http://english.megastore.se/template/next%2CProduct.vm?itemid=2039303

The AVC Blackhawk down is not noticeable alot better. There were a few scenes in the US MPEG2 where macroblocking showed and you do not get that with this disc. They actually look quite similar.

Well since I don't have either copy, I mine as well get the best one that I can get right?

Yes, the Australian Casino Royale is probably the best one to get, if you want the uncut version. The UK is cut less than the US, but still cut.

There's something about the way you phrase that paragraph that confuses me. Either that or my English is just poor. So if the Australian version is the one to get, why would you suggest that I should consider the UK version even though it's already cut? I absolutely hate movies that's been cut.

Well since I don't have either copy, I mine as well get the best one that I can get right?



There's something about the way you phrase that paragraph that confuses me. Either that or my English is just poor. So if the Australian version is the one to get, why would you suggest that I should consider the UK version even though it's already cut? I absolutely hate movies that's been cut.

From what i have read, the Australian is THE one to get. I don't know how easily they can be obtained anymore. I was just stating about the UK for the sake on passing information. I have read the UK release is still cut, but not as much as the US.

[QUOTE=Blacklac;14737480]
Gladiator
UK (Universal) - AVC, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Region Free

LA Confidential
Japan (TFC) - AVC, DTS-MA
US - VC-1, TrueHD
UK - VC-1, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Region Free

Leon
GER (Kinowelt) - AVC, English & German DTS-HD HR 7.1, HD Extras, US and International Cut
FR (Gaumont) - AVC, English DTS-HD HR 5.1, English & French DTS-HD MA 5.0. US and International Cuts.
UK (Optimum) - AVC (film grain more preserved), DTS-MA 5.1/PCM 2.0, US and International Cuts. Region B locked.
US - AVC, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (96kHz) Region Free

Pulp Fiction
AUS - 1080i50 AVC, DTS-MA 5.1. Region Free.
French - AVC, DTS-MA 5.1. Region B.
Scandinavian - AVC, DTS-MA 5.1 (much higher bitrate audio). Region Free.
Polish - AVC, DTS-MA 5.1 Region Free (best price in the world)

Stargate
French (StudioCanal) - Theatrical/Directors Cut 2-Disc, DTS-MA 5.1. Region B?
German - Extended Cut, AVC, DTS-MA 5.1. Forced Subtitles
UK (Optimum) - AVC, DTS-MA 5.1, Extras, Region B.
US (Lionsgate) - MPEG2, DTS-HR ES, Region Free.
US (Lionsgate) 15th Anniversary Edition - VC-1, DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Region Free.

Terminator 2
US (Lionsgate) - 1080p MPEG-2 Encode, English DD & DTS Lossy, Theatrical Cut Only
US/FR/MEX/UK/GER Skynet (Lionsgate/Optiumum/Studio Canal) - 1080p VC-1, English DTS-HD MA 6.1, Tons of Extras, DNR (Steelbook for Certain Countries)
FRA (Studio Canal) - 1080p VC-1 Encode, English DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2 Disks (Directors Cut |Region A+B| & Theatrical |Region B Locked - Forced French Subs|), Best PQ
UK (Optimum) - 1080p VC-1 Encode, English DTS-HD MA 5.1, Director's Cut only, PQ same as French
AUS (Universal Studio Canal) - Same as UK
JPN (Geneon) - 1080p AVC Encode, English & Japanese TrueHD 5.1 EX, Extras, 2 Disks (Theatrical & Directors Cut), Steelbook, High Bitrate
JPN (Geneon) - 1080p AVC Encode, English & Japanese TrueHD 5.1 EX, Extras, 1 Disk (Director's Cut Only), High Bitrate
Spanhish - AVC, DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1, Region Free

Can someone here tell me if there are any differences between the UK and US releases of Wall-E and Monsters, Inc.?

Can anyone tell me if the Austrialian release of "Young Guns" is better than the US release?

Thread : I think you should put a notice on the HD DVD of Band of Brothers. It's in 1080i, which I don't prefer.

And a new comparison is between the italian and the domestic (MGM) version of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

I think the italian version, which is in 1080/24fps VC-1 is the superior in the video part. But it doesn't have english audio or subs so...

The MGM release has a lot of DNR + they've used an DVD-transfer.

Conclusion: The Italian (Mondo Home) is the superior.

even though it might be 1080i for BoB, it still looks better than the US BD

Maybe on screenshots, but not in motion.

It all depends on your screen if i over p is gonna make any real difference.

has anyone actually watched the japanese BD version?

Thread : I think you should put a notice on the HD DVD of Band of Brothers. It's in 1080i, which I don't prefer. Duno where you heard that but the video stream on the discs are 1080p. Unless you're referring to HD-DVD player's inability to output untouched 1080p24.

Also enjoy the smeary textures on the US BD: http://comparescreenshots.slicx.com/comparison/20518/picture:2

Duno where you heard that but the video stream on the discs are 1080p. Unless you're referring to HD-DVD player's inability to output untouched 1080p24.

