Why did sony change the aspect ratio?

The glossy cover looks cool.

What do you mean? The cover on the back says 2:40:1.

Received one of my replacements from Sony this past Tuesday. :)

Why did sony change the aspect ratio?

There is no change to the aspect ratio.

Received one of my replacements from Sony this past Tuesday. :)

Received my replacement copy today!

Received my replacement copy today!

when did you send slimm? mine left here on 15th of june! no show yet.

when did you send slimm? mine left here on 15th of june! no show yet.

That's about the time I sent mine, maybe a week later.

I've been to 5 Best Buys, Frys and Circuit City. Where the heck is this remastered BD?!?!?!?!

I've been to 5 Best Buys, Frys and Circuit City. Where the heck is this remastered BD?!?!?!?!
maybe you saw them but thought they were the original version? why not just order online? you've wasted so much gas already.

Amazon!

Finally got around to watching this. Superb! Very enjoyable. I can't believe that I still get so much enjoyment out of this movie as many times as I have seen it. This remastered Blu-ray version has really breathed new life into it though. Amazing how many new details that I saw compared to the DVD!

Sound quality is also superb! :cool:

Finally got around to watching this. Superb! Very enjoyable. I can't believe that I still get so much enjoyment out of this movie as many times as I have seen it. This remastered Blu-ray version has really breathed new life into it though. Amazing how many new details that I saw compared to the DVD!

Sound quality is also superb! :cool:

Agreed.

Finally got around to watching this. Superb! Very enjoyable. I can't believe that I still get so much enjoyment out of this movie as many times as I have seen it. This remastered Blu-ray version has really breathed new life into it though. Amazing how many new details that I saw compared to the DVD!

Sound quality is also superb! :cool:

I am embarrassed to confess I had not seen this until watching the remastered version. I have a feeling I am going to be watching it a lot. As I said in the tier thread, the closeups of Milla Jovovich are probably the most spectacular shots I have ever seen.

maybe you saw them but thought they were the original version? why not just order online? you've wasted so much gas already.

No, I know which one is the new one. Yeah, guess I'll just have to order from Amazon. It's just silly that the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex doesn't have one store that has the new copies. My obsessive compulsive disorder refused to believe that it was not at any of the stores :confused:

BTW, I just started looking for it since I got my PS3 a couple of days ago.

I am embarrassed to confess I had not seen this until watching the remastered version. I have a feeling I am going to be watching it a lot. As I said in the tier thread, the closeups of Milla Jovovich are probably the most spectacular shots I have ever seen.

So you enjoyed the movie itself too? Some don't get the "tongue in cheek" nature of the movie.

I didn't even plan to watch the whole thing last night. It was late, I was tired, so I thought I would just give it a glance to see how it looked and watch the rest some other time.

I was so enthralled with what I was seeing and hearing that I watched it from beginning to end....and had a huge grin on my face while doing so. I kept saying to myself "man, I can't believe that I am getting this much enjoyment out of this"! Kind of a guilty pleasure thing I guess.

This movie just has a high rewatchability factor for me. And as annoying as the Chris Tucker character is, I still found myself laughing out loud to him a couple times. :eek:

So you enjoyed the movie itself too? Some don't get the "tongue in cheek" nature of the movie.

I didn't even plan to watch the whole thing last night. It was late, I was tired, so I thought I would just give it a glance to see how it looked and watch the rest some other time.

I was so enthralled with what I was seeing and hearing that I watched it from beginning to end....and had a huge grin on my face while doing so. I kept saying to myself "man, I can't believe that I am getting this much enjoyment out of this"! Kind of a guilty pleasure thing I guess.

This movie just has a high rewatchability factor for me. And as annoying as the Chris Tucker character is, I still found myself laughing out loud to him a couple times. :eek:

I think I found the Chris Tucker character much more irritating the first time I watched it than on subsequent viewings.

There are just a lot of things to like about the movie.

Any movie with Ian Holm and Gary Oldman as major characters can't be bad, right?

