AM

Sharin' the love of The Fugitive, David.

Ironies: this was originally announced for May 16--Warner is only a week behind on this particular title. And I was just in Chicago for the first time last weekend. Took a funny picture of me running through Daley Plaza, and went to the intersection of Wacker & Wells near Merchandise Mart (the "L" stop Sam et al. hear called on the phone recording after they slow it down)--this is where Harrison calls his lawyer and tells him he's in St. Louis.

Anxious for comments on the higher fidelity audio, particularly during the train wreck.

"Tell the attending he has a puncture in his upper gastric area,"
-p

JohnS · 05-21-2006, 06:37 AM

Yes, I'm curious to hear about the sound during the train wreck scene as well.

Thanks for the mini review Robert

Michel_Hafner · 05-21-2006, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

Spot checked. I noted no problems.

I'm wondering if people are sitting the proper distance from their screens.

RAH

Some are likely not. But a compressed version that is transparent to the master source (as the new codecs are claimed to be able to produce) should show no visible compression artifacts from up close as well (display artifacts are another issue). Proper black level and full 24 bit color resolution on the display is important. Otherwise people don't see what the compressionist saw. There might be no visible blocking in dark areas when black is black, but if it's gray it suddenly shows up.
All HD trailers from Apple show artifacts on my 1080p laptop. The black is all wrong and there is no 24 bit resolution on the LCD panel. Banding etc. are all over the place. In addition there are compression artifacts on the trailers since these are not as well compressed as HD discs.

DaViD Boulet · 05-21-2006, 08:31 AM

Quote:

transparent to the master source

I think that the context of those remarks regarding VC1 are using moving-images (ie, not freeze-frames to spot-check) at a proper 1/5-1.7 screen-width viewing distance.

I don't think that the "transparent" disclaimer is suggesting that moving up closer than 1 screen width wouldn't reveal differences (artifacts) if one looked close. All tests to my knowledge have to do with "watching" the movie.

Michel_Hafner · 05-22-2006, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

I think that the context of those remarks regarding VC1 are using moving-images (ie, not freeze-frames to spot-check) at a proper 1/5-1.7 screen-width viewing distance.

I don't think that the "transparent" disclaimer is suggesting that moving up closer than 1 screen width wouldn't reveal differences (artifacts) if one looked close. All tests to my knowledge have to do with "watching" the movie.

I would be very surprised if transparent meant 'transparent upto viewing distance x". Compressionists sit quite close to their monitors when they compare stuff, certainly closer than one screen width when they focus on an area of problems.