'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Josh's review of 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' is up. He says it's a terrific movie, but yet another mixed Blu-ray bag from Fox. The soundtrack is stunning, but the video quality is only a small improvement over the DVD edition. This disc merits a recommendation, but owners of the Collector's Edition DVD will want to hang that as the supplements here haven't all made the tripto Blu-ray.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/605/...commander.html

[BlkM383]

Thats it?! Only three stars for PQ, that sucks. I'll still buy it, to add it to my collection.

[SBrooks1]

Blu-ray.com gave it 4.5 video and Josh gives it a 3. Interesting. Can't wait to see it myself and see where the discrepancy lies.

[Jimbo976]

I think the review here at HDD is spot on for this one.

[padanx]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain all the half-assed video reviews for this title that I've been reading. Looks great to me...and as intended. I think that, once again, reviewers are making little or no allowance between absolute test-pattern standards, such as those used for calibrating a monitor, and real world results obtained from various source materials, and crafted using various intentional styles and techniques. This has been going on since the advent of hi-def, and helps create more confusion in the mind of the public. Once in a while I get really pissed off. But then...what the hell. There are people dying in the world.

[tibbydriver]

While this isnt a first day purchase for me ill get it eventually. Justhave alot of movies to watch at this time notto mention BoB on

[Bighairyman]

I purchased it the day it came out because i love t he film so much. Sadly I agree with the reviewer for the picture quality...looks like the DVD. I hate Fox...

[crazzeto]

Yikes.... I guess it's a very good thing I found this movie to be boring and wasn't really considering a bluray upgrade to begin with.

[Patsfan123]

I would give it a 4.0 on PQ. There are many scenes which look better than a DVD.

[davcole]

Never a favorite of mine but i'd rent it for the audio alone!! This should really be an aural delight!

[nelll]

I'll give it a rent just to listen to the MA audio then I'll buy the SD DVD to compare the PQ. Very nice review JZ keep it up.

[ack_bak]

I purchased it for three reasons:
1. I love this movie.
2. The PQ upgrade over the DVD
3. The AQ upgrade over the DVD

Josh does point out that the movie intentionally has a haze and fog feel to it which hurts the PQ, but he also seemed dissapointed with other scenes in the movie during normal daylight.

That said, other reviews state that this encode is very true to the theatrical presentation as shown in the theater and is a solid upgrade over the DVD.

I purchased this one last week via Ebay for $21.xx (I had a coupon for free shipping) so I hope it is worth the money. It sounds like the audio upgrade alone might be...

I will post my thoughts and try to do an A-B comparison with the DVD on my PS3.

[robertc88]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

I purchased it for three reasons:
1. I love this movie.
2. The PQ upgrade over the DVD
3. The AQ upgrade over the DVD

Josh does point out that the movie intentionally has a haze and fog feel to it which hurts the PQ, but he also seemed dissapointed with other scenes in the movie during normal daylight.

That said, other reviews state that this encode is very true to the theatrical presentation as shown in the theater and is a solid upgrade over the DVD.

I purchased this one last week via Ebay for $21.xx (I had a coupon for free shipping) so I hope it is worth the money. It sounds like the audio upgrade alone might be...

I will post my thoughts and try to do an A-B comparison with the DVD on my PS3.

Not sure how many folks may have watched the SD DVD as much as me and on various players and displays also. Trust me, you will like this BD in comparison to that!

[robertc88]

Originally Posted by padanx

I'm still waiting for someone to explain all the half-assed video reviews for this title that I've been reading. Looks great to me...and as intended. I think that, once again, reviewers are making little or no allowance between absolute test-pattern standards, such as those used for calibrating a monitor, and real world results obtained from various source materials, and crafted using various intentional styles and techniques. This has been going on since the advent of hi-def, and helps create more confusion in the mind of the public. Once in a while I get really pissed off. But then...what the hell. There are people dying in the world.

+1 but I'm not pissed off. They can watch the SD DVD if they like and sell the BD!

[Son of Odin]

the dts ma track is easily five star. if I am Legend gets a five star score for sound than this gets a seven. not even in the same ballpark. PQ is a little a better but not that low.