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post #91 of 131
6/23/08 at 2:12pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by OliverK
That's the spirit ! Looking forward to hear back from you after the event, this should be interesting !
Judging from my own experience with questioning Fox on their BR catalog pricing structure, I don't have any high expectations that Fox will rectify this situation any time soon. I hope Fox at least acknowledges a problem instead of giving them the "no comment" response I received last year to my pricing question.




Crawdaddy
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The Longest Day [Blu-ray]
post #92 of 131
6/23/08 at 2:34pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

To RAH,

Something I have been thinking about that perhaps you can offer an opinion on...

Fox does not do whatever was done to the transfer of The Longest Day to all their BD titles, or even most from my experience. The Longest Day was surely expected to be a very minor release on Blu-ray for the studio, yet the extra time and expense to "clean up" the master was (apparently) undertaken. What might have been the circumstances with either the source film element or the transfer of same that would have prompted the studio to do whatever they did?
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post #93 of 131
6/23/08 at 2:59pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

I cannot believe that either Patton or Longest Day were "source element" issues. It may come down to the individual that followed the project through the system, or the vendor selected.
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post #94 of 131
6/24/08 at 1:44am

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
Judging from my own experience with questioning Fox on their BR catalog pricing structure, I don't have any high expectations that Fox will rectify this situation any time soon. I hope Fox at least acknowledges a problem instead of giving them the "no comment" response I received last year to my pricing question.
Crawdaddy

While they might be snobbish with regard to their pricing I will say that the quality level of their recent DVD and Blu-Ray releases has mostly impressed me. To me they seem to take a lot of pride in their catalog titles, too, especially the big ones, and I hope their reaction at the EMA event will reflect this.
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post #95 of 131
6/25/08 at 2:22pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
I gave TLD a "Recommended" because it should be, not based upon my personal set of preferences.

RAH
I think that's why there is a bit of a backlash going on here.
Not to fan the flames...
just too (hopefully helpingly) point out:
This is a RAH "recommended" release that doesn't meet RAH's "personal set of preferences". Can you see where people might get confused/upset?

I for one would like too request an early update too your recommend titles list (like at the end of '07), cause I don't want to wait till the end of '08!
Thanks as always, for all the info.
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post #96 of 131
6/25/08 at 2:33pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed St. Clair
I think that's why there is a bit of a backlash going on here.
Not to fan the flames...
just too (hopefully helpingly) point out:
This is a RAH "recommended" release that doesn't meet RAH's "personal set of preferences". Can you see where people might get confused/upset?

I for one would like too request an early update too your recommend titles list (like at the end of '07), cause I don't want to wait till the end of '08!
Thanks as always, for all the info.
However, RAH's trained eyes are probably a lot less forgiving than most of ours which is why he recommended this title for others.
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post #97 of 131
6/25/08 at 3:35pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

TLD, precisely like Patton, looks fine on smaller displays, and that affects a great number of viewers.

Also, like Patton, it falls apart as film on larger displays.

Do I personally like the Blu-ray representation of TLD?

No. I think it's laughable.

Would I suggest someone with a small monitor not to view it?

Absolutely not.

Do I believe that it should ultimately be purchased?

I think, for those with smaller displays, it makes a nice rental.

RAH
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post #98 of 131
6/26/08 at 5:16pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

I very much was looking foward to owning The Longest Day, Patton and The Sand Pebbles. But I will put them off as if the image is effected by DNR that much then I do not want to own them yet.
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post #99 of 131
6/26/08 at 5:30pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Moritz
I very much was looking foward to owning The Longest Day, Patton and The Sand Pebbles. But I will put them off as if the image is effected by DNR that much then I do not want to own them yet.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with "The Sand Pebbles" BRD.
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post #100 of 131
6/26/08 at 5:40pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

The Sand Pebbles is magnificent!
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post #101 of 131
6/26/08 at 6:56pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Moritz
I very much was looking foward to owning The Longest Day, Patton and The Sand Pebbles. But I will put them off as if the image is effected by DNR that much then I do not want to own them yet.
Not only is the image of The Sand Pebbles a treat after all this grain-obliterating nonsense, but also - Jerry Goldsmith's score sounds amazing. My mouth dropped open during the Overture, and it was just music over black!