This is definitely not 2001, and it's NOT supposed to be. I don't know why some people just slam this movie. I don't think it was meant to stir the depths of your emotion or intellect :rolleyes:

It's simply an enjoyable, fun, funny and exciting movie to watch. The visuals are stunning and the music is great. I don't think any of the actors took themselves too seriously, and Jean Paul Gaultier as the costume designer shows the makers of this movie wanted to have a lot of fun.

When I don't have any particular movie in mind to watch, I know I can throw this in and enjoy it like it was the first time I watched it. My friends who never saw it before are stunned by the visuals and usually end up wanting to watch it again.

p.s. can't wait for Starship Troopers (my very first purchased DVD) on BD. Yet another campy fun movie to watch.

I think I found the Chris Tucker character much more irritating the first time I watched it than on subsequent viewings.

There are just a lot of things to like about the movie.

Any movie with Ian Holm and Gary Oldman as major characters can't be bad, right?

Exactly right.

For another Luc Besson film that has Gary Oldman in it, I highly recommend The Professional (aka "Leon")! :cool:

Exactly right.

For another Luc Besson film that has Gary Oldman in it, I highly recommend The Professional (aka "Leon")! :cool:

Bring me every one of Luc Besson's films that have Gary Oldman in it.
What do you mean "everyone?"
EVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVERYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYONNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!!!!

Bring me every one of Luc Besson's films that have Gary Oldman in it.
What do you mean "everyone?"
EVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVERYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYONNNNNNNNNNEEEEEE!!!!

:D :p ;) :cool:

Last nite on TNT-HD, the TFE was playing (only caught the last few minutes :( ).
Having not viewed my copy of the re-master yet, I threw it into the Panny for comparison's sake.
While the Dish Network broadcast was excellent, the BD blew it away.
Much more detail, so much so it revealed some grain that was absent from the TNT source.

Not the best looking BD I have seen, but very impressive nonetheless. :)

Last nite on TNT-HD, the TFE was playing (only caught the last few minutes :( ).
Having not viewed my copy of the re-master yet, I threw it into the Panny for comparison's sake.
While the Dish Network broadcast was excellent, the BD blew it away.
Much more detail, so much so it revealed some grain that was absent from the TNT source.

Not the best looking BD I have seen, but very impressive nonetheless. :)I compared it against TNT-HD also. The Blu-ray version is head over heels better. :)

Yeah, guess I'll just have to order from Amazon. It's just silly that the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex doesn't have one store that has the new copies. My obsessive compulsive disorder refused to believe that it was not at any of the stores :confused:
Don't feel bad, I looked high and low locally as well and turned up nothing (checked local Best Buys, Circuit Cities, Wal*Marts and even Hastings). Like you, I finally gave in and ordered from Amazon. Bah.

Hopefully mine finally comes tom'w. Damn amazon and their "free" shipping...

I compared it against TNT-HD also. The Blu-ray version is head over heels better. :)

Agreed! Not to mention that it is OAR! ;)

I compared it against TNT-HD also. The Blu-ray version is head over heels better. :)
You're comparing a OAR version with the zoom cropped edited version that ran on TNT? The TNT version was censored with digital images keyed over whenever there was too much skin showing. The version I have on DVHS from HBO years ago it looks far far better than the TNT and far far better than the original Blu-ray. I can't believe that Sony didn't get the Blu-ray right the first time--especially since they were including this movie with their player.

I'm supposed to post more screenshots this weekend but the arrival of 300, Hot Fuzz and Shaun completely took all of my time. Not to mention some imports ;)


HBO, TNT, DVD, Original BD & RM BD will go up later tonight.

BTW any suggestion for a perfect scene to do use?

HBO, TNT, DVD, Original BD & RM BD will go up later tonight.

BTW any suggestion for a perfect scene to do use?

nipple scene.
thank you.
:D

I finally got around to watching the re-released TFE last weekend...

NICE JOB SONY!!! :)

nipple scene.
thank you.
:D

There are several of those. :eek: :D

There are several of those. :eek: :D

There is an even better one in the 2nd resident evil movie.

