Now that they are being cleared out and may not be available much longer, that are the movies that I might have overlooked?

For example, Stardust is a real gem that belongs in every collection. What else?

Smokin' Aces

The Untouchables
Reference quality transfer.

Silent Hill import.

I think one that is really overlooked is the Hulk. The transfer is really good

Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I got "No Reservations" for cheap at a hollywood video sale. I was suprised at how good the video quality was, probably a 4/5.

James Taylor

Out of Sight

I watched Trading Places last night. Sharp, with excellent black level.

1) Out of Sight
2) Smokin Aces

i havent seen the hd dvd yet but 'forbidden planet' is a great looking hd dvd and from what i read a while ago, it didnt sell very well.

What about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang? I hear that movie is one you can watch multiple times.

There is a rather large thread about Stardust. Would never have tried it if not for opinions here.

There is no accounting for one's taste. Hard to recommend things as one may like it but it is considered bad by others standards. Children of Men and The Host come to mind.

There is a rather large thread about Stardust. Would never have tried it if not for opinions here.

There is no accounting for one's taste. Hard to recommend things as one may like it but it is considered bad by others standards. Children of Men and The Host come to mind.

Agreed on Stardust. A jewel that I would've never even thought of had I not been out of HD DVD's and wanted something new :D

the thing
the matador
forbidden planet

Stardust (agree with everyone, overlooked modern day classic);
Cat People (looks extremely sharp for an early 80's studio horror flick, and a constantly-naked Nastassja Kinski doesn't hurt either ;)... also John Carpeneter's The Thing qualifies for outstanding early 80's horror that looks so much sharp and better in high-def);
What Dreams May Come (the movie is uneven but the painting-coming-to-life scenes truly shine in high-definition);
Warner classics not yet on Blu-ray (Grand Prix, Adventures of Robin Hood, Mutiny on the Bounty, Casablanca, Forbidden Planet... why wait months and pay more for Blu-ray versions when the HD-DVD versions are cheaper and will look/sound the same);
Lost in Translation (it doesn't look dramatically better in high-def than on regular DVD but the flick is a masterpiece, and it will only be in high-def on this format for a good long time while Uni gets its Blu-ray act together);
Zodiac: Director's Cut (slow-paced but gripping tale of the serial killer that terrorized San Francisco for two decades... extras in high-def that are as interesting as the flick itself seal the deal);
Pan's Labyrinth (also on Blu-ray but worth owning on HD-DVD as the first and last New Line title released on the format... alas, like HD-DVD, New Line Cinema itself disappeared in early '08).

Running Scared (German import) is a gem. The audio and visuals are stunning quality. Good suspenseful story too.

Reservoir Dogs, German Import

Better than the current BD release

A Scanner Darkly. I hadn't even heard of it until I stumbled on it in some HD-DVD release list.

The “Cream” HD-DVD from Royal Albert Hall is amazing! The PQ is not great but the audio is definitely great.

People also forget about the movie Pulse. It is a horrible movie with so so picture quality. However, it has an amazing “Pulse” of Bass near the end of it that will shake you to your core!

Are you looking for quality movies or just qulaity transfers with good PQ?
As it seems many are just listing what they believe are great looking discs since some of those are just 'bad' movies. - imo.

King Kong 1976 version (Import) looks fantastic, The Island (Import) is one of the best HD-DVDS and Underworld Evolution (Import) one if not the best looking HD-DVD, and is much better looking then the Bluray version.

Are you looking for quality movies or just qulaity transfers with good PQ?
As it seems many are just listing what they believe are great looking discs since some of those are just 'bad' movies. - imo.

My original thought was qualtiy over-looked movies that look good in HD.

The quality transfers are a plus, but I want movie that I can enjoy multiple times if I am going to buy it. My example was Stardust. It is a good (not the best) transfer, and a fun story you can watch repeatedly.

Shooter. The Contract is also pretty good.

Slither
Born on the Fourth of July
Jet Li's Fearless
The Road Warrior

FEAST, Breach & The Host

The Untouchables
Reference quality transfer.

I have to agree... I received my copy last week and watched it over the weekend and the transfer is awesome! It doesn't look like a 1987 movie!

The Untouchables is a great Film that really shines in HD. Chronicles of Riddick and Pitch Black are spectacular in HD as well as being great SCI FI films. The Last Star Fighter is a great classic that I have enjoyed having in HD. I would also suggest giving Blazing Saddles as shot in HD as it really is a great film.

The Streets of Fire HD DVD is the best the film has ever looked, and is the only anamorphic version available (at least in R1, perhaps anywhere). I bought the HD DVD player mainly so I could view this movie again, the way it was intended. It was worth it. :) May not be reference quality, but it looks fine for a film from the 80's. One of my favorite Walter Hill films. While you're at it, grab Hill's "The Warriors" as well.

What about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang? I hear that movie is one you can watch multiple times.

Most definitely -- very entertaining.

Out of Sight. Surprisingly stellar transfer, and an excellent (yet underrated) movie as well.

I'll second 'The Matador' ... very underrated and can be had for about $9 now.

My original thought was qualtiy over-looked movies that look good in HD.

The quality transfers are a plus, but I want movie that I can enjoy multiple times if I am going to buy it. My example was Stardust. It is a good (not the best) transfer, and a fun story you can watch repeatedly.

Oh well then that is completely different. I think one of the best is the Last Starfighter. I can watch that movie over and over. It suffers from what my kids call "the fuzzies" that most of the pre 90's films have in HD, but the difference is night and day between the HD and SD. I own both and it is one of the first that I directly compared.

Highdefdigest ripped it as a bad transfer, but the original stock was not that great and I think they intentially "fuzzied" the earth scenes to give a nostalgic effect like Tatooi in Star Wars as the Rylos scenes are much better looking.

The biggest difference that I saw when I set the scene paused in the beginning where Alex is standing in front of the Starfighter arcade with his brother lewis overlooking him in the daylight. What you really notice is not so much graphical improvement in resolution but the night and day in color saturation and accuracy. The HD version almost makes the SD version look B&W in comparison. Even my daughter was wowed by how much better it looked which is hard to get from 13 year old girl.

As far as the story goes, I think it is one of the best storylines of the 80's and is a true hidden jewel. Much like the Princess Bride which was another amazing film that never really took off.

Other ones with great replay value

Matrix trilogy
Thirteen Monkeys
2001
Dune
Coming to America
National Lampoons Christmas

Pitch Black is another incredible one. Although even the SD is really good. But The changes in colors with the multiple suns makes it look just incredible. Especially the all blue/violet light part IMO.

Another one that is supposed to be good and I can't wait to get is I am Legend. I think alot of people knock it too much for the special effects in the latter half. From what I have read, the new ending is much better too.

Serenity is a good sci-fi/western type movie with some great SQ/bass.

The Hulk looks amazing and sounds good too.

Dante's Peak.

Pierce Brosnan & Linda Hamilton + volcano fury + HD = goodness.

Serenity is a good sci-fi/western type movie with some great SQ/bass.

The Hulk looks amazing and sounds good too.

Serenity also has excellent PQ.

Matrix trilogy
Thirteen Monkeys
2001
Dune
Coming to America
National Lampoons Christmas



I think you are exaggerating with the number of monkeys :)

I agree re The Untouchables and would like to add Field of Dreams...

I think you are exaggerating with the number of monkeys :)

I agree re The Untouchables and would like to add Field of Dreams...

I agree with everyone here that commented about Stardust. I really enjoyed it and have watched it multiple times.

I also agree with Yogi regarding Field of Dreams. I had never seen the movie until I bought the HD DVD. I have watched that movie multiple times.

I think you are exaggerating with the number of monkeys :)

I agree re The Untouchables and would like to add Field of Dreams...

I always throw an extra monkey in for good measure. :D

I don't believe The Kingdom has been listed. Run, don't walk if you can get a good price!! It is another example of a movie I would not have viewed until I read that thread! :)

I agree Shooter is a great transfer. I love the movie and it looks fantastic!

I think you are exaggerating with the number of monkeys :)


That must be the sequel. ;-)

I agree with everyone here that commented about Stardust. I really enjoyed it and have watched it multiple times.

Strangely, this is available from NetFlix in HD-DVD but not from Blockbuster. :confused:

Strangely, this is available from NetFlix in HD-DVD but not from Blockbuster. :confused:

Stardust is available from Blockbuster. I rented it in January, and I just checked and it shows as available.

Lucky Number Slevin is my favorite Weinstein.

"Picture This" for sports people. It's not always about movies.

The King of California is my favorite First Look title, but that's also available on Blu. The Contract is okay, but it's a must for collectors.

Magnolia? My favorite Mag title, The World's Fastest Indian is also available on Blu.

I concur on The Kingdom. That is my best blind buy by far.

Add Elizabeth and Pride and Prejudice (not the sequel) to the list of must haves.

