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A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

post #1 of 113
10/24/07 at 6:47pm
Thread Starter 
I was there when it opened, as an NYU film school senior.

There are a short list of films that of which it can be said...

"There was cinema before and after..."

Mr. Kubrick's 2001 is one of them. In your face. In spades!

To have the opportunity to view it (without drugs) in 70mm on a huge screen, is one of these life altering experiences.

Is it on par with watching the Stars and Stripes being raised at Iwo Jima?

Doubtful.

But in the world of cinema, it doesn't get much better.

And neither could this high definition disc, for which I set aside the opening game of the World Series this evening to preview. The game actually went on without me.

This is one of those "few words" that is short, sweet and to the point.

The original 65mm negative of 2001 has been over-loved during the decades.

Over-printed, with dupes scattered about throughout, it comes to to this new DVD in nearly transparent condition. My assumption is that this transfer is derived from a 35mm interpositive produced several years ago, and it has yielded a superb master.

Warner Bros. has done a beautiful job with Mr. Kubrick's magnum opus.

Image and audio quality are superb. And while we are viewing what is essentially the soft cover version of a film which was designed to be seen on a huge screen with audio blaring...

We finally have a version of 2001 on home video of which I believe Mr. Kubrick would be proud.

And then he would change the conversation to baseball, and the World Series.

2001 is a beautifully stuck disc from Warner, which I screened on Blu-Ray. I have no doubt that the HD version will be equally as pleasing.

On the short list of the most important classic releases of 2007...

2001 may well be at the top.

Just beautiful. Hats off to the archival crew at Warner Bros.

2001: A Space Odyssey is Unhesitatingly Extremely Highly Recommended!

RAH
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

2001 - A Space Odyssey [Blu-ray]
$9.25 at
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2001 - A Space Odyssey [HD DVD]
$3.4 at
See it »
post #2 of 113
10/24/07 at 7:04pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

My resolve not to buy into any HD format yet continues to erode. Thanks, RAH.
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post #3 of 113
10/24/07 at 7:11pm

And the HD DVD is good too

I first saw 2001 in its original release as a 15 year old student in the "Century 21" theater in San Jose, which was a purpose-built theater for showing Cinerama films. The Century 21 is a concrete dome theater with fancy sound systems and a projection room custom built for 70mm and Cinerama projections.

I was disappointed that 2001 wasn't a 3-strip Cinerama film. But everything else about the film was a delight.

After owning 2001 in CED, WS VHS, non-anamorphic DVD, anamorphic DVD, and finally HD DVD, the HD culmination is what we have been waiting for all these years.

A pedant will claim that the HD DVD will make more obvious the studio set vs. the background photos in the Dawn of Man sequence. There are many other portions that highlight the limitations of the 1968 special effect. But what the heck did you expect? This is as good as it's going to get.

Having said all this, there are things in the transfer that Bob Harris may wish to comment upon. When Dave brings the pod up to the emergency airlock, the white lighting of the ship is overlaid by pinkish light from the pod's lights. Is this correct? Kubrick had a trademark of having 'halos' around lighting effects so I'm not sure.
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post #4 of 113
10/24/07 at 10:25pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Loved your review RAH. One of your best.
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post #5 of 113
10/25/07 at 2:34am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

The review gets me even more annoyed by the fact that DVD Pacific have yet to dispatch my copy of the film on BD.
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post #6 of 113
10/25/07 at 4:30am
Thread Starter 

Re: And the HD DVD is good too

Deleted as duplicate
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post #7 of 113
10/25/07 at 4:31am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

I heard that the HD transfer is based on a >= 4K scan from a 65mm element. Does someone know anything definitive?
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post #8 of 113
10/25/07 at 4:32am
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Quote:
When Dave brings the pod up to the emergency airlock, the white lighting of the ship is overlaid by pinkish light from the pod's lights. Is this correct? Kubrick had a trademark of having 'halos' around lighting effects so I'm not sure.

I certainly can't answer this. Even if there were a later "approved" print, something this specific may not have translated. Without either Mr. Kubrick or Mr. Unsworth, generally the best that one can do is make the surrounding general colors and densities correct, and allow everything else to fall naturally where it may.

RAH
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post #9 of 113
10/25/07 at 2:14pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
To have the opportunity to view it (without drugs) in 70mm on a huge screen, is one of these life altering experiences.
RAH

I cannot help but smile at this statement as I've had the opportunity to experience it both ways on the big screen way back in the day.

Nice to get the enthusiastic RAH stamp of approval on one of my favorite science fiction movies. Great review.

