The wifey wants Total Recall. Is this enough of an upgrade to justify a double dip?

no, Check the PQ tier Sticky on the top of the Thread for all your PQ questions releated to BD Titles.

I don't own the SD DVD to compare it with but this BD doesn't have any of that Wow factor we all love so much. I'd suggest renting it first.

I have Total Recall HD DVD on the Studio Canal Release. And it totaly Rocks.

Top Tier 1.

kinda sad that they didn't transfer it well on BD. Costed me over 80 bux to order it from france.

I have Total Recall HD DVD on the Studio Canal Release. And it totaly Rocks.

Top Tier 1.

kinda sad that they didn't transfer it well on BD. Costed me over 80 bux to order it from france.

$80? Ouch! Have you seen the BD version? I wonder how much better that import HD DVD transfer is. I can't imagine it being $60 better. ;)

The wifey wants Total Recall. Is this enough of an upgrade to justify a double dip?

If you have to have it on BD, I'd get patient and wait on the 2nd edition. I have the BD and the Studio Canal, Euro HD-DVD. The Euro HD-DVD plainly exposes the BD as a dud with washed out colour and even some minor motion artifacts. Lionsgate's early titles are mediocre, of which, this is one. I'd wait unless I could also spin HD-DVD's.

$80? Ouch! Have you seen the BD version? I wonder how much better that import HD DVD transfer is. I can't imagine it being $60 better. ;)

My copy from Xploited Cinema was $36, I think, plus shipping.

$80? Ouch! Have you seen the BD version? I wonder how much better that import HD DVD transfer is. I can't imagine it being $60 better. ;)

Well, if it's $60 better depends on how much you like the movie I guess. :)
The HD DVD is much, much better. They were using a new master from a fresh scan. All the defects that are in the master used for the BD version are gone. I'm not sure how he ended up with $80, but I'd say the french version is well worth it.

The wifey wants Total Recall. Is this enough of an upgrade to justify a double dip?

Here is a brief review I did on Total Recal (Blu-ray) and Field of Dreams (HD-DVD) around a month a go:

Today I watched both Total Recall (1990) on Blu-ray and Field of Dreams (1989) on HD-DVD. I was looking to see how the two compared.

For those who have both of these, do you see what I saw, which was a much much better PQ for Total Recall?

I was actually very suprised by this. To me Total Recall looks pretty darn good for a movie 16 years old. Especially in the scene in the beginning when Arnold is sitting at the kitchen table for breakfast and the wall, which is also a television set shows an image of a lake below a snow-covered mountain. That looked awesome!!

FOD did look better then the SD-DVD, but not by much. I did a review on this title a few weeks a go. The difference in PQ though between the two is staggering.

Since that time I have seen the Studio Canal version and I would say it's a wash with the Blu-ray. I thought the SC version had less grain and better colors, but I thought the Blu-ray version was sharper and had better all around Audio Quality. There is no way the SC version is worth $60.00 more though.

~Josh

I didnt want to worry about the reported sound problems on the inported one. I bought the Blu-Ray version then compared it to me SD one. It looks very similar but defiantly an improvement from the upconverted version. Not a huge jump but an improvement.

The real improvement is in the audio department. Much better. It was late so I wasnt able to turn it up but it was clear that it was much improved. I think that it is worth it if you can get it for 19.99. I am a big fan of this movie so I get every new version though.

If you have to have it on BD, I'd get patient and wait on the 2nd edition.
Lionsgate's early titles are mediocre, of which, this is one.

I agree with these statements. Surely a double dip is forthcoming, even though it may take a couple of years or so. When it does I'll be upgrading TR, Stargate, and Stir Of Echoes.

Redundant-deleted.

Redundant-deleted.

I'd let the Department Of Redundancy Department make that determination. ;)

The wifey wants Total Recall. Is this enough of an upgrade to justify a double dip?

