frankie108

Re: "Dark City: Director's Cut" coming to Blu-ray on July 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertR When the original film-like look is not only promoted as achievable, but IS achievable and HAS been achieved, we shouldn't settle for improvement over an older video format, but instead hold people to the bar we KNOW they can reach.

Robert,
It's unreasonable, I think, to expect a "home run" every time out at this stage of the game. It takes time for quality to become the norm. I cite the long evolution it took to produce quality standard DVD discs as an example.
I also think the studios, within their own severe economic constraints, are doing the best they can with what they have to work with considering that they may collectively feel that Blu-ray is just a niche format at this time.

RobertR

Re: "Dark City: Director's Cut" coming to Blu-ray on July 29

Frank,
Even if the studios can't hit a "home run" every time right now, we should always be asking them to hit as many as we KNOW they can. If we know they CAN be "Babe Ruths", we shouldn't settle for a few home runs, nor should we say "well at least it's better than AAA ball".

Dave Mack

Re: "Dark City: Director's Cut" coming to Blu-ray on July 29

When it's a film that you really love, it is pretty disappointing when it's only a triple. Especially when if they had done less, less DNR and NO EE, it could've been a home run. This title will likely never get up at bat again. Or at least not for a very long time.

http://www.myspace.com/franbro

Michael Reuben

Re: "Dark City: Director's Cut" coming to Blu-ray on July 29

I don't know about numbers, but the DC is excellent. The characters, especially William Hurt's cop, are much better defined and make a stronger impression.

I have a question for frankie108: Have you seen the Dark City Blu-ray disc? If so, perhaps you could direct your comments to that particular disc, since that's what this thread is about. If not, there are other threads better suited to general comments on the state of Blu-ray transfers.

M.

"Most people never have to face the fact that, at the right time and the right place, they're capable of anything." -- Chinatown

"What kind of movies would there be if everyone in them had to do what we thought they should do?" -- Roger Ebert

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Carlo Medina

Re: "Dark City: Director's Cut" coming to Blu-ray on July 29

My sentiments exactly.

Which is why, even though I can see how some people may have a problem with the EE/DNR, I still bought the disc and would recommend others [who aren't in the relentless pursuit of perfection, sorry Lexus] to do so. This is a wonderful film that has been given a solid treatment on Blu-ray given the circumstances.

And those circumstances, to rehash are:

1. At minimum a 1 1/2 - 2 year old transfer (Ebert's commentary pre-dates his recent ~2 year fight with health issues).
2. A title that does not exactly scream "major revenue" title.
3. This whole thing with regards to film grain has only recently crept to the surface, thanks to our own esteemed Mr. Robert A. Harris.

Keep in mind that if you read these boards six months ago, you'd hardly hear anything about DNR and film grain removal. And if the "aficionados" weren't aware of it, you can bet it wasn't on the studios' collective radars.

So while yes we would like the studios to hit a home run out of the park every time, it's my opinion that it's unreasonable to hold it against this title for the following reasons:

1. Age of transfer, which all things considered is actually decent, compared with Patton and Gangs of New York, two much more box-office and home video sales friendly than Dark City.

2. Dark City never got a double dip on DVD (which the majority of homeowners have), so no matter how much complaining we do, we most likely aren't going to get a second version. Fifth Element was the exception, not the rule, and also is a proven cash cow in comparison.

3. The director's cut has taken a great film (IMO) and made it even better, and I for one hope more people take the time to watch it and reward Mr. Proyas and Co. for their effort, even if the home video presentation is somewhat flawed.

Others are free to disagree, but it's for the above reasons that I personally support the purchase of this release for anyone who is interested in this movie.

Xylon

Re: "Dark City: Director's Cut" coming to Blu-ray on July 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric F I have the open matte version on DVHS I taped off HBO some years back. I can't wait for this. One of my most favorite fantasy/sci-fi movies of all time.

I have the recording too from DVHS and then transferred to a DVD-R. I just can't find where it is

David Wilkins

Re: "Dark City: Director's Cut" coming to Blu-ray on July 29

Perfect summary of the facts. Couldn't agree more.

OliverK

Re: "Dark City: Director's Cut" coming to Blu-ray on July 29

I finally got to watch this movie yesterday courtesy of a good friend and the director's cut is really very nicely done. Watching this for the first time on a new and bigger screen I was made aware how much this is in fact a movie for the large screen/cinema experience. The outstanding atmosphere and sets really come to life on the big screen more so than with other movies, the artefacts that I will talk about later are of course especially unfortunate in this regard. On the positive side the sound was pretty impressive to me as was shadow delineation, which is very important for such a dark movie.

Now on to the two big negatives that IMO make this a watch once and don't buy it title: Without using any hyperbole there was less than a dozen movies on HD media out of over 150 I watched in which artefacts like EE and DNR have taken me out of the movie more than they did with Dark City. This was a big disappointment for me and I was in fact surprised that the EE is so severe that it even outdoes the DNR that is also present through most of the movie and which would be objectionable on its own. The combined look of DNR and EE on top of it is so bothersome for me that I am surprised that there weren't more critical voices from those that have already watched Dark City - IMO there is absolutely no need for screenshots and/or pausing of the movie to see the EE and DNR this movie has been "treated" to, it was unfortunately all too obvious, and distracting, for most of the running time.

For members who like this movie and who want their Blu-Ray transfers to come anywhere close to the look of film: Please rent, don't buy.

I am sure that this is not a title that is indicative of what studios will put out with new transfers in the future but this is no consolation for lovers of this movie given the long time we will probably have to wait for this title to reappear with a new master and transfer. Another opportunity missed.

Xylon

Re: "Dark City: Director's Cut" coming to Blu-ray on July 29

I don't think you guys want to see your HD movies looking like this close-up:

Xylon

Re: "Dark City: Director's Cut" coming to Blu-ray on July 29

Instead of this:



I know its not fair but I think you get my point.