Just finished watching Troy: DC, and you can lay to rest any doubts, the reviews are correct, this disc looks GREAT all the way through, tons of detail, very consistent PQ, let no one try and convince you otherwise ::cough cough - a few BR FB's still in denial::, it's an amazing feat considering it's length and the inclusion of the trueHD audio track, some people will eventually just have to accept it ;). Another title that can be added to the group you use to impress your friends, no doubt about it, props to Warner and the people who encoded it! :D

http://www.sounds-of-schils.com/music/Dog.jpg

http://www.sounds-of-schils.com/music/Choke_her.jpg

http://www.sounds-of-schils.com/music/Beach.jpg

http://www.sounds-of-schils.com/music/Pitt.jpg

Very nice Schils, thanks for posting the pics. I went out again looking for the title and couldn't find it. Will try again this weekend. :D

I must have this.

I watched this also tonight, its a great leap ahead of the first disc.

I'm interested in this, but EVEN MORE bad acting will prevent me.

Very nice Schils, thanks for posting the pics. I went out again looking for the title and couldn't find it. Will try again this weekend. :D

My pleasure man, I got lucky at my BB, they got 4 in and I bought the fourth, and it was even HID, lol, somebody stashed it behind some others hoping to come back I suppose - WRONG! ;)

You have to understand it looks even better with the naked eye, I only sorta know how to take shots of my display, none of these looked as nice as the actual screen, but they do give you an idea it looks great, zero EE, zero grain, beautiful color, sharp picture, etc, 100% satisfied with the purchase. :)

-derek

So how is the actual movie? Troy is ok, and I'm not sure if I want to pick up the DC. Do the extended/added scenes make it better?

I never saw the original, that's why this was an easy buy for me (after reading the reviews of course, I believe RT even has the DC at 90%+)...I liked it, I thought the acting was actually pretty good (only Pitt and Bloom are weak - the rest, especially Bana were great)...only thing is, they should have entitled this movie "Achilles" rather then "Troy" - it sure seems focued on his character an awful lot, but then I never read or knew the origins of all these great Greek mytholoy tales anyway -- either way, that's Hollywood for ya, it was very fun to watch, bottom line. =)

I'm interested in this, but EVEN MORE bad acting will prevent me.

It really isnt bad at all. Yeah, Brad Pitt is slightly miscast but Eric Bana is a great character and the rest of the crew does a pretty good job. Its a decent story and there are some solid battle/strategy sequences that any medeival fans will like.

Its not a masterpiece by any means but its a damned fun movie, IMO.

I always thought the PQ of the first release was a little underwhelming at times so if this is better then that alone is enough for me to consider it as a rebuy....

(only Pitt and Bloom are weak - the rest, especially Bana were great)...only thing is, they should have entitled this movie "Achilles" rather then "Troy" - it sure seems focued on his character an awful lot
I agree with you on that, wish they would have spent more time with Paris (even though like you said, Orlando Bloom was weak) and Helen to truly give a sense that their love was as epic as the events it caused. I saw the original cut back on opening weekend and was hugely disappointed with it, so it was a new experience for me seeing the director's cut this week. Giving Odysseus (Sean Bean) a larger role was a big plus, but the most dramatic difference was the added violence. I thought the theatrical's battle scenes were very bland and boring... just indistinguishable soldiers swinging swords and people falling over. So reinstating the bloodshed made it more emotional and intense experience. I'd give the original a 4 out of 10, and the director's cut an 8/10

About the picture quality, this is my new favorite disc to show off HD. I have a 36" tv, so my opinion may mean sh*t on the matter... after watching Hot Fuzz and Black Snake Moan thinking "yeah this looks so much better, but nothing in the image jumps out at me." Troy impressed because being able to see the detail and texture in all the objects (especially the wall around Troy, and in the ornate armor of the greek kings) also all the individual footprints in the sand. It's razor sharp and clear throughout. I did my best to go back and look for the "macroblocking" and couldn't find it sitting inches from the screen and using zoom. If it's there it's a shame, I cant notice it but it would upset me knowing i'll eventually get a setup worthy of AVS's approval.