Post-edit:

How on earth did I forget about Inside Man--jeez. That is one grrrrreat crime caper. Children of Men is hit or miss with people. I have yet to meet anyone that didn't love Inside Man.

Hot Fuzz, looks and sounds great......

and heres the thing thats great about hd dvd new releases.....

with all the sales going on like

- 30% percent of or more at Best Buy

- I actually bought 2 for twenty hd dvds at Hollywood video after they stopped renting them, they had brand new releases still in plastic!!!

You should try to get all the combo discs that are the dvd and the hd dvd versions, since this format will stop being supported you will have the dvd version!!!

I will chime in for the "Hulk". It was my second HD (Charlie and Choc Factory was my first-imagine paying 25.00 for that one now ;)). It looked stunning and sold me on HDDVD.

Another riot of a movie as well as a great PQ is "The Big Lebowski". That was one of my "Wal Mart-secret sale 14.99" titles way back before the holidays. If anyone can find that for 10 bucks (like BB last week), it will be worth it.

What about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang? I hear that movie is one you can watch multiple times.

Probably yes, at least according to my wife. :cool:

Stardust is available from Blockbuster. I rented it in January, and I just checked and it shows as available.

Oh Stardust 2007, not the sci-fi movie from 1998.

Bullitt . . .

It's got a 90 minute (in HD) special all about film editing (It won the award for that) which is filled with OAR . . . In HD . . . movie clips.

Plus the greatest car chase ever put up on the screen:D

Casablanca, Deer Hunter, La Haine (great transfer) - excellent movies, even better in HD.

Scent Of A Women is not only a fantastic movie but the transfer is surprisingly top-notch.

Stardust is available from Blockbuster. I rented it in January, and I just checked and it shows as available.

Blockbuster is regional so it depends where you are.

I will chime in for the "Hulk". It was my second HD (Charlie and Choc Factory was my first-imagine paying 25.00 for that one now ;)). It looked stunning and sold me on HDDVD.


It was a really good transfer. I know that the theater that I went to has better resolution, but I couldn't tell the difference. After watching it a second time, I think it is a much better movie than was originally received. It is ashame that there is no sequel planned that I have seen. There was alot of potential there.

I think what her it was the fight scene at the end with him and his father. I don't know that it was necessary.

I loved the final ending though. "Don't make me angry.. you wouldn't like me when I'm angry." still sends chills in me just typing it.

EDIT: HOLY CROWWWWWWW! HOW CAN I HAVE MISSED THIS

The Incredible Hulk Trailer starting edward norton coming out in June 2008 (http://incrediblehulk.marvel.com/)

FEAST, Breach & The Host

I was surprised how good Feast :eek: was, both the movie and PQ

Blockbuster is regional so it depends where you are.

Blockbuster.com is regional? I didn't know that.

Slither
Born on the Fourth of July
Jet Li's Fearless
The Road Warrior

Fearless is awesome!

Superman II the Donner Cut. Bought this on sale out of curiosity. Considering the age of the movie the picture and sound are fairly impressive. The content of the movie is pretty good also. Also consider Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow. It's not what one would call demonstration material but it's very film like and looks very much like it did in the theater and when I think of all the SD-DVD's that don't give that experience...suffice to say upscale all you want it won't change a DVD's look. Hi-def rules.

I thought Waterworld was pretty good in HD PQ and SQ wise. The two Elizabeth movies looked fantastic. My pick for most overated HD release, Planet Earth. Watching it from front to end last weekend I realized that majority of the series the PQ is not the best. The cinematography is amazing sure enough but reference scenes are few and far between. Just my two republic credits worth. Not to mention it is in 1080i both versions not 1080p.

Not overlooked or underrated per se but if you don't have the Bourne films, definitely buy them when the price is right. Very good quality!

The Last Samurai is a really good film that looks great in HD and you can watch it over and over again.

Based on a couple of recs here, I picked up the Untouchables. Great movie to begin with, so I can't wait to review the PQ & AQ.

I would add "Phantom of the Opera" for superior PQ. Unfortunately, the audio level is encoded way too low on both DD+ and TrueHD tracks.

A bit of trivia: Amir and Kevin used Phantom as an example of how HD DVD could use persistant memory to fix a disc issue. Whenever the disc was loaded, a downloaded instruction set could temporarily increase audio levels to compensate for the encoding error.


Ken Whitcomb

Digital Video Essentials.

I thought Waterworld was pretty good in HD PQ and SQ wise.

That's a good thing because the movie was ridiculous, IMHO. Costner should stick to acting, directing/producing movies was a rather downward spiral: while Dances with Wolves was generally OK as he got more experienced he directed-produced worse and worse movies like this one or the downright utterly pathetic Postman. Thankfully since he reached the lowest point (Postman, that is) some e.g. Message in a Bottle and Open Range were better - well, it's not hard to be better than Postman anyway - but almost exclusively due to great acting (Anette Bening, Roibert Duvall, Newman etc).

That's a good thing because the movie was ridiculous, IMHO. Costner should stick to acting, directing/producing movies was a rather downward spiral: while Dances with Wolves was generally OK...

I cannot stand Costner but I love when people exaggerate. If this movie is "generally ok" we should all be so lucky. Seems like Costner nailed it in the case of Dances with Wolves:

Dances with Wolves Awards:
Academy - 1990
Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Actor Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay
Michael Blake Win
Best Art Direction
Lisa Dean, Jeffrey Beecroft Nominated
Best Cinematography
Dean Semler Win
Best Costume Design Elsa Zamparelli Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Win
Best Editing Neil Travis Win
Best Picture Kevin Costner, Jim [pr/di] Wilson Win
Best Score John Barry Win
Best Sound Jeffrey Perkins, Bill W. Benton, Russell II Williams, Gregory H. Watkins Win
Best Supporting Actor
Graham [act] Greene Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Mary McDonnell Nominated


American Film Institute - 1998 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
100 Greatest American Movies
Win


American Society of Cinematographers - 1990
Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Cinematography
Dean Semler Win


Berlin International Film Festival - 1991 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Silver Bear for Outstanding Individual Performance
Kevin Costner Win


British Academy Awards - 1991 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Actor
Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Michael Blake Nominated
Best Director (David Lean Award) Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Film Nominated


Directors Guild of America - 1990 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Win


Golden Globe - 1990
Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Actor (Drama) Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Film (Drama)
Win
Best Original Score John Barry Nominated
Best Screenplay Michael Blake Win
Best Supporting Actress Mary McDonnell Nominated


National Board of Review - 1990 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Win
Best Picture Win

Brotherhood of the Wolf
Serenity
Children of Men
Pan's Labirynth

Dragonheart, cause Sean Connery rocks.....even playing a dragon :) The majority of the flick has very good PQ, and overall a good watch for the whole family.

I cannot stand Costner but I love when people exaggerate. If this movie is "generally ok" we should all be so lucky. Seems like Costner nailed it in the case of Dances with Wolves:

Dances with Wolves Awards:
Academy - 1990
Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Actor Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay
Michael Blake Win
Best Art Direction
Lisa Dean, Jeffrey Beecroft Nominated
Best Cinematography
Dean Semler Win
Best Costume Design Elsa Zamparelli Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Win
Best Editing Neil Travis Win
Best Picture Kevin Costner, Jim [pr/di] Wilson Win
Best Score John Barry Win
Best Sound Jeffrey Perkins, Bill W. Benton, Russell II Williams, Gregory H. Watkins Win
Best Supporting Actor
Graham [act] Greene Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Mary McDonnell Nominated


American Film Institute - 1998 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
100 Greatest American Movies
Win


American Society of Cinematographers - 1990
Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Cinematography
Dean Semler Win


Berlin International Film Festival - 1991 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Silver Bear for Outstanding Individual Performance
Kevin Costner Win


British Academy Awards - 1991 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Actor
Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Michael Blake Nominated
Best Director (David Lean Award) Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Film Nominated


Directors Guild of America - 1990 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Win


Golden Globe - 1990
Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Actor (Drama) Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Film (Drama)
Win
Best Original Score John Barry Nominated
Best Screenplay Michael Blake Win
Best Supporting Actress Mary McDonnell Nominated


National Board of Review - 1990 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Win
Best Picture Win

And your point is...? :confused:

You either didn't even read what I wrote or you just couldn't grasp it... try again, pls. :cool:

HINT: when it comes to subjective things (e.g. 'good' movie) list of awards or lack thereof is completely irrelevant, FYI.

And your point is...? :confused:

You either didn't even read what I wrote or you just couldn't grasp it... try again, pls. :cool:

HINT: when it comes to subjective things (e.g. 'good' movie) list of awards or lack thereof is completely irrelevant, FYI.

I made my point very clearly. If his directing/producing of Dances with Wolves was "generally ok" and "ridiculous" then all of us here (except maybe you) would enjoy having our peers consistently evaluate our product the way Costner's peers across the world did for his "generally ok" and "ridiculous" effort.

Of course you can dislike a top 100 film. I get it. You made your point. Enjoy.

But I will let the thread stay on topic.