Also enjoy the smeary textures on the US BD: http://comparescreenshots.slicx.com/comparison/20518/picture:2

I was refering to the backside of the cover, which it clearly says 1080i. After some googling I found this:

Video is specced as “1080i Hi-Def” on the back cover, but I have a feeling that’s incorrect. It wouldn’t be the first time Japanese mark 1080/24p as 1080i. (Actually confirmed this a moment ago: video is 1080/24 on disc.) Video has been encoded as H.264/AVC, with a bitrate that very rarely dips below 20mbit/s.

has anyone actually watched the japanese BD version?

looks like this person has

http://forum.blu-ray.com/asia/110897-band-brothers-japan.html

wish they read bdinfo on the discs

Can someone tell me if the North American release of Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 is the best version out there? I think I read somewhere in the past that there is going to be a Japanese release that might be better encoded. Can someone clarify this for me?

I was refering to the backside of the cover, which it clearly says 1080i. After some googling I found this:

The back cover (in case of the Japanese BoB HD DVDs) is wrong and they are in 1080p in reality, I've also checked them on the PC with various tools.

I don't have the Japanese BD versions but would expect them to have pretty much the same PQ as the Japanese HD DVDs, they are from the same studio as the HD DVDs.

looks like this person has

http://forum.blu-ray.com/asia/110897-band-brothers-japan.html

wish they read bdinfo on the discstried asking him? :D

well i would have but iam not register over there. figured someone else might that already has an account.

I had NO idea that different countries had better versions of US movies?!

WTF? :confused:

I had NO idea that different countries had better versions of US movies?!

WTF? :confused:
bits ain't just bits :p

I don't think any are leaps & bounds above an other (w/o some other compromise),
just we all want the best & this just adds frustration too the hobby!

Too me, wants really badd, is there's like 3 versions of "CR"?!?!
That's just WRONG!!!

[I didn't see were the German Kinowelt T2 ranked/if it's OK too ask]

I had NO idea that different countries had better versions of US movies?!

WTF? :confused:
Different countries will often have a different studio or distributor releasing it than in the U.S. There are many examples where a foreign edition is the best version available on Blu-ray. Even though Equilibrium has been released in several different territories (basically everywhere but the U.S.), the best available BD of it is from Japan.

Different countries will often have a different studio or distributor releasing it than in the U.S. There are many examples where a foreign edition is the best version available on Blu-ray. Even though Equilibrium has been released in several different territories (basically everywhere but the U.S.), the best available BD of it is from Japan.

OK, admittedly stupid question, but does that mean the BD is in Japanese?

:confused:

Almost all foreign DVDs and Blu-rays that I know of include the original language track in addition to dubs and optional subtitles. Equilibrium is one of them. The menus are probably Japanese but can usually be deduced fairly simply. You're in for a shock if you've never seen Japanese media prices before though...

I don't think the DNR craze has really hit overseas yet. And I disagree with Bill Hunt's propogating the studio excuse that there's a balance to be struck, that a little DNR is a good thing - the ONLY way it could be desirable is if it removes something that is NOT supposed to be there in the first place, like print damage. IMO some of the early new-release BDs are still the crispest, clearest the format has seen, even if compression wasn't quite as refined as it is now.

International distributors don't seem to be as compelled to spend time and money tweaking the video for audiences. That said, sometimes their authoring standards seem lower than in the US as well: inconsistent transfers, more timing error, compression that's less scene specific, less consistent support of lossless audio, etc. But, I'm learning to better appreciate some 1080i international releases over a DNR'd 24p US release as well.

Is the "tears of the sun" audio track in the German steelbook just a Dolby digital track and the US version is PCM and better? Or is it the other way around?

Can someone tell me what Bluray version of Lord of the Rings has the best quality?

Thanks as always!

:D

It's Warner. They aren't known for redoing encodes. The specs thread indicates that the first movie may have a slightly higher bitrate in Poland, though I'm thinking it's just an inaccurate scan. Some countries including the Polish releases have 16-bit audio instead of the 24-bit in the US. And the split-up individual releases of the trilogy are just going to be the same discs.

Can someone explain the difference in "Series"... :confused:

What is sapphire series?

:confused:

Can someone explain the difference in "Series"... :confused:

What is sapphire series?

:confused:

Basically a line of films that paramount has released as their best films and transfers.

Is this list still being maintained?

The Lives of Others
US (Sony): AVC, LPCM, edge enhancement, a hint of DNR, but otherwise OK
UK (Lionsgate): AVC, DTS-MA, same as US but has a nasty chroma shift in the reds giving it a washed out, sickly look:

Mouseover comparison (http://comparescreenshots.slicx.com/comparison/80999)

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
UK (EiV): AVC (~16Mbps), DTS-MA
US (Image): AVC (~19 Mbps), DTS-MA, better compression:

Mouseover comparison (http://comparescreenshots.slicx.com/comparison/80995)

In Bruges
US (Universal): VC-1 (high bitrate), DTS-MA, 23.976fps

Let the Right One In
UK (Momentum): AVC, DTS-MA (on the fixed edition), theatrical subtitles
US version has theatrical subtitles on the fixed edition.

