Westworld - April 3rd (Fr)

[The Limey]

At long last this science fiction classic is getting a release on
Yul Brynner turned an android gunslinger into a Sci Fi icon with his performance as the rogue robot that turns upon the pampered guests of Westworld with lethal results....
James Brolin and Richard Benjamin are among the guests whose vacation becomes a grim struggle for survival.

This is a Day One purchase for me:
http://www.amazon.fr/Mondwest-Westwo...8272271&sr=1-8

[The Limey]

[Kosty]

That's a title I have been waiting for. Great news.

[The Limey]

That's a title I have been waiting for. Great news.

Absolutely and for me this review from Variety just nails it:

Westworld is an excellent film, which combines solid entertainment, chilling topicality, and superbly intelligent serio-comic story values. Michael Crichton's original script is as superior as his direction.

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117796272?refcatid=31

[sixteenvolt420]

I loved all of these world movies growing up. Here's to hoping for a U.S. release

[The Limey]

I suspect that this will be region locked. Despite the Warner logo, it is in fact Aventi that are releasing this disc.

[knifethrower]

I suspect that this will be region locked. Despite the Warner logo, it is in fact Aventi that are releasing this disc.

I'm worried Aventi will use some nasty 1080i master from god knows where/when.

[The Limey]

I'm worried Aventi will use some nasty 1080i master from god knows where/when.

I have not seen Dead Ringers (1080i from Aventi) but Kannisto rates the transfer very highly indeed. Should this too be 1080i then we may still get a good transfer...

[The Limey]

Various French listings are showing this as Region B:
http://www.cinefaniac.fr/film/fichedvd.php?id=4391

http://www.devildead.com/indexdbtop....00&laction=666

[The Limey]

Early reports would seem to indicate that it IS 1080i but that the subs on the English audio ARE removable.
A user opinion of PQ from another forum:

The image quality shows some grit and minor grain - as well as noise. It probably looked quite similar to this theatrically over 35 years ago. This is only single-layered and has a middling bitrate. Colors seem brighter and truer than SD could relate. I like the textures and this is definitely not a film that would look crisp and glossy - no matter the resolution.

[The Limey]

Well it looks as though the early reports were wrong as this review says that it IS 1080p and gives a thumbs up to PQ too (forgive the Google translation):

It is therefore with great pleasure that we found this classic science fiction anticipation - at least, as we contemplated the future in 1973: the reality proved otherwise and even if we move some few of these virtual realities at the turn of certain video games social consequences are far less lethal, no offense to the regular critics of the phenomenon - which we finally managed to video a high definition version, remastered for the occasion, which is his impression by offering a particularly clear and neat picture, in a 1080p transfer that gives pride to the colors of the film. The design of these fantasy worlds very stereotypical - although they are supposedly authentic, different periods are presented to guests, and the viewer at the same time, extremely romantic in the best tradition of Hollywood - brimming with garish colors, deserved such precision in the image to account for all the absurdity of this amusement park size.

http://www.cadependdesjours.com/DVD-...hael-crichton/

[The Limey]

This review scores the PQ as below:

• Image
Not bad at all this transfer in HD. It retains the grain, dust and a lot of small white dots, but the gain in accuracy compared to DVD is palpable. The color fastness is also much better and has stronger contrast.
Top image: no
Image Rating: 4/6

http://www.avcesar.com/bluray/fiche/.../Mondwest.html

[The Limey]

A nice swift dispatch from Amazon-fr:




Going to watch this tonight but the cover already dispels some confusion - this IS in 1080p.

[kernunrex]

Going to watch this tonight but the cover already dispels some confusion - this IS in 1080p.

You can never trust what the cover says. The only way to be sure a disc is truly 1080p is to pop it in (believe me: I've been burned several times by BDs from France this way).

[The Limey]

You can never trust what the cover says. The only way to be sure a disc is truly 1080p is to pop it in (believe me: I've been burned several times by BDs from France this way).

Well I certainly tempted fate there because the Resolution on playback IS in fact 1080i. First time I have had a that happen from a French disc too. Staying on the subject of PQ, the rest is good news though because this transfer has exceeded my expectations. There is a little EE here and there, however, clarity and depth are both strong. Some scenes in particular pop like when Brynner's android is hunting Richard Benjamin through the ravines and the latter's initial flight into Romanworld. Blacks are deep but do not compromise shadow detail. Grain is nicely visible throughout and there is little or no evidence of the DNR gun having been used. Contrast and lighting are fine too.
All in all this is a tidy little transfer and gets a 4/5 off me.

AQ starts off disappointingly with the entire interview sequence at the beginning of the film being very badly out of sync. However, once the film starts in earnest with the shuttle sequence, this problem disappears and we are left with a fine 5.1 track which while mostly being front centred does from time to time display some fine surround.
Dialogue is crisp and nicely rendered and the DTS-HD Master track really does the score justice. The chase sequences in particular have amazing AQ with 360 degree sound which really makes the menacing tambourines in the score sound like rattlesnakes. All channels are clear and well defined.
Despite the disappointment of the first scene, overall AQ garners a respectable 3.5/5 and frankly on some scenes it does rise above that score.

All in all despite some issues this is a good and my recommendation to fans of the film is to pick this up.
Region B locked but no forced subtitles.