Here are the first two HD DVD reviews of Black Snake Moan:

http://www.hddb.net/reviews/1458

Man I thought this was a porn at first.

Man I thought this was a porn at first.
:p

HighDefDigest review up - 5 Stars for video: "Boasting superb visuals equal to 'The Ultimate Matrix Collection,' 'Black Snake Moan' features reference quality video that quite simply has to be seen to be believed."

Blu-ray gets shorted on audio again DD+ 1.5mbps on HD DVD, only 640 kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 surround on BD. "In a direct compare, there's an audible difference between the two tracks, with the HD DVD sounding a bit fuller and more robust than the Blu-ray version".


- Can't post link yet, under 5 posts with my new AVS username.

^Here's the link: http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/blacksnakemoan.html

Looks like another one on my list to pick up.

This will be a blind buy for me after seeing the screenshots of Christina Ricci on highdefdigest :D

Tom

I wonder if it is really MPEG4 AVC like is stated in the review or VC1 like every other Paramount release... His Untouchables review said the HD DVD was MPEG4 AVC originally, and it was changed only after a member from this forum pointed it out.

What's up with the $39.99 list price on a non-combo! Puts the price tag in the upper $20's into the $30's at most stores.

I'd blind by if it was $20.

I wonder if it is really MPEG4 AVC like is stated in the review or VC1 like every other Paramount release... His Untouchables review said the HD DVD was MPEG4 AVC originally, and it was changed only after a member from this forum pointed it out.

That was Peter Bracke on HDD who mis-stated that The Untouchables was AVC.

This is Ken Brown on HDD who reviewed Black Snake. The DVDTalk review (http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=28816) also says this is AVC.

(Yeah, over 5 posts now :p )

Is the movie any good to worth a blind buy?

I wonder if it is really MPEG4 AVC like is stated in the review or VC1 like every other Paramount release... Paramount does have a fair number of AVC titles. I'm not sure if this is a complete list:

Babel
Black Snake Moan
Dreamgirls (the movie is VC-1, but some of the extras are AVC)
Freedom Writers
Norbit
Payback
The Warriors

I've verified most of those myself.

I'd like to know too

Yeah Paramount's pricing especially for Single disc non combo is annoying. I'd get this disc but the price is pretty steep.

I just realized that it's priced that high. At least with a combo there is an excuse (albeit a weak and stupid one).

Yeah Paramount's pricing especially for Single disc non combo is annoying. I'd get this disc but the price is pretty steep.

Yeah, the brand new single disc titles are the same price as the 2 disc titles. Maybe they want us to feel better when we buy the 2 disc ones for the same price.

Great picture quality.....but how is the movie?

I don't want this to be another Aeon Flux or A Scanner Darkly ;)

Anybody seen it yet or in the theater?

I thought Babel looked amazing. AVC is fine by me, if those are the results.

Great picture quality.....but how is the movie?

I don't want this to be another Aeon Flux or A Scanner Darkly ;)

Anybody seen it yet or in the theater?
Well, go rent it. I for one really like this movie, but that doesn't mean a thing when it comes to your opinion. The best you can do is read the movie's synopsis and rent it if it seems to appeal to your tastes.

Is the movie any good to worth a blind buy?
Rent.
And I liked it! Yet can't say anyone else would. It's as goofy as the trailer, butt :p Ricci is SUPER entertaining :eek: & I LUV'd the music :cool: .

Any one know of a cheap price for this? :D
I agree, it steep. :(

Where is beatboy with his Blu-Ray having the best transfer period with POTC? Now it looks like Blu will have to share the title with Red.

Netflix sent me an email earlier suggesting that I will have this tomorrow. :D

I've only been a member for a week or so, but Netflix is easily living up to the positive reviews they've been getting here for HD-DVD.