The Fall
UK release is slightly cut (archive footage of animal cruelty) also low bitrate.

Taken
UK release is missing subtitles for the foreign-language parts.

Life
UK (2entertain): VC-1, DTS-HR, 1080i50 (correct 25fps)
US (Warner): VC-1, DTS-HR, 1080p24 (slowed down, except one episode in 1080i60)

Battleship Potemkin
Nordic (Atlantic): AVC (low bitrate), DD, no English subtitles, 1080i50 (18fps converted to 25fps, at correct speed)
US (Kino): AVC (high bitrate), DTS-MA, 1080p24 (18fps converted to 25fps, slowed down to 24fps)

Hey,

What version of Gone With the Wind is the best? lol

:D

Hey,

What version of Gone With the Wind is the best? lol

:D
Audio/video is the same on all of them, but the UK release is the best deal for price and extras.

Basically a line of films that paramount has released as their best films and transfers.

Ok, so if it says Sapphire Series, then the audio and video should be top notch for blu-ray? :confused:

What about Platinum Edition, Collector's Edition, etc...? :confused:

SteelBook? :confused:

Yes paku, I will update with new info. Thanks for all that info!

Do you know the Region coding on any of the Euro releases that you have info about?

Any idea when/if The Ten Commandments is due out on blu-ray?

:D

Different countries will often have a different studio or distributor releasing it than in the U.S. There are many examples where a foreign edition is the best version available on Blu-ray. Even though Equilibrium has been released in several different territories (basically everywhere but the U.S.), the best available BD of it is from Japan.

From what I have seen European Studios also seem to use DTS HD MA 7.1 a lot more than the US Studios.

Not sure you might be interested, but the italian edition from "Master and Commander" seems use a different master from the rest of the world and the result, according to many audio video enthusiasts, may be the best edition world wide. The disc contains a dts hd ma track in english without subtitles and is probably region B only. For your information! ;)

Not sure you might be interested, but the italian edition from "Master and Commander" seems use a different master from the rest of the world and the result, according to many audio video enthusiasts, may be the best edition world wide. The disc contains a dts hd ma track in english without subtitles and is probably region B only. For your information! ;)

Do you have any source for this? All releases I've checked so far uses the same fox-master and the same sub-20h-filtered mix for the DTS-HD Ma track. The only release I thought *might* be different, was the french release issued by Universal. Unfortunately I bough the disc and it had the same transfer and the same crappy DTS-HD Ma track.

I would be very interested if the Italian release uses a different audio-master.

i dont own the disc, but it is confirmed that the master is miramax, although the fact that it is better than the fox master is just a rumour, people are easily mistaken. No idea if the sound master is different

Any news on the italian "Master And Commander" BD release? It is out now. I read it's a 2-disc edition, where the special features are on disc 2. The movie takes up most of disc 1 which is BD50.

I don't know if the master is different, but the encode is different (reportedly bigger size, higher bitrate).

I wonder if the audio-mix is the same as all the other BD releases...

Underworld
Dutch (DFW) - Theatrical, 2.40:1, AVC, DTS-MA 5.1, Extras, Region Free. (Possible audio sync issues)
French (M6) - Unrated, AVC (high bitrate than US), DTS-MA 5.1 (16-bit) (higher bitrate than US), extras (PAL?). Region Free.
German (Concorde) - Extended, 2.35:1, VC-1, DTS, Region Free, No extras.
Japan (GAGA) - Theatrical, AVC, TrueHD
US (Sony) - Extended, 2.35:1, AVC, 16-bit PCM



I'm looking to find the theatrical cut of Underworld on Blu-Ray. Can anyone comment on the Japan release, and whether or not it is in the original aspect ratio. Also, regarding the Dutch release, can someone elaborate on the audio sync problems? Thanks.

Any news on the italian "Master And Commander" BD release? It is out now. I read it's a 2-disc edition, where the special features are on disc 2. The movie takes up most of disc 1 which is BD50.

I don't know if the master is different, but the encode is different (reportedly bigger size, higher bitrate).

I wonder if the audio-mix is the same as all the other BD releases...

French review:
http://www.excessif.com/dvd/master-and-commander-de-l-autre-cote-du-monde-blu-ray-5022646-760.html
3 stars for video

Surprised it hasn't come up, but the WATCHMEN Ultimate Cut is easily a better transfer than the theatrical or DSirector's Cut versions. More detail, better blacks...perhaps adding the additional live action footage and animation prompted them to start fresh? Whatever, it's definitely the best-looking edition of this particular movie.

I'm looking to find the theatrical cut of Underworld on Blu-Ray. Can anyone comment on the Japan release, and whether or not it is in the original aspect ratio. Also, regarding the Dutch release, can someone elaborate on the audio sync problems? Thanks.

Forget the Dutch release, it's 1080i50, nobody wants that.

Any specifications/bitrates on watchmen ultimate cut?

Forget the Dutch release, it's 1080i50, nobody wants that.

Yeah, did some more digging, and it looks like the Japanese version is the one you want--if you want theatrical. It is also in the original aspect ratio for anyone who cares. Can't wait to spend $60+ on this LOL :rolleyes: