Tier System for HD DVD

[eNoize]

Originally Posted by Joe6pack

Lucky Number Slevin should be in tier 4. By far the worst looking HD-DVD I own. No question. The image throughout the entire movie looks "soft". It just doesn't look "HD". It's as if you're watching an "up-scaled" standard DVD or something. Very dull looking image. Very disappointing

I'll move it to a low Tier 1 for now unless more members agree.

[eNoize]

And please remember to also mention where you think each disc ranks within the Tier. For example, should Batman be placed under Dreamgirls or under Scooby-Doo.

Here's the topic. Now, discuss amongst yourselves.

[Bee]

IF MI3 and Serenity can be that high, there is no reason why Constantine can't be higher. I thought that PQ was top notch, definitely Tier 1.

[implant]

Originally Posted by eNoize

I'll move it to a low Tier 1 for now unless more members agree.

I thought Slevin looked unnaturally soft. While there is almost no grain, there is also almost no fine detail. It's hard to make out individual hairs, skin wrinkles, skin pores, texture in cloths, etc etc.

Because I have not personally seen any of the Teir 3 and 4 movies in this list, I would recomend somewhere under Payback in Tier 2.

[Fettastic]

Looks like you're doing a good job eNoize. It's not easy, as I can attest.

[eNoize]

Thanks, Fett. I can only imagine with your list coming closer to its one anniversary in a couple of months.

[Fettastic]

eNoize, if you're not already aware, there is a new DVD set of 10 30 min. documentaries on specific horror directors. Tod Browning is one of them. You can order it from amazon. It's called "Fearmakers".
I watched the Tobe Hooper and Roger Corman ones last night and they were pretty informative.

[half-sane]

Originally Posted by implant

I thought Slevin looked unnaturally soft. While there is almost no grain, there is also almost no fine detail. It's hard to make out individual hairs, skin wrinkles, skin pores, texture in cloths, etc etc.

Because I have not personally seen any of the Teir 3 and 4 movies in this list, I would recomend somewhere under Payback in Tier 2.

no way, slevin is much better than payback PQ wise... it has a soft feel to it, but i think its intentional in a way, and the detail is there, just look at close ups of morgan freeman's face anytime in the movie or bruce's face at the beginning in the train station

[Marky_D_Sahdd]

Can we nominate European releases? Cuz I would like to put "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" in Tier 2, toward the top, and "King Kong(1976)" in tier 5.

[eNoize]

Originally Posted by Fettastic

eNoize, if you're not already aware, there is a new DVD set of 10 30 min. documentaries on specific horror directors. Tod Browning is one of them. You can order it from amazon. It's called "Fearmakers".
I watched the Tobe Hooper and Roger Corman ones last night and they were pretty informative.

Wow, that sounds really cool. I will definitely look into it. Does it include a segment on Cronenberg? Right now, I'm going to buy the new box set of Alejandro Jodorowsky films. Supposedly, they remastered El Topo and The Holy Mountain in high definition, so I wonder how good they look.

And Marky, of course you can nominate European releases. I wanted to re-watch Harry Potter before listing it, but I'll go ahead and do it now and hopefully others will add their input.

[pkremer]

I think "Phantom of the Opera" belongs in Tier 0. I was impressed beyond words by how clear it was. If not Tier 0, extremely high in Tier 1.

Paul

[eNoize]

Added Phantom and Steve McQueen classics, Bullit and The Getaway (1972).

[egy971]

Batman Begins should be moved down - it is very soft throughout and has only few sharp scenes. I also think V for Vendetta should be moved up to bottom Tier 1/top tier 2, Beerfest to mid tier 2, World Trade Center to lower tier 1, and Scary Movie 4 to upper tier 2.

Also, The Matador should be added to mid tier 1, along with Smokin' Aces. The Good Sheperd belongs in lower tier 1/upper tier 2, Fearless in lower tier 1, and Jarhead in lower tier 2.

[eNoize]

Added Smokin' Aces, Casablanca, and An American Werewolf in London.

Unfortunately, An American Werewolf suffers from too many artifacts for it to be considered an improvement on the DVD released a few years back. This is too bad because this movie is one of my childhood favorites and the only improvement I could see were on the vibrancy of the colors. For comparison sakes, I popped in the 20th anniversary edition DVD with the DTS track and had a really difficult time noticing a significant improvement in this HD transfer. I'm assuming that these imperfections (noise, scratches, even lines running horizontally down the screen every now and then) come straight from the master because the DVD has the exact same imperfections. So, I think this is the best it will ever be.

Thankfully, Casablanca was a great surprise! This movie has never looked better. As for Smokin' Aces, this is not a great film but looks amazing with good 3-D pop.

[TheRescue]

Originally Posted by half-sane

no way, slevin is much better than payback PQ wise... it has a soft feel to it, but i think its intentional in a way, and the detail is there, just look at close ups of morgan freeman's face anytime in the movie or bruce's face at the beginning in the train station

Exactly what I was gonna post upon reading the thread. The closeups on Freeman are key; the detail shines.

I think Batman Begins needs to be moved up, definitely. It for sure looks better than 2 Fast 2 Furious and I'd say even as high up as a little better than Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

I'd say Full Metal Jacket could be added to low tier 4 or maybe even as bad as tier 5. The quality is just awful.

Also I don't get why You, Me, and Dupree is a tier 4. Is there something I missed? I watch the thing all the time and don't notice a whole lot wrong with it.