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Upconverted DVD & HD-DVD better than theater film viewing

post #1 of 61
11/28/06 at 9:20am
Thread Starter 
I have watched upconverted DVD's for over a year now, & have enjoyed HD-DVD's for a couple months (14 HD movies seen to date).

The wife & I saw a movie yesterday at a theater, & I was totally underwhelmed. I realize different films, theater setups, techniques, cameras, etc. come into play; but the graininess, washed-out colors & blurring from the film left me flat (movie: For your consideration).

Seriously, at this point I would far rather watch an upconverted DVD or HD-DVD on my modest 37 Panny plasma, that go to a movie & see it on a big screen. Besides, the popcorn & drinks are much cheaper.

And that's not even addressing the audio side of the argument...
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post #2 of 61
11/28/06 at 9:24am
You're watching a low=budget, dramatic film and you're using that to judge the theater experience?

Get this man some Lawrence of Arabia, STAT
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post #3 of 61
11/28/06 at 9:30am
Greetings

Of course the color palette of film is far greater than what you see on HDDVD ...

Regards
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post #4 of 61
11/28/06 at 9:31am
movie experience is hard to beat unless you have dedicated 300 inch full HD with 5.1/7.1 home theater setup.
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post #5 of 61
11/28/06 at 9:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael TLV View Post

Greetings

Of course the color palette of film is far greater than what you see on HDDVD ...

Regards

just wait for hdmi's 1.3 deep color usage and source.
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post #6 of 61
11/28/06 at 9:41am
I also would rather watch movies in my home theater. My last outing at the Cinemaplex was to see King Kong on opening day. I got a headache from the constant film jitter. Yes, the projectionist was probably to blame, but it always seems to be something lately. I'll settle for my 120" Firehawk experience anytime.
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post #7 of 61
11/28/06 at 9:50am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WickyWoo View Post

You're watching a low=budget, dramatic film and you're using that to judge the theater experience?

Get this man some Lawrence of Arabia, STAT

I'm speaking in general.

I do go to see Star Wars & a few other epic adventures at the theater too; but often the audio is un-nerving...
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post #8 of 61
11/28/06 at 10:14am
And for the big events, they make you go in the theater 45 minutes early so they can fill your head with commercials for crappy NBC television.

And the audio is so loud during this portion that I can hear the people sitting right next to me.

No, thanks. I also have very little reason to go to the theater. I've had free AMC passes sitting in my wallet for months and haven't gone yet. I guess I'll take the family to see the Nativity for Christmas...
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post #9 of 61
11/28/06 at 11:04am
The wife and I see a lot of films. But HD-DVD is definitely converting me to a home only viewer. We just saw "The Fountain" and it seemed like it was lit by a 20w nightlite bulb, all the edges of the film were off on the curtains, and the movie seemed out of focus and bouncing all over the place. Ugh, good movie, but I'm waiting for the HD-DVD to "see" it for the first time.
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post #10 of 61
11/28/06 at 5:16pm
We saw the "Blood Diamond" trailer in the theater and on our HDTV at home a few days later. We both were impressed how much better the HD image was on our set!
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post #11 of 61
11/28/06 at 5:46pm
My 100 inch 16:9 or 106 2:35 screen and a Mits HC3000 and a HD DVD player make a trip to the movie theater a painful experience now.

My house has much better PQ and AQ. and cheaper snacks.
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post #12 of 61
11/28/06 at 6:01pm
I never do theaters any longer.....screaming kids, long lines, rude people, high ticket costs and 500% marked up snacks(Popcorn 10,000% markup... LOL).....NO THANK YOU .....rather purchase the HD DVD when available and watch in my HT
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post #13 of 61
11/28/06 at 6:33pm
I used to go to movies at least once a week. No that I have finished my HT the movies doesnt even compare with respect to sound, picure quality or the fact I can drink a beer while watching.

Screeming kids, cell phones, people eating etc.

I long for the day HD DVDs are released the same day as theatricle releases.
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post #14 of 61
11/29/06 at 2:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by swifty7 View Post

movie experience is hard to beat unless you have dedicated 300 inch full HD with 5.1/7.1 home theater setup.


Not true. Blurry, soft, grainy images with washed out colors and fade to gray are the norm at my Cineplex.
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post #15 of 61
11/29/06 at 5:08am
I have only been to 4 movies the last 9 years. I enjoy staying home and watching them on my setup. Especially the sound! Not including HD-DVD or Blu-Ray I am in the process of getting those.

Norm
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post #16 of 61
11/29/06 at 6:05am
Totally agree. The new Digital and HD medium has made watching movies at home on a big screen so much more better than going to the theater. The picture is so much more clearer than any movie theater I have ever been to. Even the popcorn is as good and many times better.
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post #17 of 61
11/29/06 at 8:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kosty View Post

My 100 inch 16:9 or 106 2:35 screen and a Mits HC3000 and a HD DVD player make a trip to the movie theater a painful experience now.

My house has much better PQ and AQ. and cheaper snacks.

This is EXACTLY why my trips to the cineplex have deteriorated into almost nothing. I have a 106" 16X9 screen with a Optoma HD72 projector. A simply wonderful experience at home and much better than most of the theaters in town.
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post #18 of 61
11/29/06 at 8:42am
hmm, try watching movies at Silvercity Metropolis, or at a Colossus


Movie watching at the theatre is supostu be a group experience. Smell of popcorn,

Sticky floors, etc....