I cannot believe I just defended anything by Kevin Costner. He has never been a favorite of mine by any stretch but I can acknowledge his talent. Particularly with DWW.

Am I the only who actually likes movies that Kevin Costner was in.

Field of Dreams
Robin: Prince of Thieves
Dances with Wolves
Tin Cup (OMG he is so good in this movie)
Wyatt Earo
JFK

He hasn't just done much in the way of good movies in the last... oh 5-7 years. Even Sean Connery had a slump you know. Not that he is a Sean Connery

Best Sean Connery clip

When he asks Alex Trebec in Celebrity Jeopardy for a "Pen is Mightier". LOL ;):rolleyes:

To this day, my kids are still convinced that was really him.

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/97/pics/97tjeopardy1.jpg

Smokin' Aces

That movie sucked!

^^^ Bu...bu... but the PQ, AQ and interactive features rocked! :rolleyes:

I cannot stand Costner but I love when people exaggerate. If this movie is "generally ok" we should all be so lucky. Seems like Costner nailed it in the case of Dances with Wolves:

Dances with Wolves Awards:
Academy - 1990
Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Actor Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay
Michael Blake Win
Best Art Direction
Lisa Dean, Jeffrey Beecroft Nominated
Best Cinematography
Dean Semler Win
Best Costume Design Elsa Zamparelli Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Win
Best Editing Neil Travis Win
Best Picture Kevin Costner, Jim [pr/di] Wilson Win
Best Score John Barry Win
Best Sound Jeffrey Perkins, Bill W. Benton, Russell II Williams, Gregory H. Watkins Win
Best Supporting Actor
Graham [act] Greene Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Mary McDonnell Nominated


American Film Institute - 1998 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
100 Greatest American Movies
Win


American Society of Cinematographers - 1990
Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Cinematography
Dean Semler Win


Berlin International Film Festival - 1991 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Silver Bear for Outstanding Individual Performance
Kevin Costner Win


British Academy Awards - 1991 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Actor
Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Michael Blake Nominated
Best Director (David Lean Award) Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Film Nominated


Directors Guild of America - 1990 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Win


Golden Globe - 1990
Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Actor (Drama) Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Nominated
Best Film (Drama)
Win
Best Original Score John Barry Nominated
Best Screenplay Michael Blake Win
Best Supporting Actress Mary McDonnell Nominated


National Board of Review - 1990 Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Director Kevin Costner Win
Best Picture Win

Congratulations. It is guaranteed that it took you longer to TYPE that (even if you cut and pasted) than I have ever been able to stay awake thru this movie. And they made an EXTENDED version.. Now with more eyelid thudding drama!

I think the Cinematography and Score for DWW were amazing. The rest was so-so. I think many of the awards were due strictly to subject matter. Things like the fact that they were able to film a scene with that many bison won a lot of people's hearts.

Congratulations. It is guaranteed that it took you longer to TYPE that (even if you cut and pasted) than I have ever been able to stay awake thru this movie. And they made an EXTENDED version.. Now with more eyelid thudding drama!

Good one. LOL!

Newly crowned #1 Demo HD disc in my collection is the Island - HD DVD Import. Unbelievable hidef audio and video!!! I also think Serenity and the Rundown have some of the best demo material out there as well...good bass movies, all 3 of them.

Newly crowned #1 Demo HD disc in my collection is the Island - HD DVD Import. Unbelievable hidef audio and video!!! I also think Serenity and the Rundown have some of the best demo material out there as well...good bass movies, all 3 of them.

Yeah, I need to get The Island on HD DVD. I remember how vibrant it looked just on standard DVD, and it really is a pretty damn good movie - and I really can't stand Michael Bay's robotic directing style.

Newly crowned #1 Demo HD disc in my collection is the Island - HD DVD Import. Unbelievable hidef audio and video!!! I also think Serenity and the Rundown have some of the best demo material out there as well...good bass movies, all 3 of them.

I just got The Rundown. Fun movie, but I haven't had a chance to watch the HD all the way through yet. I bet the jungle scenes look great though.

Newly crowned #1 Demo HD disc in my collection is the Island - HD DVD Import. Unbelievable hidef audio and video!!! I also think Serenity and the Rundown have some of the best demo material out there as well...good bass movies, all 3 of them.

If this is true do you know where I can pick up the least expensive copy?

Also, have you seen I Robot; Enchanted; and some of the other non-animated touted as the best today?


Thanks.

If you like Nine Inch Nails at all, their concert HD DVD really is awesome, it is available on Blu as well.

I think one that is really overlooked is the Hulk. The transfer is really good

oh i agree with you 100% this title still is 5 stars in my book,and it seems everyone hated this movie but me.

Unforgiven- great in HD.

The Last Samurai is a really good film that looks great in HD and you can watch it over and over again.

+1

If this is true do you know where I can pick up the least expensive copy?

Also, have you seen I Robot; Enchanted; and some of the other non-animated touted as the best today?


Thanks.

Amazon.de has it pretty darn cheap but shipping kicks your butt (almost $25 per order). I am getting ready to place an order for a few flicks that are imports and on Amazon.de for around $14 each if you would like to combine an order I would be happy to help out (or if you just want a copy of the island and will chip in a bit for shipping I can order 2 copies). Xploited has it for about $38 or so if I remember it correctly. Shoot me a PM if interested.

Just sent PM

...and it seems everyone hated this movie but me.

Nope Macroblocker, there are exactly two people on this planet that loved Hulk, and I'm the other one...:)

Here's one that's not listed, Seabiscuit. :)

...Angelo

Just sent PM

Thanks! That was a very informative and useful post! :)

But seriously, as to the actual topic, I agree with many/most of the previously mentioned films. Given the inherently subjective nature of the request, most people will have ideas about overlooked films, which many other people will utterly disagree with.

Like this one: Mystery Men. It was a blind buy; I had low expectations, but it exceed my low expectations. A superhero spoof, it's far from the worst of the spoof genre.

Thanks! That was a very informative and useful post! :)

But seriously, as to the actual topic, I agree with many/most of the previously mentioned films. Given the inherently subjective nature of the request, most people will have ideas about overlooked films, which many other people will utterly disagree with.

Like this one: Mystery Men. It was a blind buy; I had low expectations, but it exceed my low expectations. A superhero spoof, it's far from the worst of the spoof genre.

Boy ..I can't catch a break. I was trying to use what I thought was a bit of etiquette by not ignoring, but acknowledging him in the general thread but at the same time making you aware that we realized it was a private discussion at that point. Tough crowd tonight. LOL

Am I the only who actually likes movies that Kevin Costner was in.

Field of Dreams
Robin: Prince of Thieves
Dances with Wolves
Tin Cup (OMG he is so good in this movie)
Wyatt Earo
JFK

He hasn't just done much in the way of good movies in the last... oh 5-7 years. Even Sean Connery had a slump you know. Not that he is a Sean Connery

Best Sean Connery clip

When he asks Alex Trebec in Celebrity Jeopardy for a "Pen is Mightier". LOL ;):rolleyes:

To this day, my kids are still convinced that was really him.

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/97/pics/97tjeopardy1.jpg

I love Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves! No problems with Costner here.

Stardust (agree with everyone, overlooked modern day classic);
Cat People (looks extremely sharp for an early 80's studio horror flick, and a constantly-naked Nastassja Kinski doesn't hurt either ;)... also John Carpeneter's The Thing qualifies for outstanding early 80's horror that looks so much sharp and better in high-def);
What Dreams May Come (the movie is uneven but the painting-coming-to-life scenes truly shine in high-definition);
Warner classics not yet on Blu-ray (Grand Prix, Adventures of Robin Hood, Mutiny on the Bounty, Casablanca, Forbidden Planet... why wait months and pay more for Blu-ray versions when the HD-DVD versions are cheaper and will look/sound the same);
Lost in Translation (it doesn't look dramatically better in high-def than on regular DVD but the flick is a masterpiece, and it will only be in high-def on this format for a good long time while Uni gets its Blu-ray act together);
Zodiac: Director's Cut (slow-paced but gripping tale of the serial killer that terrorized San Francisco for two decades... extras in high-def that are as interesting as the flick itself seal the deal);
Pan's Labyrinth (also on Blu-ray but worth owning on HD-DVD as the first and last New Line title released on the format... alas, like HD-DVD, New Line Cinema itself disappeared in early '08).

Great list.

I would endorse all of the above that are only on HD DVD plus the following:

Atonement: great film, I almost bought a HD-A3 just for this one (no kidding!)

You know, I think I would second Pan's Labyrinth

I thought it was a kids movie... not at all. I actually found it pretty disturbing for children.

I was also flipping through the languages thinking I must have had the wrong one on as it was in spanish with english subs. It was a little confusing at first as I am a spoiled American used to english tracks on everything :rolleyes: but I really enjoyed it. Toward the end, I almost thought they were speaking english as I must have been reading the subs without even realizing it.

It is a great movie. It is also one of those ones you can watch over and over and take more out every time and it keeps you thinking.