Maybe it would have been better to split it on two discs, or use a combo and just use the SD side for the special features. If the low bitrate is confined to scenes of characters talking then it doesnt matter, it's the fast motion sequences were the bitrate is needed.

Definitely better than the original cut. Does suffer from a little bit of "over Priam face shot", where we see Priam looking at the camera. Again. And again. Cut scene to Priam, show his face. Okay, now get Priam looking wide-eyed straight out. And again. Hold, cut to Priam...

Otherwise, indeed better. Enjoyed it, might be able to watch it in a blood-n-guts trio with 300 and Gladiator.

MEC2

I thought it was a second rate transfer of a second rate movie.
http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2568/snap2ov6.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap2ov6.jpg)http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/3708/snap56kw9.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap56kw9.jpg)http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/6319/snap55sr1.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap55sr1.jpg)http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2349/snap47ln1.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap47ln1.jpg)

Lacking in fine detail, surprisingly low bitrate.

I thought it was a second rate transfer of a second rate movie.
http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2568/snap2ov6.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap2ov6.jpg)http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/3708/snap56kw9.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap56kw9.jpg)http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/6319/snap55sr1.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap55sr1.jpg)http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2349/snap47ln1.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap47ln1.jpg)

Lacking in fine detail.

Even the DC version? I agree that the regular release was a little dicey....are you saying the DC is also bad?

Hmmm...I still have the original cut sealed wondering if this is worth trying to return the original and going in for the DC.

That first shot of Brad Pitt with the girls is from the theatrical cut not the Director's Cut. The woman in the background is fully nude in the director's cut.

As a matter of fact, those four screen shots can't be from the director's cut. They're flatter in appearance and color compared to the director's cut. The director's cut has a more vivid color scheme than those screencaps.

Even the DC version? I agree that the regular release was a little dicey....are you saying the DC is also bad?

I may have got my cuts mixed up, would they really have changed the transfer for the DC (unlikely)?
Schils photos still show a distinct lack of detail (lips and skin) and plenty of overchroma.
(screencaps always give a more realistic indication of colour than photos, Schils green helmet or my silver helmet)

If Schils photos are a true indication of a new "vivid" transfer for the DC, I can do without it as the colour balance is distinctly GREEN

We were supposed to get the best picture and sound with the first releases and now we're into the double dipping to the best picture?:mad: Why couldn't they do this the first time? PO that we're they're screwing us again. I have been an HD DVD supporter from the beginning but when Sony, for whom I have no love, screwed up with Fifth Element they issued a new fixed version. Now this is a DC so I guess we have a new term for substandard called Theatrical version.

I may have got my cuts mixed up, would they really have changed the transfer for the DC (unlikely)?
Schils photos still show a distinct lack of detail (lips and skin) and plenty of overchroma.
(screencaps always give a more realistic indication of colour than photos, Schils green helmet or my silver helmet)

If Schils photos are a true indication of a new "vivid" transfer for the DC, I can do without it as the colour balance is distinctly GREEN

It's a completely new transfer of an entirely new movie, sporting a new color mix supervised by the director.

It looks fantastic.

It's a completely new transfer of an entirely new movie, sporting a new color mix supervised by the director.

It looks fantastic.

But armour isn't green!
Do you really think the studio doesn't have the foresight to make the Theatrical and DC at the same time?

Oh and over in the Blu-Ray forum they are complaining bitterly about low bitrates and artifacting of the new DC
(which is the same transfer as the HD-DVD ...... their photos are magenta)

Well, like I mentioned above, I'm a ham-n-egger when it comes to taking shots of the display, surely somebody else is gonna throw up some great photos of the HD DVD version, I just wanted to put it out there right away to reassure people it looks great, thus all the great reviews. I don't have the previous cut to compare it with, all I know is after watching it, it's right up there PQ wise with many other highly thought of releases I happen to have, not kong, Seabiscuit, reference, etc, level, but it sure as hell ain't no dog either, I've seen 8-9 outta 10 marks for PQ and thats about right...if kong is a 10, this is a solid 8, period. If you haven't seen it, well, you'll see for yourself, I don't have to convince ya...

