Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

post #1 of 79
7/22/07 at 9:07am
Thread Starter 
http://dvd.ign.com/articles/807/807121p1.html

Perfect 10s across the board!

Quote:
Originally Posted by IGN on the HD DVD-exclusive PiP
The picture-in-picture commentary is a ridiculously entertaining and informative addition, highlighting not only Snyder's dynamic, easy-going personality but everything and anything audiences may have wanted to know about the film's production. With a second, smaller screen in the bottom-left corner matched shot-for-shot with the theatrical release, viewers can see the green-screen, blue-screen, warts-and-all reference shots compared against their fully-produced end products. The Film-School-101, special-effects master class value is both remarkable and completely accessible as Snyder walks us through the arduous, painstaking process of creating an effects-heavy film with an impressive charisma and a well-delivered lesson plan. And the dual-picture accompaniment is a welcome, educational visual aid.

Didn't see this posted, but a nice preview of the disc
Reply
post #2 of 79
7/22/07 at 10:22am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

I am planning opn getting the BR when it comes out but have not seen the film. I am a little worried about buying this sight unseen though. Nice to see a good review though.
Reply
post #3 of 79
7/22/07 at 10:24am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

What we've learned from Warner on these recent dual releases is to expect the same results with Image/Audio....
Reply
post #4 of 79
7/22/07 at 1:16pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Saw some snippets of this on HD DVD as presented by Mr. Nickerson from Warner at the HME. It looked fantastic and I agree that it could be THE high def disc so far... I am a big fan of IME/U Control stuff so the green screen PiP was certainly intriguing.
Reply
post #5 of 79
7/22/07 at 1:31pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

I liked this movie and will be picking up the HD DVD without question. BUT...if the Blu is available and the HD DVD is nowhere to be seen when I go looking for one I will grab that version without hesitation.
Reply
post #6 of 79
7/22/07 at 1:42pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

I watched pretty much my first (proper) HD DVD-title in last week (UK "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") when I tested Toshiba´s player. I sampled the "In-Movie Experience" and I have to say that I liked it. It worked better than I expected and brought some freshness to the old audio commentaries. While I´m not very keen about these internet-based extras that HD DVD camp is promoting, this IME (and probably other similar ones) is very nice. Blu-ray has to get these also working, dammit.

Btw. Is HD DVD-version of "300" combo?
Reply
post #7 of 79
7/22/07 at 1:46pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jari K
Btw. Is HD DVD-version of "300" combo?

Yes.
Reply
post #8 of 79
7/22/07 at 6:21pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

I'm all over this on blu ray.
Reply
post #9 of 79
7/22/07 at 6:33pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Already have the HD DVD version ordered and looking forward to viewing it, as I missed it at the theaters.
Reply
post #10 of 79
7/22/07 at 6:34pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jari K
I watched pretty much my first (proper) HD DVD-title in last week (UK "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") when I tested Toshiba´s player.
Harry Potter was the first imprt I ever ordered and convinced me to order others. It is a great transfer.
Reply
post #11 of 79
7/23/07 at 4:36am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Loved this in the theaters and it appears that it will sound/look just as stricking at home. I recall the film looking overly grainy in some shots when I saw it on release day so I'll be curious to see how much that holds true for the HD release. According to the review it has "a raw, atmospheric grain" which sounds very promising.
Reply
post #12 of 79
7/23/07 at 9:43am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

I stress that this is not flaming towards the HD DVD-format, but based on the information at hand, the web based extras doesn´t sound very hot:

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6461151.html

"Warner will be selling film-related merchandise via a disc for the first time. With their HD DVD player remote, consumers will be able to type in their cell phone number to receive instructions to access 300 wallpaper and ringtones for $1.99 each."

Based on http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...ortunities/793 :

"The HD DVD will boast several exclusive interactive and web-enabled features, including the ability to re-edit and share versions of the film via a studio-hosted server."

Hmm. For these I can easily say that: No interest.

Of course, the PiP-feature sounds cool (not web related):
"300 on HD DVD also contains a picture-in-picture feature that compares the actors performing with a blue-screen background with the special-effects-laden feature film."
Reply
post #13 of 79
7/23/07 at 10:35am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Jari-
I didn't see any flames in your post! I can see your point on some of the web features, but having seen the PIP, that is the MUST BUY feature on this title. I can't describe how cool it was!
Reply
post #14 of 79
7/23/07 at 10:46am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Just to emphasize since I see some conflicting statements.
The PIP feature is only available on the HDDVD version.
So, if you want that, you need the HDDVD.

Personally, if it didn't have the feature, I would have gotten the Blu-Ray since I loathe combo disc price premiums but the $5 premium is worth because of that awesome extra.
Reply
post #15 of 79
7/23/07 at 10:47am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

It also looks kind of cool to be able make your own video montage on the HD DVD version. Hopefully I'll get my copy soon.
Reply
post #16 of 79
7/23/07 at 10:50am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

I'm sure that the PiP feature is very cool, but I just don't see where I would watch it more than once or even once, as I barely have time to watch the movies themselves these days. If this were between BD and HD DVD at equal price-points (i.e. no HD DVD Combo Format), I would opt for the HD DVD. As it stands now, I would prefer to pay less for the BD.

