Worth getting?

Amazon UK has it at 12.49 quid plus shipping.

i doubt they used the same transfer, but this title is being released by Criterion on standard dvd on April 17th. I'd be willing to bet the criterion version upscaled will look better than this HD-DVD version that's out now, which is the only reason i didn't order it yet. I could be wrong though. thusfar that has not proven true though, as it would be unwise to get rid of the Criterion versions of Traffic, Fear & Loathing, or Spartacus, as they are all very close to the quality of their HD counterparts. I think the upcoming BD version of 'The Rock' may be the first HD title to actually improve upon its Criterion brethren, if Buena Vista's recent releases are any indication.

If you do get this, post your impressions, as I have been eyeing it myself.

I think it's worth getting. That said, I bought it, watched and sold it on eBay. Not because it wasn't good, but just because I didn't think it merited repeated viewings. The PQ was really great in some parts, and just good in others. The movie itself was definitely worth seeing, in my opinion. If it was a domestic release, I would probably just recommend it as a rental, but since you most likely won't find it for rent in the U.S., I would say go for it.

Edit: Oh, I just noticed you're not in the U.S.! Anyway, the same still applies I guess.

I'd be willing to bet the criterion version upscaled will look better than this HD-DVD version that's out now, which is the only reason i didn't order it yet.

There is no way any SD DVD could touch the quality of most of this HD DVD!

There is no way any SD DVD could touch the quality of most of this HD DVD!
Ya, no kidding! I have no idea what that guy is talking about. Sounds like he hasn't even seen the disk himself. I'd say this disk is definitely worth buying. Very solid on both the AQ and PQ fronts, and a really good movie as well. I found it pretty funny as well, so I think I'll be able to get some decent repeat viewing out of it.

I read nothing but good things about this title. I love movies that deal with cultural clashes and such.

I'll try to get my hands on it :) .

Ya, no kidding! I have no idea what that guy is talking about. Sounds like he hasn't even seen the disk himself. out of it.

Sounds like I have not seen this title yet on HD-DVD? Why do you think that? I stated that directly in my first post.

Considering:
1) the upscaled SD version of Traffic Criterion looks as good as the HD-DVD version, and
2) the upscaled SD version of Spartacus Criterion looks better than the HD-DVD version.

It's entirely possible that the Criterion edition might look better, because Criterion's master will be much better than Studio Canal's, as they always are. Starting with a better master allows for the possiblity of a SD release rivaling or surpassing that of an HD release. And if you are a fan of the film itself, the Criterion is certainly a better buy, considering the amount of additional content included with it.

The UK Studio Canal HD-DVD looks and sounds great. Definitely worth picking up if you're a fan of the film.

The only reason to wait for the Criterion is for the extras(the HD-DVD has none) and potentially better subtitles.

Upscaled DVD never looks as good as even poor HD-DVD in my opinion. And you haven't even seen La Haine HD-DVD (or the new Criterion) so your comments are more than a little premature.

Traffic looks much better than the DVD. Some of the section in Traffic look bad because they're supposed to.

Sounds like I have not seen this title yet on HD-DVD? Why do you think that? I stated that directly in my first post.
Considering:
1) the upscaled SD version of Traffic Criterion looks as good as the HD-DVD version, and
2) the upscaled SD version of Spartacus Criterion looks better than the HD-DVD version.

They don't.

It's entirely possible that the Criterion edition might look better, because Criterion's master will be much better than Studio Canal's, as they always are.
Define better. This is a French film so Studio Canal has likely access to the best film elements and the director approved HD transfer. So how is Criterion's master better?

I have the Studio Canal release from France and it looks amazing.

Simply amazing!!
Great PQ.
Great Movie.

I literally just finished watching this HD DVD. Great looking disc!! As others have noted, also a great movie.

I have now gotten through all my Studio Canal titles. I can't wait for my 3/5 "Studio Canal order" from www.amazon.fr to ship... :)

They don't.

Define better. This is a French film so Studio Canal has likely access to the best film elements and the director approved HD transfer. So how is Criterion's master better?