I have to put in my 2 cents on this remastered version.

This is one of my all time favorite movies to watch and I too found myself grining after watching it this weekend.

I am hearing the actors voices echo with in the opening scene in the temple that I never heard before. Simply awesome. :)

The picture quality also looks amazing and this is on a 720p projector

There is an even better one in the 2nd resident evil movie.
And both still need boob-jobs! :D

Watched it last night (didn't want to view the original BD version) and it was worth the wait.


Can anyone confirm this for me. On the scene where they (Dallas and Lelu) fly to Floston Paradise does the spaceship have a greenish glow around it? Like the matte for the ship wasn't fully transparent.

Noticed this on a few scenes. With HD and BD, it's so easy seeing bad comps/cgi....

Finally Oldman's white stripes are properly rendered. They were a flickering mess in all previous versions.

Finally got my replacement remastered copy and like others was also blown away by the remastered video.


What caught me off guard was the the TrueHD soundtrack seems to be a noticably diffterent mix than the uncompressed PCM (which seems the same as the superbit versions.) The TrueHD track seemed to have much more activity in the surrounds. At times it seemed a nice improvement, others it felt to be too over the top and distracting.

Just me or have others noticed a difference as well ?

Yay, got mine remastered version in the mail today, only 10 days after the original version bought from BB and not even opened was sent...

I got the remixed this week and the difference between it and the original is like the difference between shite and shiney!

Superbit DVD

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u98/adzez/5th%20element/d265d489.png

http://www.imageviper.com/displayimage/93464/0/5thelementmultipass1tnthd1.png



http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u98/adzez/5th%20element/ddfa59f9.png

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u98/adzez/5th%20element/370707f0.png

http://www.imageviper.com/displayimage/93465/0/5thelementmultipass1remaste.png

Xylon?!?!?


What the hell is going on...?!?!?

;)


Anyways I got my copy (along with The Warriors) and it looks amazing. Fine work!

(The Warriors looks excellent too, shockingly so for an almost 30 year old low budget film...)

The new AVC BRD is definitely the most detailed. It's the only version that fully resolves the horizontal lines in the multipass.

Wow! The scar below the right eye on Willis is much more visible in the second picture!
Also, the colour temperature is more natural. The slightly pink hue is replaced with green it seems.

hi, i just tried finding this movie at my local BB (Hickory Hollow, Nashville, TN) and they didn't have it. The clerk checked the computer, said it told him they didn't even carry it tho he remembered stocking it himself in the past. Weird experience, i guess i'll order from Amazon or something...

The audio quality is what does it for me. The original and Superbit R1 versions sounded kinda brittle in the higher registers (like when the Diva reaches that super-high note in the opera sequence), and while the PCM doesn't cure that harshness completely I can finally watch that particular scene without cringeing. Diva Plavalaguna now wails away without a hint of distortion.

Oh, and the picture quality ain't bad either. :D I never had the original BD for comparison's sake, but the new one looks pretty darn fine (if a little 'edgy').

the new screenshot #7 has been added to the mouseovers :)

BD vs. BD (remastered)
» http://hd-discs.mbmg.de/thefifthelement_bd-vs-bdremastered/07.html
BD (remastered) vs. Superbit DVD
» http://hd-discs.mbmg.de/thefifthelement_bd-vs-bdremastered/07_sd-vs-bdremastered.html

i just bought this and tried it on my ps3 rs1 combo. holy crap i'm in love again...

Watched this today and the picture quality and sound was fantastic.They really did a amazing job on this remaster and was really glad to see Sony or any company step up and take responsibility for the mess up and make it right.

hi, i just tried finding this movie at my local BB (Hickory Hollow, Nashville, TN) and they didn't have it. The clerk checked the computer, said it told him they didn't even carry it tho he remembered stocking it himself in the past. Weird experience, i guess i'll order from Amazon or something...

I bought a PS3 last weekend, and was itching to see this movie. I went to 3 stores. The first had a copy of the original BD(!), the other two had nothing. So, I got it from Amazon instead, and probably at a better price.

