A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD - Page 10

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

What did you think of the other photo(s)?
( posted by: Dave Mack)

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Holly Molly!

I've not followed this thread. I had read Mr. Harris's OP.
Butt, did not follow it till tonight; seeing what is usually people just thanking RAH, had turning into over two hundred posts.
Now I "see" why!

This is different, this is very different.
I can't imagine "they" would have changed the original SD DVD releases that much from the theatrical release. So I'm thinking this is brand new.
No doubt about it.
(most amazing too me is how clear as a bell now that 'fire' shot is)

Well, at least people are paying attention to HD Disc releases.
Now its just which an individual prefers: original or revisionist.

You think Coppola & Lucas know each other???
JJ

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Hiya Ed!
We just got back to NYC!















...it's just that it's so dramatically different than all previous versions with previously seen effects, sets now rendered virtually invisible because of the crushed blacks and then the altered color scheme in parts. The above shot, Dracula is suppossed to be backlit by MOONLIGHT. In all previous versions, it was blue, now it's suddenly green in the BD.... This was really intended all along?!?!?
The moonlight just turned green? Well, the flame on the castle-wall has now so I guess it's possible.



Ok, flame is now, green.....


The wonderful, oscar winning costumes, (and I have the Eiko Dracula book) used to look amazing and colorful, now they virtually look grey...




The train interior now has much less saturation yet somehow the lamps look slightly more saturated. Like bad photoshop, very synthetic and digital looking.





here are shots of this scene from the official book.





looks more like the sb dvd.



And I have gotten the BD grabs from Xylon at AVS who takes them directly off the BD and SB dvd discs raw.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Dave,

Because you're posting those pictures once again: did you read post #268?

(And I'm not sure which point you try to make. We KNOW that the BD differs from the previous DVD.)

Happy holidays to you too!


Cees

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

This sounds about like what I'm seeing as well. The writing is faint, but there.

Doug

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

I just noticed in the interior train shot how not just the lamps, but all the whites were completely altered. There was actually white on the SB. Now even a white shirt collar is kind of flesh-colored. Like they weren't too careful after they desaturated it to black and white and just made everything light-colored flesh-toned.

Another chance to buy this for 9.99 at J&R, but still can't bite (no pun intended). Of course, I'd have to pick up a few to make the shipping worthwhile most likely.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Were the shots from the book in this thread B4 (sorry if I missed them)?

We now know the BD differs from the SD DVD, thanks MackDaddy, butt this thread stated the BD looks like the film. Do we know the BD looks like the film?

Happy Holiday Cees & to all!!!

MackDaddy,

You've had some good posts on this forum B4, yet I think this is your greatest work (and I do mean "work") yet.

I agree with the train scene comments, those lamps lost their "Tiffany" glow!

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

We know the BD looks like the Answer Print and we know the images in this thread don't look like the BD images on some posters' displays.

What more do you want to get out of this thread? And how?


Cees

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Maybe if I saw just a few more screen grabs, then I would change my mind and be convinced that there was something wrong...

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

I want the ANSWER PRINT!!!!!

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

(Use the BD instead!)


Cees

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

No. Without access to the IP I can't say how close the BD is to the IP.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

For me, the question is: Do we really know that the BD looks like the answer print? Or do we just know that some Sony or Zoetrope employees say that the BD looks like the answer print? If Mr. Harris or anyone else here can tell me that they have confirmed with their own eyes that the BD matches the answer print, then I will rest easy. Until then, though, I have trouble believing it, only because it's hard to believe that this is how this movie is supposed to look. It's easier for me to believe that some employees of Sony or Zoetrope might be mistaken.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

This seems to be the heart of the matter. There are some things one knows to be true simply by being told so (for example, a sportscaster telling you the score of the Super Bowl). With other things, however, personal knowledge of something and/or independent verification from other sources is needed. Some of us are thinking this may be a case of the latter situation.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

From Robert Harris in post # 1 of this thread:


Can we rest easy now?