Depending how you look at it, it can have either a happy or sad ending. I prefer the happy one. Of course I am a spoil American Capitalist Swine. :D

The same with Seabicuit. I thought the previews made it come off as a little... well you know. But it was actually a great story. Man that Tobey Maguire is gonna be something down the road. Reminds me of a young Jimmy Stewart in a way.

I love Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves! No problems with Costner here.

And Everytime I play Wii Golf, I always end up doing what he did on Tin Cup. :D

1) Dante's Peak - Terrific PQ / SQ except for white speckles flashing at times.
2) Smokin' Aces - A good entertainer and terrific visuals
3) The Thing - Decent HD transfer of such a old movie
4) Dawn of the Dead
5) Stardust
6) The Pianist

I have to agree. Stardust was a much over looked movie. Absolutely fantastic modern classic.

I would add "Phantom of the Opera" for superior PQ. Unfortunately, the audio level is encoded way too low on both DD+ and TrueHD tracks.


Wow! I thought I was the only one who was disappointed in this disc's AQ. It should have been louder - u r right. That said, it was near perfect translation of the stage to the screen.

Btw, as much as ppl want to espouse the 'scarface' of their HD collection - Planet Earth - am I the only one who thinks it's boring in most non chase sequence (90% of the discs).

I mean PQ is okay (little grainy in many instances) & AQ is not really applicable. & as much as I luv scenery, can I really sit through ~8 hours straight? Or for that matter 1 hours straight.

Point is: I think story is important in my collection and that's: Entertainment > PQ > AQ.

Btw, as much as ppl want to espouse the 'scarface' of their HD collection - Planet Earth - am I the only one who thinks it's boring in most non chase sequence (90% of the discs).

I mean PQ is okay (little grainy in many instances) & AQ is not really applicable. & as much as I luv scenery, can I really sit through ~8 hours straight? Or for that matter 1 hours straight.

Point is: I think story is important in my collection and that's: Entertainment > PQ > AQ.

I love Planet Earth. No way would I watch all of it in one setting, though. Much more enjoyable to watch one episode or even 1/2 episode at a time.

Btw, as much as ppl want to espouse the 'scarface' of their HD collection - Planet Earth - am I the only one who thinks it's boring in most non chase sequence (90% of the discs).

I mean PQ is okay (little grainy in many instances) & AQ is not really applicable. & as much as I luv scenery, can I really sit through ~8 hours straight? Or for that matter 1 hours straight.

Point is: I think story is important in my collection and that's: Entertainment > PQ > AQ.

What makes planet earth great IS the story. they present it and the story is the diversity of the earth itself. Which is why it is so much better than other ones like blueplanet.

You must have the robotic sigourney discovery version I guess, because the excitement the english narrator on the BBC version is great.

To me, Planet Earth is not so much about picture quality. It is learning about things that most people never knew existed or still existed.

I never realized that Great White Sharks could really get as big as Jaws as all the docs that I have seen were much smaller. I was amazed how large some of the herds of animals really were. who knew a salimander could get so big!

I was really hesitant to get this. I finally gave in... and I am glad I did. but this is a film you need to buy and not rent. The kids and I spent about 8 weeks making it through all the footage. You need to take it in slowly because there is alot there.

If you only like high action films like Transformers or tear jerkers like the the Green mile, I don't know that you will like Planet Earth. But if you like the History Channel, Discovery Channel or fantasy films like Lord of the Rings then you NEED to get Planet Earth. It really is important in my opinion that you spend a few more dollars and get the BBC version as well. I love Sigourney Weaver. Who doesn't? But the narration was made for the English narrator. As good as Sigourney is, it is kinda like when they remake a film like planet of the apes. Mark plays a great lead character in the remake, but you just can't replace Charleston Heston. Or even remake Godzilla with CGI - I still think the guy in the rubber suit did a better job chasing down all the tokyo residents and stepping on toy tanks. Not to mention walking into laundry lines, oops I ment Power lines. Or when you see the big Lizard literally puts up his dukes when an enemy is found. :D

What makes planet earth great IS the story. they present it and the story is the diversity of the earth itself. Which is why it is so much better than other ones like blueplanet.

You must have the robotic sigourney discovery version I guess, because the excitement the english narrator on the BBC version is great.

To me, Planet Earth is not so much about picture quality. It is learning about things that most people never knew existed or still existed.

I never realized that Great White Sharks could really get as big as Jaws as all the docs that I have seen were much smaller. I was amazed how large some of the herds of animals really were. who knew a salimander could get so big!

I was really hesitant to get this. I finally gave in... and I am glad I did. but this is a film you need to buy and not rent. The kids and I spent about 8 weeks making it through all the footage. You need to take it in slowly because there is alot there.

If you only like high action films like Transformers or tear jerkers like the the Green mile, I don't know that you will like Planet Earth. But if you like the History Channel, Discovery Channel or fantasy films like Lord of the Rings then you NEED to get Planet Earth. It really is important in my opinion that you spend a few more dollars and get the BBC version as well. I love Sigourney Weaver. Who doesn't? But the narration was made for the English narrator. As good as Sigourney is, it is kinda like when they remake a film like planet of the apes. Mark plays a great lead character in the remake, but you just can't replace Charleston Heston. Or even remake Godzilla with CGI - I still think the guy in the rubber suit did a better job chasing down all the tokyo residents and stepping on toy tanks. Not to mention walking into laundry lines, oops I ment Power lines. Or when you see the big Lizard literally puts up his dukes when an enemy is found. :D

Fair points. But I do have the BBC version & like I said I luv nature but this is not what I would call traditional entertainment.

Fair points. But I do have the BBC version & like I said I luv nature but this is not what I would call traditional entertainment.

True. I had alot of hesitations before picking it up myself. If it wasn't for it being in HD, I don't know that I would have picked it up. I only picked it up because it was such a high rated HD disk.

Fair points. But I do have the BBC version & like I said I luv nature but this is not what I would call traditional entertainment.
Nope, but it is some of the best nature footage to ever be put on film. I have a 42" plasma in my bedroom along with an A30...I find PE is the perfect way to unwind and lull me into deep sleep.;)

That movie sucked!

No, your senseless post is what sucked.


BTW, Hulk fans. Count me in also. Criminally underated movie. GOSH, a summer blockbuster with a plot! :D

My ex-wife cheated on me with Kevin Costner on Martha's Vineyard one summer a number of years back. I found out as they were caught on film leaving this fancy French restaurant. She admitted everything but for chrissake I cannot stand the guy now.

Yeah the Hulk rocked. They have a new one coming out this summer.

Here's one that's not listed, Seabiscuit. :)

...Angelo

+1, great movie, looks amazing!

You must have the robotic sigourney discovery version I guess, because the excitement the english narrator on the BBC version is great.

There's nothing robotic about Sigourney Weaver. Richard Attenborough on the other hand, is a snore. His British accent is obnoxious and annoying. I can't see why people prefer his narration over Signourney's.

And the PQ is equal. BBC recently announced a misprint on the box, it's 1080i just like the Discovery edition.

There's nothing robotic about Sigourney Weaver. Richard Attenborough on the other hand, is a snore. His British accent is obnoxious and annoying. I can't see why people prefer his narration over Signourney's.

And the PQ is equal. BBC recently announced a misprint on the box, it's 1080i just like the Discovery edition.

Completely agree.

Forbidden Planet!

And the PQ is equal. BBC recently announced a misprint on the box, it's 1080i just like the Discovery edition.

I don't think the interlacing would account for any noticeable differences, but the difference between the BBC's VC-1 encode and the Discovery's AVC encode could make a visual difference. In the long run, it's all subjective.

I had the Discovery version, and now have the BBC. Either one looks good, and neither narrator is perfect. The problem I had with the Discovery version was the noticeable video gaps where the commercial breaks would have been. For me, I prefer the "seamless" viewing of the BBC version.

Sorry for going OT :o

Forbidden Planet!+1

edit- no, I actually hate the "+1" crap...Forbidden Planet is a must for anyone who calls themselves a Sci-fi fan. Don't let the fact that it was made in the 50's scare you away. (like it did me for so long :o)

Don't let the fact that it was made in the 50's scare you away.:confused: Huh?

I saw Forbidden Planet in the theatre during its first release in 1956. Scared the crap out of me. I was seven.

Seeing it again now in HD-DVD, it puts Star Trek, et al, to shame!

+1 on The Matador. Watched it last night. Good movie, good PQ, good price = :-)

The Matador all the way, baby!! Probably the best looking SD disc I'd seen in years, the HD DVD kicks it in the pants with such glorious detail. And THOSE colors... Magnificent!

You know what else is really good is batman begins. I finally got around to picking it up. Really good transfer and there are sooooooo many extras. And the extras are actually interesting. not just some junk thrown on to fill space.

You know what else is really good is batman begins. I finally got around to picking it up. Really good transfer and there are sooooooo many extras. And the extras are actually interesting. not just some junk thrown on to fill space.