If your wife wants it, just buy the disc. The PQ doesn't matter, a present is a present. :)

A couple of weeks ago, my wife offered me the BD of ResEvil Apocalypse, and boy, does she hate this movie! But she wanted to make me happy, and that makes the disc priceless.

My copy from Xploited Cinema was $36, I think, plus shipping.

:)

I got it way before Xploited had it in stock.

plus I used Chrono post Shipping to Canada. took like 3 days from Paris. ( They even Ship on Weekends.)


It is one of my Impulse buy Must Have's.

Geeze there seems to be alot of that this year.

What's weird is that Lions Gate owns the Rights to Recall, and they Lease alot of their library to Studio C. Hence why HD DVD's of the LG films keep on Poping up.

Weird still is the quality of the transfer...

Here is a brief review I did on Total Recal (Blu-ray) and Field of Dreams (HD-DVD) around a month a go:



Since that time I have seen the Studio Canal version and I would say it's a wash with the Blu-ray. I thought the SC version had less grain and better colors, but I thought the Blu-ray version was sharper and had better all around Audio Quality. There is no way the SC version is worth $60.00 more though.

~Josh


Apples to Apples.

It's Your money.

I just spend 600 dollars on a RC helicopter.

My Friends laugh at me for the way I spend my Cash.


each their own.

Since that time I have seen the Studio Canal version and I would say it's a wash with the Blu-ray. I thought the SC version had less grain and better colors, but I thought the Blu-ray version was sharper and had better all around Audio Quality. There is no way the SC version is worth $60.00 more though.

Everything I have heard regarding the Studio Canal Total Recall HD DVD puts it well ahead of the Lionsgate Blu-ray version. So if like me, you are format neutral and want the best high-def version available, buy the Studio Canal HD DVD version of Total Recall. It can also be ordered for $32.95 from Xploited Cinema and Amazon France. A far cry from some of the inaccurate prices posted above.

SURPRISE! Once again an objective review differs from the above poster's rather subjective observations. Everything I have heard regarding the Studio Canal Total Recall HD DVD puts it well ahead of the Lionsgate Blu-ray version in both sound and picture quality.

Total Recall HD DVD review by John J. Puccio, DVDTown

Video:
As with all of the HD-DVDs I've watched, it appears that this transfer is as good as the print from which it was made. I know that Dean was not entirely pleased with the look of "Total Recall" on Blu-ray, saying it "looked only marginally better than the Special Limited Edition DVD playing in an upconverted DVD player." Not so here. The HD-DVD, while maybe not in the very highest echelon of HD picture quality, nevertheless looks quite vibrant and well delineated in its VC-1, 1080p transfer. Grain is almost never an issue, blacks are solid, hues are realistically rendered, and all the reds, oranges, and browns of Mars are captured in appropriate detail. Facial close-ups are especially revealing, although some medium and long shots probably looked a bit soft in the original camera negative. Still, it's a darn sight better looking than my standard-definition version of the movie.

If I have any minor reservation at all, it isn't in regard to the video quality, which, as I say, is quite good, but the way the film's 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio was trimmed for 1.78:1 widescreen playback. Namely, the engineers appear to have taken a bit too much off the right side, cramping the opening titles on the far side of the screen, compounded by my television's overscan, which amounts to another 5%. The top and bottom don't suffer as much as the sides because the studio had already matted the original aspect ratio from a 1.37:1 negative, and a little more cropping doesn't show. At any rate, it's a minor matter, one done all the time for widescreen movies of this size, and mainly affects only the opening titles.

Audio:
The sound for English comes via DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, which worked perfectly well through the Toshiba's analogue outputs. If you are using a player's optical or coaxial digital output, you will, of course, have to own a receiver with DTS decoding capability. Anyway, the sound is fine, if a bit thin in the deepest bass and rather sparse in the rear channels. There are several scenes where the surrounds are used to good effect, but they are not in the majority. Dynamic range, impact, and clarity, however, are outstanding, and the bigger, noisier action scenes come off pretty well. You like ricocheting bullets and big, loud sonic booms? You got 'em.