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

We can, but ONLY IF Mr. Harris is saying that based on his own observations, and not just on reassuring words from those involved with the production of this disc.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Exactly.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Why would someone who has seen the answer print, and supervised the new version, lie about it?

Doug

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

RAH is not a Sony shill, which is more than can be said for some others posting opinions on the Web. He's a true independent and calls 'em as he sees 'em. Not everyone agrees with him, but he has a greater knowledge of film and its characteristics than just about anyone on this forum. If he says it matches the answer print, I'm inclined to take his comments @ face value.

BTW, Dave, I take issue with Xylon's screencaps in terms of accuracy, particularly since they are wildly inconsistent. First, he's posting downsampled upconversions and BD caps, then he's posting full resolution BD and upconverted SD. Who's to say his caps are accurate, other than a subjective "yeah, that looks about right" ?

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

I don't think anyone disagrees with you, provided we know that Mr. Harris has seen the answer print (ie has independent knowledge of it), and doesn't have to rely on what he's been told.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

I saw this on sale at Fry's for $9.99 tonight.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

I'm beginning to think you're right. Thanks, RAH.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Maybe we can finally put this issue to rest. Thank you Mr. Harris.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Xylon's captures seem pretty consistant to everyone at AVS. Stephen, All his captures are the large ones, 1920X1080, the smaller ones posted were made smaller by me to make it easier to see the color differences.
You can see all the large ones here.

Another AVS poster confirms his caps here...

AVS Forum - View Single Post - Dracula comparison PIX

and ok, if this finally looks like the answer print, then the superimposed words were never meant to be seen? I (and dozens of others fans of this film) find that very hard to believe. And if it wasn't meant to be seen and crushing it into blackness is accurate, then, it looked better and was MUCH more effective in the incorrect VHS, (both FS and then WS copies) that I bought. On the 2 DVDs, on the Coppola approved LD... If ALL that time, EVERY version released was THAT wrong, shoot we should ask for a refund for all those defective versions!

And to anyone saying, "the words are clearly visible on MY BD" Fine, take a screencap. I have yet to see one confirming this.

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Dave,

Several people, who have their monitors/projectors calibrated slightly differently, state very clearly and recently (in this same thread) that they DO see the writing. Some recent posters question the quality (and consistency) of those screencaps on another forum.

Now simply put like this: if some people *do* see 'em, they're there, despite anyone else *not* seeing them.

New screencaps won't help very much, because they can be questioned as well, PC-monitors can be wrong, etc.
But the writing is (faintly) visible to some. So to answer your question: yes, it's meant to be seen, one would say.


Cees

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Hiya Cees! Happy Holidays!

There ARE ways to capture an image DIRECTLY off the BD so we see exactly what's on the disc. Dozens of people have stated they don't see the writing at all now. I think 2 or 3 claim they still can. I'd just like to see one direct RAW grab showing what I and dozens of others can no longer see even if we crank the brightness on our displays to Max (which we shouldn't HAVE to do...)
And that's aside from Dracula now bathed in GREEN moonlight, (which has no logical explanation, just seems like a revisionist change)

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Dave,

But then they have to be displayed on PC-monitors, etc.

Dave, we actually know the writing is on the BD, because some people see it.

Now, it's quite possible that they have their TVs all calibrated the wrong way, etc., or perhaps exactly right, but at least we know that it's there to be seen (under certain circumstances).
So it cannot be totally burried in black mud on the BD itself. That much we know for certain.

And Happy Holidays to you too!


Cees

Re: A few words about...™ Bram Stoker's Dracula -- in BD

Hi Cees,

With all due respect, I will take my own opinion with my disc and equipment qnd the word of dozens of people and direct screengrab evidence over the 2 or 3 who "say" they see them anyday at least until someone provides visual evidence to the contrary. Interesting they the 2 or so people who swear they can see them can't provide evidence, can't even simply take a digital picture of their display like I did to back up their opinion. The burden in on them in this instance. I and others have stated our case lucidly and politely and have offered visual examples. Some of us have actually worked in the field and are not simply some ignorant, knowledgeless newb.