I agree, when gooki or somebody does direct screen grabs, we'll get a better idea. :)

But armour isn't green!
Do you really think the studio doesn't have the foresight to make the Theatrical and DC at the same time?

Oh and over in the Blu-Ray forum they are complaining bitterly about low bitrates and artifacting of the new DC
(which is the same transfer as the HD-DVD ...... their photos are magenta)

They like to complain... a lot. Just name it, they'll attack it. lol. Movies are rarely going to look perfect, and even then there will be someone saying it's not perfect. Let's just get back to ENJOYING movies, instead of picking them apart. "Oh my God, I just saw one speck on the screen for almost an eighth of a second! This is unacceptable and I'm writing the studio!"

:)

"Let's just get back to ENJOYING movies, instead of picking them apart. "Oh my God, I just saw one speck on the screen for almost an eighth of a second! This is unacceptable and I'm writing the studio!""

Sad but true. I have no problem with the pursuit of perfection, but you gotta stop and smell the flowers too, otherwise your just another old man screaming at clouds.

Ok, my fault I suppose on that green armour shot, it looks like I had the camera set wrong for that particular one (it was dark room, long day - started at 4am :mad:, etc)...anyway, just tried again, didn't bother to move in on just on the tv...this is much closer to what I see with my eye, but still a little dark (cut me some slack, I'm not a photographer, can't quite get it perf, lol). I deleted the prior shot, don't want to do the movie a disservice.

http://www.sounds-of-schils.com/music/Room_Shot.jpg

Wow.....that looks GREAT!!!

"Do you really think the studio doesn't have the foresight to make the Theatrical and DC at the same time?"

sarah, with the case of Troy, they didn't. Troy came out in 2004. This new director's cut project by Petersen didn't begin until earlier this year. I have the HD-DVD versions of both cuts of this film and the director's cut is much, much better than the theatrical cut in all aspects. It's a much better, sharper, more vivid film than it was theatrically, either at home or in the theatre in 2004. He fixed the film, visually, with this director's cut.

Well, I wandered into my local Fry's just a few minuters ago and after looking for about 20 minutes (seriously) for the HD-DVD version, I reluctantly picked up the BD version. I asked a person who worked there if they had any more HD-DVD and he told me they didn't even get a shipment of Troy in HD-DVD in at all.

I feel like a traitor, lol. Is there anything I'm missing by not getting it on HD-DVD?

WB changed distributors and that's the hold up on the HD-DVD side. It's no conspiracy...

Oh, so the HD-DVD version hasn't even shipped yet?

For those who have both hd versions is the new cut a good jump in PQ or a subtle improvement? I cancelled my order due to the fact they took out the IME from the original.

For those who have both hd versions is the new cut a good jump in PQ or a subtle improvement? I cancelled my order due to the fact they took out the IME from the original.

The overriding reason this new release should appeal to anyone is for the content. This new version of the film changes the tone, pacing, and impact of the story. If one is a fan of the film, this disc would be of interest for this alone. The lack of the IME from the first disc means nothing because this isn't the same movie. Even the quality of the video and audio mastering is irrelevant to anything except this disc, because it is unique. You might as well compare the new release of Troy Director's Cut to King Kong.

That said, the new disc looks and sounds terrific.

I never saw the original, can't comment on that cut, but I'll say I'm glad I didn't now, I very much enjoyed this movie, in fact, after only this initial viewing, I prefer this over 300, just a matter of taste, I know lot's of guys here luv 300, but I simply found this to be more enjoyable, has more depth and more of a unique feel to it vs 300, which gives me the feeling that it just borrows too much from other, previously successful films in this genre.

The overriding reason this new release should appeal to anyone is for the content. This new version of the film changes the tone, pacing, and impact of the story. If one is a fan of the film, this disc would be of interest for this alone. The lack of the IME from the first disc means nothing because this isn't the same movie. Even the quality of the video and audio mastering is irrelevant to anything except this disc, because it is unique. You might as well compare the new release of Troy Director's Cut to King Kong.

That said, the new disc looks and sounds terrific.

