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Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

post #1 of 21
6/29/06 at 4:02am
Thread Starter 
High-Def Digest:

Quote:
"That said, I can say I was very impressed with this Blu-ray release from Lionsgate -- it is certainly up there with the best of the first Blu-ray titles I've yet seen from any studio. Presented in its 137-minute theatrical cut version (sorry, no extended version or alternate ending here, which are currently available on DVD in too many editions to list), framed at 2.35:1 and encoded at 1080p, this transfer is a clear step up from all previous NTSC video versions.


Most aspects of this presentation are just as good as before -- great blacks, clean and consistent contrast (aside from the Linda Hamilton character's numerous post-apocalyptic flashbacks, which have an intentionally overblown, slightly hazy look to them) and a nearly-pristine print. Yes, there is still grain visible, and sometimes it can be more distracting than on the standard DVD, simply because HD's finer resolution makes it more apparent. Plus, I did notice the rare blemish (such as a speckle of dirt here or there), but that really is nitpicking. However, where this Blu-ray upgrade really shines is in the level of detail and color reproduction. This is simply a much more three-dimensional image, with fine details more visible throughout, from more discernible textures and fabrics to the intricacies of Stan Winston's landmark robotic and animatronics creations. I was genuinely blown away by many times I noticed new things while watching this transfer..."

More: http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/terminator2.html
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post #2 of 21
6/29/06 at 2:26pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

If and when I get into bluray, I will wait for a dual layer redux hopefully with pcm5.1 sound. Still glad to see the video is improving in the new titles.
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post #3 of 21
6/29/06 at 2:58pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Glad to see this one has decent picture quality. As it's one of my favorite movies, I think I'll order it.
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post #4 of 21
6/29/06 at 3:39pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

A great presentation, I just got through watching it. In this case, I prefer the cut of the film that I watched in the theaters back in 1991.




Crawdaddy
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post #5 of 21
6/29/06 at 3:56pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
A great presentation, I just got through watching it. In this case, I prefer the cut of the film that I watched in the theaters back in 1991.
Thanks for the mini-review.
Did you get any more out of the sound than "equal" to any previous release?
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post #6 of 21
6/29/06 at 4:03pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed St. Clair
Thanks for the mini-review.
Did you get any more out of the sound than "equal" to any previous release?
Well, this is the fourth release of this film on a dvd format that I have in my collection, but I haven't done any comparisons to those previous releases. However, this afternoon, I was impressed by the audio presentation of the audio track I listen to. The disc has two audio options besides the commentary track. The one I watched the disc with was the 5.1 DD surround, but there is a DTS track too that I briefly sampled.




Crawdaddy
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post #7 of 21
6/30/06 at 4:18am

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Ten posts, totally irrelevant to the reviews, removed.
Don't side-track this thread again, please!

Thanks.


Cees
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post #8 of 21
6/30/06 at 7:47am

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

I think the reviewer must be visually impaired...? I have the disc and I've had 2 Samsung players this week and neither of 'em will play the disc correctly. For me, it's been stuttering judder, lost frames. The disc almost looks good but then somebody walking accross the screen appears to hop ahead.... It's subtle but must have happened 200 times during the film. BTW, I'm having the same issue with all the Lionsgate titles.

Discounting the judder, the disc stille doesn't look quite as good as the D-Theater tape. It looks very similar and very likely came from the same print. However, the tape has slightly more vivid colour.

I advise that nobody buy T2 till it's shown there is a player that will play it correctly. Neither of the Samsungs I've had can render it properly.
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post #9 of 21
6/30/06 at 7:53am

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rachael B
I think the reviewer must be visually impaired...? I have the disc and I've had 2 Samsung players this week and neither of 'em will play the disc correctly. For me, it's been stuttering judder, lost frames. The disc almost looks good but then somebody walking accross the screen appears to hop ahead.... It's subtle but must have happened 200 times during the film. BTW, I'm having the same issue with all the Lionsgate titles.