I wouldn't put Batman Begin in this underated thread. That film is reference material to many people esp. the AQ.
& the extras are what 'should' be common material for all HDM given the price premiums.

OT: Speaking of extras, what is the point of net downloads? I would rather not have to add an extra step to watch the movie & its extras. Or find easter eggs only by going to the net.

:confused: Huh?

I saw Forbidden Planet in the theatre during its first release in 1956. Scared the crap out of me. I was seven.

Seeing it again now in HD-DVD, it puts Star Trek, et al, to shame!What I meant was that the vast majority of 50's sci-fi (that I've seen) has been extremely cheezy and not much effort put into the special effects. (except for Forbidden Planet of course)

Newly crowned #1 Demo HD disc in my collection is the Island - HD DVD Import. Unbelievable hidef audio and video!!! I also think Serenity and the Rundown have some of the best demo material out there as well...good bass movies, all 3 of them.

What release of The Island do you own? UK or German? Or are they the same?

I own the UK. The color is awesome, no doubt. Unnatural however. Some close up face shots have incredible detail, but I have to say, most of the movie seemed soft to me. My friends agree. That said, it is still a great movie to own in HD. I just don't see it as a #1 Demo movie. Perhaps the German release is better? I guess I will find out, my friend has that release in the mail right now.

BTW, Hulk fans. Count me in also. Criminally underated movie. GOSH, a summer blockbuster with a plot! :D

I really liked the Hulk myself, I thought the comic panel scenes were really interesting and a pretty cool way to do a comic movie instead of the standard shakycam in the dark impossible to see what's going on fight scenes from start to finish, I did think Eric Bana was a little too buff to begin with to be Banner. I'm looking forward to the new movie with Ed Norton.

I've watched shooter at least 5 times now, so I'd consider it the most overlooked one that's in my collection, I really enjoy that movie for some reason.

I think alot of the CGI movies are over looked because of who they target....

Beowulf targeted and older crowd but movies like Happy Feet, Shrek the Third and TMNT are over looked by people my age (20-30) especially because either they dont have kids or they don't want to be known for buying and enjoying these movies. I own these movies and they all look and sound Absolutely stunning...Happy Feet actually caught me by surprise, a pleasant surprise though..I find myself watching it multiple times because of how well it looks in HD..the whites just like to POP. I would recommend these movies to anyone...

*NOTE* It killed me when BR got Disney cause i always love disney and I knew a BR player was out of my price range.

My Japanese Import of the first Underworld may be the cleanest, most detailed HD DVD I own. (and I own TroyDC, Transformers, Shooter, The Kingdom...) My jaw hit the floor when I watched this for the first time. I wish I could compare it to the German release, but I ain't buying it just to compare PQ. :rolleyes:

I think alot of the CGI movies are over looked because of who they target....

Beowulf targeted and older crowd but movies like Happy Feet, Shrek the Third and TMNT are over looked by people my age (20-30) especially because either they dont have kids or they don't want to be known for buying and enjoying these movies. I own these movies and they all look and sound Absolutely stunning...Happy Feet actually caught me by surprise, a pleasant surprise though..I find myself watching it multiple times because of how well it looks in HD..the whites just like to POP. I would recommend these movies to anyone...

*NOTE* It killed me when BR got Disney cause i always love disney and I knew a BR player was out of my price range.

Happy Feet does indeed look awesome, but the movie itself made me want to ram my head into a wall...especially the last 30 minutes. Despite the eye candy, I had to sell that one.

Happy Feet does indeed look awesome, but the movie itself made me want to ram my head into a wall...especially the last 30 minutes. Despite the eye candy, I had to sell that one.


lol, i know what you mean, but yea, im keeping it..

There's nothing robotic about Sigourney Weaver. Richard Attenborough on the other hand, is a snore. His British accent is obnoxious and annoying. I can't see why people prefer his narration over Signourney's.

And the PQ is equal. BBC recently announced a misprint on the box, it's 1080i just like the Discovery edition.

It's David Attenborough, his brother. And isn't the Discovery version with Sigourney cut compared to the BBC version?

+1, great movie, looks amazing!


+2 on the 'biscuit...

[QUOTE=coolstrategist;13431064]If this is true do you know where I can pick up the least expensive copy?

Also, have you seen I Robot; Enchanted; and some of the other non-animated touted as the best today?


It seems xploitedcinema is the cheapest US store I've found. I got mine off ebay.uk for a good price.

[Attenborough's] British accent is obnoxious and annoying.:confused: How is an accent obnoxious?!

You make it sound like he is 'putting it on' ... he is British! :eek:

What a xenophobe! :rolleyes:

:confused: How is an accent obnoxious?!

You make it sound like he is 'putting it on' ... he is British! :eek:

What a xenophobe! :rolleyes:

I personally prefer the british accent in nature docs. I can't count how many of the national geographic films that I used to watch with british narrators.

Originally Posted by facesnorth
[Attenborough's] British accent is obnoxious and annoying.

And by the way, we are the ones that have the accent when you think about it. He is ENGLISH you know. :D

:confused: How is an accent obnoxious?!

You make it sound like he is 'putting it on' ... he is British! :eek:

What a xenophobe! :rolleyes:

Obnoxious: highly objectionable or offensive

Xenophobe: a person who fears or hates foreigners, strange customs, etc.

Definitely not taking sides here, but how can you call him a xenophobe?? It may be nutty that he finds the British accent offensive but "xenophobe" is a bit of a stretch. More than a few people here have also complained about Weaver's vocal delivery on the other PE version, but I hope you do not call them misogynistic. Just an observation.

1) Dante's Peak - Terrific PQ / SQ except for white speckles flashing at times.
2) Smokin' Aces - A good entertainer and terrific visuals
3) The Thing - Decent HD transfer of such a old movie
4) Dawn of the Dead
5) Stardust
6) The Pianist


I'd call THE THING better than "decent" in terms of transfer. About as clean as BLADE RUNNER. Crazy how nice & detailed a 25 yr old, sorta-low budget sci-fi thriller can look. The pre-CGI practical creature FX/makeup actually benefit from HD.

Plus it's a great film - one of Carpenter's best, if not the best.

Decent bonus goodies, too. Same as the Collector's edition DVD, but still very nice. Surprised more people didn't grab this as part of the Toshiba rebate. IMO, the best title they offered.

Another personal fave is FEAR & LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. I also own the Criterion DVD set, which in terms of extras is light years ahead. And it looks very good & hasd a great DTS track. But the Uni HD DVD just kicks the PQ up a notch (audio is comparable to the DVD DTS, actually). Needless to say, my Criterion set has a 3rd disc in it now - the HD DVD version of the film.

^^^ Agree on that. Too bad the "Spartacus" HD-DVD won't be joining my Criterion DVD package because, unlike "Fear...Vegas," the upgrade from SD to HD is infinitesimal and almost worthless.

There's nothing robotic about Sigourney Weaver. Richard Attenborough on the other hand, is a snore. His British accent is obnoxious and annoying. I can't see why people prefer his narration over Signourney's.

And the PQ is equal. BBC recently announced a misprint on the box, it's 1080i just like the Discovery edition.

I think it is dead on to have the opinion that David Attenborough's naration is obnoxious and annoying. Its why the British have been lampooning him for years. If you ever watched Monty Python, you know what I am talking about.

Personally I like Signourney. She maybe be a little boring, but she is not distracting.

I personally prefer the british accent in nature docs. I can't count how many of the national geographic films that I used to watch with british narrators.

I don't think it his accent that is the problem. Its more his style. He is kind of like the British version of Willima Shatner.:D

I don't think it his accent that is the problem. Its more his style. He is kind of like the British version of Willima Shatner.:D

Hey! don't knock my shatner now! :mad::D

Galapagos absolutely stunning PQ.

I personally prefer the british accent in nature docs. I can't count how many of the national geographic films that I used to watch with british narrators.



And by the way, we are the ones that have the accent when you think about it. He is ENGLISH you know. :D


I have no problem with Attenbourgh. What I DO have a problem with is when people like Queen Latifah narrate documentaries and dumb it down with jokes and bastardizations of the English language. I'd give "Arctic Tale" a shot but watching the trailer alone destroys any interest I would have for it. Paraphrased, "When mama bear calls, you bests be comin". :rolleyes:

I don't remember ever seeing Dante's Peak on any store shelf. I did enjoy this movie on SD DVD so I'll check online for good prices. Glad it was mentioned.

Another vote for The Untouchables. I just watched it last night. Audio was just OK but the picture was stunning. Even my wife says so, and that says a lot.

Serenity - by far one of the most underrated
Aeon Flux
Mission Impossible II

Overrated:
Harry Potter 3,4 and 5

My choices for overlooked/underrated films o HD DVD:

I second "Streets of Fire", this film has never looked or sounded so good.
I will always be happy that Universal put this out on HD DVD.