Doug

I watched about half of it last night, and it looks wonderful. However, I noticed in the opening credits a slight wobbling of the text against the black background. Did anyone else see it? I'm thinking it's either a flaw in the telecine used to master the data, or something in the PS3 or between the PS3 and my TV.

Doug

Hey ya'll, I've got the remaster and I'm playing it on my PS3, I've tried DMI through my Westi to optical to my receiver, a Sony STR-DE845, and I've tried skipping the TV, wring optical straight through to the receiver, but the receiver says the signal is only PCM, 2 channels. What's going on?

I've tried selecting PCM 5.1 and 5.1 TrueHD in the disc's menu to no avail, and switching between Bitstream and Linear PCM in the PS3 menu to no avail. I've Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, and PCM selected as possible outputs on the PS3.

Why isn't the receiver registering Dolby Digital 5.1?

The PQ dropped during the final sequences just like many other titles. Don't know why this is becoming common phenomenon ?

Hey ya'll, I've got the remaster and I'm playing it on my PS3, I've tried DMI through my Westi to optical to my receiver, a Sony STR-DE845, and I've tried skipping the TV, wring optical straight through to the receiver, but the receiver says the signal is only PCM, 2 channels. What's going on?

I've tried selecting PCM 5.1 and 5.1 TrueHD in the disc's menu to no avail, and switching between Bitstream and Linear PCM in the PS3 menu to no avail. I've Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, and PCM selected as possible outputs on the PS3.

Why isn't the receiver registering Dolby Digital 5.1?


Well if you used PCM or Dolby TrueHD your receiver would never register DD since it will only be receiving 5.1 pcm. The PS3 decodes the TrueHD track and passes it to the receiver as mutichannel pcm. And of course the PCM track is already pcm. But for the 5th element you should use the Dolby True HD track, it is 20bit, while the pcm track is only 16 bit.

Well if you used PCM or Dolby TrueHD your receiver would never register DD since it will only be receiving 5.1 pcm. The PS3 decodes the TrueHD track and passes it to the receiver as mutichannel pcm. And of course the PCM track is already pcm. But for the 5th element you should use the Dolby True HD track, it is 20bit, while the pcm track is only 16 bit.

I am sure this has been asked 100 times but if the master is 16 bit wouldnt you just want to listen to the PCM at 16 bit rather than a converted 20 bit version ????

I am sure this has been asked 100 times but if the master is 16 bit wouldnt you just want to listen to the PCM at 16 bit rather than a converted 20 bit version ????

Is the master 16bit or 20bit? I would think it's in 20bit or 24bit otherwise what is the point in having a higher bit depth than the master.

Is the master 16bit or 20bit? I would think it's in 20bit or 24bit otherwise what is the point in having a higher bit depth than the master.

16 bit.

But starting out at a higher audio resolution may offset any loss "downstream", visually compare it to the same way 480i SD programming usually looks a lot better on 1080i HD stations than a normal SD channel.

This will be my fourth copy of Fifth Element [Original DVD, Superbit, Ultimate Edition] and now the Re-Mastered Blu-Ray :) Waiting for my copy to arrive.

This will be my fourth copy of Fifth Element [Original DVD, Superbit, Ultimate Edition] and now the Re-Mastered Blu-Ray :) Waiting for my copy to arrive.

It looks and sounds great.

Hi ya guys , Just got my Blu ray Remastered Edition of Fifth Element Today :) Wow its Amazing , Colour and sound miles better , Also i got Mad Max 2 aswell and thats imba when you compair it to dvd Quality , it was like watching a new film :) Im loving this Blu ray stuff x

Popped it in again this weekend and I really wasn't planning on watching that much of it as some friends wanted to just take a peek. All in all the time viewed was about 30 minutes and they were all impressed.

This title is tough to beat "bang for buck"! :)

You are right but the PQ on the last 15 minutes won't be that impressive.

You are right but the PQ on the last 15 minutes won't be that impressive.

