The Studio Canal Collection

[Arkadin]

yeah this whole amazon US thing seems like a total debacle.
I'll be placing my UK order tomorrow.

[kobeson]

Is the Deer Hunter any better than the first Blu-Ray release, in terms of PQ?

And how is Belle de Jour?

[Fisher & Sons]

Ok so...

The Deer Hunter apparently has an audio pitch problem or whatever? So looks like it is a no go on buying that.

What about some of the others just released? Are they region locked? I keep seeing conflicting descriptions.

[Arkadin]

still a pretty limited amount of info.
Universal will release "The Deer Hunter" eventually so that doesn't bother me too much.
I'm not saying it's good, but I have the HD DVD.
I'm a little bummed that "Ran" isn't better, but I'm still getting it.
Haven't really seen much about the others except for "Elephant Man" which everyone seems to say is good.

[Peacekeeper]

OK, just tested the following discs on my region A Panasonic BD60 and calibrated full HD 46" plasma:

Ran: plays fine on the regio A player. Can't compare the pic to what's already out there but it's very soft in the long shots, and looks like it comes from a print that was definitely a few steps removed from an original source: some scenes are fine, but it hardly qualifies as BD, more like an upscale of a not very nice print. The pic also doesn't fully fill out the left side of the screen, which is the first time I've seen this with a BD: normally the full width of the screen is used (full hd plasma setting on no overscan).
image 4/10

Elephant Man: plays fine on the region A player. Image is very good, but it comes from a not pristine print, definitely an older master. Edge enhancement is visible, but grain is preserved. This pic also doesn't fully fill out the left side of the screen.
image 7/10

The Deer Hunter: plays fine on the region A player. Image is a quantum leap over the existing Universal region 1 dvd, with terrific colour detail and preserved natural looking grain. Some scenes in the mountains are just stunning. However, lots of edge enhancement which gives the picture a slightly digital look that surely can be bettered.
image 8/10

Belle De Jour: although it doesn't seem to play at first on the region A player, and returns to the BD screensaver, once I hit the top menu button on my remote it starts normally like all the other discs. Seems to have a glitch finding the start menu by itself.
EDIT: This title will only play on the Panasonic BD60: the top menu trick is a brand specific loophole for some Region B locked titles! It does not work on a PS3
Once you're in the menu everything works like it should. Pic is outstanding, a little contrasty and drained of colour, but that may als be a stylistic choice. Grain is fully present, and the 1.66:1 ratio is fully adhered too.
image 9/10

Questions? Shoot!

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by Peacekeeper

OK, just tested the following discs on my region A Panasonic BD60 and calibrated full HD 46" plasma:

Ran: plays fine on the regio A player. Can't compare the pic to what's already out there but it's very soft in the long shots, and looks like it comes from a print that was definitely a few steps removed from an original source: some scenes are fine, but it hardly qualifies as BD, more like an upscale of a not very nice print. The pic also doesn't fully fill out the left side of the screen, which is the first time I've seen this with a BD: normally the full width of the screen is used (full hd plasma setting on no overscan).
image 4/10

Elephant Man: plays fine on the region A player. Image is very good, but it comes from a not pristine print, definitely an older master. Edge enhancement is visible, but grain is preserved. This pic also doesn't fully fill out the left side of the screen.
image 7/10

The Deer Hunter: plays fine on the region A player. Image is a quantum leap over the existing Universal region 1 dvd, with terrific colour detail and preserved natural looking grain. Some scenes in the mountains are just stunning. However, lots of edge enhancement which gives the picture a slightly digital look that surely can be bettered.
image 8/10

Belle De Jour: although it doesn't seem to play at first on the region A player, and returns to the BD screensaver, once I hit the top menu button on my remote it starts normally like all the other discs. Seems to have a glitch finding the start menu by itself. Once you're in the menu everything works like it should. Pic is outstanding, a little contrasty and drained of colour, but that may als be a stylistic choice. Grain is fully present, and the 1.66:1 ratio is fully adhered too.
image 9/10

Questions? Shoot!

Post pics!!!!

[Peacekeeper]

By the by, the audio pitch problem is indeed present on the 5.1 track of the Deer Hunter, but luckily the 2.0 track is just fine.

[jurples]

Originally Posted by Peacekeeper

Belle De Jour: although it doesn't seem to play at first on the region A player, and returns to the BD screensaver, once I hit the top menu button on my remote it starts normally like all the other discs. Seems to have a glitch finding the start menu by itself. Once you're in the menu everything works like it should. Pic is outstanding, a little contrasty and drained of colour, but that may als be a stylistic choice. Grain is fully present, and the 1.66:1 ratio is fully adhered too.
image 9/10

Questions? Shoot!

edit: sorry, didn't see that you'd posted what kind of player you used.

can someone verify that playing this on an american ps3 isn't an issue? if so i'll be ordering for sure.

[Arkadin]

thanks for the info.

[kobeson]

Yeah, thanks heaps for the mini-reviews, Belle de Jour sounds great!

Any pics would be fantastic if possible, if not then no probs. I think I will buy Belle for now anyway.

[BambooLounge]

Just got the dreaded "We cannot locate your items...please approve our continued search" email from Amazon.com

[Iggytx]

I'd also like to know if anybody has tested these on a Region A PS3? Very interested in all four of these digibook-like releases.

[eastx]

I've always wanted to see Ran, so I think I'll get in on that Dutch import soon.

[ahsoka]

Does the releases in The Studio Canal Collection generally have slipcovers? I got the Italian version of Ran and it had a slipcover, the Dutch release did not (the info and specs were printed on an insert).

[Fisher & Sons]

Ok, so Belle De Jour plays on region A (and my playstation 3) despite apparently being region b? I'd like to own this.

And about Ran...it will play as well? Even if the picture is far from perfect, I'd rather have it on blu-ray than wait for it to finally be released in the US.

Anyone know if amazon gift cards work on the uk amazon? thanks people.