Some people hate "Miami Vice" for all the wrong reasons, but I think it is an increidible experiece on HD DVD.

Another underrated film on HD DVD is "Viva Las Vegas"
You may hate musicals, but this is Elvis at his best.

Aeon Flux


This is one that I haven't gotten that I wish I did. So it is pretty good?

Some people hate "Miami Vice" for all the wrong reasons, but I think it is an increidible experiece on HD DVD.

I am a big Michael Mann fan but I thought except for the awesome colors of the opening 'go-fast' boat race, most of the movie was shot in the dark & thus didn't really show off the shot on HD source.

& Mann really has never been an audio guy so there is really no AQ to speak of.

The movie, while entertaining, should have been a TV movie not big screen.

Still in my collection, but not @ the top of my 'underated' or for that matter my list. :rolleyes:

This is one that I haven't gotten that I wish I did. So it is pretty good?Aeon Flux is one of those movies that you would have to be a fan of the 90's animated series on MTV to "get it"....but then again if you're too big of a fan you'll be disappointed and just wish they had done an animated feature film. I've only seen the standard dvd so I can't comment on the PQ/AQ of the HD-DVD..

There's nothing robotic about Sigourney Weaver. Richard Attenborough on the other hand, is a snore. His British accent is obnoxious and annoying. I can't see why people prefer his narration over Signourney's.

And the PQ is equal. BBC recently announced a misprint on the box, it's 1080i just like the Discovery edition.

+1

My Japanese Import of the first Underworld may be the cleanest, most detailed HD DVD I own. (and I own TroyDC, Transformers, Shooter, The Kingdom...) My jaw hit the floor when I watched this for the first time. I wish I could compare it to the German release, but I ain't buying it just to compare PQ. :rolleyes:


You need to import Underworld Evolution, Looks better then the first one. The second one is a STUNNER.

The Thing
Serenity
Grand Prix
Waterworld

This is one that I haven't gotten that I wish I did. So it is pretty good?

I can't say whether or not you'll like the actual movie, but the PQ was very good. It was released early in the HD DVD lifecycle, and has been overshadowed by a lot of the more recent titles. It's not among the top tier, but it's easily in the 2nd tier.

As for me, I didnt watch the animated series, and I liked the movie although I felt they could have done a better job. Part of my like for the movie may have to do with the fact that Charlize Theron is in it :)

You need to import Underworld Evolution, Looks better then the first one. The second one is a STUNNER.

I own it, too. I just prefer the look of the Japanese disc. It really looks great.

Wow. Just picked up Stardust. great movie. I didn't realize it was partly inspired by The Princess Bride (One of my favorite movies of all time - got that from the extras). Great flick! I also just got Phantom. I would put this on the list as well.

Haven't seen it mentioned but I would add The Machinist to that list. Great movie with excellent PQ. Definately one to consider picking up while you still can.

After Watching Casablanca on HD DVD, i think what is highly over looked because alot of people are like "How can a black and white movie be helped by HD DVD?" Truth be told, it is amazing how it helps, sound, picture, everything.....I thought the same for the longest time, that there was no was HD could help old movies, and I was wrong...So if you are one of the many overlooking these older movies..I recommend them to everyone.

Dont over look the older movies anymore, you will be highly suprised..I was.

After Watching Casablanca on HD DVD, i think what is highly over looked because alot of people are like "How can a black and white movie be helped by HD DVD?" Truth be told, it is amazing how it helps, sound, picture, everything.....I thought the same for the longest time, that there was no was HD could help old movies, and I was wrong...So if you are one of the many overlooking these older movies..I recommend them to everyone.

Dont over look the older movies anymore, you will be highly suprised..I was.

Check out The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn. Beautiful film and the WB cartoons in high def are a bonus.

For any Roy Orbison fans check out Roy Orbison: Black and White Night in Dolby True HD.

The movie that surprised me the most was La Ultima Legion import I had never heard anything about it so I was not expecting to much when I ordered it but was curious nonetheless.

Turned out to be one fun movie to watch with awesome scenery, big epic music and lots of sword play.

Check out The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn. Beautiful film and the WB cartoons in high def are a bonus.



Wanna hear something funny..I picked that up today too with Casablanca...lol...OMG i didnt know there was cartoons too on this DVD...I just finished watching it, an amazing movie and on HD DVD..WOW, but now that i know it has cartoons on it OMG even more...Im currently watching Robin Daffy..lol...OMG YAY CARTOONS!!!

Dont over look the older movies anymore, you will be highly suprised..I was.B&W=sharper than Color.

Assuming a print is well kept, B&W will look spectacular.

Talking about clean looking old movies. Check Grand Prix. Picture doesn't get cleaner or brighter than this, no matter how new or fancy it is. And this one's from 1966. Unreal!

Wow. Just picked up Stardust. great movie. I didn't realize it was partly inspired by The Princess Bride (One of my favorite movies of all time - got that from the extras). Great flick! I also just got Phantom. I would put this on the list as well.

Glad to hear you liked Stardust! It should be in everyone's HD DVD collection. When you have friends, family, kids, grandparents, etc. over to visit and no one can decide on a movie, this is a great choice.

Glad to hear you liked Stardust! It should be in everyone's HD DVD collection. When you have friends, family, kids, grandparents, etc. over to visit and no one can decide on a movie, this is a great choice.

Stardust is a hidden gem. I didn't see it in the theatre (I guess a lot of folks didn't) but it is a lovely film. I recommend it all the time for even regular DVD playback.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Bone Collector. This is one of my favorite movies (of the serial killer type) and I thought it looked quite a bit better on HD DVD than it did on DVD. I recommend it to anyone that likes this kind of movie, (and Angelina Jolie.)

Stardust is a hidden gem. I didn't see it in the theatre (I guess a lot of folks didn't) but it is a lovely film. I recommend it all the time for even regular DVD playback.

Just another big thumbs up for Stardust-- I had kind of wanted to see it, figured I'd love it or hate it, finally picked it up in the CC sale this weekend, and LOVED it. A great movie, as long as you're ok with a fantasy/fairy tale/light sort of movie.

Cat People, excellent PQ and a TrueHD Dave Bowie soundtrack.

Rennaissance (German/French), an excellent transfer, good script and unusual style.

Others that cmoe to mind:
Scanner Darkly
Death At A Funeral (German)
Brothers Grimm (Japan)

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Bone Collector. This is one of my favorite movies (of the serial killer type) and I thought it looked quite a bit better on HD DVD than it did on DVD. I recommend it to anyone that likes this kind of movie, (and Angelina Jolie.)I think AJ is very bizarre-looking myself, but she's acceptable enough in this OK flick. We always seem to like Denzel Washington. Other HD DVDs we've seen recently that are good:

American Gangster (more Denzel, how can you miss)
King of California (surprisingly fun, Evan Rachel Wood doing a Toby Maguire impression)
Michael Clayton (George Clooney doing his George Clooney impression, Tilda Swanson won an Oscar)
Things We Lost in the Fire (Benicio Del Toro is a revelation, Halle Berry just darn beautiful)
No Reservations (no wonder Michael Douglas wears a constant smile)

Yeah I know, Catherine Zeta-Jones is no better an actress than AJ but for some reason I find her more attractive... :eek:

No Reservations (no wonder Michael Douglas wears a constant smile)

Yeah I know, Catherine Zeta-Jones is no better an actress than AJ but for some reason I find her more attractive... :eek:



I agree with you. Never cared much for Jolie. But Zeta-Jones is quite the looker!


What is the gist of 'No Reservations'? At first glance, it doesn't look of interest to me, but I've been reading that it's much better and different than what the cover art would suggest.

A series of discs that caught me by surprise is the Freedom series. Volume 1 and 2 are available from Netflix. I was hooked by the middle of the second Volume. I ended up buying 3 and 4. 5 and 6 (and possibly 7) are still coming out and may be the last HD-DVDs released. So why are they great?
1) The best cel animation I've seen in HD. This is mostly cel-shaded 3D, but it (IMO) is much more successful at creating anime via 3D than say Appleseed.
2) The only Twin discs I know of. They work perfectly, as advertised, in either a DVD or HD-DVD player and you don't have to sacrifice the disc art. And this series is only available as Twin discs, so Netflix won't be pulling them since there is no DVD-only version.
3) Well implemented extras. This is the only PiP I've seen that is completely user-controllable. You can change the placement and transparency of the PiP window on-the-fly.
4) Downloadable content that "just works". Sure its just a few clips, but it worked without any hassles like creating a login or downloading a download interface like you see some discs (I'm looking at you, Unviersal).
5) The only disc I've ever seen that properly labels its persistent storage data. Whenever I've had corrupted download issues with other discs and had to clear out the memory, all the discs create folder names that are seemingly random collections of alphanumeric characters EXCEPT the Freedom discs. The folders are named like a reasonable person would expect. Why the makers of this disc are the only ones to get this simple thing right is beyond me.
6) The story is fairly involving and the action set pieces are great. The involvement by the creator of Akira and Steamboy shows.