And thank you Warner.
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post #10 of 113
10/28/07 at 11:05am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

According to Insider Mr. D. the HD master is not from a 35mm element but a 6K scan of the OCN. Cool.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=880440
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post #11 of 113
10/28/07 at 4:58pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

According to AVS...

"The 65mm neg was scanned within the last few years and was described as being in "perfect" condition to me by the guys that scanned it so there should be a pretty marvelous HD master available."

Not when I wound through it. Overused, dupes, tape...

The word "perfect" obviously has numerous meanings. I have yet to learn all of them.

RAH
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post #12 of 113
10/29/07 at 12:08am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michel_Hafner
According to Insider Mr. D. the HD master is not from a 35mm element but a 6K scan of the OCN. Cool.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=880440

A 6k scan is nice to have but more important is that there is no hideous EE added to the picture like with Battle of the Bulge.

Everybody raves about the detail on that one but the EE completely destroys the illusion of a cinematic presentation. I take it 2001 is not affected by it judging by RAH's statements here - good !
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post #13 of 113
10/29/07 at 1:58am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
According to AVS...
"The 65mm neg was scanned within the last few years and was described as being in "perfect" condition to me by the guys that scanned it so there should be a pretty marvelous HD master available."
Not when I wound through it. Overused, dupes, tape...
RAH
Do you think the HD-DVD could come from this 6K scan? (Have not seen the disc yet.)
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post #14 of 113
10/29/07 at 5:31am
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

A 6k scan, to the best of my knowledge, is not the way that Warner has been generally handling their 65s. Unless one is seeking to create additional digital preservation elements, it adds little toward the purpose of an HD release which may be harvested from a 35mm element.

Large format scans are horrifically expensive.

Whether they did a digital scan in this case is anyone's guess.

RAH
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post #15 of 113
10/29/07 at 6:24am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

The latest SD version (not the subject of this thread, I know) still has noticeable edge halos, especially evident on the horizon shots during the "Dawn of Man" sequence and just about everywhere during the space station/white corridor scenes early on in the picture. They looked about the same as they did in the previous 16:9 enhancded DVD and the HDNET broadcast.

I'm hoping to see the Blu-Ray this evening and will report back. If nothing else, the PCM 5.1 should be ear candy.

Regards,
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post #16 of 113
10/30/07 at 5:28am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken_McAlinden
...I'm hoping to see the Blu-Ray this evening and will report back. If nothing else, the PCM 5.1 should be ear candy.
...Well, the edge halos were there, but they were lower in intensity and less bothersome on the BRD then on the SD release. The ones on the SD release more or less jumped out at me while I had to look a bit more actively to notice them on the HD. I will now spend the evening trying to train myself to stop looking actively for them so I can enjoy the film. The PCM 5.1 track is as nice as I hoped it would be.

Regards,
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post #17 of 113
10/30/07 at 8:25am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Looks like the higher resolution is revealing the matte paintings at the beignning. A few shots are very ugly.
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post #18 of 113
10/30/07 at 3:59pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Quote:
Originally Posted by BrettB
Looks like the higher resolution is revealing the matte paintings at the beignning. A few shots are very ugly.

They aren't matte paintings. They are large format still photographs that are front projected on to a screen that is coated with 3M reflective material. I think what we are seeing is an uneven application of that 3M material.

Doug
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post #19 of 113
10/31/07 at 8:20am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Interesting. Thanks for the info. At first I didn't know what was going on. It sort of looked like a dirty lens or something.

The 20-30 mins I sampled after that were pretty damned impressive.
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post #20 of 113
10/31/07 at 1:22pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Talk about an Odyssey...try finding one of these in a B&M store!

The Best Buy store locater says that my local one has some in stock. I'm going to take a long lunch in a bit to try and track a copy down since Amazon is still listing this as 2-5 weeks and I'm not the waiting type...
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post #21 of 113
11/1/07 at 8:30pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Carlo,

Mine arrived from Amazon today, and my order was fairly recent (last two weeks or so, maybe less. Standard delays for super saver shipping, but here it is!).
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post #22 of 113
11/2/07 at 4:50am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Lindley
Carlo,

Mine arrived from Amazon today, and my order was fairly recent (last two weeks or so, maybe less. Standard delays for super saver shipping, but here it is!).
Seems like they're all in stock at Amazon.com finally. I have an order at DVD Pacific, but only "A Clockwork Orange" has been filled so far.
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post #23 of 113
11/2/07 at 11:37am

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

I picked mine up at my local hastings for $19.99. Too bad my 50" plasma is boxed up. Moving! It did look fantastic on my 36" tube.
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post #24 of 113
11/2/07 at 5:29pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Hi, guys,
I just posted my enthusiastic review of the Blu-Ray. While I was watching it, I noticed the follwoing and I'm wondering if anyone else is noticing this (quoted from my review):