HT is great. but a little too Anti-Social Behavior imo...


Maybe it's not for everyone..

I have 2 Dedicated HT in my house, but still have time to catch a flick once in a while.

Some HD DVD Transfers suck too. And aren't the greatest... Maybe when the crappy PQ movie you watched comes to HD DVD it won't look that great either. Film is way higher RES than 1080p.
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post #19 of 61
11/29/06 at 10:08am
...with the exception of the people talking, the expensive snacks, the lineups and the lack of decent seat selection.

I am just kidding for the most part. I do enjoy theatre-going, but find that I am more immersed in a movie while watching my 106" screen at home.

The theatre is more social and more of an event though.
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post #20 of 61
11/29/06 at 11:14am
It all boils down to the theatre itself. If it's run by idiots and people who don't care of course its going to look bad. But go to a state of the art Cinema and man no home theatre can compete. Anyway we can't hide in our homes all the time. It's good to get out and experience a film amongst others in the community. My analogy would be getting a college degree online as opposed to going to a Brick and Mortar U and living the whole social, emotional, crazy experience!

CD
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post #21 of 61
11/29/06 at 7:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eXgo View Post

HT is great. but a little too Anti-Social Behavior imo...

When you go to the movie do you actually talk to the strangers around you? If so, that's great! But whenever I go to the movies, everyone just talks to the person they are with, so the anti-social thing doesn't really apply.

We have movie nights every weekend so we do the social thing at home.

My humble theater blows away our local theaters in town. The screen is perceptually the same size (135" 2.35) as the larger auditoriums. My next movie outing will probably be Spiderman III next summer.

I almost caved in to see Snakes on a Mother F-in' Plane last fall!
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post #22 of 61
11/29/06 at 10:38pm
The theatre still holds allure for me. OK, I've only got a 37" LCD and HTIB sound but I live in an apartment, so there are practical limitations. HD DVD has added weight to the argument of staying home, and is actually cheaper to buy then the cost of two movie tickets (this is in Australia BTW).

However I enjoy a "dinner and a movie" date with my wife and there is just no way known to man that my wife will let me crank the sound way up at home! Oh, and popcorn at the cinema just tastes better (for what they charge it should taste like f-ing lobster mornay!).
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post #23 of 61
11/30/06 at 7:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by klemsaba View Post

When you go to the movie do you actually talk to the strangers around you? If so, that's great! But whenever I go to the movies, everyone just talks to the person they are with, so the anti-social thing doesn't really apply.


That's pretty naive interpretation. When you go to the movies you get to laugh, cry, and enjoy experience collectively. With people you don't know, are of differing backgrounds, races, economic status, religions, etc. That's what makes a community, not just circling the wagons at the compound. But if that's your idea of being social God help ya bro.

CD
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post #24 of 61
11/30/06 at 8:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cattledog View Post

That's pretty naive interpretation. When you go to the movies you get to laugh, cry, and enjoy experience collectively.

I'll agree that the experience of collective laughing from an audience is great fun.

But often in theaters, you also get to hear annoying people talking incessantly during the movie, listening to people eat popcorn as loud as humanly possible, enduring babies or bratty kids, cell phones ringing & people talking on them, coughing & sneezing, enjoying sticky floors from goofballs who spilled drinks...

My OP was talking mainly about the picture & audio quality of HD movies vs. big screen versions.
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post #25 of 61
11/30/06 at 8:17am
One experience cannot be replicated

Going to a horrible movie, discovering you are the only people in the theater and heckling it MSTie style

(or a good movie too, shadow puppets at Good Night and Good Luck!)
Stuff you'd NEVER do if there was a single person there you didn't know
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post #26 of 61
11/30/06 at 8:24am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WickyWoo View Post

One experience cannot be replicated

Going to a horrible movie, discovering you are the only people in the theater and heckling it MSTie style

(or a good movie too, shadow puppets at Good Night and Good Luck!)
Stuff you'd NEVER do if there was a single person there you didn't know

What, you can't do that at home ? Granted, it's not in a public theater. That is more a voyeuristic experience.
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post #27 of 61
11/30/06 at 8:39am
Depends on the theater. We have some pretty good ones in SF and Emeryville.
If you took your average 720P PJ and blew it up even half the size of a true theater screen it would look awful...
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post #28 of 61
11/30/06 at 9:57am
You Guys! I took my son to the local cineplex last week & got free crap with out movie. 3, Yes 3 Flies were crawling all over either the glass of the front of the camera for a good 40 mins of the movie. Really really annoying!!
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post #29 of 61
11/30/06 at 7:53pm
I actually just went to the movies for the first time in a year or so and was pleasantly surprised. I went to see Casino Royale and the theater has a DLP projector and the picture was miles better than anything I had seen in the past so much so I could see the difference right away, very good detail. Of course, it still is not at the level of HD but I must say I was both shocked and pleased.
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post #30 of 61
11/30/06 at 8:48pm
My last couple of visits to the movies have been marred by very scratched film. I agree it is a social experience and certain films are just better in the movies, but HT also has it's place. Sadly, the majority of films these days are not worth spending the money on movie tickets.
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