View Full Version : Kubrick's 2001: Space Odyssey--which version will you get?


cambrian
10-20-07, 08:25 PM
Being a huge fan of this masterpiece, I want the best possible HD video and audio quality without sacrificing too much special features. Since this release is coming out on both BD and HD-DVD, which one will you get (assuming you are format neutral)? I looked at the hidef digest site and it seems the BD version has PCM (16 or 24 bit?) whereas the HD-DVD version has Dolby TrueHD. I don't know if HD-DVD will have more features or not.

This thread is not intended to incite another format-war shoot-out. I just want objective opinions and facts.

MidnightWatcher
10-20-07, 08:33 PM
Assuming I were format neutral, I would get the HD DVD version. :)

Kosty
10-20-07, 08:35 PM
I would be irritated if this film did not have a lossless track on HD DVD.

Its symphonic score and non dialog scenes make it a movie when a lossless track should be used, Amadeus or Phantom of the Opera.

Since Dolby TrueHD is for intents and purpose like a computer zip file, a bit for bit copy of the original once decoded, its makes no matter mind to me PCM or Dolby True HD.

This is one movie I want a personal copy in HDM.

David Barteaux
10-20-07, 08:37 PM
Because I own a PS3 I will get the BD version because the HD-DVD will not work in my PS3:p

Kosty
10-20-07, 08:39 PM
Assuming I were format neutral, I would get the HD DVD version. :)
If the HD DVD version has True HD and the Blu-ray version PCM, others features such as extras would make the difference to me.

If I was format neutral, I would have a strategy of buying all common titles for the best extra features, the cheapest price, or the format that I had the larger collection of. YMMV

rto
10-20-07, 08:47 PM
I'm gratified that other people still find this movie so compelling. I saw the original theatrical release at age ten in 1968........still the most affecting cinematic experience of my life.

Joe Bloggs
10-20-07, 09:00 PM
If the the HD-DVD version has a lossless video track, 4:4:4 12 bit per colour channel, High Colour, 4000x2000 picture scanned from the original 65mm negative, and tons of documentaries, I'll probably get that version.

rob71
10-20-07, 09:03 PM
I'm gratified that other people still find this movie so compelling. I saw the original theatrical release at age ten in 1968........still the most affecting cinematic experience of my life.

The only time I saw this was on a 27" RCA console TV in the 80's.:( I'm looking forward to this and Close Encounters more than anything.

Rich Davenport
10-20-07, 09:16 PM
Wasn't this originally shown in Cinemascope?

Mr. Cinema
10-20-07, 09:27 PM
The back cover at DVD Empire states that 2001 HD DVD does have TrueHD sound.

Timothy Ramzyk
10-20-07, 09:38 PM
Wasn't this originally shown in Cinemascope?

I think it was scope, or rather 2.33:1. Amazon amusingly lists a different ratio for every disk incarnation out there.

As a note there is a lengthy thread somewhere here discussing the various Kubrick releases.

Joe Bloggs
10-20-07, 09:46 PM
Imdb says "Cinematographic process: Super Panavision 70"
"Film negative format: 65 mm"
"Ratio: 2.20:1" (though I have a dvd that says 2.21:1)

jimbology
10-20-07, 09:47 PM
There is a review of the HD DVD version in that section of the forum if anyone would like to read that.

William
10-20-07, 10:13 PM
If same audio (TrueHD HD-DVD or LPCM/TrueHD BD) and video codec/rate I will buy the one with the best price.;)

romper
10-20-07, 10:48 PM
Because I own a PS3 I will get the BD version because the HD-DVD will not work in my PS3

And it never will.

Slim GoodBooty
10-20-07, 10:56 PM
Because I own a PS3 I will get the BD version because the HD-DVD will not work in my PS3:p

For much for the PS3 being "futureproof".:p

CraigCooper
10-20-07, 11:09 PM
I enjoyed the sequal more than the original. I thought 2001 was more of a documentry and 2010 more like a movie.

eapleitez
10-20-07, 11:11 PM
HD DVD of course.

homerx
10-20-07, 11:22 PM
It would come down to price, and extras asumming the trasfer and audio are the same..

But as it is I might get the HD-DVD, I've got the LD now which really needs a Upgrade

ccotenj
10-20-07, 11:24 PM
For much for the PS3 being "futureproof".:p

isn't that in the 3.0 spec? :p

i'll get whichever one pops up used on the trading post first... :)

RDarrylR
10-20-07, 11:26 PM
Well the Blu-ray version comes in the better looking case so it's the best one to get.