The only real drawback is, of course, the price. If you think of these as specialty anime discs, then the price isn't that shocking. If you've overloooked this series because of the slow release schedule and the price, give the first two discs a rent and you might be surprised.

What is the gist of 'No Reservations'? At first glance, it doesn't look of interest to me, but I've been reading that it's much better and different than what the cover art would suggest.It's not! :p

But it will make your wife/girlfriend happy for sure, and you, just maybe... ;)

Talking about clean looking old movies. Check Grand Prix. Picture doesn't get cleaner or brighter than this, no matter how new or fancy it is. And this one's from 1966. Unreal!

Amen, grand Prix is a stunning restoration and an incredible looking film on HD DVD.

Is it possible to put a sticky at the front of this thread or edit original post that lists all suggested movies with some type of rating scheme based on number of votes or why such as PQ or soundtrack?

Brett

Stardust and Underworld (Germany) are my favorites, both for PQ and just being good movies. I have Adventures of Robin Hood, Bullitt, and Forbidden Planet on the way, so I guess I'll get to see if what everyone is saying about the older movies in HD is true.

Galapagos absolutely stunning PQ.

Galapagos has the best PQ of any disc I've seen. Although the content is not as strong as the BBC version of Planet Earth (or any other David Attenborough nature documentary, for that matter, because he's simply in a content quality class of his own), the better PQ makes Galapagos my "go to" disc for demoing to someone just how great Hi-Def can look.

Is there a thread similar to this that limits the titles to being presently HD-DVD exclusive? Just to save me some legwork... Don't get me wrong, this is a great thread, and I just read through most of it. If any of the titles I listed is available on BD, I'd appreciate a heads-up, but I'll try to make sure for myself in any case. :cool:

Anyways, I got my 5 free HD-DVDs finally, and I am so impressed with the PQ on Darkman. I am only a budding videophile, but this could be reference material for me, for now. Well, after reading this thread (or most of it) I think I'll pick up:

- Stardust
- Machinist
- Deer Hunter
- Running Scared
- Untouchables

Other possible candidates that I'm not as sure about (for various reasons)

- Casablanca
- Fearless
- Last Starfighter

I am curious about 2001 PQ compared to BD. If they are the same, I'll get BD version, but really I'll take whatever looks (and sounds) better. The BD seemed to do better than average, but not quite reference by any means. I already ordered Galapagos on BD.

I tremendously enjoyed American Gangster in the theater, but am disappointed that many say the transfer suffers :(. Thanks everybody. And just in case you missed it, my recommendation for now is:

Darkman! :D

Roy Orbison "Black and White" Dolby True HD, this is the best I have heard on my system. PQ is black and white, not the best. Content and SQ are the keys on this title.

Is there a thread similar to this that limits the titles to being presently HD-DVD exclusive? Just to save me some legwork... Don't get me wrong, this is a great thread, and I just read through most of it. If any of the titles I listed is available on BD, I'd appreciate a heads-up, but I'll try to make sure for myself in any case. :cool:

Anyways, I got my 5 free HD-DVDs finally, and I am so impressed with the PQ on Darkman. I am only a budding videophile, but this could be reference material for me, for now. Well, after reading this thread (or most of it) I think I'll pick up:

- Stardust
- Machinist
- Deer Hunter
- Running Scared
- Untouchables

Other possible candidates that I'm not as sure about (for various reasons)

- Casablanca
- Fearless
- Last Starfighter

I am curious about 2001 PQ compared to BD. If they are the same, I'll get BD version, but really I'll take whatever looks (and sounds) better. The BD seemed to do better than average, but not quite reference by any means. I already ordered Galapagos on BD.

I tremendously enjoyed American Gangster in the theater, but am disappointed that many say the transfer suffers :(. Thanks everybody. And just in case you missed it, my recommendation for now is:

Darkman! :D

For those who are curious, it appears the only title listed in this post that is available on BD is the Untouchables. The BD PQ thread rates it as silver, IOW, above average, not gold or blu. OTOH, it appears all HD-DVD reviews of this title seem to be top-notch...

OTOH, it appears all HD-DVD reviews of this title seem to be top-notch...
Yes, I have it. It's one of the best. (The Untouchables, that is)

Stardust and Underworld (Germany) are my favorites, both for PQ and just being good movies. I have Adventures of Robin Hood, Bullitt, and Forbidden Planet on the way, so I guess I'll get to see if what everyone is saying about the older movies in HD is true.

Adventures of Robin Hood looks magnificent. (never better)
Forbidden Planet also is well done, maybe too well done as some of the sets really look phony, but who cares. Its still one of my fav. sci fi movies.

[QUOTE=Everdog;13404314]Now that they are being cleared out and may not be available much longer, that are the movies that I might have overlooked?

For example, Stardust is a real gem that belongs in every collection. What else?[/QU

I keep reading about Stardust from everyone, guess I'm going to have to do a blind buy on this one.

[QUOTE=Everdog;13404314]Now that they are being cleared out and may not be available much longer, that are the movies that I might have overlooked?

For example, Stardust is a real gem that belongs in every collection. What else?[/QU

I keep reading about Stardust from everyone, guess I'm going to have to do a blind buy on this one.
The princess is a little too flouncy and snotty... a little over-acted, but other than that I really enjoyed it.

The last starfighter is excellent PQ I couldnt believe the difference since I always have seen it on tv. one of my favorites from the 80's i cannot wait for the sequel.

The last starfighter is excellent PQ I couldnt believe the difference since I always have seen it on tv. one of my favorites from the 80's i cannot wait for the sequel.

good to hear, mine is on its way. :p

good to hear, mine is on its way. :p

Mine just arrived! That Amazon Prime... expensive but fun!

I would have to go with "The Thing", I always loved the film, but the HD version really brings new life to it, with color and shadows I just never saw in the VHS or DVD's of the Film. For an older film done before C.G.I., I think it stands up really well.

Dawn of the Dead has a nice transfer to it, and is something I would recommend on HD-DVD to anyone looking to get last minute titles.

Stardust (agree with everyone, overlooked modern day classic);
Cat People (looks extremely sharp for an early 80's studio horror flick, and a constantly-naked Nastassja Kinski doesn't hurt either ;)... also John Carpeneter's The Thing qualifies for outstanding early 80's horror that looks so much sharp and better in high-def);
What Dreams May Come (the movie is uneven but the painting-coming-to-life scenes truly shine in high-definition);
Warner classics not yet on Blu-ray (Grand Prix, Adventures of Robin Hood, Mutiny on the Bounty, Casablanca, Forbidden Planet... why wait months and pay more for Blu-ray versions when the HD-DVD versions are cheaper and will look/sound the same);
Lost in Translation (it doesn't look dramatically better in high-def than on regular DVD but the flick is a masterpiece, and it will only be in high-def on this format for a good long time while Uni gets its Blu-ray act together);
Zodiac: Director's Cut (slow-paced but gripping tale of the serial killer that terrorized San Francisco for two decades... extras in high-def that are as interesting as the flick itself seal the deal);
Pan's Labyrinth (also on Blu-ray but worth owning on HD-DVD as the first and last New Line title released on the format... alas, like HD-DVD, New Line Cinema itself disappeared in early '08).

Yeah, I only checked out Stardust because of this site. Sort of Princess Bride II it seems. I guess the PB didn't really gather all it's fame until after it owas out of theaters either.

Lost In Translation, the thing is the PQ is so, so, so marginally better than the SD DVD that I simpyl can't call it an overlooked HD DVD. Great movie, but one of the only hidef titles I have felt was probably not worth the money over the SD DVD.

Oh well then that is completely different. I think one of the best is the Last Starfighter. I can watch that movie over and over. It suffers from what my kids call "the fuzzies" that most of the pre 90's films have in HD, but the difference is night and day between the HD and SD. I own both and it is one of the first that I directly compared.

Highdefdigest ripped it as a bad transfer, but the original stock was not that great and I think they intentially "fuzzied" the earth scenes to give a nostalgic effect like Tatooi in Star Wars as the Rylos scenes are much better looking.

The biggest difference that I saw when I set the scene paused in the beginning where Alex is standing in front of the Starfighter arcade with his brother lewis overlooking him in the daylight. What you really notice is not so much graphical improvement in resolution but the night and day in color saturation and accuracy. The HD version almost makes the SD version look B&W in comparison. Even my daughter was wowed by how much better it looked which is hard to get from 13 year old girl.

As far as the story goes, I think it is one of the best storylines of the 80's and is a true hidden jewel. Much like the Princess Bride which was another amazing film that never really took off.

Other ones with great replay value

Matrix trilogy
Thirteen Monkeys
2001
Dune
Coming to America
National Lampoons Christmas

Pitch Black is another incredible one. Although even the SD is really good. But The changes in colors with the multiple suns makes it look just incredible. Especially the all blue/violet light part IMO.

