Tier System for HD DVD

[eNoize]

Note: This thread now contains both the Tier System as well as links to various HD DVD reviews for a one stop shopping place for determining the quality of various titles.


How it works

The list is continuously changing with each new release, so check the list frequently to see where the picture quality of your favorite film rates. Also, the list is not definitive but rather constantly evolving according to majority rule, meaning that a film within a particular tier can be moved if the majority feels the picture quality of said film should be rated higher or lower. This way, I remain objective and the opinion of others is equally heard. Each title within its respective tier is also ranked in order of picture of quality (e.g., Training Day is higher than World Trade Center because it has a slightly better picture). With each new release, the picture quality of a certain film will be ranked based on my initial viewing, and then moved about based on majority rule. So remember to post your opinion of where you think a title should be ranked and I will move it accordingly.

Please keep in mind that the list is not intended to reflect the quality of a director’s intention and such judgments should be avoided when assessing picture quality. For example, Children of Men was intentionally filmed with a gray overtone to fit the subject matter, but this stylistic choice did not hinder the sharp detail of the picture. This list is also not intended as a means of comparing the superiority of one format over the other since the list is purely subjective, not conclusive.

However, the tier system is intended as a means of encouraging each other to watch new releases (whether they are day-and-date or catalog), express our opinion concerning the picture quality and see how it compares to reviews published on this site or other websites. The list also allows others to see the general opinion of imported HD DVDs and offer that final nudge to purchase said import.

How to assess picture quality

The title is ranked based on how consistent the film is throughout, e.g., Tier 0 means zero artifacts and consistent from beginning to end, Tier 1 means artifacts are present about ten percent of the time, Tier 6 means artifacts are present about sixty percent of the time, and so forth. When it comes to consistency, the picture of one scene should compare to the picture of another scene within the same title. What you want to look for is the sharpness of detail (does the picture have plenty of depth and pop-out of the screen or does it look real and film-like), color (are they true to reality, especially blues, reds and greens; are blacks black and whites white), and video artifacts (is the picture bobbed or is there too much noise and edge enhancement). Do these features remain comparably consistent throughout the film?

Sometimes, the picture is so sharp that it’s almost three-dimensional or characters on screen appear to live in a three-dimensional space. This 3-D effect can be ruined by a picture being too soft or out-of-focus. A good example of this is the intentional softness of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. While the picture of the film is very good and looks very film-like, it lacks depth. However, it still ranks in Tier 2 because it also lacks any video artifacts and the picture quality is very pristine.

Video artifacts are a common result of the amount of damage the original master copy of the film has sustained over time; but they can also be a result of the process used to transfer a film into a digital media. A "bobbed" image is, simply put, the process of upconverting a picture with a resolution of 480-scan lines to 1080p, creating “jaggies” or “stair-stepping.” This process can also result in rare cases of chroma noise, which affects solid colors like blues and reds by making them appear grainy rather than pure. Other video artifacts which can be problematic are low level noise (which affects the blackest part of the image, making it look grainy and almost gray rather than a deep, solid black), macro-blocking (which is a result of bandwidth limitations and exposes pixels, making fast-paced scenes look pixelated), and edge enhancement (which results in a halo effect around a character or object; it’s a visible issue for those folks using CRT projectors or digital front projectors).

How each Tier is categorized and other signifiers

Tier 0 - Reference

--- The picture quality of the transfer is in pristine shape and practically perfect with no visible video artifacts. The image is so clean and sharp that it maintains a three-dimensional feel throughout and serves as great demo material.

Tier 1 - Excellent

--- Video artifacts are next to nothing with a good sense of three-dimensional space. The image is sharp and nicely detailed and still serves as good demo material.

Tier 2 - Very Good

--- The image maintains a sharp film-like quality throughout which looks real, with less 3-D effect than Tier 1 and video artifacts are far and few in between.

Tier 3 - Good

--- The picture is nice and pleasant to look at with a few more artifacts and less depth and detail than Tier 2. While the majority of the film is 'good', the remainder is enough to show inconsistencies.

Tier 4 - Satisfactory

--- This is the midway point for Hi-Def titles. Although a step up from standard definition DVD, the transfer has added only some detail and depth with little video artifacts; hardly any 3-D effect, but still film-like quality.

Tier 5 - Average

--- Video artifacts are more prevalent while still a decent picture; it's difficult to discern how the transfer has added much to the picture quality, because it's softer than expected and looks almost like its DVD counterpart.


(Combo) : a hybrid disc commonly used for day-and-date releases, with DVD-9 on one side and HD DVD on the other.