Kosty
10-20-07, 11:29 PM
You mean blue instead of maroon?

Art Sonneborn
10-20-07, 11:43 PM
How about if it's just the best looking best sounding version of this film ever available in the home ?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=925717

Art

rto
10-20-07, 11:51 PM
How about if it's just the best looking best sounding version of this film ever available in the home ?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=925717

Art

Nice review; thanks.

Clark Burk
10-21-07, 12:23 AM
I just noticed the price from Amazon is a dollar cheaper for the BR version. Is there any reason for this? The price for The Shining is also set this way.

UxiSXRD
10-21-07, 03:51 AM
Blu-ray has a PCM track? Done.

HiramAbiff
10-21-07, 04:05 AM
Lossless is lossless, assuming they have the same original master (and they did) right?

HD DVD has Dolby True-HD (not that I give a crap, since I have a Yamaha HTiB system that maxes out at old-fashioned DTS) and BD has PCM. Both have the best movie ever made in glorious HD, FINALLY. It's the reason I wanted an LD player as a kid, the reason I bought a DVD player, and the reason I bought an HD DVD player.

And Deep Discount still hasn't shipped it out. I'm going to get it late. Darnit!!!!!!!!!

Dan Hitchman
10-21-07, 04:06 AM
Blu!

RScottyL
10-21-07, 04:08 AM
Because I own a PS3 I will get the BD version because the HD-DVD will not work in my PS3:p

+1

jsimmons3
10-21-07, 07:18 AM
I enjoyed the sequal more than the original. I thought 2001 was more of a documentary and 2010 more like a movie.

I liked 2010 better as well, but mostly because I don't know if I was smart enough to understand 2001 when it was initially released, much less remember all the details since I haven't seen it since then. No matter - I'll still get 2001 next week when it's released because I really like edgy science-fiction.

mikemorel
10-21-07, 07:57 AM
I liked 2010 better as well, but mostly because I don't know if I was smart enough to understand 2001 when it was initially released, much less remember all the details since I haven't seen it since then. No matter - I'll still get 2001 next week when it's released because I really like edgy science-fiction.You should read both books. It leads to a better understanding.

HD DVD, of course. :)

William
10-21-07, 08:21 AM
isn't that in the 3.0 spec? :p...
Profile 3.0 calls for an audio only version of BD that would work a lot like a CD. No video moniter needed, plug & play, with track advance.

Electone
10-21-07, 08:54 AM
This is a real toss up for me. I have an HD-A2 and a PS3. I don't run HDMI video or audio, so it's component 1080i to my CRT RPTV and Toslink optical to my receiver. Hmmm, the cover art looks better with the blue case...

MrXpress
10-21-07, 10:14 AM
This is a real toss up for me. I have an HD-A2 and a PS3. I don't run HDMI video or audio, so it's component 1080i to my CRT RPTV and Toslink optical to my receiver. Hmmm, the cover art looks better with the blue case...

In that case, you should go with the HD DVD version, since the PS3 doesn't pass anything other than 2ch PCM over optical with the PCM track (and it's not like DTS-MA where you get the core 1.5mbps DTS track) and you'll be stuck with the 640k DD track on the Blu-ray. With the HD DVD, the A2 will decode the TrueHD track and pass it over optical as a 1.5mbps DTS track, so for people who don't have lossless capability, the better audio will be had with the HD DVD version.

Personally, I'll wait until there's a consensus that either version is excellent in terms of PQ/AQ, since I still have a bitter taste in my mouth from the utterly awful HDM version of Full Metal Jacket.

Art Sonneborn
10-21-07, 12:05 PM
Personally, I'll wait until there's a consensus that either version is excellent in terms of PQ/AQ

Your loss.:p 2001 ASO HDDVD......

