Search results

I understand the need in a difficult situation such as this to use powerful digital tools to achieve a cohesive overall look, but my point is that we shouldn't be able to detect digital manipulation this much – ideally we shouldn't be able to detect it at all – and I do believe that it could...

I stand by my initial assessment of THE BIRDS, which is quite the opposite of RAH and Bruce. This film is the only one in the set to have such a uniquely overprocessed digital look, and it reminds me very much of the PEEPING TOM StudioCanal UK Blu-ray abortion. Bruce, I stumbled across some...

It doesn't cost millions to not screw up and hit the mark that Universal wanted to hit with this set. It costs nothing to hold off on heavy DVNR on FRENZY (unless you've got an old DVNRed master and can't be bothered redoing it). It's cheaper to not redo the opening credits on FRENZY (especially...

Correct. It's not a filmic or filtered look issue, it's the way the faux grain/noise behaves. It's entirely digital, and it lessened towards the end of the film. All my rough viewing notes are at enthusiasm.org No – it's not possible to discern whatsoever from static screenshots.

When everyone sees MARNIE in motion they will see copious faux grain (if the disc is unchanged from what I was sent). No-one can appreciate the effect of faux grain from a still. Bruce, I used to own the DVDs, I'm familiar with them, but I sold them because they were shit here in the UK. For...

Fascinating post, Robert! Thank you!

Still no date change on the standard edition UK set (only on the limited edition packaging to Nov 5th), but The Hut and Zavvi are selling the standard edition for £69.95! (That's £5 per film). Perhaps these are already made and in distribution channels and they're just trying to shift them at...

Looking at my even rougher notes, re: THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH. Immediately after the fade to black on the last shot of the film, and while the music is still playing, we get a motion ident for Universal with an "MCA" mention. This dates the elements used well into the 60s (there are no credits...

I'm reasonably familiar with the various DVD editions over the years. Re: jarring on Blu-ray = jarring in the cinema. I understand how these shots were made and that they do look different, my point was that it now feels MORE jarring than it did, more jarring than I presume it should be – for...

THE BIRDS Blu-ray (UK) confused me very much: http://enthusiasm.org/post/31572808196

It's not just the VistaVision productions. The "colour, densities, shadow detail, and proper reproduction of grain" is exactly what I'm having a hard time with regarding THE BIRDS. It's all over the shop. Alternating between frequently breathtaking and frequently jarring.

Different HD masters are created for internet streaming (iTunes), HD TV, Blu-ray, and DCP. The highest quality source master (the Digital Intermediate (DI)) should be healthy and grainy, and then as you go down the chain, they tend to sit on the grain more and more to help with bandwidth...

Thanks very much, Brian! -- I left MoC in May after 8.5 years and I'm no longer involved. I too am looking forward to JOAN very much, it was beautiful to get that one all signed and tied up before I left. I was hoping the Hitchcock set would be a breeze to review (like for example the last box...

Thanks, Bruce!

Can't wait for your set to arrive, Bruce!

What on earth are you talking about? Where did I say I paused it, blew it up, and analyzed every single shot in the film? Why have you got such an attitude on you? I simply noticed three prominent shots in the first 5 minutes that contained very noticeable ghosting and I explained exactly where...

Personally, I'm very glad there hasn't been any aspect ratio issues with any of these! I think what we need now is Bruce to come back and tell us for the ninth time that he's simply going to make his own decision about the discs when he receives the set for himself.

At least that's proof that those problems have not been introduced with this Blu-ray.

...and in the UK this Summer we had the DAVID LYNCH boxset from Universal, which everyone is still smarting about.

My rough notes on the technical aspects of: SABOTEUR: http://enthusiasm.org/post/31577861919 and THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY: http://enthusiasm.org/post/31581658062

I've looked over all the discs again, and everything that I've said about them. I've also now played them on another system to verify that what I'm seeing is replicable and chimes with what I saw on my old workhorse system that I've been using for years (PS3 via HDMI to calibrated Sony Bravia...

"HJackson" at the Criterion Forum has rather waggishly translated the official Universal statement for us: "Universal Studios Home Entertainment is postponing the Blu-ray release of Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection to October 30, 2012. Word of massive imperfections with the product...

I didn't say that. I said that it has to be finished a week or two before streetdate in order to move from factory to distribution channels - ie. it takes a week or two to filter into distribution channels before it can be shipped to stores or "consumers" (I prefer "customers").

Yes, I'm very pleased they've spoken and have said they're doing something about something (whatever that might be). I am worried that this will only be the USA though. I'm reviewing the UK Blu-rays and have to file my review very soon for Sight & Sound (the British Film Institute's print...

To streetdate on October 30th, it has to be finished, pressed, cellophaned and in distribution channels a week or two before. This is the busiest time of the year at the pressing plants. It takes a week or two to author the disc, quickly proof it (if at all?), press the discs, and get them in...

It's impressive on static shots when the camera's locked down and there's little movement in the frame. That's because whatever filter/processing is going on is most apparent when there is movement. So you get some wonderful looking static shots, and then some panning or some large object moving...

Remember I'm reviewing the UK BDs. They came from London. It may be that the same masters could have been authored differently in the US with different results. I've seen so many things go wrong in encoding (look at Billy Friedkin and THE FRENCH CONNECTION. He signed off a DI and then the...

I think you're all going to hate the UK Blu-ray of THE BIRDS. It's over-processed and has a very strange look. It's a similar sort of thing to MARNIE and TORN CURTAIN. Very, very digital looking. Like some kind of sharpening filter has been applied, creating a gauzey mesh over the image.

Streetdate in the US is in 11 days. These must all be pressed and cellophaned, entering distribution channels this week.

Day 7. Just seen SABOTEUR in full. A very fine Blu-ray - frequently breathtaking. Here's my rough tally so far: PRETTY BLOODY GOOD: REAR WINDOW (seen in full) 8.5/10 http://enthusiasm.org/post/31183475187 SHADOW OF A DOUBT (seen in full) 7/10 http://enthusiasm.org/post/31153014639 ROPE...