"When I went back to do some close inspection of the image, I noticed what appeared to be some type of dirt on the print during the Dawn of Man sequence. If you look closely at the lighter parts of the images, such as the light sky above the mountain ranges, you will see some light smearing on the image. At first I thought I had some dirt on my screen or the lens of my projector, but the dirt remained once I cleaned both of those. When you jump to the space station scenes, which are very light and would show this dirt easily, it is absent. Therefore, I believe this is dirt that is part of the original negative of the scenes for the dawn of man sequence. "

I didn't see it on the first viewing, but once I got up on the screen it's pretty obvious. I haven't seen this mentioned on any of the other online reviews.
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post #25 of 113
11/2/07 at 6:05pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Quote:
Originally Posted by PatWahlquist
Hi, guys,
I just posted my enthusiastic review of the Blu-Ray. While I was watching it, I noticed the follwoing and I'm wondering if anyone else is noticing this (quoted from my review):

"When I went back to do some close inspection of the image, I noticed what appeared to be some type of dirt on the print during the Dawn of Man sequence. If you look closely at the lighter parts of the images, such as the light sky above the mountain ranges, you will see some light smearing on the image. At first I thought I had some dirt on my screen or the lens of my projector, but the dirt remained once I cleaned both of those. When you jump to the space station scenes, which are very light and would show this dirt easily, it is absent. Therefore, I believe this is dirt that is part of the original negative of the scenes for the dawn of man sequence. "

I didn't see it on the first viewing, but once I got up on the screen it's pretty obvious. I haven't seen this mentioned on any of the other online reviews.

Pat, I noticed this as well. I read in one of these threads that what your seeing is the reflective paint on the wall that the background plate was shown on. If you look at it, it does look like paint, from a roller. Sorry, i dont remember the thread, or who said it. But thats why the leopards eyes glow too!

Oh, and i watched on a 50 inch Tosh plasma. The Blu-ray disc looked amazing!
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post #26 of 113
11/2/07 at 6:11pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Makes sense, thanks! Also answers the question I had about the eyes, but my interpretation was far more metaphysical than that!
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post #27 of 113
11/2/07 at 8:41pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

Quote:
Originally Posted by PatWahlquist
Makes sense, thanks! Also answers the question I had about the eyes, but my interpretation was far more metaphysical than that!

Rick it right. It looks to me to be an uneven application of the 3M reflective material on the front projection screen. (this is the same stuff that makes stop signs glow) All of those ape shots were done in a studio in England. The background plates are actually large format still photographs that were taken in African and front projected into the scene.

Doug
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post #28 of 113
11/4/07 at 4:39pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

I must say I'm honestly a bit perplexed by the image quality of this HD DVD/BD of 2001.

I saw a 35mm print of this film a couple of years ago at a restored theater in NY and the print was *** RAZOR SHARP ***. It almost felt like your eyeballs were "cut" watching those blazing white ships drift through that midnight black space.

On the DVD, all the space shots (and all others) appear slightly softened on the edges to my eyes. I was expecting this 1080p disc to look as sharp (I don't meen edge-halo sharp, just analog sharp) as the 35mm print I had enjoyed.

Has anyone else with good familarity with the clarity/sharpness of the projected print felt this? Naturally, the fact that RAH is singing the praises of the fidelity of this transfer is causing me to wonder if my impressions of the 35mm print that I saw were remembered incorrectly... or perhaps I was seated far enough away from the screen that the viewing angle was narrower to produce a "sharper" impression?
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post #29 of 113
11/4/07 at 5:07pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

You have a pretty big projected screen dont you David?
It looked great on my plasma. But then again it looked better than my LD or that crappy, very dark MGM DVD.
I only WISH i could have seen it on a movie screen.
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post #30 of 113
11/4/07 at 5:11pm

Re: A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD

I viewed it both on my 720P DLP projector (106") and my friend's 1080p LCOS projecto (110"). Don't get me wrong, the image was very good, and very "film like" in many ways, but not quite as sharp as I remember from film.

Also, in the turning spokes of the space-station, I saw a "twitter" along the edge that didn't seem to be a film-orgin artifact. Has anyone else noticed that? Note that we're watching a properly rendered 1080p image on the 1080p projector (and I noticed this also at 720p).
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

2001 - A Space Odyssey [Blu-ray]
$9.25 at
See it »
2001 - A Space Odyssey [HD DVD]
$3.4 at
See it »
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › A Few Words About By Robert Harris › A few words about...™ 2001: A Space Odyssey -- in BD & HD