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001010a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001020a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001003a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001007a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001024a.jpg

MidnightWatcher
10-21-07, 12:30 PM
Please tell me that you get a paycheck for this sh*t. Midnight, I love that you're a devoted AVS member, I turly do. I just wish you loved HD more than you loved HD DVD... :/
I've said time and time again, I will not buy Blu-ray since it is an incomplete and irrepairable format. Yes, I enjoy high-definition, and I would enjoy Blu-ray titles in high definition as well, but Blu-ray as a format is over priced, has under delivered, cannot be repaired and does not deserve a penny of my hard earned money. I chose HD DVD since it was complete from day one, discs are repairable if necessary, costs are less expensive, and in my opinion the title selection is much better. Thus, assuming I were format neutral, I would still choose the HD DVD version.

thebland
10-21-07, 12:43 PM
Well..since I am a hobbyist and not a lobbyist......

I'll buy whichever is 24 bit or if the soundtracks are identical, I'll buy the one with less extras.....

Lee Stewart
10-21-07, 02:17 PM
Well..since I am a hobbyist and not a lobbyist......

I'll buy whichever is 24 bit or if the soundtracks are identical, I'll buy the one with less extras.....

Just a meat and potatoes man heh? How "bland":D

Milt99
10-21-07, 02:35 PM
Holy sh!t Art, those grabs look awesome!
I'm looking forward to all of it but one that sticks out is the Aries moon landing scene and when Bowman is walking to the HAL computer room and the long fly-by of the Discovery to the Gayne Ballet Suite and, and, and, and...

hconwell
10-21-07, 03:20 PM
I think it was scope, or rather 2.33:1. Amazon amusingly lists a different ratio for every disk incarnation out there.

As a note there is a lengthy thread somewhere here discussing the various Kubrick releases.It was shot in "Super Panavision 70" ... which means it was shot vertically (as opposed to horizontally like IMAX) on Eastman Color 65mm film using spherical lenses ... which results in a projected 70mm AR of 2.20 X 1. No anamorphic lenses were used in its photography or its 70mm projection. In the larger markets, it was billed and presented as a "Cinerama" production. Those venues projected it onto a "deeply curved" screen with the usual 6-track sound.

I saw it this way at age 20 in Philly at the Boyd.

For medium and small markets, MGM struck standard CinemaScope compatible prints which were cropped, I believe, to that standard's AR of 2.35.

DeaconFrost
10-21-07, 03:39 PM
Nice shots Art. :)

The colours and blacklevel look pretty good. No compressionartefacts or EE visible.

Being a huge Kubrick fan, I hope these 5 Kubrick HD releases deliver the best those films have ever looked outside a movietheater. I've ordered 4 of them - waiting with Full Metal Jacket because I want to make sure it's a different transfer than what was used with the first HD-DVD/BD edition.

BTW - I've run a single reel from a 70mm print of 2001 at the theater where I work (we have a 70mm projector in 'demo-mode' - long story) along with reels from other titles - Lawrence Of Arabia among them. It looked absolutely stellar - if the BD/HD-DVD looks just anything like what I saw.... :D

hconwell
10-21-07, 04:05 PM
Just cancelled my Amazon order for the HD DVD and replaced it for the BD. Now that I know that there are lossless tracks on both, I went with BD because I still have lipsync issues with my HD-XA2. Hence, I have to delay the audio coming out of the XA2 ... and that delay can only be done with optical or SPDIF outs (I just don't want to upgrade my receiver!).

Which means if the HD DVD has lipsync issues on my system (as many of my HD DVDs do), I'd not be able to use the analog outs to get the lossless track.

Using my Panasonic BD player's analog outs, I have never had any lipsync issues.

This track is too important to give up lossless sound in my theater.

Man, I feel like I've just cheated on my wife!

thebland
10-21-07, 04:06 PM
Art,

Who taught you to take such great screen shots?!

Supermans
10-21-07, 04:13 PM
Well..since I am a hobbyist and not a lobbyist......

I'll buy whichever is 24 bit or if the soundtracks are identical, I'll buy the one with less extras.....

:) Nice

William
10-21-07, 04:19 PM
I've said time and time again, I will not buy Blu-ray since it is an incomplete and irrepairable format. Yes, I enjoy high-definition, and I would enjoy Blu-ray titles in high definition as well, but Blu-ray as a format is over priced, has under delivered, cannot be repaired and does not deserve a penny of my hard earned money. I chose HD DVD since it was complete from day one, discs are repairable if necessary, costs are less expensive, and in my opinion the title selection is much better. Thus, assuming I were format neutral, I would still choose the HD DVD version.
Spoken like a TRUE fanboy. Since HD DVD was complete from day 1 please answer this question: Are you 100% sure my 1st gen player will play 51TL and will be upgraded to DTS HD Master?

