Robert George
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 1,176
Due to server issues, I have been unable to publish any reviews for several days, and I don't know when I'll be able to get these problems sorted out. I do want to share a few observations on MGM's upcoming release of Robocop so I'll just do it here.
As you know, there have already been two previous DVD editions of this modern classic of science fiction. The first was a very nice special edition from Criterion which is essentially a DVD edition of their earlier laserdisc edition. The same 1.66:1 letterboxed transfer was used, along with the same supplemental material. Image Entertainment also had the video rights to the Orion Pictures catalog for a time and they released their own version with a different letterboxed transfer. That transfer was framed at 1.85:1 and look considerably different from the Criterion transfer.
For this new DVD, MGM has struck a new 16:9 widescreen transfer that falls somewhere between the previous discs in overall look, and exceeds both is pure video quality though I expect whether or not one prefers one over the other will be a matter of personal preference.
To begin, ther MGM transfer is framed at about 1.80:1 and also appears to be slightly "zoomed" in compared to the Criterion. There is visible cropping on all four sides of the image to some degree. I consider the top and bottom cropping to be consistent with the 1.85:1 theatrical framing seen in the US. The side cropping is slight and I don't consider that an issue.
There are, however, major differences in the look of the Criterion and the MGM. Colors on the MGM are much more saturated, even too saturated in some shots, though for the most part, I prefer the brighter colors of the MGM compared to the more muted color palette of the Criterion. The MGM transfer is also darker with much higher contrast. This gives the image on the MGM disc considerably more depth, but the Criterion looks more like film. In sharpness and detail, the MGM wins hands down. Fine detail and subtle color variations that are simply not visible in the Criterion transfer pop out at you on the MGM disc.
I have done a few screen caps from both discs and placed side-by-side for comparison. There is, I think, a geometry issue with non-enhanced material on my PC DVD player so one should compare the actual information in the frame rather than simply the overall aspect ratio of the image. All images are completely unretouched. In all examples, the image on the left is from the MGM disc and the Criterion is on the right. I no longer own the Image disc so no comparison of that one is possible for me.
This first image from the opeing credits clearly shows the difference in brightness. The Criterion transfer shows considerably more detail in the cityscape, but also looks a bit more washed-out to me.
This next image really points up the differences in color balance. Personal preference will be the guiding factor here. This comparison is also a good guide to the framing differences.
This last image is also useful for comparing image depth and detail as well as framing differences. Note the geometry difference between the two appears to me to be related to my PC DVD player. The Criterion does not look "squashed" on my main system.
To the questions about audio quality, the MGM has a 5.1 remaster where the Criterion is a Dolby 2-track. I note slightly depper bass in the MGM, but for the most part, differences are rather slight.
Then there is the issue of "R" rated vs. unrated. Prior to theatrical release, Verhoeven was forced to trim a couple of scenes of graphic violence to get an "R" rating. For the Criterion laserdisc edition, those trims were restored. The Criterion DVD, obviously, used that same transfer. The MGM disc contains the original theatrical version. Actual running time difference between the two is 53 seconds. I have compared the two scenes, Kinney getting shot up by ED-209 and Murphy getting shot up by Bodiker's gang, and I don't feel the cuts hurt the story or even the mood of the scenes, but again, that will be personal preference.
The obvious question is, which one to keep. For me, my personal preference when I want to watch this movie is to watch the MGM disc. I simply looks better to my eye and to my taste. However, I like the supplements on the Criterion disc as well. I'll be keeping both and I guess I'll call it a "two-disc set".
Enjoy.
[Edited last by Robert George on September 27, 2001 at 03:43 PM]
As you know, there have already been two previous DVD editions of this modern classic of science fiction. The first was a very nice special edition from Criterion which is essentially a DVD edition of their earlier laserdisc edition. The same 1.66:1 letterboxed transfer was used, along with the same supplemental material. Image Entertainment also had the video rights to the Orion Pictures catalog for a time and they released their own version with a different letterboxed transfer. That transfer was framed at 1.85:1 and look considerably different from the Criterion transfer.
For this new DVD, MGM has struck a new 16:9 widescreen transfer that falls somewhere between the previous discs in overall look, and exceeds both is pure video quality though I expect whether or not one prefers one over the other will be a matter of personal preference.
To begin, ther MGM transfer is framed at about 1.80:1 and also appears to be slightly "zoomed" in compared to the Criterion. There is visible cropping on all four sides of the image to some degree. I consider the top and bottom cropping to be consistent with the 1.85:1 theatrical framing seen in the US. The side cropping is slight and I don't consider that an issue.
There are, however, major differences in the look of the Criterion and the MGM. Colors on the MGM are much more saturated, even too saturated in some shots, though for the most part, I prefer the brighter colors of the MGM compared to the more muted color palette of the Criterion. The MGM transfer is also darker with much higher contrast. This gives the image on the MGM disc considerably more depth, but the Criterion looks more like film. In sharpness and detail, the MGM wins hands down. Fine detail and subtle color variations that are simply not visible in the Criterion transfer pop out at you on the MGM disc.
I have done a few screen caps from both discs and placed side-by-side for comparison. There is, I think, a geometry issue with non-enhanced material on my PC DVD player so one should compare the actual information in the frame rather than simply the overall aspect ratio of the image. All images are completely unretouched. In all examples, the image on the left is from the MGM disc and the Criterion is on the right. I no longer own the Image disc so no comparison of that one is possible for me.
This first image from the opeing credits clearly shows the difference in brightness. The Criterion transfer shows considerably more detail in the cityscape, but also looks a bit more washed-out to me.
This next image really points up the differences in color balance. Personal preference will be the guiding factor here. This comparison is also a good guide to the framing differences.
This last image is also useful for comparing image depth and detail as well as framing differences. Note the geometry difference between the two appears to me to be related to my PC DVD player. The Criterion does not look "squashed" on my main system.
To the questions about audio quality, the MGM has a 5.1 remaster where the Criterion is a Dolby 2-track. I note slightly depper bass in the MGM, but for the most part, differences are rather slight.
Then there is the issue of "R" rated vs. unrated. Prior to theatrical release, Verhoeven was forced to trim a couple of scenes of graphic violence to get an "R" rating. For the Criterion laserdisc edition, those trims were restored. The Criterion DVD, obviously, used that same transfer. The MGM disc contains the original theatrical version. Actual running time difference between the two is 53 seconds. I have compared the two scenes, Kinney getting shot up by ED-209 and Murphy getting shot up by Bodiker's gang, and I don't feel the cuts hurt the story or even the mood of the scenes, but again, that will be personal preference.
The obvious question is, which one to keep. For me, my personal preference when I want to watch this movie is to watch the MGM disc. I simply looks better to my eye and to my taste. However, I like the supplements on the Criterion disc as well. I'll be keeping both and I guess I'll call it a "two-disc set".
Enjoy.
[Edited last by Robert George on September 27, 2001 at 03:43 PM]
