A few words about…™ Popeye – in Blu-ray

If it's not a decent step up from the SD, then there is time for me to cancel my order.

I canceled my order. I may buy the digital for $4.99 but this isn't even a movie I enjoyed.

Well, the price is right...

This is disappointing news. However I love the film so I’m still getting it.

Reminds me of the crap Paramount put out for On A Clear Day You Can See Forever- like throwing money down the toilet. Never again. Pass.

I can't accept (and thereby encourage) sub-par HD releases at any price. Canceled.

Just had mine cancelled too.

Disappointing news as this is a movie I love. Guess I'll stick with my DVD.

John Sparks said:

If it's not a decent step up from the SD, then there is time for me to cancel my order.

Click to expand...

It's a step up from the DVD. Cleaner, stronger colors, better definition - definite upgrade over the 17-year-old DVD...

I have been talking with the reviewer over at HDN and he swears Popeye looks incredible...

No offense to RAH, but there have been too many titles he gave a lukewarm video grade to that I thought looked fine on my displays. At times, I think some people overreact to RAH's 3.5 video grade which most of the time ends up like a 4.0-4.5 on my displays.

This is a pretty bad movie though.
I haven’t watched it in years and Just don’t find anything fun about it.

Maybe if it ends up on 4K for 5 bucks on iTunes but probably won’t bother.
Ron if you don’t enjoy it why buy it.

TonyD said:

This is a pretty bad movie though.
I haven’t watched it in years and Just don’t find anything fun about it.

Maybe if it ends up on 4K for 5 bucks on iTunes but probably won’t bother.
Ron if you don’t enjoy it why buy it.

Click to expand...

I ask myself the same question.

The reason? I am a collector. That's the best/worst answer I can give.

The disc was only $10. That's the other answer.

When I read here that the transfer was subpar I canceled the disc order. Now that I hear it's actually better than what was reported, I am still standing strong on NOT buying it. I agree with your assessment of the film.

Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall were born to play Popeye and Olive Oil. Add to that the incredible set design and fantastic costuming and you have a film that transcends the weakness of its story. It is both disappointing and brilliant. Disappointing because it could have been much more, brilliant because so much if it is just right.

I still own the DVD. I’ll compare and post my thoughts once my Blu arrives.

Mark

Ronald Epstein said:

I have been talking with the reviewer over at HDN and he swears Popeye looks incredible...

Popeye (1980) – Blu-ray Review

Commissions Earned

highdefdiscnews.com

Click to expand...

Unless there are two pressings, and their reviewer is seeing something different, I stand by my few words.

This appears to be an older transfer, from a secondary film element. There appears to be some film grain, or a mixture of grain and noise, my 3.5 is being kind. Keep in mind, I review a projected image. On a 50” panel, this may give the appearance of something better.

But the major tell here, is a lack of stability.

Audio is lovely.

Robert Harris said:

Unless there are two pressings, and their reviewer is seeing something different, I stand by my few words.

This appears to be an older transfer, from a secondary film element. There appears to be some film grain, or a mixture of grain and noise, my 3.5 is being kind. Keep in mind, I review a projected image. On a 50” panel, this may give the appearance of something better.

But the major tell here, is a lack of stability.

Audio is lovely.

Click to expand...

Which is one of the reasons why many of your video ratings don't match what I'm seeing on my OLEDs.

As to "Popeye", I've decided to not buy the disc nor the digital. Even though I'm a collector, I just don't like the movie so I rather spend that $5 on iTunes for another movie that actually gives me some enjoyment.

Robert Crawford said:

Which is one of the reasons why many of your video ratings don't match what I'm seeing on my OLEDs.

As to "Popeye", I've decided to not buy the disc nor the digital. Even though I'm a collector, I just don't like the movie so I rather spend that $5 on iTunes on another movie that actually gives me some enjoyment.

Click to expand...

Robert - Huge differences in comparing mediocre, average and quality modern image harvests, based upon viewing methodology.

I will occasionally run (especially 4k) on a much larger than normal screen.

An example was Universal’s Pitch Perfect. It played like a full-on theatrical DCP, at 37 FEET In width.

I’m only projecting on a moderate sized home theater screen.

Most modern transfers from film are immaculate, with a fully cohesive image, that can beautifully mimic the look and textures of film. Popeye is not, but can get a pass on a moderate sized panel.

It’s precisely the same concept of the “necessity” for purchasing a 4k panel. Below a certain size, the added attributes become moot.

Much of this also involves how deeply one wishes to peer into an image, one’s ability to forgive problems, as well as how one is taught to read an image. I’m generally reviewing digital daily clean-ups as 2k data on a 27” Mac, and only view larger by necessity.

Everyone’s parameters for viewing are different.

I review for those with a deep passion toward the potential of quality in home theater. If an image receives a 5 rating, it will generally hold up in detailed appraisal on a large screen.

In some people’s situations a 3.5 may be fine in their viewing environment, and based upon how forgiving they may be toward the media. Therefore, if Popeye works for you, you should generally be fine with other titles that I rate at 3.5 or above.

Same applies to any ratings. I read numerous wine reviewers, and in many cases my personal palette syncs with them. There’s one gentleman, and a fine reviewer, that may give a wine a 93 or 94. And I know that I’m going to try that wine, and be thinking 89-90, all day long.

Downhill, with a tail wind.

Robert Harris said:

Robert - Huge differences in comparing mediocre, average and quality modern image harvests, based upon viewing methodology.

I will occasionally run (especially 4k) on a much larger than normal screen.

An example was Universal’s Pitch Perfect. It played like a full-on theatrical DCP, at 37 FEET In width.

I’m only projecting on a moderate sized home theater screen.

Most modern transfers are immaculate, with a fully cohesive image. Popeye is not, but can get a pass on a moderate sized panel.

It’s precisely the same concept of the “necessity” for purchasing a 4k panel. Below a certain size, the added attributes become moot.

Much of this also involves how deeply one wishes to peer into an image, one’s ability to forgive problems, as well as how one is taught to read an image. I’m generally reviewing digital daily clean-ups as 2k data on a 27” Mac, only view larger by necessity.

Everyone’s parameters for viewing are different.

I review for those with a deep passion toward the potential of quality in home theater. If an image receives a 5 rating, it will generally hold up in detailed appraisal on a large screen.

In some people’s situations a 3.5 may be fine in their viewing environment, and based upon how forgiving they may be toward the media. Therefore, if Popeye works for you, you should generally be fine with other titles that I rate at 3.5 or above.

Same applies to any ratings. I read numerous wine reviewers, and in many cases my personal palette syncs with them. There’s one gentleman, and a fine reviewer, that may give a wine a 93 or 94. And I know that I’m going to try that wine, and be thinking 89-90, all day long.

Downhill, with a tail wind.

Click to expand...

There is no need for an explanation as I'm not questioning what you're seeing nor your video grading system. I'm just saying my expectations, film knowledge (lack of) and what I'm actually seeing on my displays are quite different from you in regard to some of your reviewed movies.

Robert Crawford said:

There is no need for an explanation as I'm not questioning what you're seeing nor your video grading system. I'm just saying my expectations, film knowledge (lack of) and what I'm actually seeing on my displays are quite different from you in regard to some of your reviewed movies.

Click to expand...

Not specifically meant for you. I know you understand.

Written for those who may not be aware of my reviewing parameters.