Another one that is supposed to be good and I can't wait to get is I am Legend. I think alot of people knock it too much for the special effects in the latter half. From what I have read, the new ending is much better too.

oh man Last Starfigher is one of the single least rewatcheable IMO. Anyway, obviously opinions differ. That is one movie that I avoid like the plague. I don't evne like hearing the name, haha.

Princess Bride did end up getting a pretty huge following not long after it left the theaters though. It defintely way took off, just not until after the theatrical release.

Yeah, Pitch Black looks great on HD DVD.

I don't know that I Am Legend can be called overlooked when it ws near top of HD DVD sales charts. I actually strongly disliked the new (original apparently) ending. It was a decent movie to watch, but I don't see it being a repeat and I probably should've rented it.

What makes planet earth great IS the story. they present it and the story is the diversity of the earth itself. Which is why it is so much better than other ones like blueplanet.

You must have the robotic sigourney discovery version I guess, because the excitement the english narrator on the BBC version is great.

To me, Planet Earth is not so much about picture quality. It is learning about things that most people never knew existed or still existed.

I never realized that Great White Sharks could really get as big as Jaws as all the docs that I have seen were much smaller. I was amazed how large some of the herds of animals really were. who knew a salimander could get so big!

I was really hesitant to get this. I finally gave in... and I am glad I did. but this is a film you need to buy and not rent. The kids and I spent about 8 weeks making it through all the footage. You need to take it in slowly because there is alot there.

If you only like high action films like Transformers or tear jerkers like the the Green mile, I don't know that you will like Planet Earth. But if you like the History Channel, Discovery Channel or fantasy films like Lord of the Rings then you NEED to get Planet Earth. It really is important in my opinion that you spend a few more dollars and get the BBC version as well. I love Sigourney Weaver. Who doesn't? But the narration was made for the English narrator. As good as Sigourney is, it is kinda like when they remake a film like planet of the apes. Mark plays a great lead character in the remake, but you just can't replace Charleston Heston. Or even remake Godzilla with CGI - I still think the guy in the rubber suit did a better job chasing down all the tokyo residents and stepping on toy tanks. Not to mention walking into laundry lines, oops I ment Power lines. Or when you see the big Lizard literally puts up his dukes when an enemy is found. :D

I think it's about simply spectacular photography of amazing things in the natural world. I think it is THE single most rewatcheable of all titles.

I picked up Adventures of Robin Hood thanks to this thread. Really great movie and amazing picture quality.

I'll throw some into the ring:

Black Snake Moan

The Manchurian Candidate

The Amateurs

Talk to Me

Breach

PQ was ok and I found them to have intriguing stories as well..

oh man Last Starfigher is one of the single least rewatcheable IMO. Anyway, obviously opinions differ. That is one movie that I avoid like the plague. I don't evne like hearing the name, haha.


Agreed...Many shots looked worse than most SD channels on my tv..much less DVD!:(

Agreed...Many shots looked worse than most SD channels on my tv..much less DVD!:(

actually i was talking about just the movie itself :D I didn't dare try to watch that thing on hidef :D. Anyway, that movie is just an old pet peeve of mine, I know there are some who do love it, but well whatever, jsut say I have no intentions of watching it on SD, VHS, DVD, HD DVD, Bluray or holographic chip storage. But sorry that it may be a bad transfer if you, or whoever else, likes it. :(

Based on recs here, I got The Rundown and thoroughly enjoyed watching it last night. Good PQ and AQ also!

Did a search and didn't see this title mentioned, so I'll give it a plug:

Warner/BBC Video "A Room With a View"

A 1985 release, based on the novel by E.M. Forster. Very nice PQ and excellent DTS-HD High Resolution audio. In checking Amazon, the HD DVD is less than the standard DVD @ $16.95. :cool:

Am I the only who actually likes movies that Kevin Costner was in.

Field of Dreams
Robin: Prince of Thieves
Dances with Wolves
Tin Cup (OMG he is so good in this movie)
Wyatt Earo
JFK

He hasn't just done much in the way of good movies in the last... oh 5-7 years. Even Sean Connery had a slump you know. Not that he is a Sean Connery

Best Sean Connery clip

When he asks Alex Trebec in Celebrity Jeopardy for a "Pen is Mightier". LOL ;):rolleyes:

To this day, my kids are still convinced that was really him.

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/97/pics/97tjeopardy1.jpg

How about when he selects from the category "AN ALBUM COVER" and says to Trebek: "I'll take Anal Bum Cover for 200 Alex". :D

Got Dante's Peak for a good price after some recommendations for it. Another good movie I overlooked getting on HD DVD. Watched it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it again as I did on SD DVD several times.

[QUOTE=bjmarchini;13428435]Am I the only who actually likes movies that Kevin Costner was in.QUOTE]

No, I loved him in the Big Chill. He played the corpse and had no speaking lines!! My next two favorites of his are Waterworld (got it in HD) and Postman. I would say that Dances w/ Wolves is dead last as his monotonous delivery went on and on and made the movie seem to last 3 hrs or more. Robin Hood and some of the other movies also had the same monotone delivery IMHO.

Brett

[QUOTE=bjmarchini;13428435]Am I the only who actually likes movies that Kevin Costner was in.QUOTE]

No, I loved him in the Big Chill. He played the corpse and had no speaking lines!! My next two favorites of his are Waterworld (got it in HD) and Postman. I would say that Dances w/ Wolves is dead last as his monotonous delivery went on and on and made the movie seem to last 3 hrs or more. Robin Hood and some of the other movies also had the same monotone delivery IMHO.

Brett

Well maybe Costner's monotonous delivery was a blessing if it "made the movie seem to last 3 hrs or more", since the movie actually runs for a full 4 hours!

Don't know if it's available on HD DVD, but Costner's Open Range was very decent.

[QUOTE=brettwf;13771454]

Well maybe Costner's monotonous delivery was a blessing if it "made the movie seem to last 3 hrs or more", since the movie actually runs for a full 4 hours!

4 hrs?!!! I must have fallen asleep somewhere in the middle then!:)

Field of Dreams was also enjoyable.

Rented HD DVD of "The Interpreter" last night and was very pleasantly surprised. Good thriller, with the (for me) always-watchable Nicole Kidman and despite the always-scary Sean Penn (he's terrific as I have to admit he usually is). Excellent PQ and at least one very good explosion (I played the DTS track)! :eek:

IIRC this movie got poor reviews for what some believed to be heavy-handed politics. Just a recommendation to all you (fellow) rednecks out there that you needn't pass on this one just because the United Nations is involved! :p

I bought Next as part of the MG twofer 20 as my wife wanted to see the unedited version after she had seen it on TV and then resell it. The movie has good entertainment value and I would want to rewatch it at least once to see if I can catch some of the twists. It may end up being a keeper. The extras about the Indian reservation in the Grand Canyon was informative and now have it marked as a place to visit. Can't say that the PQ or AQ was superior to any reference HD titles but I consider the entertainment value as 4 stars out of 5. We may keep it.

Brett

"Next' is a pretty good adaptation of a short Phillip K. Dick. story, obviously stretched to fill an entire movie. I don't see how the guy could have searched that building by "splitting" himself repeatedly though. He only had a single consciousness to predict the future with.

Just thought i'd throw in my 2 cents. I picked up Wolf Creek at Best Buy for $7.99 Canadian the other day. I've seen it already so I watched some of the extras first. Apparently it was shot on HD VIDEO so I checked out the first 10 minutes again in HD and the movie looks great. Now if you've seen the movie already you know the first 10 minutes are alot "brighter" than the rest so I'm not sure how the "darker" scenes look, but for $7.99 who cares.

[QUOTE=coolstrategist;13771694]

4 hrs?!!! I must have fallen asleep somewhere in the middle then!:)

Field of Dreams was also enjoyable.

Field of Dreams is one of my favorites. High replayability IMO.

I don't see how the guy could have searched that building by "splitting" himself repeatedly though. He only had a single consciousness to predict the future with.

Time Dilation / Special Effects. He searched each possibility one at a time. But the camera overlapped it to show all the possible permutations since the whole search took less than a second and to show each outcome would have added 15 minutes to the movie.

If you have teh chance to get it Das Parfum (German Import) is visually stunning, great story, pretty good audio (it is a dialog driven (well scent driven is a better term) so not a lot of "surround" needs. Probably one of the best films I have watched in a while not to mention a stellar transfer

The Untouchables
Reference quality transfer.

Bumping this one up. I TOTALLY agree with you on this one. I don't understand how the studios can get it right with a film like this (age wise) and think they have to apply filtering and DNR to other titles. If every HD release looked this good, I would never leave my theater.

Well since this has been bumped I'll add Ray and Dreamgirls as highly overlooked/underrated HD DVDs. Fantastic PQ and AQ along with great acting and great music. How can you go wrong for about $5 used at Amazon? We Were Soldiers is fantastic too. Really works out your subwoofer! Don't think any of these were mentioned before.

Lots of great HD DVDs mentioned in this thread...