I have Total Recall HD DVD on the Studio Canal Release. And it totaly Rocks.

Top Tier 1.

kinda sad that they didn't transfer it well on BD. Costed me over 80 bux to order it from france.

It totally rocks except for the fact that the sound sucks balls. Everyone sounds like they took a teeny hit of helium before saying their lines. Bummer cause the pic quality is fantabulous.

^ Yup. I agree.

Everything I have heard regarding the Studio Canal Total Recall HD DVD puts it well ahead of the Lionsgate Blu-ray version. So if like me, you are format neutral and want the best high-def version available, buy the Studio Canal HD DVD version of Total Recall. It can also be ordered for $32.95 from Xploited Cinema and Amazon France. A far cry from some of the inaccurate prices posted above.

SURPRISE! Once again an objective review differs from the above poster's rather subjective observations. Everything I have heard regarding the Studio Canal Total Recall HD DVD puts it well ahead of the Lionsgate Blu-ray version in both sound and picture quality.


My Prices Were Not Innacurate. For 1. it is in canadian Dollars. For 2. I it came to 30 euro's . do the exchange rate. it also costed me 20 Euros for shipping. plus a UPS brokerage fee because UPS sucks and I live in a rural Community.


I said It costed me that much.

not everyone else.

o...k.

Haven't seen it yet, but it's on the way from Best Prices and with my Google discount it was $12 shipped. For $12, I am sure it will look AWESOME! LOL :p

Everything I have heard regarding the Studio Canal Total Recall HD DVD puts it well ahead of the Lionsgate Blu-ray version. So if like me, you are format neutral and want the best high-def version available, buy the Studio Canal HD DVD version of Total Recall. It can also be ordered for $32.95 from Xploited Cinema and Amazon France. A far cry from some of the inaccurate prices posted above.
Thanks for setting Beatboy's apples to oranges and supremely biased opinion straight. I also have the HD-DVD version from Studio Canal. It looks very good and I do not notice any 4% PAL audio speedup that some were claiming they hear. No helium here... and I was specifically listening for it. I have not seen the Blu-Ray version so I won't make up and spread bogus information like beatboy.

Thanks for setting Beatboy's apples to oranges and supremely biased opinion straight. I also have the HD-DVD version from Studio Canal. It looks very good and I do not notice any 4% PAL audio speedup that some were claiming they hear. No helium here... and I was specifically listening for it. I have not seen the Blu-Ray version so I won't make up and spread bogus information like beatboy.
What does the review of the HD DVD version have anything to do with the OP's question?

What does the review of the HD DVD version have anything to do with the OP's question?Threads evolve... maybe you didn't read the other posts. 99% of threads have posts that do not relate to the OP's question. I was elaborating on others comments. What you really should be asking is how does the Field of Dreams HD-DVD have anything to do with the OP's question.

It looks very good and I do not notice any 4% PAL audio speedup that some were claiming they hear.

It doesn't have 4% PAL speedup, it may have another issue that is equipment related. It shows up on some equipment, but not on other. Maybe something in the encoding or a non-user adjustable setting during decoding.

Here is a brief review I did on Total Recal (Blu-ray) and Field of Dreams (HD-DVD) around a month a go:



Since that time I have seen the Studio Canal version and I would say it's a wash with the Blu-ray. I thought the SC version had less grain and better colors, but I thought the Blu-ray version was sharper and had better all around Audio Quality. There is no way the SC version is worth $60.00 more though.

~Josh

Given you're the source I'll pass on your review and accept it's not a good transfer. I want it on blu ray but will wait as the poster above you states for the 2nd edition.

I have Total Recall HD DVD on the Studio Canal Release. And it totaly Rocks.

Top Tier 1.

kinda sad that they didn't transfer it well on BD. Costed me over 80 bux to order it from france.


