- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,396
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Frustrating.
That's the best word for HBO's Mildred Pierce mini-series. Based upon the same book by James M. Cain that was the basis for the classic 1945 Joan Crawford, Warner Bros. version as directed by Michael Curtiz.
Actually, that's the first question that a rep from Oppo asked me when I called. "You're having problems playing a six year old standard def disc..."
This approximately 300 minute (5 episode) production, as directed by Todd Haynes has arrived via HBO on Blu-ray, and I've spent far too much time with it.
The basics:
Generally, HBO does superb work, from image capture to packaging, but this one takes the cake.
I didn't realize when ordering, that it was four discs, representing both standard definition as well as Blu-ray -- and I'm not really sure who needs that-- and not 300 minutes spread across four discs. My error.
Apparently charging $35 for two discs might be considered a bit high, so they've included the same thing in standard def. This has always made sense to me when the Disney organization does it, as a standard def DVD player might be "handed down" and end up in a kid's room. That allows for the exhibition of the Blu-ray in a family's home theater, and if a child wants to take it to bed, they can play it on their smaller set in SD. Great idea, really.
Probably over-tired, I loaded the first disc, and was unimpressed with the image quality.
Now, understand...
This was shot, quite nicely in 16mm, and went through a 2k DI to the final product. But what I was seeing was not at all impressive. Soft and with EE around titles. Not a good situation. Then I checked to make certain that I was running 1080p, and sure enough, I was not.
After a long day, thinking that this was a four disc set, I had put the first disc an Oppo 83 and hit play, and the results...
Once I realized that this package, which is actually oversize for what it might be, had two formats, I went for the Blu-ray, ready to be amazed.
I wasn't.
My player groaned a bit, and then locked on 0000-00 and bricked.
Hit open tray.
Nada.
Once I shut down the player, I was finally able to extract the disc and go back to the SD version.
From what I've seen thus far in SD, Kate Winslet does a wonderful job in the lead role. Melissa Leo is superb, as always. But I really want to see this in high def.
I checked the disc on another Oppo, and it plays, after some grief and a long load time, but I didn't wish to review on a large screen.
After a couple of calls to Oppo -- I do love that company, and their products -- it came down to a problem in either authoring or piracy prevention, although a defective disc could also be the culprit. They're going to get a copy of the disc and see if they can figure it out and come up with a solution.
Issue turns out to be a defective disc.
NOTE: Please see Post 17, as this discussion continues.
RAH
That's the best word for HBO's Mildred Pierce mini-series. Based upon the same book by James M. Cain that was the basis for the classic 1945 Joan Crawford, Warner Bros. version as directed by Michael Curtiz.
Actually, that's the first question that a rep from Oppo asked me when I called. "You're having problems playing a six year old standard def disc..."
This approximately 300 minute (5 episode) production, as directed by Todd Haynes has arrived via HBO on Blu-ray, and I've spent far too much time with it.
The basics:
Generally, HBO does superb work, from image capture to packaging, but this one takes the cake.
I didn't realize when ordering, that it was four discs, representing both standard definition as well as Blu-ray -- and I'm not really sure who needs that-- and not 300 minutes spread across four discs. My error.
Apparently charging $35 for two discs might be considered a bit high, so they've included the same thing in standard def. This has always made sense to me when the Disney organization does it, as a standard def DVD player might be "handed down" and end up in a kid's room. That allows for the exhibition of the Blu-ray in a family's home theater, and if a child wants to take it to bed, they can play it on their smaller set in SD. Great idea, really.
Probably over-tired, I loaded the first disc, and was unimpressed with the image quality.
Now, understand...
This was shot, quite nicely in 16mm, and went through a 2k DI to the final product. But what I was seeing was not at all impressive. Soft and with EE around titles. Not a good situation. Then I checked to make certain that I was running 1080p, and sure enough, I was not.
After a long day, thinking that this was a four disc set, I had put the first disc an Oppo 83 and hit play, and the results...
Once I realized that this package, which is actually oversize for what it might be, had two formats, I went for the Blu-ray, ready to be amazed.
I wasn't.
My player groaned a bit, and then locked on 0000-00 and bricked.
Hit open tray.
Nada.
Once I shut down the player, I was finally able to extract the disc and go back to the SD version.
From what I've seen thus far in SD, Kate Winslet does a wonderful job in the lead role. Melissa Leo is superb, as always. But I really want to see this in high def.
I checked the disc on another Oppo, and it plays, after some grief and a long load time, but I didn't wish to review on a large screen.
After a couple of calls to Oppo -- I do love that company, and their products -- it came down to a problem in either authoring or piracy prevention, although a defective disc could also be the culprit. They're going to get a copy of the disc and see if they can figure it out and come up with a solution.
Issue turns out to be a defective disc.
NOTE: Please see Post 17, as this discussion continues.
RAH
