With how much Fox catlog titles are 35 DOLLARS and up I can get the Import for around the same price. Which disc will look and sound the best or are the same encode. Also I love the Island is it worth importing Scarlett in 1080p mmm

I pre-ordered Smith on Blu-ray for $21.87

I pre-ordered Smith on Blu-ray for $21.87

From where? Amazon is at $27.95.:rolleyes:

With how much Fox catlog titles are 35 DOLLARS and up I can get the Import for around the same price. Which disc will look and sound the best or are the same encode. Also I love the Island is it worth importing Scarlett in 1080p mmm

They are pretty alike, but the HD DVD version used VC-1 instead of MPEG-4.
They both have DTS-HD M/A tracks, but the HD DVD version has a DD+ track as well.

Are either of them the extended cut?

Are either of them the extended cut?

The HD DVD is the un-rated cut of the film.

I have the HD DVD import and it's not DTS-MA. I think it's regular DTS or at best DTS-HD. It sounds great but no MA.

I have both the import HD DVD and I picked up the Blu-ray yesterday. Consider this...

The Polish HD DVD is a HD15 single layer. Even then, the total file size is just over 13 GB. I cannot recall the bit rates of the two English tracks (I'm at work at the moment) but I remember both were odd numbers, and not terribly high bit rates.

Fox's new BD is on a BD50, very high bit rate AVC with DTS-HD MA audio.

I directly compared several scenes. I would give the nod to the Blu-ray, but I was fairly shocked at how close the image is on both discs. Very slightly sharper on the Blu-ray, but I mean VERY slightly. No visible compression problems with the Polish VC-1 encode, and obviously none on the AVC encode.

Had I seen both discs compared directly beforehand, I don't think I would have bought the Blu-ray already having the HD DVD.

Mmmmm. Then is there a big difference from the theatrical vs uncut version?

Then is there a big difference from the theatrical vs uncut version?

I can't answer that. I saw it posted above that the import is the extended version, but frankly, I can't say for sure that is true. I don't recall it being the extended version, but I will check running times of both discs this evening.

I can't answer that. I saw it posted above that the import is the extended version, but frankly, I can't say for sure that is true. I don't recall it being the extended version, but I will check running times of both discs this evening.

Thanks!!!

I have both the import HD DVD and I picked up the Blu-ray yesterday. Consider this...

The Polish HD DVD is a HD15 single layer. Even then, the total file size is just over 13 GB. I cannot recall the bit rates of the two English tracks (I'm at work at the moment) but I remember both were odd numbers, and not terribly high bit rates.

Fox's new BD is on a BD50, very high bit rate AVC with DTS-HD MA audio.

I directly compared several scenes. I would give the nod to the Blu-ray, but I was fairly shocked at how close the image is on both discs. Very slightly sharper on the Blu-ray, but I mean VERY slightly. No visible compression problems with the Polish VC-1 encode, and obviously none on the AVC encode.

Had I seen both discs compared directly beforehand, I don't think I would have bought the Blu-ray already having the HD DVD.
I was surprised by how good the Polish encode looks, and subsequently I'm not surprised to hear that it compares favourably to the BD. The BD is the best all-round package obviously, but on purely visual terms the HD DVD is no slouch.

Robert,
You were watching on what size screen? 100+ inch?
You have a high end projector-correct?
What do you think about on a 45-60" screen? (Which most of us have)

I have both the import HD DVD and I picked up the Blu-ray yesterday. Consider this...

The Polish HD DVD is a HD15 single layer. Even then, the total file size is just over 13 GB. I cannot recall the bit rates of the two English tracks (I'm at work at the moment) but I remember both were odd numbers, and not terribly high bit rates.

Fox's new BD is on a BD50, very high bit rate AVC with DTS-HD MA audio.