You don't quote, so we really don't know for sure what post your are responding to. What movie are you talking about? Are you saying the last 15 minutes of the remastered 5th Element aren't impressive? I don't comprehend this at all. Please explain.

Okay, I got a bluray drive a couple months ago. I've seen maybe a dozen or so BD's from Netflix and I own five now. I just got around to picking up The Fifth Element remastered. Problem: No DD 5.1 track.
I'm not ready to upgrade my old 5.1 reciever to a 7.1 until I get a house, so right now I'm using spdif from my computer to the reciever. I've tried Cyberlink PowerDVD which I quickly dropped as it's horribly unstable, and now I'm using Arcsoft TMT. Neither one will re-encode the PCM or TrueHD tracks into DD5.1. This sucks, as The Fifth Element is the first BD I haven't been able to hear in surround, I can only get 2.0 from the spdif. Sure, most people are running a dedicated player and don't have this problem, but I don't see at all why they didn't include the DD5.1 track. It's not like it would take up too much space.
My only choices are to either buy a new sound card that does DD live encoding or go ahead and get that new reciever and either use 7.1 analog or wait for a soundcard that outputs hdmi. Neither of which are in the budget for at least a year (I'm saving up for downpayment on a house so I can build a dedicated theater.)

Not looking for suggestions, just voicing a complaint. I don't see why they didn't include a DD track, though I understand my situation is uncommon (and of course fixable, with $$ at least).

uhm... it does have a DD5.1 track... your software is just trying to use the truehd track instead of the hidden DD track

though it's still odd they put PCM and truehd on the disc you only really need one

uhm... it does have a DD5.1 track... your software is just trying to use the truehd track instead of the hidden DD track

though it's still odd they put PCM and truehd on the disc you only really need one

I was under the impression from previous talk in this thread that there was no DD track.
If there is, then it is indeed hidden, at least from BD software, as I went through every menu, setup and audio track selection looking for it.

You don't quote, so we really don't know for sure what post your are responding to. What movie are you talking about? Are you saying the last 15 minutes of the remastered 5th Element aren't impressive? I don't comprehend this at all. Please explain.

My reply was to the post quoted below.

Popped it in again this weekend and I really wasn't planning on watching that much of it as some friends wanted to just take a peek. All in all the time viewed was about 30 minutes and they were all impressed.

This title is tough to beat "bang for buck"!

I was under the impression from previous talk in this thread that there was no DD track.
If there is, then it is indeed hidden, at least from BD software, as I went through every menu, setup and audio track selection looking for it.

there IS a DD track... otherwise i wouldn't get DD5.1 output when playing it on my ps3... truehd discs from some studios (sony) hide the DD5.1 track... you select truehd in the menu and if you are using optical output it uses the DD5.1 track

Yes, you should be able to play the DD 5.1 with no problems.

Just an FYI this movie is on sale at Amazon.com for like $11.95 right now.

I watched about half of it last night, and it looks wonderful. However, I noticed in the opening credits a slight wobbling of the text against the black background. Did anyone else see it? I'm thinking it's either a flaw in the telecine used to master the data, or something in the PS3 or between the PS3 and my TV.

Doug

It's on the master.

I was wondering how one would know if they have bought the correct remastered version of Fifth Element. I picked up a copy at Futureshop up here in Canada as my first Blu ray movie and I'm not sure if it's the right one? Does it say remastered on it or something to that effect because mine doesn't.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I was wondering how one would know if they have bought the correct remastered version of Fifth Element. I picked up a copy at Futureshop up here in Canada as my first Blu ray movie and I'm not sure if it's the right one? Does it say remastered on it or something to that effect because mine doesn't.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.Check the back of the box. The new remastered edition has a Dolby TrueHD audio track, the old one does not.

Kal

You are right but the PQ on the last 15 minutes won't be that impressive.

?

The credits? :D

Sorry, I'm sure all of your dedicated players output DD5.1 just fine, but it's just not an option for The Fifth Element on PowerDVD or Arcsoft TMT (I haven't tried WinDVD, but I always hated it.) I tried again, every audio option available. It only gives me the option of two english tracks, presumably the PCM and TrueHD, both sound the same, neither will give me DD5.1. Incidentally, the French track does play in DD5.1, so the player can decode DD5.1 from the disc, it just doesn't seem to know how to play the hidden english DD5.1 track. Perhaps a future update would fix this, but my player has the latest update as of now.