That's nice, but a lot of reviews have said it is more of the same. I have read one very negative review from ropeofsilicon.com and the only one positive review saying it is a noted improvement is from dvdtalk.com. Every other review out there says it is not any better or any worse. So does this new version contain over 3 hours of never before seen footage or 34 minutes of new footage added to the old cut? If the latter is the case I don't see a comparison to King Kong as valid in any way, shape or fashion.

So to any one else who has both versions is it worth the double dip for better PQ or improved story?

Definitely worth the double dip. Actually, the added footage is a lot more than 34 minutes. It's not noted on the DVD but Petersen actually replaced specific scenes with alternate takes and the dialogue (in terms of emphasis) is a tad different in some scenes compared to the theatrical cut. With that and the new material, the film feels more epic. This cut of the film is one of those cases where the theatrical cut felt long while the new pieces that help in character development and the new action make this new cut of the film feel much shorter, even though it's longer because this cut is a more, complete film...a more complete story.

Every important character get new moments that help out their character arcs. This version is the only way to watch Troy now.

The overriding reason this new release should appeal to anyone is for the content. This new version of the film changes the tone, pacing, and impact of the story. If one is a fan of the film, this disc would be of interest for this alone. The lack of the IME from the first disc means nothing because this isn't the same movie. Even the quality of the video and audio mastering is irrelevant to anything except this disc, because it is unique. You might as well compare the new release of Troy Director's Cut to King Kong.

That said, the new disc looks and sounds terrific.


Did they improve the PQ?

Picture quality has improved but a lot of that has to do with the new color scheme this cut has compared to the theatrical cut.

Petersen went back and recolored the whole film, digitally, to get it close to how he envisioned the film in the first place.

I have a hard time believing this film could be fixed at all. The theatrical cut, which I saw in a theater opening night, was bland, boring, bloodless, passionless and just lame. Orlando Bloom was horrible casting and the music score was laughably over the top. A terrible disappointment.

I walked out in complete shock.

watched this today....amazing movie, incredible picture.

It's not bloodless anymore. The chunks and blood flow in this new cut. Through using the original audio track in certain scenes, Bloom's been improved, even though, his character to begin with is a witless jerk so I thought he was pretty spot on when compared to the novel.

Musically, the score has been completely redone. By rearranging the original score completely, adding new score elements from Yared's original score and turning the volume down, the overall affect is much more effective than it was. I mean, it actually stunned me. It felt strange, at first because I'm so familiar with how it sounded in the theatrical cut. But, it sounds loads better now. Still, I wish Petersen had enough time and money to go back and completely redo it from scratch....

Still, this film is an old fashion 1950's Hollywood epic that they don't really make anymore. This new cut reflects that even more but it's much more improved than the theatrical cut.

I have a bias towards this story because The Illiad is my all time favorite novel but given the flaws of this film, this new cut greatly fixes what was. It's not as great as Kingdom of Heaven or Gladiator, but it's much, much better than Alexander (which I liked), Tristen and Isolde, and King Arthur.

It's just a solid, solid entertaining old fashion epic now.

Well to be technically correct isn't it an epic poem

Petersen actually replaced specific scenes with alternate takes and the dialogue
If only he could have replaced Brad Pitt with Chuck Heston and Orlando Bloom with Stephen Boyd ;)

Technically, yes, it is an epic poem.

Dialogue wise, Pitt only has small moments as Achilles but physically, he's dead on as the character.

First I must say that I enjoyed the DC version, much better color and detail. I can't imagine arguing if it is perfect I wasn't on te set nor did I see a rough cut before it was edited. The level of detail in the scene with AG and his brother and the scene of Achilles and his mom are truly wonderful.

If you like blood and gore the initial battle on the beach and the first seige should make you wet. The beach scene makes alot more sense now in the theatrical version it seemed like a premature climax. I double dipped with no regrets. Now we need Gladiator and King Arhur!

I have to say the original version was pretty much awful. This movie had potential, but the actors in it just ruined so many of the scenes. This movie was watchable mostly, but for the hype and potential it was just such a disappointment. Hopefully, this director's cut improves things, but I doubt it. Anyone have good reviews yet?

