Blu-ray Review HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: THE HOLIDAY (1 Viewer)

[Ben_Williams]

 

[Yumbo]

Looking forward to the HD DVD. I found the movie VERY un-boring.

 

[Ben_Williams]

You're looking forward to the HD DVD? That's very optimistic of you!

 

[Jim_K]

 

[Paul Hillenbrand]

Thanks Ben, for the review.

Viewed "The Holiday" (Blu-Ray) yesterday afternoon, for the first time and I found it very entertaining.

It had a nice back and fourth rhythm between Kate Winslett and Cameron Diaz’s unfolding vacation relationships and because of that pace, IMO, kept both stories interesting and fresh.

Though Ben's review suggests Cameron "drags the film down", there were "genuinely sweet moments" for her character Amanda too, not just for Iris. Without using a spoiler, all I can say is there was sweet chemistry between Jude Law, Cameron Diaz and the two Sophie & Olivia characters.

This will be a great flick to watch with my wife as I'm sure she would like the feeling it gives and this could very well become a future Christmas tradition.

Paul

 

[Yumbo]

May 1st HD DVD from Universal - WORLDWIDE.

Should I laugh now?

 

[Dave Scarpa]

Not Really this movie was one of those Joint Mirimax/Universal Deals, so Universal will be putting this out in Europe for HD-DVD and you will be able to import it.

 

[Ben_Williams]

Cool... I had no idea!

 

[PeterTHX]

Well, a nervous laugh perhaps...the price.

Will the special features be the same?

It will be an interesting codec comparison as well since Universal usually uses (uuu) VC-1 and this is AVC with lossless audio.

 

[Yumbo]

US$25 from Australia for me.

 

[Andy_MT]

did sony filter the video on this disc ? it just looks a bit soft for my liking, and i didn't see any noticeable grain, which makes me suspicious. of course, the softness might be entirely deliberate, but this is one of the first 185 transfers on these HD formats that i've found a bit uninspiring. and it does lack punch. some of the scenes in LA (of which you'd expect to be bright and punchy) are just ... too dark and lifeless ! this carries on throughout most of the film. as hd digest says, it's like looking through a pair of tinted sunglasses. if this is how the film is supposed to look, i don't get it. it just doesn't look very good. i thought there was something wrong with my projector.

but don't get me wrong, the disc has got some nice moments (quite a few actually), but it's just all very ... meh !

i really hope this is just the style of the film because i've been very happy with sony transfers lately (e.g. stranger than fiction) and many of their mpeg2 releases.

"The detail is absolutely stunning with amazing clarity" says dvd talk. hmmm .... i don't agree.

 

[Andy_MT]

just looked at this disc again with a fresh pair of eyes (and after seeing casino royale) and ...

this disc is very seriously fcuked. i've never seen an HD disc look like this. i'm not a tech expert on such matters, but it looks like someone cranked the contrast down to nearly it's lowest setting. that's the best way i can describe it. even in a completely darkened room (which i wasn't in before), this looks really washed out and excessively dark. i can barely make out the picture sometimes.

but it is strange that some people find this disc ok and some don't. mixed views. i wonder if the first batch were screwed up and sony secretly fixed the aforementioned screwing up, and hence the contrast (!) in views. can't explain it otherwise.

 

[Ben_Williams]

I'm pretty sure it's just a very poorly shot film.

 

[PeterTHX]

It's probably that "Star Trek" technique:

shoot the women warm & fuzzy...it's a chick flick folks

 

[Bob Black]

April 2nd this is scheduled on HD-DVD in the UK from Uni.

 

[Yumbo]

Looked fine on DVD.

 

[Ben_Williams]

Chris, I'm sure you know very well that in addition to making the good things in a film shine, HD Video also amplifies any weaknesses in a film's presentation.

 

[Tim Glover]

Ben's 4/5 video rating does go along with many other's reviews I've read so that's cool.

One thing Ben, I noticed you're now using the 1080p Panasonic PJ? Somehow I thought you were using their other new 720 model, the AX-100?

Obviously, you've got a great setup with a 1080p BD player & 1080p PJ. Wow. I'm jealous. I hope to get back into front projection soon but I'm afraid can't quite do the $$ for yours just yet.