The Descent - 2 different Blu-ray versions CONFIRMED (MPEG-2 vs AVC encoding) - Page 23

Originally Posted by dannydj

UK release is due in november. Have lionsgate re-released this in us as avc with the proper colour palette ??

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/prod...lu-ray/reviews

Originally Posted by Znook

I've already mentioned this, at least somewhere because it's hard to keep track on which forums I've posted to.

I purchased the US version from Amazon.com on July 6th resigned to the fact that I'd end up getting the inferior MPEG version. I thought that as it was only $9.99 plus postage I could live with it until the 'best' version was released.

When it arrived I was amazed to find it was an AVC encode. My first thought was that I'd struck lucky in getting one of the AVC discs. However when I checked it out I found that the colour timing had been corrected (easiest shot to compare was the shot of the group photo outside the cabin. The scene now matched the one on the AUS version. Other scenes were also found to match.)

Further checks revealed that the contrast had also been corrected (the black levels are now correct in the cave scenes whilst still preserving detail into the darkest recesses, but not as 'dark' as the AUS version by its overuse of the contrast control so wiping out lots of low level detail.)

Colours are also stronger in the styilized scenes (when the caves are lit up in red for example) than on the original US discs, but they're not quite as strong as the colours on the AUS version which I think are a bit OTT to be honest (and, along with the contrast issue, the reason why I didn't get this version.)

Further, someone posted that his recently acquired (at the time he posted 3 or 4 months back) US AVC disc had the same corrections as to what I have found above, but I think people dismissed him as he was the only one stating it at that time. So from my findings (and his) I do conclude that Lionsgate have at some point quietly re-released it yet again, and that this version is now the best of the four so far.

Finally, it must be said that if I was looking to buy the disc now I would wait until the UK disc is released to see what that is like and what extras are on it. Doing so would also avoid the lottery of which US version of the three you'd end up with, though chances are you'd end up with this corrected one.

Cheers.
R.

Originally Posted by PooperScooper

How can you tell what's "proper"?

larry

Originally Posted by msgohan

I thought it was already confirmed that the AU Blu-ray matches the UK DVD's colors, so I don't quite understand how this supposed new US silent pressing could match closer?

Hopefully Znook will return and confirm how he's comparing. I'd jump on the $10 Amazon.com price if I lived in the US but it will be considerably more for me to get it, and with no guarantees that it would even match what Znook has...

Originally Posted by shadowrage

I think going by the DVD that Pathe distributed is a safe bet. If the UK Blu-ray release is theirs that would be even better.

Originally Posted by PooperScooper

I have the R2 disc. And for just $10 I ordered the current Amazon BD. So, I'll now have the R2 SD DVD (Pathe), the first US AVC BD, the AUS BD, and whatever Amazon delivers today. I'm more interested in seeing if the new US BD (if I get an AVC version) is the same as the first. I don't think I'll be nitpicking between the AUS BD and the new one unless somebody posts timestamps.

larry

Originally Posted by stumlad

Taking one for them team, eh? You're a trooper, PooperScooper

Originally Posted by PooperScooper

The disc I got from Amazon is MPEG2.

larry

Originally Posted by hlwl

Just got my copy from Amazon. It too is the MPEG-2 encode. *I* got my hopes up since the case was one of those eco-cases. Which weren't used when The Descent was originally released on Blu-ray.

Originally Posted by Deviation

If the MPEG-2 encode is now in eco cases, I have real trouble believing in this third encode with corrected color timing from Lionsgate.

Originally Posted by hlwl

You would of thought that they would of at least given me the AVC encode many others have! Not only does this copy of mine have the eco case but it has an insert advertising newer releases such as T2: Skynet Edition, Transporter 3, My Bloody Valentine 3D, etc.

Originally Posted by Deviation

If the MPEG-2 encode is now in eco cases, I have real trouble believing in this third encode with corrected color timing from Lionsgate.

Originally Posted by DavidHir

Will the Aus version play on all players?

Originally Posted by subavision212

It's funny because I've been following this thread for a long, long, time since I love this movie and even though I bought it twice (both MPEG2) after finally watching it on my new, calibrated 65" plasma, I thought it looked very good. I have a dedicated theater with total light control and really couldn't see anything to complain about. I guess beauty IS in the eye of the beholder.

Originally Posted by PooperScooper

It's region free. Whether or not it plays on a player is up to the player. (Just like any other BD).

larry

Originally Posted by muffinmcfluffin

So is it safe to say that unless I'm killed by crystal meth tweakers, that I'm **** out of luck? Basically, should I keep holding off in finding out how it's best for me to find a US AVC encode of this movie in-store, or should I just go and buy the MPEG-2 version? I'd rather get a better encode if possible, so I don't know what it is I have to do without opening it to find out what version it is.

Originally Posted by Deviation

Then... buy the Australian version.