I hated this movie, dunno if I can buy it for PQ alone. Granted movies are never as good as the books, but this took it a bit too far. The Illiad was laden with the Greek dieties. We saw Thetes briefly at the beginning, and that was it. The war didn't take a week. Did I mention the enormous omission of Greek mythology? On the bright side, Eric Bana was good (as always) and made it not worth leaving the theater for me.

This still doesn't motivate me to buy that huge steaming pile of craptacular. I'd rather watch grass grow (in HD of course) than waste three hours of my life on that drivel.

Awful film. Bland, boring characters. No sense of true heroisim at all. How can you talk about a mythical warrior (Achilles) and at the same time ignore the mythological elements? I wish this had been a fun film more along the lines of an updated Jason and the Argonauts type fantasy.

How can you talk about a mythical warrior (Achilles) and at the same time ignore the mythological elements?

Because people find embodiment of Zeus and Poseidon as a little too Clash of the Titans - frankly, ridiculous. They made Achilles merely legendary - in fact, I rather enjoyed how they did it, early on, the boy talking to Achilles as he prepares to head for the battle, going over the legend -

The boy asks, are the stories about you true? They say your mother is an immortal goddess. They say you can't be killed.

"I wouldn't be bothering with the shield then, would I?"

When Achilles falls, he has removed the arrows that killed him, only the one in his heel remains - again, attempting to perhaps explain that which becomes legend.

I wih this had been a fun film more along the lines of an updated Jason and the Argonauts type fantasy.

NBC does one of these every 10 years. They usually suck.

MEC2

Troy DC is awesome!!!

Jim

We were supposed to get the best picture and sound with the first releases and now we're into the double dipping to the best picture?:mad: Why couldn't they do this the first time? PO that we're they're screwing us again. I have been an HD DVD supporter from the beginning but when Sony, for whom I have no love, screwed up with Fifth Element they issued a new fixed version. Now this is a DC so I guess we have a new term for substandard called Theatrical version.

For starters, if you didn't expect that any of these first 200 HD-DVDs where going to have DC's your crazy. Second while the PQ for Troy wasn't the sharpest it was a sizable upgrade over the original DVD and used the same master.

The Fifth Element on the other hand was tested to be nothing other then an upsample of one of the original tFE transfers (there was like 3-4) and not the much cleaner Superbit.

Not every disc is going to be perfect and I expect that in the coming years a lot of these discs will be rereleased and will look better the second time.

We just have to choose whether we want to spend the money for the upgrade. For me troy was a movie I enjoyed and I like the idea of a DC for this, so I would pick it up. If this was just a SE with no changes to the movie, I was quite content with the original release and would probably pass on it even with better PQ.

Because people find embodiment of Zeus and Poseidon as a little too Clash of the Titans - frankly, ridiculous.It's rather presumptuous to speak for everyone. Well done fantasy need not be "ridiculous".

I wish this had been a fun film more along the lines of an updated Jason and the Argonauts type fantasy.

NBC does one of these every 10 years. They usually suck.

I don't see what the level of competence of a typical made-for-TV effort has to do with what can be acheived in a well-done feature film.

I thought it was a second rate transfer of a second rate movie.
http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2568/snap2ov6.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap2ov6.jpg)http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/3708/snap56kw9.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap56kw9.jpg)http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/6319/snap55sr1.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap55sr1.jpg)http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2349/snap47ln1.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snap47ln1.jpg)

Lacking in fine detail, surprisingly low bitrate.

I tend to watch movies, not bitrates, so this blu crapfest on the PQ doesn't faze me. As Amir (yes, Amir!) says, if the picture is great, as it is here, the bitrate is beside the point. (How old would you feel if you didn't know how old you were?;))

Hmmm...I still have the original cut sealed wondering if this is worth trying to return the original and going in for the DC.

Yes!:D

If I can rent it I will, but nuy it? Not a chance.

I have a hard time believing this film could be fixed at all. The theatrical cut, which I saw in a theater opening night, was bland, boring, bloodless, passionless and just lame. Orlando Bloom was horrible casting and the music score was laughably over the top. A terrible disappointment.

I walked out in complete shock.

This one ain't bloodless, that's for sure!:eek: