A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Robert Harris · 10-01-2007, 11:40 PM

Now that I've received a BD copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula, and have spent quality time with it, my immediate reaction is that finally I have a high definition (BD) version of a film that I've always enjoyed.

This is somewhat tempered, however, by the public reaction which has been coming from any number of directions. And these reactions, commentaries and reviews have virtually all been wrong.

Nothing that we're discussing here is opinion. Something either correctly brings a film to video, or it does not. This is the first time that I've been totally happy with Dracula on video.

My happiness is however, not the point.

Sony's mastering staff is happy. Zoetrope's people are happy. And they should be. They have jointly worked to see that this release is as perfect as possible in recreating the look of the film as it was seen in it's original release, and that effort has been successful.

They have not accomplished this by some seat-of-the-pants, I've got a curtain in the attic, "Let's put on a show" ethic.

Nor have they guessed.

They've screened the original approved answer print and have meticulously matched the HD master to that print.

This is done in the same way that one would restore a film.

Earlier versions of FFC's Dracula were properly tuned for earlier video systems, that among other problems turned black into video noise. For that reason they were never what they should have been, as electronic goals needed to be met. To put it simply, the ability of the reproducing medium was not yet in tune with the art to be reproduced. They always came as closely as they could. And understanding the limitations of the medium, were approved. There was no way around this.

That is the reason why earlier video releases don't matter.

One of the extraordinary points of the high definition medium is that finally we can reproduce films to look as they did on film.

The new transfer of Dracula is a magnificent work, which along with the audio with it's heavy lows, delicate highs and aural details -- the sound of mice walking quickly across a beam -- is miraculous to behold on home video.

Dracula is a dark film. It has always been a dark film.

It is also a film created not by digital pyrotechnics, but rather by analogue effects and cinematic slight of hand. This is an old fashioned horror film. Print it too bright and the magic is revealed; the horror disappears; the story vanishes, and one sees through the magic.

The color in this release finally matches that of the original prints -- controlled, colorful when necessary -- but dark. The blacks on this release work well, and shadow detail, when needed is at hand.

Resolution is beautiful. Flesh tones, for both the living as well as the dead, replicate the original tones of the first 35mm prints. Dupe generations are less finely resolved, but work as they did originally.

So here's the bottom line.

Not only is there nothing wrong with this release, it is one of the most perfect to come from the Sony vaults. Those of you who know of me, are aware that Sony and I don't always agree. But when they do something correctly, they are to be honored for their efforts. And this time, they are to be honored.

Everything here is correct, handled with precision, professionalism and a obvious love for the art that is our cinema.

Bram Stoker's Dracula, from FFC and Sony is Extremely Highly Recommended.

RAH

PatH · 10-02-2007, 02:37 AM

Mr. Harris:

For those of us not in the Blu-Ray or HD world, how's the corresponding SD-DVD release stand-up, if there was one?

Thanks!

PatH

Brandon Conway · 10-02-2007, 02:46 AM

I suspected as much. It's too bad that many people will not like this look of the film, but one should at least respect that those involved did it right (i.e., used the Answer Print).

I sure hope you do a brief response to the questions regarding Halloween in your "A Few Words About..." for that film, Mr. Harris. Not as controversial as this release, but worth getting a professional opinion in order to set the record straight, so to speak.

Cees Alons · 10-02-2007, 06:02 AM

Thanks for clearing this up so thoroughly!

I fully understand that people, having nothing else to compare with, use their previous versions, on DVD or even laserdisc and VHS, to compare the newest releases to. Or just their memory of a theater experience. Some enthusiasts may even have learned to love and cherish their version on an earlier medium.

But we must remember how dangerous it is to use those old versions as calibration versions of sorts and that, in the end, the original version as created by the director and many others of the creative team must be the norm. Also, I don't think it will be even remotely feasible to go and compare each and every new release to the original Answer Print. I'm glad we were able to get this information here in this case.

Some of the comments I read have been very unkind towards Zoetrope or the people at Sony's involved in this release. Those comments were uncalled for and it's for that reason alone that we can only be glad to be able to read this final conclusion by a highly respected film-preservationist.

Cees

Ronald Epstein · 10-02-2007, 06:05 AM

RAH,

I think you have summed it all up perfectly!

My copy was shipped yesterday and I anxiously await the
opportunity to watch it.

How amazing that my first BR player is due to arrive this week as well!

**HTF Ads**

Jim_K · 10-02-2007, 06:45 AM

Thanks for the review and your insights.

Just squashing the misconception over using previous home video versions as end all/be all PQ reference points was.................priceless. That alone probably doesn't sit very well with some of the self proclaimed experts out there.

I was probably one of the few who didn't even consider canceling my pre-order. I prefer to judge things myself, on my own set-up, and viewing in the proper context.

I'll be saving this for this weekend's highdef horror-thon at the K residence along with the BD's of Halloween, Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead.

ErichH · 10-02-2007, 07:06 AM

Nice to hear a positive voice on this one.
Thank You

Brendon · 10-02-2007, 07:09 AM

Thank you Mr. Harris; along with many others I believed that the A/B comparisons with previous issues were cause for concern and put off pre-ordering it accordingly. It's therefore reasuring to hear that the Blu-Ray version is actually 'right'. As a fave of mine since seeing the film theatrically I feel much happier about putting down the money for the BR disc now.

Still, the debate here on HTF regarding the film up until this point together with the comparison shots have proved to be most interesting.

Robert Harris · 10-02-2007, 08:37 AM

Since the thread that precipitated this one has been locked, I wanted to make one more point before things are put to rest

Dave Mack's comments and thoughts are and always have been thought provoking. He is a respected member of this forum, and hopefully won't be going elsewhere. If he has truly been banned from the BD forum, a forum I've only now just discovered due to his post, I find their decision a bit short-sighted.

The time and effort that went into describing the problems that he saw are an extremely necessary and welcome part of the discussion process. He certainly moved Dracula to the top of my review pile.

As far as occasionally rambling, late nights with kids will do that. Sleep helps.

I look forward to his continued posts.

RAH