Another situation where the technically inferior format on paper gets a superior real world product. It must kill the blu crowd that after all their fuss over interactive feature ("dont care, just want the best sound and picture") that they get yet another crippled 640k/s Dolby Digital track. Not saying that it matters too much, but the irony of it is sublime. And then of course the cherry on top is that somehow it is HD DVD's fault. :p

Based on past new releases of combos with this suggested price I'm gonna speculate FYE Superstore has this for $28.99 tomorrow/today. If you're a backstage pass member it is probably going to come out to $26.10. Still a little steep. I'll probably buy this one regardless. I'm going to investigate the prices as I was hoping they'll have Army of Darkness on the non combo and Meet Joe Black for $15.99 so I'll report back on what they're charging.

Another situation where the technically inferior format on paper gets a superior real world product. It must kill the blu crowd that after all their fuss over interactive feature ("dont care, just want the best sound and picture") that they get yet another crippled 640k/s Dolby Digital track. Not saying that it matters too much, but the irony of it is sublime. And then of course the cherry on top is that somehow it is HD DVD's fault. :p



home theater spots reviewer has this to say..."I reviewed the Blu-ray disc and found no discernible differences between that track and this one."


He seemed to find the audio to be the same between the two. Each reviewer has his own views, cant really take anyone as gospel...im sure both will sound just find to any fan of the film.

Another situation where the technically inferior format on paper gets a superior real world product. It must kill the blu crowd that after all their fuss over interactive feature ("dont care, just want the best sound and picture") that they get yet another crippled 640k/s Dolby Digital track. Not saying that it matters too much, but the irony of it is sublime. And then of course the cherry on top is that somehow it is HD DVD's fault. :p

I wouldn't call it crippled just like I wouldn't call the HD-DVD version of The Departed crippled. I would say 98% of people wouldn't be able to even tell a difference including me.

Another situation where the technically inferior format on paper gets a superior real world product. It must kill the blu crowd that after all their fuss over interactive feature ("dont care, just want the best sound and picture") that they get yet another crippled 640k/s Dolby Digital track. Not saying that it matters too much, but the irony of it is sublime. And then of course the cherry on top is that somehow it is HD DVD's fault. :p

No kidding, I enjoy it when BD gets DD 640 kbps and HD DVD gets DD+ 1.5 mbps

Based on past new releases of combos with this suggested price I'm gonna speculate FYE Superstore has this for $28.99 tomorrow/today. If you're a backstage pass member it is probably going to come out to $26.10. Still a little steep. I'll probably buy this one regardless. I'm going to investigate the prices as I was hoping they'll have Army of Darkness on the non combo and Meet Joe Black for $15.99 so I'll report back on what they're charging.
I was at a Superstore today but didn't check on this disk, since I'd never heard of it until about a half hour ago. Looks like one I want though.

What is the price on it?

The Superstore does have Big Lebowski sale priced at $19.99 ($17.99 with the card).

UPDATE: The FYE Superstore I called says it is $29.99. The non-Superstore wants $32.99.

ok, just ordered it. The movie looks interesting and strange, I likey. Too bad about the price, combo price on a non combo. Ordered Lebowski and Midnight Run as well. My own personal buy day.

It's a blind buy for me I love Sam J....And Christina Ricci half naked doesn't hurt either...

Djoel

I enjoyed it a lot it looked and sounded phenomenal. If I can find it cheap on Amazon marketplace I would definitely pick this one up.

I love this movie. The transfer to HDDVD was crisp and clear and the soundstage was very well done. The lightning sequence was incredible...

Great picture quality.....but how is the movie?

I don't want this to be another Aeon Flux or A Scanner Darkly ;)

Anybody seen it yet or in the theater?

I saw the trailer last fall in the theater and my jaw hit the floor. I thought to myself then, this is the perfect grindhouse premise- Southern black blues man chains up sexy white trash girl to his radiator and tries to cure her of her nymphomania.
The film takes that premise and , after getting some milage out of the exploitative potential with Ricci in her panites for much of the first half hour- attempts to sincerly explore the characters and situation.
It might get a little too feel good for some people by the end- but I for one enjoyed the southern gothic milieu and was fascinated by the directors efforts to make these characters dimensional and treat the premise realistically.

