Sleeping Beauty BD - 2008 - Page 9

Dave Moritz · 10-07-2008, 06:01 PM

I will be picking up my copy this Friday! I can not wait to see how it looks and I am hoping to be impressed.

Bleddyn Williams · 10-08-2008, 10:25 AM

Can't believe more people haven't chipped in with their impressions yet. Anyway, here are mine...

This disc looks absolutely amazing. So detailed, so clear. I found myself looking at the backgrounds a lot because they were so beautifully rendered.

What this disc doesn't seem to look like is film. Its been polished and buffed to an inch of its life, and is a super-clean and colorful image. But there's nothing that says its film to me - it looks almost like digital animation.

I know this film was shot on 70mm which might account for the absence of grain. One of the endless previews before you can get to the menu (you have to click through them or fast forward rather than being able to hit the menu key - BOO) showed images from upcoming Disney films, like Pinocchio, which did have a look of grain.

So - what's on this Blu-ray disc looks phenominal. But how much does it look like what theatergoers saw back in the fifties?

Brandon Conway · 10-08-2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleddyn Williams

But how much does it look like what theatergoers saw back in the fifties?

Well, theatergoers would have never seen it 2.55:1 in 1959, either, as it took so long to make that by the time it came out CinemaScope had standardized to 2.35:1.

As for not looking like film - Disney has been doing this for years now. Simply put, they consider the film images one stepped removed from the original image of animation, and therefor for home video they do not present the movie as film. It's the same principal for 3D movies - they don't scan the film element for home video, but do a direct digital transfer. It's been a much debated topic on the HTF for a few years now.

Bleddyn Williams · 10-08-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon Conway

As for not looking like film - Disney has been doing this for years now. Simply put, they consider the film images one stepped removed from the original image of animation, and therefor for home video they do not present the movie as film. It's the same principal for 3D movies - they don't scan the film element for home video, but do a direct digital transfer. It's been a much debated topic on the HTF for a few years now.

Interesting. I don't really know about this but it sounds worth reading up on. Thanks, Brandon.

Craig Beam · 10-08-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleddyn Williams

I know this film was shot on 70mm which might account for the absence of grain. One of the endless previews before you can get to the menu (you have to click through them or fast forward rather than being able to hit the menu key - BOO) showed images from upcoming Disney films, like Pinocchio, which did have a look of grain.

Upon inserting the disc in my PS3, I was asked to download a BD Live update, which I did. The disc then went straight to the menu screen. I didn't have to skip any trailers.

With regards to the image: STUNNING. There's still a bit of grain if you look for it, but for the most part it's pristine. The level of detail is unbelievable. It really is like looking directly at the original cels. Absolutely breathtaking.

The preview for the upcoming Pinocchio release was amazing too (sharp as a tack, with grain). It REALLY makes me impatient for Fantasia in 2010...!

Ed St. Clair · 10-08-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleddyn Williams

Can't believe more people haven't chipped in with their impressions yet. Anyway, here are mine...

I can't believe NO professional reviews! :-0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleddyn Williams

This disc looks absolutely amazing. So detailed, so clear. I found myself looking at the backgrounds a lot because they were so beautifully rendered.

Same here. Art!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleddyn Williams

What this disc doesn't seem to look like is film. Its been polished and buffed to an inch of its life, and is a super-clean and colorful image. But there's nothing that says its film to me - it looks almost like digital animation.

Can the original film elements really be that clean? Were they ever that clean?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleddyn Williams

I know this film was shot on 70mm which might account for the absence of grain. One of the endless previews before you can get to the menu (you have to click through them or fast forward rather than being able to hit the menu key - BOO) showed images from upcoming Disney films, like Pinocchio, which did have a look of grain.

Funny I thought "P" looked scrubed of all depth/detail.
Thought "SB" looked more like film.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleddyn Williams

So - what's on this Blu-ray disc looks phenominal. But how much does it look like what theatergoers saw back in the fifties?

Who (as the owl would say) knows?!?!
Butt I'll bet the popcorn was better (REAL butter)!

Problems(?) I had with it:
1st pass: the faeries wings were unstable shade-wise (think this is just the "hand" painting technic).
2nd pass: on the SD & HD the backround sky on the first shot (after the last page of the book) goes bonkers (sorry too use such a technical term). Might be the hand painting as well. It kind of flickers tho, scratch removal?
3rd pass: "SB" dress, the backs dark color, is very unstable on her way up the tower; painting or artifacts?

In the forest sunlight the water is slate (gray), however in the shady forest shots its aqua (blue). I'm happy w/the color (although it does have that overall darker boosted contrast look of "ST: TOS remastered"), the rocks on the bank of the river aren't as red looking as the DVDB screen caps too me.
The DTS is a little too boosted to me for a fifties film. The original restored soundtrack does sound thin, just glad its there.
Packaging is better than the pics & pricing is GREAT!
Overall a Blu Plate Special.

Ed St. Clair · 10-08-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Hillenbrand

What would cause "lack of focus/detail" on "a few shots" "during the procession at the beginning of the film" when the transfer was apparently done "straight from the Original Negative"?

Example of lack of focus in "during the procession":
ImageShack - Hosting :: 20283382ny7.jpg

Example of in-focus / detail:
http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?i...7233043fb2.jpg

That's "out of focus"?!?!?!
JJ
Although we probably would be happy w/that on SD DVD! :-)
I see where the middle, guys in pink, is a little soft/out of focus & where the people against the wall are blurry.
If the rest of the flick wasn't so amazing...

On the commentary track, Leonard Maltin say's that it was the intent for "everything" to be infocus "always".

[from the SD DVD]
The below link kind of proves my 'distrust' of the Platinum Ed. color:
(its a screen cap so take w/a ton of sea salt/found half way down)
Sleeping Beauty: Platinum Edition DVD Review - Page 1 of 2
Although I like the 'skin tone' (ha, ha) on the PE & the reflected dress does look clear the color of the dress as well as the blue faery dust (and the wood) on the SE that looks right too me.
Fight amongst yourselves! ;-)

Too help everyone...
EDitEDbyED:
Xylon has some KILLER caps on the forum that shall remain nameless:
(blank)

Brandon Conway · 10-09-2008, 03:33 AM

Just watched the PIP audio commentary, which was enjoyable. John Lassetter and Leonard Maltin discuss the 2.55:1 intended aspect ratio within the first ten minutes. You can't get more authoritative than that, IMO.

But the real treat on this disc as far as extras go is, IMO, Grand Canyon. Seriously, it's up there with Planet Earth as some of the best looking nature footage I've ever seen on home video - and it's 50 years old! It has an awesome musical score, too, in lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1. Don't bypass this one!

OliverK · 10-09-2008, 03:50 AM

On the issue of film grain:

Some time ago I was lucky to see some 70mm material from Sleeping Beauty and while there was grain it would probably not show up very clearly in a HT setting, let alone at the usual 1.5+ screen widths distance to the screen that people keep. I always make it a point to sit closer than 1 screen width away when watching 70mm and even then the grain was VERY fine and seemed to be less pronounced than with 70mm live action movies.

OliverK · 10-09-2008, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleddyn Williams

I know this film was shot on 70mm which might account for the absence of grain.

The taking format was 8-perf horizontal 35mm, only some of the prints were 70mm. Still this is more than twice the negative area of 35mm Cinemascope and more than 3 times as much as most later Disney productions that IIRC had theatrical aspect ratios somewhere in between 1.66 and 1.85. This accounts for very little grain in the 70mm release prints.