Roy Orbison - Black&WhiteNight HD DVD

Brent Avery · 12-22-2007, 03:42 PM

Boy, the things I miss! I just watched the HD version - not having known about this gem being on SD dvd for awhile - and all I can say is: Wow! The audio on this release in Dolby True HD is quite simply incredible. It takes full advantage of a good surround system and the picture itself is very nice as well. If your a Roy Orbison fan, simply like his music and even if you have the SD version this HD by Image is a knockout and reasonably priced as well. I doubt there is a music video out at the moment that can surpass it in clarity, detail, and dynamics.Great music - I plan on watching it again! It is listed by the way as being 1:33 on Amazon but is in fact widescreen.

Craig_Ehr · 12-22-2007, 04:31 PM

Thanks for the review! Interesting about the widescreen because I thought this would end up a 1.33:1 title - I've only ever seen it as such on TV. Was the DVD widescreen (anybody know)? And is the HD DVD cropped at the top and bottom, or were the sides opened up from the original presentation? Anyhow, hopefully this will eventually come out Blu too.

Phil Iturralde · 12-22-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_Ehr

Thanks for the review!

Same here, Brent - Thanks!!! It showed up in my Gold Box HD DVD offer so I just ordered it!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_Ehr

Interesting about the widescreen because I thought this would end up a 1.33:1 title - I've only ever seen it as such on TV. Was the DVD widescreen (anybody know)? And is the HD DVD cropped at the top and bottom, or were the sides opened up from the original presentation? Anyhow, hopefully this will eventually come out Blu too.

The DTS SD DVD version is 1.33:1 (4x3) so it's great to hear that it's now widescreen!!!

Brent Avery · 12-22-2007, 06:57 PM

Well, there is a thread on the AVS forum on this release as well under HD DVD Software and it apparently was in fact recorded in surround sound and in 1:78 on film so no wonder it looks and sounds great. There is an added bonus song "Blue Angel" that is exclusive to the HD release - I really enjoyed the backup vocals on that one! Just can not say enough good things about this disc.

Jeff Adkins · 12-23-2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent Avery

Well, there is a thread on the AVS forum on this release as well under HD DVD Software and it apparently was in fact recorded in surround sound and in 1:78 on film so no wonder it looks and sounds great. There is an added bonus song "Blue Angel" that is exclusive to the HD release - I really enjoyed the backup vocals on that one! Just can not say enough good things about this disc.

I find it hard to believe it was shot 1.78 considering it was done in 1988. Unless they were thinking of a theatrical release, I think the aspect ratio on this should be 1.33.

**HTF Ads**

Marc Colella · 12-23-2007, 10:12 AM

Someone compared the HD-DVD release to the SD release and said that the HD was cropped at the top and bottom.

Here's the technical specs for this concert:

Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night (1988) (TV) - Technical specifications

It looks to me they molested it to get it in 1.78:1.

So much for OAR.

Paul Hillenbrand · 12-23-2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Colella

Someone compared the HD-DVD release to the SD release and said that the HD was cropped at the top and bottom.

Here's the technical specs for this concert:

Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night (1988) (TV) - Technical specifications

It looks to me they molested it to get it in 1.78:1.

So much for OAR.

Never viewed the SD release, but after viewing the HD DVD, I wouldn't have had a clue that it wasn't the OAR.

IMHO, the 1.78:1 picture looks intentionally framed in that ratio, even if it wasn't. So much action going on in the club setting.

Paul

Sanjay Gupta · 12-23-2007, 03:05 PM

I have had this DVD since it first came out in 1999 and it has remained my favorite music DVD ever since. The sound quality and surround mix of the DTS track on the DVD is absolutely outstanding and I can only imagine what it must sound like, presented in a lossless track. As much as I like the 'Bourne trilogy' and the 'Ryan films', they have not tempted me enough to get a HD-DVD player. Just seeing this title available for pre-order was tempting enough, but now having read some of the comments online, it looks like my resolve to stick to only the format I believe in, might be finally weakening. But then again, with Image now releasing titles on Blu-Ray, I am hopeful that they might soon release this on my preffered format.

I am quite dissapointed though, that they have chosen to crop the top and bottom to get a 16:9 aspect ratio for HD-DVD. I guess the 'Fool Screen' phenomenon has not been laid to rest with the advent of HD. I sincerely dread what might await us as HD goes more mainstream. In their desire to increase the customer base, will the studios pander to the average mass market consumer's obsession with filling up their screen with less? After all, the probablity of releasing two seperate version on HD, at least at this stage of the product cycle, is pretty much zero.

PS: The DVD is presented in Black & White, OAR = 1:1.33 (4x3), DTS 5.1 / DD 5.1 / DD 2.0 sound.
Image re-released this title in 2005 as a 2 disc package in two options. Package 1: DVD and a Hybrid SACD with 2.0 and 5.1 sound. Package 2: DVD and a DVD-Audio disc with 5.1 sound.

SpikeHK · 12-29-2007, 08:44 AM

I had this on VHS recorded off cable and then played the standard def DVD so much that I think I might have worn it out. So I was doubly thrilled to get this on HD-DVD.

However, this is the first HD-DVD that is not playing on my XBOX360. I put it in the drive, the disc spins, the screen goes dark, then it returns to the main screen with the notice that the drive cannot read the disc.

I can return this and exchange for another copy or for a different title altogether. Before I do, I am wondering if what I have is just a defective disc or if there are other reports of people having problems playing this?

Paul Hillenbrand · 12-29-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpikeHK

this is the first HD-DVD that is not playing on my XBOX360. I put it in the drive, the disc spins, the screen goes dark, then it returns to the main screen with the notice that the drive cannot read the disc.

I can return this and exchange for another copy or for a different title altogether. Before I do, I am wondering if what I have is just a defective disc or if there are other reports of people having problems playing this?

Played "Roy Orbison - Black & White Night" HD DVD on my Xbox 360 add-on with no problem what-so-ever. If the add-on drive can't read the disc, the disc is probably defective.

Paul