Also what makes you think that you can't get a BD player repaired?:confused:

cambrian
10-21-07, 04:20 PM
Just cancelled my Amazon order for the HD DVD and replaced it for the BD. Now that I know that there are lossless tracks on both, I went with BD because I still have lipsync issues with my HD-XA2. Hence, I have to delay the audio coming out of the XA2 ... and that delay can only be done with optical or SPDIF outs (I just don't want to upgrade my receiver!).

Which means if the HD DVD has lipsync issues on my system (as many of my HD DVDs do), I'd not be able to use the analog outs to get the lossless track.

Using my Panasonic BD player's analog outs, I have never had any lipsync issues.

This track is too important to give up lossless sound in my theater.

Man, I feel like I've just cheated on my wife!

LOL you should think of it as cheating on your mistress. :D. I kid, I kid.
So you don't have any bass management issue with the XA? I have found that going analog with the XA2, even when the sound is lossless, produces a very unimpressive quality over all. I tried the methods in the "XA2 bass management fix" but didn't work. However, when I pass 2ch PCM audio from the PS3 via optical, it sounds great--very "alive". It's hard on this one. I'll probably wait on the official comparison until I purchase. Or maybe until Toshiba releases firmware to allow HBR for HDMI.

theflux
10-21-07, 04:24 PM
Thats an easy question. Blu-ray.

hconwell
10-21-07, 05:14 PM
LOL you should think of it as cheating on your mistress. :D. I kid, I kid.
So you don't have any bass management issue with the XA? I have found that going analog with the XA2, even when the sound is lossless, produces a very unimpressive quality over all. I tried the methods in the "XA2 bass management fix" but didn't work. However, when I pass 2ch PCM audio from the PS3 via optical, it sounds great--very "alive". It's hard on this one. I'll probably wait on the official comparison until I purchase. Or maybe until Toshiba releases firmware to allow HBR for HDMI.Please don't laugh. I don't have a subwoofer. Never wanted one ... don't miss it. My system is 5.0.

So, needless to say, I don't experience any of the reported bass management issues you've mentioned. And BTW, it's my experience that the analog outs through both my Panny BD and XA2 produce fabulous lossless sound ... using my Denon 1604. I have Polk Audio speakers all around ... and certainly can't brag that the system is "High End". Not at all. But the analog outs do sound better than optical or SPDIF DD or DTS. Only problem is that sometimes (too often) on HD DVD, the analog track is way ahead of the pix. So I'm limited to DD and DTS with HD DVD until I upgrade my receiver to HDMI 1.3 ... at which time I'll be able to delay any track that goes through that wire.

Art Sonneborn
10-21-07, 05:19 PM
Art,

Who taught you to take such great screen shots?!

My auto exposure camera.:o:D

Art

Art Sonneborn
10-21-07, 05:21 PM
BTW - I've run a single reel from a 70mm print of 2001 at the theater where I work (we have a 70mm projector in 'demo-mode' - long story) along with reels from other titles - Lawrence Of Arabia among them. It looked absolutely stellar - if the BD/HD-DVD looks just anything like what I saw.... :D

That must be a great experience.

Art

homerx
10-21-07, 11:09 PM
HD-DVD. As I've only got HD-DVD at the momment. But if I had both formats. If both are the same and priced the same id just flip a coin or somthing

gtgray
10-21-07, 11:35 PM
Because I own a PS3 I will get the BD version because the HD-DVD will not work in my PS3:p

Exactly.. well not exactly --- since the HD DVD version will not work in my PS3 buying the HD DVD version is a no brainer. HD DVD in every room expensive PS3 only in one.. don't you just hate the whole BD bluetooth mess... what a silly design, anyway I always buy HD DVD when both are available. Soon I will have 5 HD DVD and 2 BD capable devices.

rto
10-22-07, 12:09 AM
Your loss.:p 2001 ASO HDDVD......

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001010a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001020a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001003a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001007a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001024a.jpg


Great shots that indirectly illustrate the obvious aesthetic influence of this film on every science fiction film made since its' release.

alfbinet
10-22-07, 03:15 PM
Your loss.:p 2001 ASO HDDVD......