Afterwards I thought to myself that I would most likely buy it by the time it came out on HD DVD because it would be getting hyped up, and I would probably be looking for any excuse to buy more content.
And seeing Ricci run around in her panties (or less) in HD for a 1/2 a film wouldn't seem to be a bad way to spend a summer evening.

I'm surprised the PQ is getting such raves as I remember it looked ok, but not exceptionally spectacular in the theater.

One other thing, I was floored when I realized Kim Richards was playing Riccis mom. She's excellant, but this was the girl I (and a lot of other guys my age) had a crush on as a kid, and to see her looking as old and as haggard as they made her look here was a big shock to the system. I thought it must be Cloris Leachmans daughter at first.

How racy is this movie, really?
Any steamier than the sex scene in Monster's Ball, for instance? I'm tempted to buy this one if the story has depth and acting is worthy, but if the movie is nothing more than an excuse for soft-porn, I'll probably pass. The reviews and above poster's comments are promising, but I've had several blind buys that didn't thrill me, so any more comments on the movie itself are welcome.

ss9001

Wal-mart had this title for $25.96 yesterday. Snag!

I received both Black Snake Moan and the Big Lebowski yesterday. I got BSM mainly for the music, and I plan to watch it tonight. However, I had never seen the Big Lebowski - a blind buy for me. Now that is such an awesome movie. I kept wanting to rewatch different scenes immediately after the movie. I haven't seen a movie I enjoyed so much in quite awhile....hoping BSM will be in the same league :)

I am now tempted to get Mystery Men and Meet Joe Black as well...

Watched it last night. Total blind buy for me. Enjoyed the movie. Ricci is a hot chick.

I saw Meet Joe Black on cable the other night and didn't really get it. I was looking forward to buying this on HD. Good cast how could it go wrong.

he is the grim reaper? didn't really get that part of it but I did miss the first 10 or 15 minutes though

Got mine from Netflix. This is a superb transfer indeed, top tier no doubt.
The film is entertaining, but it is I'm sure is not for everyone. Ricci does look hot here.
Having said that Monster's Ball was more serious and more graphic as well.

Got this playing now. On of the best looking HD-DVD's I've seen. Now off to finish watching the film. Top notch PQ! Reference material!!!

I
One other thing, I was floored when I realized Kim Richards was playing Riccis mom. She's excellant, but this was the girl I (and a lot of other guys my age) had a crush on as a kid, and to see her looking as old and as haggard as they made her look here was a big shock to the system. I thought it must be Cloris Leachmans daughter at first.

yeah, haha, wow. the only other times i remember seeing her was in return to witch mountain when i was like 4. safe to say i didn't realize until you pointed it out.


anyway, pic quality was quite good, audio wasn't bad, but hardly the greatest i've heard on the format. movie was better than i expected, although certainly not typical mainstream, haha.

I loved the movie. Rented adn then went out and bought

I would say this is as high of PQ as you will find on either format. Absolutely stunning in every way. This was a blind buy for me when it came out, and it was well worth it. I myself rank it higher than the Matrix Trilogy in PQ.

I finally got around to watching Black Snake Moan yesterday after picking it up on release day last month.

Not only is this one of the best looking transfers, but the DD+ audio sounds great as well. Great movie, too.

Just watched this movie with my girlfriend and we were both blown away at the PQ, not to mention its flat out an awesome movie.

Highly recommended.

The comparison with BD is interesting in this case, as apparently both HD DVD and BD encodes are AVC. No word on if they are identical; like Warner. This BD is AVC on a BD 25; on Shooter Paramount used MPEG2 high bitrate on a BD50. Looks like they were experimenting.

Great flick...better than expected and a 100% keeper. I was impresed by the performances, the storyline, the direction, and pretty much everything else. Great atmosphere as well.....just excellent.

Highly Recommended! :)