I'd never seen The Sand Pebbles before. Seeing it on Blu was a great way to discover it.
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post #102 of 131
6/26/08 at 8:34pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Felix Martinez
My mouth dropped open during the Overture, and it was just music over black!
Yes and a big thank you to Fox for doing it right. No inane stills telling us it is an overture, etc.Another reason why Pebbles is a must on BD.
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post #103 of 131
7/2/08 at 12:49pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

I posted this to another site within the past day, and realized that it belongs as an attachment here.

It is a direct link to Patton, but attempts to explain my general position at this point in time.

***************************

Blu-ray was, from the outset, designed to be a multi-functional system capable of serving many masters.

Combined with the PS3, it becomes a superlative gaming system.

Played back on that same PS3, or any Blu players, it can offer a totally immersive and perfectly honed rendition of film (cinema) as a digital video product.

Because of its huge data handling capabilities, compression becomes much less of a problem, and along with that the need to reduce, no less remove, the original grain structure of a motion picture.

If the consumer, as a matter of personal preference, determines that they like to view some or all older motion pictures encoded to Blu with a slightly softer appearance, the system can handle that request with the simple turn of a digital dial.

The Blu-ray system stands as a consummate achievement of modern technology in its ability to do many things, and to do them very, very well.

As I see it, the only thing that can damage or destroy its commercial image is a run of software that prohibits the system from doing the job that it was designed to do -- that being the replication of the theater experience in a home setting at the highest level of reproduction and purity.

And this is where some of the most current releases fail the system as well as the consumer.

Blu-ray discs are too expensive to allow the public to be complacent about quality, when quality is all to easy to achieve.

I believe that we've reached a plateau in development cycle, where transfers that are "good enough" or films that have been heavily digitized are no longer viable.

RAH
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post #104 of 131
7/2/08 at 2:11pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with "The Sand Pebbles" BRD.

My mistake I thought it had the same problems as Patton and A Bridge Too Far.
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post #105 of 131
7/2/08 at 2:23pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Moritz
My mistake I thought it had the same problems as Patton and A Bridge Too Far.


Actually A Bridge Too Far looks pretty good too. I think your thinking of Patton and The Longest Day.

Doug
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post #106 of 131
7/2/08 at 2:37pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

I'll take that a step further.

To my eye, Fox's release of Sand Pebbles is absolutely gorgeous!
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post #107 of 131
7/2/08 at 2:42pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
I'll take that a step further.

To my eye, Fox's release of Sand Pebbles is absolutely gorgeous!
It's amazing how lately, your opinion confirms my own.
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post #108 of 131
7/2/08 at 3:16pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Actually A Bridge Too Far looks pretty good too. I think your thinking of Patton and The Longest Day.

After go back through the post you are corect Douglas. I will be placing A Bridge To Far and Sand Pebbles back on my puchase list.


Update: Just picked up A Bridge Too Far 7/3 and I am glad I did. There are places where the transfer looks slightly blury and others that have an almost 3D look and very sharp. Overall the transfer looks good and the sound is very good in my book. I am looking to pick up Sand Pebbles the next time I am buying Blu-ray movies. But I will be staying away from The Longest Day and Patton as I hope they will get around to fixing the use of DNR on these titles. I will also be staying away from Gangs Of NY as well.

I wish they would stop trying to erase film grain with DNR as it just sucks.
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post #109 of 131
7/18/08 at 11:56am

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

deleted.
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post #110 of 131
8/3/08 at 12:27pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

[quote=john a hunter]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
Are you sure about the initial release being in 70mm? It was certainly re-released in 70 in that late 60's but I would be surprised that it was initially released in that format given the release date. It was not in the U.K where it was a great hit in 35mm Scope and 4 track stereo. If it was, it would probably be the first "blow up" and not "The Cardinal" which usually has that "honour".

