'The Truman Show' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Ken has reviewed 'The Truman Show.'He says this features a sharp script and some good performances. This Blu-ray improves on the DVD, but the otherwise impressive video is held back by DNR. Audio is faithful, but limited by the original mix. Supplements aren't stand outs. Worth a look, but rent it before deciding on a purchase.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1821/trumanshow.html

[ruckus81]

I really like this movie. Don't love it enough to double dip any time soon but a good review.

[nelll]

I don't own this title but based on Ken's review (super-good) I will probably pick this up.

[Super-VHS]

Paramount really screwed this.

Not just a touch of (very noticable) DNR but also some nasty edge ehancment. And to top it off the image has been stretched.... again, noticably.

First Event Horizon now The Truman Show....

I think I'll be holding off on buying Paramount catalogs before reading reviews from now on. They seem to one of the best when it comes to day and date releases but completely medicore catalogs-wise.

[Fettastic]

Originally Posted by Super-VHS

Paramount really screwed this.

Not just a touch of (very noticable) DNR but also some nasty edge ehancment. And to top it off the image has been stretched.... again, noticably.

First Event Horizon now The Truman Show....

I think I'll be holding off on buying Paramount catalogs before reading reviews from now on. They seem to one of the best when it comes to day and date releases but completely medicore catalogs-wise.

My GOD! What are they DOING over there at Paramount? How can they keep screwing up like this? I think they are pretty undeniably the absolute WORST studio for Blu-ray.

Their initial discs were garbage with crap audio and really noisy MPEG-2 transfers. Now the new ones are plagued with edge enhancement, DNR and now vertical stretching! This is ridiculous! Man am I glad I cancelled this pre-order!

I think the only thing they've done right is Godfather, Iron Man and the Mission Impossible films.

[Pouyan]

Originally Posted by Super-VHS

Paramount really screwed this.

Not just a touch of (very noticable) DNR but also some nasty edge ehancment. And to top it off the image has been stretched.... again, noticably.

First Event Horizon now The Truman Show....

I think I'll be holding off on buying Paramount catalogs before reading reviews from now on. They seem to one of the best when it comes to day and date releases but completely medicore catalogs-wise.

From Blu-ray.com:

The Truman Show arrives on Blu-ray in fantastic 1080p transfer. The film’s original matted aspect ratio of 1.85:1 has been opened up for this release, allowing the film to fill the entire 1.78:1 frame that is native in 16:9 high definition televisions. Fear not, however, as opening the matte does not cause any valuable picture information to be lost. Having seen The Truman Show a number of times, I was immediately impressed with the video quality evident in this release. The film looks fresh and crisp and doesn’t suffer from distracting dirt or residue. It’s about as pristine as they come. Artifacts are also a non- issue. I didn’t detect a trace of edge enhancement, compression issues, banding or noise. There is a small amount of grain present in the film that becomes more readily apparent in dark scenes, but it never approaches excessive levels. Because The Truman Show was shot with a purposefully warm look, skin tones can occasionally veer into orange territory. I don’t think this is the fault of the transfer; rather, it seems to be intentional. In a comparison to the film’s original DVD release, this Blu-ray edition is a clear upgrade featuring significantly improved and more saturated colors, vastly increased detail and much more pleasing contrast and black levels. The Truman Show looks spectacular on Blu-ray.

Highdefdigest is the only site I've seen that has complained about the video transfer

[Fettastic]

I didn't see anyone mention the edge enhancement on Event Horizon either but it is undeniably persistant. Instead it's universally hailed from one end of the internet to the other despite SEVERE problems! This is the type of crap studios rely on. When not even the REVIEWERS are paying attention, why should they worry about the average consumer that thinks they're already watching HD just by buying an HDTV?

[Super-VHS]

Originally Posted by Pouyan

From Blu-ray.com:

Highdefdigest is the only site I've seen that has complained about the video transfer

To put it lightly, Blu-ray.com doesn't know what the fuck they are talking about. The EE on this title is easily noticable on even a moderately sized screen.

Plus, that review (nor the one here) makes no mention of the stretching..... which causes fat faces, distorted objects (such as the ever important and frequently seen moon) and is inexcusable. The films intended ratio is 1.66:1; the original DVD preserved that ratio. The SE DVD (and now this blu-ray) contains a stretched image to fill the 1.78:1 frame. They didn't matte it properly. They didn't preserve the original ratio. All they did was take the film and ever so slightly stretched it to fit the frame.

[ZebraMajor]

Here's the AVS thread link with screenshots:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1103757

It's disappointing to say the least to see the too-wide faces and non-circular moon. I'm glad I passed on impulse buying this during the Fry's sale.

Ken, you should really update the video section of your review with this info. Let the buyer beware!

[bookcase]

Hmmm... I probably wouldn't have even noticed this if it weren't for comparison shots. I need to stop looking at them because they oftentimes fill me with disappointment.

[1LOSTmf]

I HATED this movie! It pretty much single-handedly made Jim Carey lose his fan base. Why do comedians feel as though they have to do drama to make themselves feel relevant? Do the comedy!! I will value you much more as an actor if you do what I love you for the most, and stop trying to prove your acting range. Make the funny faces! Fall down! Make me laugh! Bumblebee Tuna!

[ben1080p]

I have never seen it but I have heard its one of Carrey's best. Ill def check it out.

[Ken Brown]

Originally Posted by ZebraMajor

Here's the AVS thread link with screenshots:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1103757

It's disappointing to say the least to see the too-wide faces and non-circular moon. I'm glad I passed on impulse buying this during the Fry's sale.

Ken, you should really update the video section of your review with this info. Let the buyer beware!

Yep, sure is. Sorry I didn't notice it the first time around, guys. I guess I'm just not as sensitive to this particular issue as others are -- in fact, the only reason I noticed the stretching in 'Event Horizon' was because someone pointed it out to me (after noticing several of the circular corridors were skewed). Besides, the differences between the two is relatively minor and I doubt many people will notice it without the assistance of comparison shots. Don't get me wrong, it's still not acceptable and I have no idea why Paramount chose to adjust the aspect ratio, but I also think people are claiming it's far more obvious than it is.

I'm on my way to dinner with my family at the moment, but I'll be sure to update the review (and probably the PQ score) when I get home later this evening. Thanks for pointing out the discrepancy!

[Hi-Def Steve]

I'm sooo glad I don't have the golden eyes some of you have. It must just suck sitting there every movie looking for faults instead of just enjoying the movie.

[Variable]

Originally Posted by 1LOSTmf

I HATED this movie! It pretty much single-handedly made Jim Carey lose his fan base. Why do comedians feel as though they have to do drama to make themselves feel relevant? Do the comedy!! I will value you much more as an actor if you do what I love you for the most, and stop trying to prove your acting range. Make the funny faces! Fall down! Make me laugh! Bumblebee Tuna!

maybe the concept of broad appeal is lost on you but I'm thankful it wasn't lost on Carey.

go watch Yes Man, I'll stick with The Truman Show, Man On The Moon, and Eternal Sunshine.


edit - I'm watching Event Horizon tonight, I wish I didn't know about the stretching because I doubt I'd notice it. I am extremely confused as to why they would ever stretch an image.