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A short review of "The Professionals" SE - Page 2

post #31 of 36
4/7/05 at 6:42am
I have both versions. I have to admit to liking the color timing on the original a little better, but I am not familiar enough with the film to know which one is more accurate.

I don't think the difference in detail is really that great. The new one looks soft at first glance due to the differences in contrast and color, but if you look closely at the usual suspects for detail like highlights of eyes and textures of detailed surfaces, it's really not that different. Also, a slight bit of edge ringing from the original gives it a "faux sharpness".

The extras are great, and having both a 3.0 original mix and 5.1 remix audio track is unquestionably an upgrade over the original's 2.0, not just based on the specs, but based on what my ears are telling me, too. If you don't already own the film, I would definitely recommed spending an extra $5 for the SE. If you are happy with the original and have no interest in the extras or an audio upgrade, then you may want to stand pat.

Regards,
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post #32 of 36
4/7/05 at 6:47am
I just watched the SE last night and all I can say is - WOW! To my eyes the new transfer is a huge improvement over the original DVD release. The heavy EE and compression artifacts that plagued the previous transfer are nowhere to be seen. In my HT the SE looks very filmlike and natural. Although the print used does show some damage (occasional dirt and dust), the transfer is pretty darned great. It's about time this fine film finally received some proper treatment. Outside of a complete physical restoration, I don't see The Professionals looking much better on DVD than this.
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post #33 of 36
4/7/05 at 8:37am
Thank you Robert.

Not my favorite but to me, a very solid western. Any film with Claudia Cardinale automatically gets 1/2
out of the gate.

[Like Robert, (not sure of his age), many of these westerns are dear to me for the time my father and I spent together watching them. May be true for many cats my age.]



Quote:
Is it me or is Columbia becoming the comeback kid when it comes to DVD release? I was really impressed and surprised by this one.

Could a 3:10 to Yuma SE be coming?
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post #34 of 36
4/7/05 at 10:53am
The color timing on the first release is wrong. It does not reflect how the film looked in theaters (it was printed by Technicolor). All you have to do is look at the sky - in the first release it's kind of a sickly greenish yellowish blue. In the new release it's BLUE - Tech blue. The skin tones are also perfectly renedered in the new DVD. So, I'm not sure why anyone would prefer the old DVD, but to each their own.
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post #35 of 36
4/7/05 at 11:14am
Quote:
So, I'm not sure why anyone would prefer the old DVD, but to each their own.
For me, it's mostly an issue of contrast/density rather than pallette. I liked that the shadows went all the way to black in the dark scenes. From a color standpoint, I do like the fact that the desert looks less magenta/red on the remaster, though.

Regards,
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post #36 of 36
4/7/05 at 6:09pm
I'd only had a chance to glance at the color before. I'm now watching the film. The DVD Beaver is completely wrong about this, and it's a textbook example that you cannot and should not trust screencaps, nor should you ever make a decision to buy based on them.

The DVD is great. It's quite improved from the previous DVD in almost every way and that includes sharpness. The color is, as I've said, completely accurate to the look of the IB release prints. I'm enjoying the 5.1, although I must profess that I find that the original 3.0 suits the film better. They don't make 'em like this anymore, do they? In any case, bravo to Columbia for a great job, and anyone who is on the fence about this because of screencaps, should get off the fence immediately and buy the disc.
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