Sucks for you, only cost me about $35 from Amazon.fr

Here is a brief review I did on Total Recal (Blu-ray) and Field of Dreams (HD-DVD) around a month a go:



Since that time I have seen the Studio Canal version and I would say it's a wash with the Blu-ray. I thought the SC version had less grain and better colors, but I thought the Blu-ray version was sharper and had better all around Audio Quality. There is no way the SC version is worth $60.00 more though.

~Josh


It's not $60 more and it's accepted by everyone that has seen both that the HD DVD version is superior. Stop with the Blu-Ray bias. Contrary to your belief, there are many HD DVD's that are superior to Blu-Ray.

Sucks for you, only cost me about $35 from Amazon.fr


hehe, doesn't sux for me.

Money means nothing too me.
unless My Trust Fund Runs Out :D

First, thanks to everyone for all their help (except Beatboy; cause I don't believe anything he says.) I've decided to get the HD-DVD version. However, this speed up PAL thing has me worried. But if this is a French import it should be Secam not PAL. So it shouldn't have the speed up problem, right? But for those who "actually" own this, does the helium effect apply only to 5.1? Or is it on the 2.0 track as well?

First, thanks to everyone for all their help (except Beatboy; cause I don't believe anything he says.) I've decided to get the HD-DVD version. However, this speed up PAL thing has me worried. But if this is a French import it should be Secam not PAL. So it shouldn't have the speed up problem, right? But for those who "actually" own this, does the helium effect apply only to 5.1? Or is it on the 2.0 track as well?

Have no worries.

There is abosolutley no Speed up.
I have not experienced this helium effect.


though the sound is not what you would normaly expect from HD DVD's across the board.

PQ is hella stellar tho.

I've decided to get the HD-DVD version. However, this speed up PAL thing has me worried. But if this is a French import it should be Secam not PAL. So it shouldn't have the speed up problem, right? But for those who "actually" own this, does the helium effect apply only to 5.1? Or is it on the 2.0 track as well?

A couple of misconceptions to correct here:

SECAM is a broadcast format, not home video. Countries that use SECAM for broadcast use PAL for VHS and DVD. There's no such thing as a SECAM DVD. French DVDs are PAL and do suffer from 4% speedup.

The Studio Canal HD DVDs are a unique problem. Technically, they are not sped up. The movie is encoded in 1080p24 format and runs at its original speed and running time. However, the audio does suffer from a noticeable pitch increase. The current assumption is that Studio Canal used a PAL audio master and then time-stretched it to fit the 1080p24 encode, thus it runs at the correct speed but continues to have the PAL pitch shift.

There are some MP3 samples here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9473629&&#post9473629) taken from the DVD and HD DVD editions of Basic Instinct demonstrating the problem. Total Recall has been confirmed to have the same issue, though it bothers some people more than others.

A couple of misconceptions to correct here:

SECAM is a broadcast format, not home video. Countries that use SECAM for broadcast use PAL for VHS and DVD. There's no such thing as a SECAM DVD. French DVDs are PAL and do suffer from 4% speedup.

The Studio Canal HD DVDs are a unique problem. Technically, they are not sped up. The movie is encoded in 1080p24 format and runs at its original speed and running time. However, the audio does suffer from a noticeable pitch increase. The current assumption is that Studio Canal used a PAL audio master and then time-stretched it to fit the 1080p24 encode, thus it runs at the correct speed but continues to have the PAL pitch shift.

There are some MP3 samples here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9473629&&#post9473629) taken from the DVD and HD DVD editions of Basic Instinct demonstrating the problem. Total Recall has been confirmed to have the same issue, though it bothers some people more than others.


I have been in the radio business for 12 years and worked for many top 40 stations that pitch up their music about 3% , we never got complaints about the pitch. after listening to the mp3 it sounds closer to 2.5% or 3 than 4% but thats just my opinion based on my experience in radio.