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001010a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001020a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001003a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001007a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/CarlosMeat/ScreenShots2001024a.jpg

Art, all I can say is WOW.

chirpie
10-22-07, 04:11 PM
I will never buy this movie because when Dr. Floyd is eating on his way from the space station to Clavius Base, he is sucking pureed food from straws. When he stops sucking, the food falls back down the straw toward the container. This would not happen in true zero gravity, where the food would remain up in the straw.

(Kidding BTW, as soon as I finish another freelance gig, I'll be picking this up...)

Michael Mullis
10-22-07, 04:14 PM
WOW Art! I am now on board with buying this movie. And of course since I am not format neutral at this point, it's the HD DVD version for me all the way.

I liked 2010 better as well, but mostly because I don't know if I was smart enough to understand 2001 when it was initially released, much less remember all the details since I haven't seen it since then. No matter - I'll still get 2001 next week when it's released because I really like edgy science-fiction.

2010 was really more of a commercial movie than 2001, so they are really difficult to compare. More of a backstory with the US/USSR cold war, and trying to get out to the Discovery. With Kubrick not involved with the movie (he was alive in 1984), and with more mainstream stars like Roy Scheider and John Lithgow in it, the feel wasn't the same.

I liked it. But 2001 was just a different experience.

elvisizer
10-22-07, 04:30 PM
since the soundtracks should be equivalent i ordered the blu version of all the kubricks. i prefer bluray if the releases are equal in terms of content since i've had fewer playback problems (actually zero, now that i think about it) with the ps3 than the xa2.
oh, now i feel bad for the xa2. . . . .don't take it personally, little guy :) i still love you for your upscaling . . . .

HiramAbiff
10-23-07, 03:11 AM
I will never buy this movie because when Dr. Floyd is eating on his way from the space station to Clavius Base, he is sucking pureed food from straws. When he stops sucking, the food falls back down the straw toward the container. This would not happen in true zero gravity, where the food would remain up in the straw.

(Kidding BTW, as soon as I finish another freelance gig, I'll be picking this up...)

While the action of the juice going back down the straw is commonly attributed to gravity, it actually due to pressure. The liquid goes up the straw when Floyd drinks from it because he decreases pressure in his mouth (you do this subconsciously, but you expand your mouth cavity's volume). The liquid is under a higher pressure in the box than it would be in his mouth, so it flows up to attain equilibrium. Once he stops sucking, the air pressure outside is greater than the pressure in the box, so it is pushed back down by air pressure.

ack_bk
10-23-07, 03:16 AM
It is $1 cheaper on BD at Amazon and has a PCM track so I am going that route. Can't go wrong either way, and this is a must have title for me.

oolitic
10-23-07, 04:37 AM
I went the HD-DVD way on this as well as other Kubrick stuff that came out today.

tiger roach
10-23-07, 09:15 AM
Blu-ray.

And I can't wait. :cool:

cdzie1
10-23-07, 09:27 AM
I went the HD-DVD way on this as well as other Kubrick stuff that came out today.

Same here..

Electone
10-23-07, 09:28 AM
Blu-ray.

And I can't wait. :cool:

Looks like you'll be waiting until November 6th. I think the Blu-rays have been pushed back to that date.

I hate it when release dates get pushed back by weeks. It's BS. :mad:

Johnsteph10
10-23-07, 10:07 AM
Looks like you'll be waiting until November 6th. I think the Blu-rays have been pushed back to that date.

I hate it when release dates get pushed back by weeks. It's BS. :mad:

Both versions are out.

chirpie
10-23-07, 11:32 AM
While the action of the juice going back down the straw is commonly attributed to gravity, it actually due to pressure. The liquid goes up the straw when Floyd drinks from it because he decreases pressure in his mouth (you do this subconsciously, but you expand your mouth cavity's volume). The liquid is under a higher pressure in the box than it would be in his mouth, so it flows up to attain equilibrium. Once he stops sucking, the air pressure outside is greater than the pressure in the box, so it is pushed back down by air pressure.


Thank goodness! Now I can buy this film with no bias attached! ;-)

PRO-630HD
10-23-07, 12:47 PM
Is this a 1 or 2 disc hddvd? Clockwork is 2 and I am overjoyed Warner is getting a clue and following Paramount and Weinsteins lead and using these. After Alexander that makes 2 2 disc sets for Warner so far.

tomes
10-23-07, 01:11 PM
Blu-Ray since that will be my primary system, and I'll probably buy any neutral title on that format. I'll only buy HDDVD when they are exclusive to that format.