What are the most overlooked/under-rated HD DVDs? - Page 7

Originally Posted by jostenmeat

good to hear, mine is on its way.

Originally Posted by dad1153

Stardust (agree with everyone, overlooked modern day classic);
Cat People (looks extremely sharp for an early 80's studio horror flick, and a constantly-naked Nastassja Kinski doesn't hurt either ... also John Carpeneter's The Thing qualifies for outstanding early 80's horror that looks so much sharp and better in high-def);
What Dreams May Come (the movie is uneven but the painting-coming-to-life scenes truly shine in high-definition);
Warner classics not yet on Blu-ray (Grand Prix, Adventures of Robin Hood, Mutiny on the Bounty, Casablanca, Forbidden Planet... why wait months and pay more for Blu-ray versions when the HD-DVD versions are cheaper and will look/sound the same);
Lost in Translation (it doesn't look dramatically better in high-def than on regular DVD but the flick is a masterpiece, and it will only be in high-def on this format for a good long time while Uni gets its Blu-ray act together);
Zodiac: Director's Cut (slow-paced but gripping tale of the serial killer that terrorized San Francisco for two decades... extras in high-def that are as interesting as the flick itself seal the deal);
Pan's Labyrinth (also on Blu-ray but worth owning on HD-DVD as the first and last New Line title released on the format... alas, like HD-DVD, New Line Cinema itself disappeared in early '08).

Originally Posted by bjmarchini

Oh well then that is completely different. I think one of the best is the Last Starfighter. I can watch that movie over and over. It suffers from what my kids call "the fuzzies" that most of the pre 90's films have in HD, but the difference is night and day between the HD and SD. I own both and it is one of the first that I directly compared.

Highdefdigest ripped it as a bad transfer, but the original stock was not that great and I think they intentially "fuzzied" the earth scenes to give a nostalgic effect like Tatooi in Star Wars as the Rylos scenes are much better looking.

The biggest difference that I saw when I set the scene paused in the beginning where Alex is standing in front of the Starfighter arcade with his brother lewis overlooking him in the daylight. What you really notice is not so much graphical improvement in resolution but the night and day in color saturation and accuracy. The HD version almost makes the SD version look B&W in comparison. Even my daughter was wowed by how much better it looked which is hard to get from 13 year old girl.

As far as the story goes, I think it is one of the best storylines of the 80's and is a true hidden jewel. Much like the Princess Bride which was another amazing film that never really took off.

Other ones with great replay value

Matrix trilogy
Thirteen Monkeys
2001
Dune
Coming to America
National Lampoons Christmas

Pitch Black is another incredible one. Although even the SD is really good. But The changes in colors with the multiple suns makes it look just incredible. Especially the all blue/violet light part IMO.

Another one that is supposed to be good and I can't wait to get is I am Legend. I think alot of people knock it too much for the special effects in the latter half. From what I have read, the new ending is much better too.

Originally Posted by bjmarchini

What makes planet earth great IS the story. they present it and the story is the diversity of the earth itself. Which is why it is so much better than other ones like blueplanet.

You must have the robotic sigourney discovery version I guess, because the excitement the english narrator on the BBC version is great.

To me, Planet Earth is not so much about picture quality. It is learning about things that most people never knew existed or still existed.

I never realized that Great White Sharks could really get as big as Jaws as all the docs that I have seen were much smaller. I was amazed how large some of the herds of animals really were. who knew a salimander could get so big!

I was really hesitant to get this. I finally gave in... and I am glad I did. but this is a film you need to buy and not rent. The kids and I spent about 8 weeks making it through all the footage. You need to take it in slowly because there is alot there.

If you only like high action films like Transformers or tear jerkers like the the Green mile, I don't know that you will like Planet Earth. But if you like the History Channel, Discovery Channel or fantasy films like Lord of the Rings then you NEED to get Planet Earth. It really is important in my opinion that you spend a few more dollars and get the BBC version as well. I love Sigourney Weaver. Who doesn't? But the narration was made for the English narrator. As good as Sigourney is, it is kinda like when they remake a film like planet of the apes. Mark plays a great lead character in the remake, but you just can't replace Charleston Heston. Or even remake Godzilla with CGI - I still think the guy in the rubber suit did a better job chasing down all the tokyo residents and stepping on toy tanks. Not to mention walking into laundry lines, oops I ment Power lines. Or when you see the big Lizard literally puts up his dukes when an enemy is found.

Originally Posted by skibum5000

oh man Last Starfigher is one of the single least rewatcheable IMO. Anyway, obviously opinions differ. That is one movie that I avoid like the plague. I don't evne like hearing the name, haha.

Originally Posted by SbWillie

Agreed...Many shots looked worse than most SD channels on my tv..much less DVD!

Originally Posted by bjmarchini

Am I the only who actually likes movies that Kevin Costner was in.

Field of Dreams
Robin: Prince of Thieves
Dances with Wolves
Tin Cup (OMG he is so good in this movie)
Wyatt Earo
JFK

He hasn't just done much in the way of good movies in the last... oh 5-7 years. Even Sean Connery had a slump you know. Not that he is a Sean Connery

Best Sean Connery clip

When he asks Alex Trebec in Celebrity Jeopardy for a "Pen is Mightier". LOL

To this day, my kids are still convinced that was really him.

Originally Posted by bjmarchini

Am I the only who actually likes movies that Kevin Costner was in.QUOTE]

No, I loved him in the Big Chill. He played the corpse and had no speaking lines!! My next two favorites of his are Waterworld (got it in HD) and Postman. I would say that Dances w/ Wolves is dead last as his monotonous delivery went on and on and made the movie seem to last 3 hrs or more. Robin Hood and some of the other movies also had the same monotone delivery IMHO.

Brett

Originally Posted by brettwf


Well maybe Costner's monotonous delivery was a blessing if it "made the movie seem to last 3 hrs or more", since the movie actually runs for a full 4 hours!

Originally Posted by coolstrategist


4 hrs?!!! I must have fallen asleep somewhere in the middle then!

Field of Dreams was also enjoyable.

Originally Posted by scowl

I don't see how the guy could have searched that building by "splitting" himself repeatedly though. He only had a single consciousness to predict the future with.

Originally Posted by moviegeek

The Untouchables
Reference quality transfer.