I directly compared several scenes. I would give the nod to the Blu-ray, but I was fairly shocked at how close the image is on both discs. Very slightly sharper on the Blu-ray, but I mean VERY slightly. No visible compression problems with the Polish VC-1 encode, and obviously none on the AVC encode.

Had I seen both discs compared directly beforehand, I don't think I would have bought the Blu-ray already having the HD DVD.

Robert,
You were watching on what size screen? 100+ inch?
You have a high end projector-correct?
What do you think about on a 45-60" screen? (Which most of us have)
Hmmm, I would imagine if he has a large screen and high end PJ that would reveal the most difference between the HD and BD. At a "normal" display size I imagine the difference isn't as seen between the two.

If I was not format neutral and stuck with HD DVD, I would've went with the import. Now that I have a PS3, it'll be cheaper and quicker to get the BD version.

As an import owner and HD-DVD Fanboy, unless the Import is a different cut (I really don't think it is and if it is its not different enough to notice), there is no reason to get the HD-DVD over the BD if you a neutral. It was nice owning it for 8 months before BD owners could get their hands on it but It doesn't have anything that really makes it stand out.

First off, a couple of comments from above...

The audio on the import is English DD+ @448 kb/s, English DTS-HD @ 960 kb/s, and Polish DD+ @ 448 kb/s. The VC-1 bit rates hovered between upper teens to lower 20's for the several scenes I sampled. That would explain the video quality. This is actually fairly high bit rate for VC-1.

Running time for the import is 1:59:40 and the Fox release is 1:59:59. The difference is accounted for in the opening logos, which are different. Both releases are the same cut of the movie.

You were watching on what size screen? 100+ inch?

106" diagonal (92" wide).

You have a high end projector-correct?

I suppose that depends on one's definition of "high end". I use the Sony VPL-VW60, which lists for $5K. While most people would consider this fairly high end, over in the "Over $3K" projector forum, it is considered pretty average ;). It's a rather high performance 1080P LCoS projector. Yes, it is not difficult to see relatively small variations in video transfers/encodes on this projector at this screen size.

What do you think about on a 45-60" screen? (Which most of us have)

I think I would not want to have to live on the difference between these two discs, at least as far as video goes. I give the BD a solid step up in audio quality, as long as one has the ability to access the full res DTS Master audio (I do).

What are the menu's like? Option for an English version?

I would recommend purchasing the stateside BD-50 provided it's listed on a BOGO sale. This is due to lack of UNRATED edition extras. I grabbed this with along with Kingdom of Heaven for $27.95 in the recent amazon BOGOF sale. Anyways it's your choice.

Has anyone seen the unrated cut? Is it noteworthy at all?

If I was not format neutral and stuck with HD DVD, I would've went with the import. Now that I have a PS3, it'll be cheaper and quicker to get the BD version.

Last September, as a pure HD DVD owner, I had a choice. Either continue to purchase the SD DVD versions of films exclusive to BD, or count on international releases on HD DVD, or add a BD player and start purchasng BD. At that time, it became apparent the number of interesting BD titles better supported the purchase of a used BD player, than the purchase of imported HD DVD encodes (which only cover a subset of titles anyway.)

Consequently, I purchased a couple used BD players, and playback of BD Vs HD DVD is no longer an issue! I still favor HD DVD, but I primarily favor movies. To me, it was ultimately a question of economics -- it's cheaper for me to buy a used player and US release BD, than to purchase import HD DVD for my existing HD DVD player. YMMV :)!

Neither

I don't have near the image quality projector that Robert has but on my 720p pj, I will echo Robert's image assessment on both discs. The Blu-ray is a tad sharper. Not huge, but noticeable. The audio is indeed better on the Blu-ray too.

Of course, back in May I think I threw out about $50 to get this from xploited with overnight shipping. Ha. This was during the time when Fox had announced, pulled it, re-announced, pulled it....etc...:D. Seems a bit foolish looking back on it now so I'm just reminding myself on what I used to spend on laserdiscs. :)