(U-Control) : an interactive feature found on some Universal releases.

(IME) : “In-Movie Experience” , an interactive feature found on some Warner releases.

(TrueHD) : Dolby TrueHD, a lossless audio codec (24 bit/96 kHz) developed by Dolby Laboratories.

(DTS-MA) : DTS-HD Master Audio, a lossless audio codec (24 bit/96 kHz) developed by Digital Theater System (DTS).

(DTS-HD) : DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, an alternative to DTS-HD Master Audio capable of 3.0 Mbps and used as an option when disc space is limited.

[eNoize]

Note: This thread now contains both the Tier System as well as links to various HD DVD reviews for a one stop shopping place for determining the quality of various titles. And if you're looking for a particular title, simply press Ctrl + F and type in the title.

Tier 0 - Reference Quality

Beowulf: The Director's Cut (2007) (PiP feature)
Shrek the Third (IME)
Corpse Bride
King Kong (U-Control)
The Ant Bully(Combo)(TrueHD)
Happy Feet (Combo)(TrueHD)
TMNT (TrueHD)
Hot Fuzz
Zodiac: Director's Cut
Les Triplettes de Belleville (French Import)(DTS-MA)
Pan's Labyrinth (IME)(DTS-MA)
Transformers (IME)
A Scanner Darkly
Hulk
The Matrix Reloaded (IME)(TrueHD)
The Matrix Revolutions (IME)(TrueHD)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (IME)(TrueHD)
Black Snake Moan
Renaissance (2006) (German Import)(DTS-MA)
Crank (Director's Cut) (German Import)(DTS-HD)
Shooter


Tier 1 - An Excellent Improvement Upon Its Theatrical Run

Freedom: 2 (Twin Combo)
Freedom: 3
Freedom: 4
Freedom: 5
Eastern Promises (Combo)(TrueHD)
Brotherhood of the Wolf (European Import)(DTS-MA)
The Bourne Ultimatum (Combo)(U-Control)(TrueHD)
Inside Man (TrueHD)
I Am Legend (Combo)(TrueHD)
Freedom: 1 (Twin Combo)
One Six Right: The Romance of Flying
The Host (DTS-HD)
2001: A Space Odyssey (TrueHD)
Planet Earth
Torchwood: Season One (UK Import)(DTS-HD)
Galapagos
Children of Men (Combo)(U-Control)
Chronicles of Riddick
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (IME)(TrueHD)
Nature's Journey
Atonement (Combo)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Theatrical Cut) (French Import)(DTS-MA)
The Aviator
The Way To Paradise: Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound (DTS-MA)
The Bourne Identity (U-Control)
Face/Off
Batman Begins (IME)(TrueHD)
Tideland (German Import)(DTS-HD)
Alexander Revisited
The Scorpion King (U-Control)
Blade Runner (TrueHD)
The Kingdom (2007) (U-Control)(Combo)
Seabiscuit
Troy: Director's Cut (TrueHD)
The Invasion (Combo)(TrueHD)
Grand Prix
Sahara
Aeon Flux
Tremors (TrueHD)
Underworld: Evolution (Spanish Import)
The Brave One (Combo)(TrueHD)
Training Day (TrueHD)
Ray
The Prestige (European Import)
Nine Inch Nails Live: Beside You in Time (TrueHD)
The Phantom of the Opera (IME)(TrueHD)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (TrueHD)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (TrueHD)
Gothika
Eyes Wide Shut (TrueHD)