For the same reason that Criterion's master for The Seven Samurai looks better than Toho Japan's, and their master for Dazed & Confused looks better than Universal's...Criterion does better transfers than every other studio. It doesn't matter which country the master resides in if the company doing the restoration isn't held to the same standards as the other.

a dirt-free, scratch-free master will result in a better looking 480p image than a scratched, dirty master will look in 1080p. This is the case with Traffic, as i stated before. The traffic HD-DVD was the second title I bought for the format. The first thing i did was compare it in real-time to the Criterion DVD by switching inputs back and forth, and this was without upconverting the DVD version at all. They look almost identical...The reason: Criterions master is much better and more well-restored than Universal's. The same thing happened with Dazed and Confused. The criterion DVD is in the DVD Talk Collector Series, and received an almost perfect score for PQ. (4.5/5)

But remember, I've not seen either version, and I'm sure the HD-DVD looks great. I regret trying to do anyone a favor by informing them of the version Criterion was releasing - a more definitive edition overall, that may or may not mimic the PQ to an indistinguishable degree. Toshiba standalone owners like to talk about how great the upconversion is, has that changed recently?

The choice:
Barebones HD-DVD for $32.95 ($35.49 shipped from xploited)
Totally stacked Criterion 2-disc DVD for $27.95 ($27.95 shipped from amazon)

PQ might be markedly better on the HD-DVD...or maybe not. Which is the better buy...

I got La Haine HD DVD for under $30 shipped from sendit.com...

So, I just ordered La Haine with Harry Potter. It seems prices at Amazon.co.uk are getting reasonable:

La Haine [HD DVD] [1995] - Vincent Cassel
£12.75 - Quantity: 1 - In stock
Condition: new
Sold by: Amazon.co.uk
Gift options None

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire [HD DVD] [2005] - Daniel Radcliffe
£11.04 - Quantity: 1 - In stock
Condition: new
Sold by: Amazon.co.uk
Gift options None

Subtotal of Items: £23.79
Postage & Packing: £4.07
------
Total for this order: £27.86

At current rates, that's about US$55 or CAD$60 total for both discs. At my local HMV store in Toronto, La Haine alone was CAD$50. Ouch.

I bought it blind and sold it after I viewed it.

Not that it was a bad film, but I didn't really connect with it.

Quality was very good.

Well, I'm buying La Haine blind too. We'll see...

Whatever the case, I'm just happy the prices are half decent for some imports these days. Amazon.co.uk used to be outrageously priced for nearly all DVDs and HD DVDs, by North American standards, but times are changing I guess.

Criterion probably obtained the transfer from Studio Canal.
There is no way it will look better on DVD (even upscaled) than on HD DVD.

I've got this on HD-DVD. Thought it looked great.
The way I look at it the movie dosent have to POP but simpliy look clean with no artifacts. Which this has.
That's one of my favorite parts of HD the cleaness of the picture and lack of visible compression...

This release is head and shoulders above Optimum's sd release, the difference is drastic but it still looks like an upscale when compared to other HD discs. Criterion's release is better than Optimum's but I feel it'll fall short when compared to the HD.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews5/hate.htm

I reckon they did the best they could with the source material. For anyone who hasn't seen this film yet, do yourself a favour and don't delay watching it.

Edit:

Taken from Optimum's sd dvd compared in dvdbeaver and the hd release.
Sd release upscaled to 1080p w/ Xbox 360.

SD:
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/5614/35758520ip2.th.jpg (http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=35758520ip2.jpg)

HD:
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/817/17835748xv5.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=17835748xv5.jpg)

SD:
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7742/56954303nx6.th.jpg (http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=56954303nx6.jpg)

HD:
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6590/39673727qv4.th.jpg (http://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?image=39673727qv4.jpg)

Thx. Those pix really illustrate the marked improvement of the HD transfer, but it ain't no Tier 0 release of course.

That's fine with me, especially given the £12.75 price.


That's one of my favorite parts of HD the cleaness of the picture and lack of visible compression...
Same here. My HDTV is fairly small, and it can't resolve the full 1080p rez. Now, the detail on my TV with HD content is still light years ahead of DVD, but just as important to me is the lack of obvious artifacts.