I caught this movie on its initial release at the Broadway (NY) Cinerama theater, and it was projected on the same enormous curved screen on which I'd seen GRAND PRIX, 2001, ICE STATION ZEBRA, etc. and looked, as I recall, pretty excellent. Could a 35mm print (or even a blow-up to 70mm) look decent on a Cinerama screen?
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post #111 of 131
8/3/08 at 3:01pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

[quote=Dick]
Quote:
Originally Posted by john a hunter

I caught this movie on its initial release at the Broadway (NY) Cinerama theater, and it was projected on the same enormous curved screen on which I'd seen GRAND PRIX, 2001, ICE STATION ZEBRA, etc. and looked, as I recall, pretty excellent. Could a 35mm print (or even a blow-up to 70mm) look decent on a Cinerama screen?
That would be its 70mm reissue in the late 60's, Dick. It was first released in 62,well before the other films you mention.
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post #112 of 131
8/4/08 at 12:34am

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick
Could a 35mm print (or even a blow-up to 70mm) look decent on a Cinerama screen?

Some Blow-Ups could look fantastic although not as good as the real thing.
Best I have seen with regard to detail was a Blow-Up of Papillon, it put newer Blow-Ups like Terminator 2 and Titanic to shame.
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post #113 of 131
8/4/08 at 5:32pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Terminator 2 and Titanic were from"Super"35 originals. I was never sure what was meant to be super about that process given all the negative that is wasted when "blowing up". The best 35 to 70 print up I have ever seen is " The Wind and the Lion" and was from an anamorphic original.The best 70mm print from 65mm was "The Fall of the Roman Empire".
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post #114 of 131
8/4/08 at 7:29pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by john a hunter
Terminator 2 and Titanic were from"Super"35 originals. I was never sure what was meant to be super about that process given all the negative that is wasted when "blowing up". The best 35 to 70 print up I have ever seen is " The Wind and the Lion" and was from an anamorphic original.The best 70mm print from 65mm was "The Fall of the Roman Empire".

It seems to be that the Blow-Ups that are named when it comes to what looked best are invariably from movies that were shot anamorphic.

I am still waiting to watch Fall of the Roman Empire in 70mm - I have also heard from others that it looked VERY good even though it is kind of a Blow-Up coming from an anamorphic 65mm negative.
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post #115 of 131
8/4/08 at 8:37pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by OliverK
I am still waiting to watch Fall of the Roman Empire in 70mm - I have also heard from others that it looked VERY good even though it is kind of a Blow-Up coming from an anamorphic 65mm negative.

???
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post #116 of 131
8/5/08 at 12:36am

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
???

I meant to say that while it was shot anamorphic in UP70 it was printed to flat 70mm prints with the standars ca 2.2:1 aspect ratio so that only 80% of the picture area of the 65mm negative were used. Therefore it had to be enlarged horizontally by 25% for the 70mm exhibition prints and that is why I wrote it was technically a Blow-Up which I admit might be misleading compared to what is normally called a Blow-Up

Therefore I would rather have expected it to look a little less stunning than films that were shot flat given the smaller negative area used for the release print and the fact that it had to be printed differently and I imagine similar in technique to Super Technirama 70 movies.

I think this is the only movie shot in anamorphic 65mm that was released with only flat 70mm prints.
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post #117 of 131
8/5/08 at 5:37am
Thread Starter 

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by OliverK

I think this is the only movie shot in anamorphic 65mm that was released with only flat 70mm prints.

Ben-Hur re-issue c. 1968-69
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post #118 of 131
8/5/08 at 7:06am

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris
Ben-Hur re-issue c. 1968-69

A very bad decision and I think there was only one print made ?

Together with Fall of the Roman Empire and El Cid it tops my list of movies that I would like to watch in 70mm with a new print.
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post #119 of 131
8/5/08 at 10:14am

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by OliverK
A very bad decision and I think there was only one print made ?

Together with Fall of the Roman Empire and El Cid it tops my list of movies that I would like to watch in 70mm with a new print.

What was the reason for filming The Fall of the Roman Empire in Ultra Panavision if they were going to release it in flat 70mm prints? They could have waited till the summer and release it to Cinerama Theatres instead of Circus World. It would of looked better on a Cinerama screen than Circus World.
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post #120 of 131
8/5/08 at 12:22pm

Re: A few words about...™ The Longest Day -- in Blu-Ray

Only Samuel Bronston knows.
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