Flags of our Fathers "sharper" on Blu

BrettB · 05-21-2007, 01:21 PM

According to this review.

hdd

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As has become customary with Paramount releases, 'Flags of our Fathers' comes with different encodes depending on which next-gen format you prefer. In a side by side comparison of the film between the the AVC MPEG-4 transfer on this Blu-ray version and the VC-1 transfer on the HD DVD, it does seem that the Blu-ray/AVC encode is the tiniest bit sharper, while the HD DVD/VC-1 is the slightest bit softer. Neither is an advantage to my eyes and each encode is identical otherwise -- fans of both camps should be ecstatic to see this film looking so good.

Battle of the codecs! This is a good thing.

Tim Glover · 05-21-2007, 01:31 PM

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tiniest bit sharper.....slightest bit softer....neither is an advantage to my eyes.....

Maybe the audio tracks there is more of a gap.

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This HD DVD edition of 'Flags of Our Fathers' narrowly trumps the audio presentation on the Blu-ray edition by upgrading from a standard mix to a Dolby Digital 5.1-Plus track (1.5 Mbps). The Plus-mix feels richer -- especially when explosions are raging from all angles. The bass tones are a bit more resonant on the HD DVD, while they're a bit more throaty on the Blu-ray.

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Jordan_E · 05-21-2007, 01:40 PM

For the money I spent on my speakers and receiver, I'll take better AQ over "tiniest bit sharper" any day!

Edwin-S · 05-21-2007, 01:54 PM

Still no lossless audio. Paramount is really dragging their ass on the audio side. They use a BD50 and still cannot be bothered to put a lossless track, using any codec, on the disc. The video differences sound negligible if the review is anything to go by. Of course, I would take a review with a grain of salt when it states the following:

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Second, some of the seams of the special effects are exposed by the high-def presentation. This isn't the fault of the transfer per se, and with time I'm sure that the effects houses will catch up with the heightened scrutiny that comes with high definition.

ppltd · 05-21-2007, 03:25 PM

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Originally Posted by BrettB

Battle of the codecs! This is a good thing.

Probably has more to do with the hardware than the codec.

**HTF Ads**

Grant H · 05-21-2007, 04:19 PM

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Originally Posted by ppltd

Probably has more to do with the hardware than the codec.

I don't know. FOOF is being touted on AVS as the hightest bitrate transfer ever, peaking higher than the POTC transfers.

Compared with low bitrate VC-1, a difference is to be expected.

Too bad Paramount couldn't give the BD even a DD+ track to make it a clear win.

I guess the choice between the HD DVD and the Blu-ray would be a tough decision for someone format neutral. And one's screen size might play a role.

Tim Glover · 05-21-2007, 07:28 PM

What's interesting is that if this is indeed the highest bitrate ever for BD and to have the "tiniest bit sharper.....no advantage etc..."

Then that kind of puts the argument for more space to rest.

Edwin-S · 05-21-2007, 07:43 PM

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Originally Posted by Tim Glover

What's interesting is that if this is indeed the highest bitrate ever for BD and to have the "tiniest bit sharper.....no advantage etc..."

Then that kind of puts the argument for more space to rest.

No it doesn't, but if you are more comfortable believing that.......

Ed St. Clair · 05-21-2007, 08:23 PM

Is this "film" supposed to look "sharper"?
Thanks.

Jeff Adkins · 05-21-2007, 09:14 PM

What a shock.....the higher bitrate video on the BD looks better and the higher bitrate audio on the HD-DVD sounds better. So for the best possible presentation of FOOF we'll have to wait for the double-dip BD with lossless audio a couple of years from now.