Tier 2 - Very Good -- An Accurate Representation of a Film's Theatrical Showing

Evan Almighty (Combo)(U-Control)
The Matrix (IME)(TrueHD)
Letters from Iwo Jima (Combo)(TrueHD)
Band of Brothers (Japanese Import)(DTS-HD)
Flags of Our Fathers
The Heartbreak Kid (TrueHD)
Disturbia (DTS-HD)
300 (Combo)(IME)(TrueHD)
Mission: Impossible III (PiP feature)
Smokin' Aces (Combo)(U-Control)
Hollywoodland (Combo)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The Hitcher (Combo)(U-Control)
Star Trek: The Original Series -- The Complete First Season (IME)(TrueHD)
Dreamgirls
Robin Hood: The Complete Series One (UK Import)
The Departed (Combo)(TrueHD)
Bleak House (UK Import)(uPCM)
2 Fast 2 Furious
The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift (Combo)(U-Contol)
The Mummy Returns
Jet Li's Fearless (Combo)
The Fast & The Furious
Black Christmas (2006) (TrueHD)
Equilibrium (Japanese Import)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (TrueHD)
The Brothers Grimm (Japanese Import)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (IME)(TrueHD)
American Gangster (Combo)(U-Control)
Return to House on Haunted Hill
The Skeleton Key
Jazz Standards - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound (DTS-MA)
Balls of Fury (Combo)(TrueHD)
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (German Import)(DTS-HD)
Fantastic Four (German Import)(DTS-HD)
Blood Diamond (IME)(TrueHD)
Constantine (IME)(TrueHD)
ATL (Combo)
Running Scared (German Import)(DTS-HD)
Out of Sight
The Matador
Scary Movie 4
District B13 (TrueHD)
Brokeback Mountain (Combo)
World Trade Center
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (German Import)(DTS-HD)
Serenity
The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut
Discovery Atlas: Australia Revealed
Discovery Atlas: Brazil Revealed
Good Night, Good Luck (Combo)
IMAX: Blue Planet (TrueHD)
Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season
Elephants Dream (German Import)
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (Combo)
Discovery Atlas: Italy
The Wicker Man (2006) (TrueHD)
Swordfish
Shaun of the Dead
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Director's Cut)(French Import)(DTS-MA)
We Are Marshall (Combo)(TrueHD)
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Reign of Fire (Japanese Import)
Next (TrueHD)
Dawn of the Dead (2004) (TrueHD)
Scooby-Doo
Clerks II (TrueHD)
The World's Fastest Indian (TrueHD)
The Architect
Casablanca
The Pianist (TrueHD)
La Vie en Rose (La Mome) (French Import)(DTS-MA)
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Combo)(TrueHD)
The Bourne Supremacy (U-Control)
Total Recall (French Import)(DTS-MA)
Pitch Black
1408 - Director's Cut (Dutch Import)(DTS-MA)
The Mummy
Becoming Jane (UK Import)(DTS-HD)
Dead Silence
Heroes: Season One (U-Control)
Elizabeth (TrueHD)
Into the Wild
Blades of Glory
The Last Samurai
The Pat Metheny Group: The Way Up (uPCM)(DTS-HD)

Breach
The Searchers
The Road Warrior
V for Vendetta (IME)(TrueHD)
Alice Cooper: Live in Montreux 2005
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Combo)
Royal Space Force: Wings of Honneamise (uPCM)(TrueHD)
Heart: Alive in Seattle (TrueHD)
Babel
Green Street Hooligans (German Import)(DTS-HD)
Twister (TrueHD)
Cream: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Viva Las Vegas (TrueHD)
Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at the Greek Theatre
Knocked Up (Combo)(U-Control)
Pride and Prejudice (TrueHD)
Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky (UK Import)(uPCM)
Hotel Babylon: Season One (UK Import)(uPCM)
The Good Shepherd (Combo)(U-Control)
White Noise (TrueHD)
In the Valley of Elah (Combo)(TrueHD)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (IME)
King of California

[eNoize]