On the topic of PQ, holy crap, what about that digital matte job in the scene where the spaceship takes of from earth?! Did anyone else notice that horrible greenish trapezoid around the ship against the black backdrop of space? I never, ever noticed it on the dvd. One of the things I notice most about Bluray is the immensely improved color depth, but this is one example of when more information and clearer picture is not so great. Luckily it only takes a minute to forget about it, but when I saw it at first, I had to rewind to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I guess they didn't figure on HD when they skimped on the matte job there.

On the topic of PQ, holy crap, what about that digital matte job in the scene where the spaceship takes of from earth?! Did anyone else notice that horrible greenish trapezoid around the ship against the black backdrop of space? I never, ever noticed it on the dvd. One of the things I notice most about Bluray is the immensely improved color depth, but this is one example of when more information and clearer picture is not so great. Luckily it only takes a minute to forget about it, but when I saw it at first, I had to rewind to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I guess they didn't figure on HD when they skimped on the matte job there.Yeah, I noticed that too. My sharp-eyed roommate spotted something similar earlier in the flick. When Leelo punches the glass to escape from the chamber where they grew her, you can see the fake glass that the stuntperson punched. I love HD. :D

The PQ drops during the last 15 minutes after the The Diva Dance Song in comparison to the first 15 to 30 minutes or so. Am I not entitled to state my opinion ?

Yeah, I noticed that too. My sharp-eyed roommate spotted something similar earlier in the flick. When Leelo punches the glass to escape from the chamber where they grew her, you can see the fake glass that the stuntperson punched. I love HD. :D

I love it too. In my opinion, if a particular special FX shot sucked in the theater, it should should suck on the BRD too.

The special FX in most movies of this nature are a capture of a particular era in FX history, a particular cinematographic style, and a particular combination of budget, time, and skill. I say bring it all on and let the original composition live or die on its own merits.

I mean, how are we to comment intelligently on the quality of a movie's FX if we've never really seen them?

Yeah, I noticed that too. My sharp-eyed roommate spotted something similar earlier in the flick. When Leelo punches the glass to escape from the chamber where they grew her, you can see the fake glass that the stuntperson punched. I love HD. :D

you can catch the fake glass on the DVD too... and the UMD (even on the PSP screen)

you can catch the fake glass on the DVD too... and the UMD (even on the PSP screen)

I guess I was always too distracted by Milla's... um, perfection. ahem.

Check the back of the box. The new remastered edition has a Dolby TrueHD audio track, the old one does not.

Kal

Thanks very much Kal, your info is greatly appreciated.

http://www.upc-codes.com/show/043396215207/

Remember or bookmark this site.

here are Xylon's screenshots as mouseover images for easy comparison ;)
» http://www.mbmg.de/hd-discs/thefifthelement_bd-vs-bdremastered/01.html

damnit, why did avsforum use a commercial bulletin.. it would be very easy to knock up a quick mod/plugin that allows posters like xylon to specify an onmouseover alternate image.

Can anyone tell me what the difference is in terms of Audio format AND bitrate between the Sony Experience Logo (at the very beginning of the disc) and the actual movie is?

I get audio drop outs during the Sony experience splash screen at the beginning of the disc but the movie plays fine.

I am certain that this is not a smudge dirty disc issue as I am thinking its my reciever's limited capability of handling the audio format.

FYI: I am connected via Digital Optical Ouput bitstreamed.

Can anyone tell me what the difference is in terms of Audio format AND bitrate between the Sony Experience Logo (at the very beginning of the disc) and the actual movie is?

I get audio drop outs during the Sony experience splash screen at the beginning of the disc but the movie plays fine.

I am certain that this is not a smudge dirty disc issue as I am thinking its my reciever's limited capability of handling the audio format.