Quote:
It also looks kind of cool to be able make your own video montage on the HD DVD version.

This must be part of the whole MySpace demographic that they're trying to target, but, again, I would never use this feature. Also, did I miss the memo where the MySpace demographic became the predominant early adopter of HT?
Reply
post #17 of 79
7/23/07 at 11:01am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Turning 44 this September I hardly fall into the 'myspace' crowd. . In fact, the only myspace page I've ever visited was the director of The Fountain's page.

I just thought it might be cool to edit/make your own little video thingy. Is it the feature that stands above it all? Probably not... The only feature that will most likely get repeated viewings at my home is the main film feature. The other stuff is cool though.
Reply
post #18 of 79
7/23/07 at 12:00pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Not that this HD-DVD/Blu-Ray will not look stunning, but I'm not sure you want to base this assumption off of an IGN review.
Reply
post #19 of 79
7/23/07 at 1:31pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn Perron
Not that this HD-DVD/Blu-Ray will not look stunning, but I'm not sure you want to base this assumption off of an IGN review.

If I'm not mistaken the IGN reviewers are also avid HTF members. Of the reviews that I've read in the past they are usually very accurate with their views.
Reply
post #20 of 79
7/23/07 at 6:26pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

How people can say this looks better than "Corpse Bride", amazes me!
Reply
post #21 of 79
7/23/07 at 9:01pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.



Received my HD DVD copy today. The bulb in my projector went last week and I am projectorless until tomorrow. Skimmed over it on a 42" EDTV Panasonic plasma. Saw this digitally projected when it was released in the theaters and it should look comparable to that. Will be able to judge PQ better tomorrow.

The deleted scenes and most of the featurettes are in HD. The webisodes are in SD and most if not all looked to be ported over from that Best Buy bonus disc that included the free movie cash to see 300 in the theater.

Watching some of the PiP shows how much of this movie was manipulated not just bluescreen/SFX wise but also in the color, contrast, brightness department.

One nitpick there are no trailers for 300 on this disc. I know there was at least 1 teaser and 1 full trailer. I do have them saved on my Xbox 360 from XBLive but come on WB, trailers should be a given and in HD. Oh and the commentary track from the SD side with Snyder and other crew members is not on the HD side.

Can't wait to watch it in full tomorrow.
Reply
post #22 of 79
7/23/07 at 9:19pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Quote:
Oh and the commentary track from the SD side with Snyder and other crew members is not on the HD side.

are you sure?!?!? do blu rayers know this? or do they have it ported to their HD encode?
Reply
post #23 of 79
7/24/07 at 4:47am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Tim! My MySpace page is pretty cool!



and yes, if 300 looks anything like it did in the theater, I don't know how people can say it looks better than Corpse Bride.
Reply
post #24 of 79
7/24/07 at 8:38am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Quote:
Originally Posted by EricW
are you sure?!?!? do blu rayers know this? or do they have it ported to their HD encode?

To lose the PiP features as a seperate extra is bad enough, but also lose the SD audio commentry is even worse.

At least with a HD-DVD combo disc you still get the audio commentry even if you have to play the DVD side.
Reply
post #25 of 79
7/24/07 at 8:44am

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

There was a commentary on the HD side that went along with the PIP. I starts playing when you turn the PIP on. I don't know if it is the same commentary that is on the standard def side or not.
Reply
post #26 of 79
7/24/07 at 5:45pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

PiP commentary is different from the one on the SD side.
Reply
post #27 of 79
7/24/07 at 5:53pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Just so that everyone is on board, and that all information is fully understood, may I suggest that the word "transfer" be used only for film that is actually transferred in some way to the digital world from post-production film elements.

300, as an example, is not a transfer, nor are the Harry Potter films.

There must be a differentiation for reviews and commentaries to have meaning. The two cannot be adequately judged via the same parameters.

RAH
Reply
post #28 of 79
7/24/07 at 6:00pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
Just so that everyone is on board, and that all information is fully understood, may I suggest that the word "transfer" be used only for film that is actually transferred in some way to the digital world from actual post-production film elements.

300, as an example, is not a transfer, nor are the Harry Potter films.

There must be a differentiation for reviews and commentaries to have meaning. The two cannot be adequately judged via the same parameters.

RAH
If not a "transfer", what is it?
Thanks, Robert!
Reply
post #29 of 79
7/24/07 at 6:07pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Most likely, 2k digital files downrezzed.
Reply
post #30 of 79
7/24/07 at 6:12pm

Re: 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.

Harry Potter is shot digitally? Didn't know that! Since when?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Blu-ray
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › 300: HD DVD edition - Best hidef disc, period? A review.