'Paprika' - High-Def Digest review

[jed]

Kenneth's review of 'Paprika' is up. He says this challenging Anime film makes for another impressive Blu-ray release from Sony, boasting a vibrant transfer, impressive Japanese and English Dolby TrueHD audio tracks, and a healthy dose of supplemental goodness.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1133/paprika.html

[Superking]

That was to be expected, good review.

Does anyone know how the DolbyTrueHD track compares to the Japanese Region A's (and I think the French Region B) LPCM track?

[SuperBit]

Originally Posted by jed

Kenneth's review of 'Paprika' is up. He says this challenging Anime film makes for another impressive Blu-ray release from Sony, boasting a vibrant transfer, impressive Japanese and English Dolby TrueHD audio tracks, and a healthy dose of supplemental goodness.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1133/paprika.html

The Disc Detail says, "MPEG 4 AVC. But the review says, "MPEG-2." Typo?

[Sarang]

Nice to know it's not five stars in video. Thanks Sony, for screwing up the video transfer and not making it perfect!
I wanted this to be immaculate but very unfortunate that is not to be. Thank you for crushing my hopes Sony!

[Ken Brown]

Originally Posted by SuperBit

The Disc Detail says, "MPEG 4 AVC. But the review says, "MPEG-2." Typo?(

Yep, a typo in the Disc Detail section -- 'Paprika' is presented with the MPEG-2 codec. The review has been updated.

Thanks for catching that one!

[Sarang]

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

Yep, a typo in the Disc Detail section -- 'Paprika' is presented with the MPEG-2 codec. The review has been updated.

Thanks for catching that one!

So basically this is the same transfer as the Japanese one? groans. Why couldn't they have FIXED it?! They're not giving this title the respect it deserves.

[HD Guru]

"you may be better served giving this one before deciding whether or not it belongs on your shelf."

Ken you saucy minx you!!

[SuperBit]

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

Yep, a typo in the Disc Detail section -- 'Paprika' is presented with the MPEG-2 codec. The review has been updated.

Thanks for catching that one!

No prob. I didn't really mind that it was a MPEG 2 transfer since it's an anime film and those look pretty good no matter what codec is used. Just wanted to make sure.

[SuperBit]

Originally Posted by Sarang

Nice to know it's not five stars in video. Thanks Sony, for screwing up the video transfer and not making it perfect!
I wanted this to be immaculate but very unfortunate that is not to be. Thank you for crushing my hopes Sony!

This looks like one of those, "Let me pretend to be angry so that I may try influence other potential fans to be angry at Sony too" post.

Sarang, don't worry. I'm not mad at Sony. I'm sure that Paprika and Tekkon Kinkreet will be great looking. The scores were 4 and 4 1/2 stars for PQ respectivly. Not a 2 1/2 like you make it out to be. Not every animated film can be a 5 star like "Ratatouille" and "Cars."

I think you were really "hoping" that it got a worse score (Yeah, I've already checked your post history. So, don't bother....).

[Sarang]

Originally Posted by SuperBit

This looks like one of those, "Let me pretend to be angry so that I may try influence other potential fans to be angry at Sony too" post.

Sarang, don't worry. I'm not mad at Sony. I'm sure that Paprika and Tekkon Kinkreet will be great looking. The scores were 4 and 4 1/2 stars for PQ respectivly. Not a 2 1/2 like you make it out to be. Not every animated film can be a 5 star like "Ratatouille" and "Cars."

I think you were really "hoping" that it got a worse score (Yeah, I've already checked your post history. So, don't bother....).

No I wasn't. This is a film I expect to be wet dream material and any flaw non-source is inexcusable to me hence my irritation. I wanted Sony to treat this with velvet gloves which Kenneth makes clear they didn't as the transfer is flawed, however slightly. I could understand and would have no problem if it was the source.
If I'm somewhat more critical of Sony it's because they have the Wuxia I like as well as an Anime that seemed to look great for me from the trailer. Sony seems to be the only one in the U.S. that seem to understand that some of us like High Def and want these films in HD.

[SuperBit]

Originally Posted by Sarang

No I wasn't. This is a film I expect to be wet dream material and any flaw non-source is inexcusable to me hence my irritation. I wanted Sony to treat this with velvet gloves which Kenneth makes clear they didn't as the transfer is flawed, however slightly. I could understand and would have no problem if it was the source.
If I'm somewhat more critical of Sony it's because they have the Wuxia I like as well as an Anime that seemed to look great for me from the trailer. Sony seems to be the only one in the U.S. that seem to understand that some of us like High Def and want these films in HD.

Ok, I'll buy that...but you can understand that not everyone would share your "end of the world" reaction? Right?

Maybe they will put out a remastered MPEG4 version later if the demand is high. I'm going to reserve my judgment on this film until I see it with my own eyes to see how "flawed" it is. If you saw it you might not even notice.

That's why I'm less critical of animation but more so with film.

[Sarang]

Originally Posted by SuperBit

Ok, I'll buy that...but you can understand that not everyone would share your "end of the world" reaction? Right?

Fine. Sigh. Can we just get "Akira", "Land Before Time", "An American Tail", "An American Tail 2: Fievel Goes West", "Grave Of the Fireflies", "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon", a remaster of "House Of Flying Daggers", etc.? Now you know my tastes. I'm really curious as to how Fireflies will be handled. I mean how well they'll do it. It's a certain technique called brown something. I don't know if they add a screen or what.
Btw if you check my post history you'll also notice I've praised Sony as being the only big studio worth anything in the U.S. in terms of giving HDM people a real variety in terms of D&D titles. I find it pathetic Warner won't offer us "The Promise" and Weinstein won't give us "Infernal Affairs".
Also in terms of Martial Arts please don't bring up BCI. Until I actually see a review of one of their titles I'll take for granted them releasing anything since they've basically delayed, hemmed and hawed or whatever about actually giving up product. A shame since they'd fill a much needed void of offerings in a genre that pales on HD DVD and isn't much better on Blu-Ray.

[Godstar]

Originally Posted by Sarang

No I wasn't. This is a film I expect to be wet dream material and any flaw non-source is inexcusable to me hence my irritation. I wanted Sony to treat this with velvet gloves which Kenneth makes clear they didn't as the transfer is flawed, however slightly. I could understand and would have no problem if it was the source.
If I'm somewhat more critical of Sony it's because they have the Wuxia I like as well as an Anime that seemed to look great for me from the trailer. Sony seems to be the only one in the U.S. that seem to understand that some of us like High Def and want these films in HD.

I hardly would say that's true. His review stated that the whole film was perfectly done except for maybe some softness at the beginning of the movie. How is that not treating it with respect? It's even got a LPCM soundtrack. I know you don't support BD, but at least don't feign disgust over something that was glaringly obvious in the review - that the transfer was well done. Tekkon kincreet looked perfect, and am sure Paprika will look marvelous when I finally get it.

[Vincent Grayson]

Watched it last night, and I honestly didn't find anything wrong with it. It's fucking beautiful, although I didn't like it quite as much as I liked Tekkonkinkreet.

[aeon_flux]

i've seen this disc a few weeks ago and the pq have absolutelly blown me away - as well as the movie. i've heard that they'll release perfect blue on db too.