FYI: I am connected via Digital Optical Ouput bitstreamed.

Since you're connected via Optical (and not HDMI), you're only putting through 5.1 DD, not an HD lossless track. I doubt you're at the limits of receiver's audio format decoding.

damnit, why did avsforum use a commercial bulletin.. it would be very easy to knock up a quick mod/plugin that allows posters like xylon to specify an onmouseover alternate image.

Mouseovers I admit are much better to look at than flipping back and forth the pix.

http://www.blurayreviews.ch/reviews/fifth-element-the-de-blu-ray-review.htm

Fifth Element. German BD review.

http://www.blurayreviews.ch/reviews/fifth-element-the-de-blu-ray-review.htm

Fifth Element. German BD review.

For PQ, stick with the US. I guess this copy has a ton of extras though. I don't care about extras, just PQ and AQ.

For PQ, stick with the US. I guess this copy has a ton of extras though. I don't care about extras, just PQ and AQ.

Why? Do you have evidence it's a lesser transfer? I'm a lover of supplements, so if I can get access to them (missing, as they were, from the U.S. release) while not sacrificing video quality, I'd like to. Also, is it region free?

Why? Do you have evidence it's a lesser transfer? I'm a lover of supplements, so if I can get access to them (missing, as they were, from the U.S. release) while not sacrificing video quality, I'd like to. Also, is it region free?

I own both of them and made that decision watching both of them on the exact same setup. Just my conclusion, the US AVC looked a tad sharper and 3D depth looked slightly better. The German disc isn't bad or anything, I just think the US is slightly better. I didn't compare screen caps or anything.

I try not to judge on bitrate, but when the US nearly doubles the German at times, it's hard to ignore...

This site has comparisons between the US and German discs, including a link to mouseovers: http://www.hd-compare.com/2009/05/fifth-element.html

Things may be different during high-motion scenes though.

This site has comparisons between the US and German discs, including a link to mouseovers: http://www.hd-compare.com/2009/05/fifth-element.html

Things may be different during high-motion scenes though.

Good, my eyes didn't deceive me. :p I also prefer the US color.

Please stick to the topic and leave the other discussions to a different forum address. AVS is a place to discuss the hobby of home theater and electronics.

Thanks
Ron

how does the BD disk compare to say HBO HD? other than the audio difference.

how does the BD disk compare to say HBO HD? other than the audio difference.

This is no good way to ask or to compare. HBO HD isn't a uniform thang. In my experience, HBO HD looks much better on DirecTV than on Crumcast.

Was anyone successful in getting a replacement disc?

I shot off e-mails to SPHE's customer support, but never heard back.

how does the BD disk compare to say HBO HD? other than the audio difference.

HBO would crop the hell out of it.

HBO would crop the hell out of it.

Man oh man. I just hate this kind of unnecessary guesswork posting that ends up being erroneous. My old pappy used to say, if what you're saying isn't correct, then don't say it.

The Fifth Element was an early transfer done when HBO was just starting their HD channel in about 1999. It was OAR and it was a beautiful transfer. This was also when HBO and Dish was using high bitrate and bandwidth. It was a spectacular movie to watch from satellite. I still have my DVHS recording. The BD does look better, but not by a large amount.

If HBO was doing TFE today, it would be a different story. It would indeed by cropped to fill the screen and would be broadcast at a lower resolution and bitrate, etc.

HBO would crop the hell out of it.

Man oh man. I just hate this kind of unnecessary guesswork posting that ends up being erroneous. My old pappy used to say, if what you're saying isn't correct, then don't say it.

.............

If HBO was doing TFE today, it would be a different story. It would indeed by cropped to fill the screen and would be broadcast at a lower resolution and bitrate, etc.

?

Man oh man. I just hate this kind of unnecessary guesswork posting that ends up being erroneous. My old pappy used to say, if what you're saying isn't correct, then don't say it.

If HBO was doing TFE today, it would be a different story. It would indeed by cropped to fill the screen and would be broadcast at a lower resolution and bitrate, etc.

Which is what I was saying. :p