Tier 3 - A Good Representation of a Film's Theatrical Run

License to Wed (Combo)(TrueHD)
Stardust
Hannibal Rising (German Import)(DTS-HD)
Carlito's Way (TrueHD)
Erin Brockovich
The Untouchables
An American Haunting (Spanish Import)
Michael Clayton (Combo)
Talk to Me (Combo)(TrueHD)
Discovery Atlas: China
Notting Hill (TrueHD)
Casino
One Missed Call (Combo)(TrueHD)
Being John Malkovich
Evening (TrueHD)
Old School
Wyatt Earp
Trading Places
Smallville: The Complete Fifth Season (IME)
The Fountain (Combo)
The Hurricane (2000)
Battle of the Bulge
No Reservations (Combo)
The Shining (1980) (TrueHD)
Red Dragon
The Contract
The Rundown
Dragonheart
Derailed
The Big Lebowski
Mystery Men
Beerfest
The Frighteners (The Director's Cut)
We Were Soldiers
First Blood: Rambo (Australian Import)(DTS-MA)
The Wild Bunch
Born on the Fourth of July
For Love of the Game (TrueHD)
The Getaway (1994) (TrueHD)
Timecop
Unforgiven
The Graduate (French Import)(DTS-MA)
A Room With A View (DTS-HD)
Mr. Bean's Holiday (Combo)(TrueHD)
Jailhouse Rock
Cat People (1982)
Darkman (TrueHD)
Top Gun (TrueHD)
Resident Evil (German Import)(DTS-HD)
Resident Evil: Apocalypse (German Import)(DTS-HD)
The Jackal (German Import)(DTS-HD)
The Thing
Wolf Creek
Dune
Mulholland Dr. (French Import)(DTS-MA)
Freedom Writers
Music and Lyrics
The Nutty Professor
What Dreams May Come
End of Days (TrueHD)
The Deer Hunter
Poseidon (IME)(TrueHD)
The Polar Express
Mercury Rising
Alpha Dog (Combo)(U-Control)(TrueHD)
The Dukes of Hazzard (IME)
The Eagles: Farewell Tour 1 - Live in Melbourne
Bonnie & Clyde
Dog Day Afternoon
Meet Joe Black
Dante's Peak
Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same (TrueHD)
White Noise 2: The Light (Combo)(TrueHD)
Patch Adams (TrueHD)
Basic Instinct (European Import)(DTS-HD)
Blazing Saddles
Feast (TrueHD)
Payback
Backdraft
Goodfellas
Uncommon Bach: Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality (DTS-MA)
Apollo 13
Hot Rod (TrueHD)
Oliver Twist (Japanese Import)
Serpico (French Import)(DTS-MA)
The Cowboys
Mission: Impossible II
Troy (IME)(TrueHD)
Rio Bravo
Syriana
House of Wax
Rambo: First Blood Part II (French Import)(DTS-MA)
Pulse (TrueHD)
Unleashed
Lucky # Slevin
Rumor Has It (Combo)
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (intentionally soft)
Army of Darkness
Mutiny on the Bounty
Cinderella Man
Failure to Launch
Ocean's Thirteen (Combo)
Space Cowboys
Deliverance
Bubble
Bullit
Black Rain
Full Metal Jacket: Deluxe Edition (TrueHD)
Twilight Zone: The Movie (TrueHD)
A Clockwork Orange (TrueHD)
Jarhead
A Mighty Heart (TrueHD)
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (TrueHD)
National Geographic: Relentless Enemies
Streets of Fire
The Watcher
Million Dollar Baby
Mallrats
Van Helsing
Assault on Precinct 13
Meet the Fockers
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Meet the Parents
Superman: The Movie
Scent of a Woman
La Haine (Hate) (French Import)(DTS-HD)
Bulletproof
Happy Gilmore
U-571
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (Combo)(U-Control)(TrueHD)
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (U-Control)
Finding Neverland (Japanese Import)
The Getaway (1972)
Billy Madison
The Omega Man
Superman Returns (Combo)(TrueHD)
Lost in Translation
Waterworld
The Machinist (Japanese Import)
The Reaping (TrueHD)
Enter the Dragon


Tier 4 - Satisfactory -- A Noticeable Improvement over Standard Definition DVD

Norbit
Accepted (Combo)(U-Control)
You, Me and Dupree (Combo)(U-Control)
The Interpreter
16 Blocks (Combo)
The Italian Job
Land of the Dead (Combo)
Leaving Las Vegas (French Import)(DTS-MA)
Under Siege
The Road to Rio/The Road to Bali
Friday Night Lights
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (IME)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Four Brothers
Bruce Almighty
In Good Company
The Bone Collector
Sleepy Hollow
The Lake House (Combo)
Lady in the Water (Combo)(TrueHD)
Dragon's Lair
The Break-Up (Combo)(U-Control)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Combo)
Waist Deep (Combo)
Miami Vice (Combo)(U-Control)
Coming to America
Toto: Live In Amsterdam (uPCM)(DTS-HD)
Firewall (Combo)
Forbidden Planet
12 Monkeys
School for Scoundrels (TrueHD)
Midnight Run
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Fast Times at Ridgement High (Combo)
Daylight
Hustle & Flow
Lethal Weapon 2
King Kong (1976) (French import)(DTS-HD)
The Lost City (TrueHD)
Lethal Weapon
The Gift (Japanese Import)
First Blood: Rambo (French Import)(DTS-MA)
The Game
The Perfect Storm (TrueHD)
A Christmas Story
The Jerk
The Fog (1979) (French Import)(DTS-MA)
The Breakfast Club (Combo)
Mission: Impossible
The Last Starfighter (TrueHD)
Sneakers
The Sting
Caddyshack
Smokey and the Bandit
The River
Purple Rain (TrueHD)
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
Liar Liar
Harsh Times (TrueHD)
Sea of Love
Nacho Libre
Doom
Traffic (bobbed image?)
Dazed and Confused (Combo)
March of the Penguins


Tier 5 - Average -- A Slight Improvement over an Upscaled Standard Definition DVD

Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (TrueHD)
Chronos (DTS-MA)
The Amateurs
Sublime
Excalibur
The Fugitive
Reds
Tomb Raider
Animal House (Combo)
Out for Justice
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Field of Dreams
American Me
Full Metal Jacket
Ultimate Force
The Wedding Date
The New Orleans Benefit Concert
An American Werewolf in London (Combo)
U2: Rattle and Hum
The Dirty Dozen
Spartacus
A View from Space

[eNoize]

TITLES YET TO BE RANKED:

Alone in the Dark (German Import)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Apocalypto (Polish Import)
Appleseed Ex Machina
Army of Shadows (L'Armée des ombres) (French Import)
Arctic Tale
Aquarium Impressions
August Rush
Battlestar Galactica: Season One
Bridge to Terabithia (Spanish Import)
Cecilia & Bryn At Glyndebourne
Channels
Deadliest Catch: Season 3
Deep Purple: Live at Montreux 2006
Disco Pigs
Dispatch: Zimbabwe - Live at Madison Square Garden
Dragon Tiger Gate
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Fireplace Impressions
Fletch
Freedom: 6
Galaxina
Girls Gone Wild: Baby Bash - Live And Uncensored
Ghost Rider (French Import)
Gods and Generals
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 Resurrection
James Taylor: A MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute
Justice League: The New Frontier
The Machinist (Japanese Import)
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Method Man: Live from the Sunset Strip
Mobsters
The Moody Blues: Lovely to See You - Live
Motörhead: Stage Fright
Mozart: Die Zauberflote
Muriel Anderson: Guitarscape Planet
Mystic Forests
Naked Beneath the Water
Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Twelve
One Last Thing...
Picture This
P.S. I Love You
Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid
R. Kelly Live: The Light It Up Tour
Rain in the Mountains
Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night
Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux 2004
Seed of Chucky
Silent Hill (German Import)
Smallville: The Complete Sixth Season
The Sopranos: Season Six, Part Two
Space or Dream of Life
Spatial Dynamics
Strauss: Die Fledermaus
Sunrise Earth: American Sunrises Vol 1
That’s Entertainment: Complete Collection
The Ten
Things We Lost in the Fire
Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (German Import)
UFO: Showtime
Uncommon Mozart
Yes: Live at Montreux

[Bee]

Now open for business.

[Monty HD]

A few I would put in teir 1 would be Clerks II, Lucky Number Slevin and Dream Girls.

Planet Earth could be put in teir 0 however some of the shots were not prestine--but this is not neccessarily due to the transfer but to the fact that they are live shots.

[half-sane]

A few I would put in teir 1 would be Clerks II, Lucky Number Slevin and Dream Girls.

Planet Earth could be put in teir 0 however some of the shots were not prestine--but this is not neccessarily due to the transfer but to the fact that they are live shots.

i agree with everything here, but planet earth because it has some banding issues

its certainly a high level tier 1 though

[Iggytx]

1. Chronicles of Riddick towards the top of tier 1
2. I think Troy is way to low in tier 2 (it and V for Vendetta should be at the top of tier 2)
3. Scanner Darkly, tier 0
4. Alpha Dog too high
5. Mummy and Mummy Returns high tier 2, maybe low tier 1
6. The Jerk, tier 4
7. MI:3 hight tier 1, MI and MI:2 high tier 3

I'll have more later...

[nelll]

you should call yourself ePicture.... very good eNoise you have a natural endowment for this.

[eYeKey]

Eternal Sunshine should be in Tier 1

[Spideybat]

Serentiy - High Teir 1
Feast - Teir 1
Brokeback Mountain - Teir 0
Batman Begins - Teir 0

[Arkadin]

Nice Thread eNoize! I still think "Planet Earth" deserves Tier 0. On the others, let me think about it a bit. Keep up the good work. (Back in the game after a brief foray into the now completely neutered Smackdown area)

[eNoize]

Sorry, it took me so long to see that we are now in business. I will make the necessary changes and readily admit that the list is not yet complete. Several movies I forgot to list or mention. Part of the reason is because I wanted to go back and re-watch those movies; but I will post those I missed based on comments available.

[eNoize]

Added Eternal Sunshine, which I think was intentionally inconsistent yet very three-dimensional, and The Nutty Professor, which looked so good I might reconsider its position if others agree.

[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

It's also the only HD-DVD I own that was encoded via MPEG-4 and not the usual VC1.

Draw your own conclusions from that ....

From what I own, I'd say,


Tier 0
King Kong
Planet Earth

Tier 1
Batman
Italian Job
Last Samurai
Worlds Fastest Indian
Training Day

Tier 2
BackDraft
Black Rain
Casino
Constantine
The Thing
Unforgiven

Tier 3
The Road Warrior


Tier 4
Lucky Number Slevin