'Elizabeth: The Golden Age' – High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Kenneth's review of 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age' has been posted. He's a fan of the original, but doesn't find this film to be a worthy follow-up, feeling that 'The Golden Ages' plays too fast and loose with the historical facts. Still, he says this HD DVD boasts an excellent video transfer, a near-reference TrueHD audio track, and a nice collection of supplemental material, but all in all, you may want to approach this one with caution.

Full review here:
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/1265/...goldenage.html

[Blurry]

I do agree with Kenneth that the story was not as strong as the first movie, but I still enjoyed it in the theatre and the sumptuous sets should look gorgeous in HD. One of the movies I have been waiting for since a while, though not as much as I waiting for Beowulf, American Gangster and "Into the Wild" (but close).

[Geonosis]

I'm looking forward to this film, and so is my mother. I can't wait to watch it on Tuesday evening. Bee Movie is my main film of the quarter, I just loved it. Now that will be five star video.

[Spitfire IX]

Well, basically, Kenneth's pan is more of what I keep hearing: "I loved the first one, but did not care for this one". I've also read in other reviews that Shapur sort of got caught up in show-offish directorial techniques.

I'd like to say I will pick it up, to register a sale for the red side, but it will have to wait for a rental, first. I hope I like it more than I think I will. It's at the top of my Netflix queue.

[Blurry]

Originally Posted by Spitfire IX

Well, basically, Kenneth's pan is more of what I keep hearing: "I loved the first one, but did not care for this one". I've also read in other reviews that Shapur sort of got caught up in show-offish directorial techniques.

I'd like to say I will pick it up, to register a sale for the red side, but it will have to wait for a rental, first. I hope I like it more than I think I will. It's at the top of my Netflix queue.

The thing is, the first one was utterly fantastic and should be considered a classic. The sequel had big shoes to fill IMO, and if it had not been so overshadowed by the first one, I feel that the "Golden Age" would be getting a better reception.

[ben1080p]

I gotta say I thought the movie itself was just blah!

[krylonman]

"I do have one fairly big gripe. Black levels are consistently muddied by gold and milky tones that occasionally wash out the detail and depth of the picture. Shadows seem flat, and the image fails to pop in these instances -- for all intents and purposes, it seems like the transfer has a serious problem. However, dig deeper and you'll discover that this was an intentional change made to the image by Kapur in post production. That may be an interesting tidbit, but I initially assumed there was something very wrong with the display. If not for this strange anomaly, the transfer would have netted five stars from me."

Why, since the advent of HDM, do people keep giving lower marks for something that was intended by the director? Sorry, but this annoys me to no end. Not every title is 'HDScape Exotic Saltwater Aquarium;' if the colors are unnatural or the image is more (or less) contrasty or grainy than usual, that doesn't mean there's necessarily been a mistake in the transfer. If you can confirm that a particular look was intended by the filmmakers, then it should be clear that there's definitely no mistake in the transfer. If you don't like the "gold and milky tones" but they're a deliberate effect, isn't that something to bring up in the review of the film itself?

[bookcase]

Perhaps it's not as strong as the first, but I'm still excited about picking it up tomorrow. FINALLY a new movie on HD DVD.

[Mikitiger]

a little disappointed

[Judge Pen]

I loved the first one, but I'll rent this one first before buying it.

As far as the "director's intent" I agree krylonman. I think that the advent of HDTV has made these intentional choices more prevelent when watching a film then in SD. The are so noticable that my wife (a non-moviephile) gets annoyed with grain etc when its clearly part of the original intent.

[Blurry]

Originally Posted by krylonman

"I do have one fairly big gripe. Black levels are consistently muddied by gold and milky tones that occasionally wash out the detail and depth of the picture. Shadows seem flat, and the image fails to pop in these instances -- for all intents and purposes, it seems like the transfer has a serious problem. However, dig deeper and you'll discover that this was an intentional change made to the image by Kapur in post production. That may be an interesting tidbit, but I initially assumed there was something very wrong with the display. If not for this strange anomaly, the transfer would have netted five stars from me."

Why, since the advent of HDM, do people keep giving lower marks for something that was intended by the director? Sorry, but this annoys me to no end. Not every title is 'HDScape Exotic Saltwater Aquarium;' if the colors are unnatural or the image is more (or less) contrasty or grainy than usual, that doesn't mean there's necessarily been a mistake in the transfer. If you can confirm that a particular look was intended by the filmmakers, then it should be clear that there's definitely no mistake in the transfer. If you don't like the "gold and milky tones" but they're a deliberate effect, isn't that something to bring up in the review of the film itself?

Good point, so basically he is saying that it was a 5 star transfer except for some anomalies due to director's intent in some scenes. Seems harsh to drop it a full point for such. But at least he clarifies.

[posters5]

i agree with ken's assessment of the video, but to be honest, the image presentation is so good that few people will be bothered by its "deficiencies", intended or un-intended.

blurry, you will probably watch this one five times within one week.

[Blurry]

Originally Posted by posters5

i agree with ken's assessment of the video, but to be honest, the image presentation is so good that few people will be bothered by its "deficiencies", intended or un-intended.

blurry, you will probably watch this one five times within one week.

Yeah, I am going to gave to do a 2 movie Marathon of he first and second later this week.

[krylonman]

Originally Posted by Blurry

But at least he clarifies.

That's certainly true. Can't blame someone for knowing what they're talking about.

[The BJD]

I just watched this movie and truly enjoyed it. I watched the first one last night and this one held up nicely. The picture was beautiful and I agree it may have been too "pretty" at times. In the end I really liked it though was concerned from the review. I though the AQ was good as well.