Discounting the judder, the disc stille doesn't look quite as good as the D-Theater tape. It looks very similar and very likely came from the same print. However, the tape has slightly more vivid colour.

I advise that nobody buy T2 till it's shown there is a player that will play it correctly. Neither of the Samsungs I've had can render it properly.
Wow, I never had those problems as I watched the dvd from beginning to end and then sampled it as I made some equipment calibration adjustments.

Maybe, I'm visually impaired?



Crawdaddy
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post #10 of 21
6/30/06 at 8:00am

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
Wow, I never had those problems as I watched the dvd from beginning to end and then sampled it as I made some equipment calibration adjustments.

Maybe, I'm visually impaired?



Crawdaddy

Maybe half the discs are bad? Maybe half the players are bad? Somethin' not quite kosher is going on with Lionsgate titles and the Samsung player. Reports of judder with Lionsgate tiles are widespread.
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post #11 of 21
6/30/06 at 6:34pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Sorry Cees!

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post #12 of 21
6/30/06 at 6:52pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

any chance those deleted posts will make it to the extended cut of this thread?
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post #13 of 21
6/30/06 at 7:18pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_Scott
any chance those deleted posts will make it to the extended cut of this thread?

I bet they're savin' 'em up for the Boys Gone Wild special edition!
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post #14 of 21
6/30/06 at 8:21pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Anyone know the bitrate of the DD version?
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post #15 of 21
7/1/06 at 6:40pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

I watched about 90 minutes of the T2 BD last night, and was mostly impressed. Quite a few scenes, including the canal motorcycle jump, look terrific. I did see the picture break up into motion artifacts for a very few seconds during Sarah's escape from the mental institution, but it has a pretty nice transfer overall.
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post #16 of 21
7/1/06 at 7:30pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

It now appears that T2's judder problem may only manifest itself when one chooses DTS sound. After somebody on AVS figured this out, a quick little test seemed to back it up. I'm gonna watch it again, with Dolby.
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post #17 of 21
7/1/06 at 10:27pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_Scott
any chance those deleted posts will make it to the extended cut of this thread?

peter jackson is working on it, but we don't know if it'll fit on a 25 gb bluray disc.
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post #18 of 21
7/1/06 at 11:32pm

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rachael B
It now appears that T2's judder problem may only manifest itself when one chooses DTS sound. After somebody on AVS figured this out, a quick little test seemed to back it up. I'm gonna watch it again, with Dolby.
That's just wierd!!!
An audio selection screws up the video?!?!?!
If that's true...
Blu Blu it.
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post #19 of 21
7/2/06 at 8:31am

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rachael B
It now appears that T2's judder problem may only manifest itself when one chooses DTS sound. After somebody on AVS figured this out, a quick little test seemed to back it up. I'm gonna watch it again, with Dolby.

I know this doesn't make sense if Blu-Ray's "54mbps peak" is actually true, but it sounds to me like the DTS + video is going over the allowable peak bitrate resulting in stuttering (a la Devil's Advocate 1st DVD pressing on Pioneer players). Could Blu-Ray actually have a lower peak bitrate than originally claimed?
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post #20 of 21
7/2/06 at 9:36am

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Guys, I watched T2 with Dolby last night and the judder was gone. It stille doesn't look quite as good as the D-Theater tape. It's close though. D-Theater has a considerably higher bit-rate using the same mpeg2. I, again, put the tape in too and compared some scenes.

I watched all the Lionsgate titles employing DTS for audio the first time around. I'll call Samsung again and supply them with this info....

To me, despite the audio problem, T2 showed me some hope for Blu-way. I was plenty bummed out over the Sony titles from the first week....
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post #21 of 21
7/2/06 at 9:46am

Re: Terminator 2 Blu-ray Disc (a real review)

Quote:
it sounds to me like the DTS + video is going over the allowable peak bitrate resulting in stuttering
Is there stuttering on the BD titles with PCM audio? What's the bitrate on those titles?
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