'Superman Returns' -- High-Def Digest review

[PeterB]

Also checked out 'Superman Returns' tonight:

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/supermanreturns.html

I know reviewers were mixed on the film, as I was, but it is a great HD DVD. Top-notch transfer and excellent Dolby TrueHD track. Also a fantastic, nearly three-hour doc -- a must-have if you are a Superman fan.

[krammer]

Great review.

I feel a bit better now having ordered this on HD DVD with the extra cost. (combo)

3+ hour doc. Ouch! If the PQ & AQ of the actual film suffered because of this Warner wouldn't be in my good graces.

[Tejstar]

While I haven't seen the movie, so I skipped over the film review. However, it is good to see that the pq and aq are reference material. I pre-ordered this blindly and am glad I did now - can’t wait to see it!

[jgantert]

I wonder how it compares to the BR version?

[DustoMan]

I have a feeling that this is the first HD-DVD "double-dipper" we are going to see. Bryan Singer talks on a news post @ TheDigitalBits that he doesn't know why Warner didn't include a IME he specifically shot for the high def DVD releases of the movie. I would have rather had that then a 3 hour doc. I wouldn't be surprised if when the next Superman movie is released, that we will see that IME on a new HD-DVD release.

[The Bandit]

HD cameras tend to flatten images out a bit, as depth of field is created not optically but instead digitally.

Saw this in the review -- this isn't really an accurate statement.

Depth of field is a product of the size of the camera's image sensor (CCD) and the aperture of the lens attached.

Superman Returns was shot on a Panavision Genesis -- the camera features an image sensor that is approximately the same size as a Super35 film frame. This allows depth of field to be created optically, not exclusively in post as the review suggests.

[DeSade]

Originally Posted by jgantert

I wonder how it compares to the BR version?

Just read the Blu-Ray review, apparently is equals the quality of the HD version, which is good news for BD supporters.

Once again, it still makes me want to add; For a 'superior' format, equaling the HD version just doesn't really sound 'superior' to me.....

[jgantert]

Originally Posted by DeSade

Just read the Blu-Ray review, apparently is equals the quality of the HD version, which is good news for BD supporters.

Glad to know if HD DVD ever dies and BR prevails that we won't be losing any quality on most titles (except Sony).

-John

[Crispin]

First let me say that I found Superman Returns to be an excellent follow-up to the original Donner Superman considering all of the pre-production and casting problems. I saw Superman Returns on opening day at an IMAX 3-D theater and remember feeling that the black level saturation in the picture to be weak and blamed it on the projection system used. However watching the HD-DVD I was very disappointed in the look of the picture and once again the black level was lacking although some of this could be attributed to my Panasonic 900 LCD projector. The flatness of the picture (as mentioned in Peter Bracke's review) was quite apparent and at times the images looked like animation - perfect but lacking depth. The original Superman which I also watched on HD-DVD looked great and very colorful, best video version I've ever seen. So following it up with Superman Returns pointed out the lack of color in the sequel which I know was intended by the director. The colors were muted with a lot of browns leading to drab scenes in much of the movie. This would not be my choice for best demo disc although the Dolby TrueHD audio was awesome.

[Blurry]

I just finished watching the last of the 3 Superman HD DVDs that I purchased. The first two were ok but I think I enjoyed watchin "Superman Returns" even more than when I watched in the theatre. The HD transfer was perfect and will now most likely be my new reference disc (though Kong was great too).

Excellent job!

[pnorth_12]

Hi, while I was watching superman returns, the audio would drop out (on TrueHD) if I would pause it, the audio seemed to return. I'm using the multichanel cables to my reciever, and do have the latest 2.0 firmware update?

Anyone else having problems, or ideas.

Thanks,

[Tejstar]

I saw this on HD-DVD last night and was left completely underwhelmed by the picture. At one point I had to check to make sure I was playing the HD-DVD side of the combo disc as it was no way near the transfer of KK on HD-DVD. I'm sure they could have done a lot better with this release.

[slug]

I just finished watching this, and I thought it was one of the most boring movies I've seen in awhile. Not that it wasn't bad, it was just boring. The first hour and a half of the movie had absolutely no plot to it besides the obvious love affair that Lois Lane and Superman (Clark Kent) have for each other. Out of the two and a half hours that this movie was, they could have trimmed at least 30 mins, if not 60 mins of the filler they had. Sure, you can say that it was character delevopment, but I've never seen a Superman movie, or show before, and even I knew what the back story was. It was so boring that I missed the last 15 mins of the movie, and I didn't even care.

Decent movie though, like I said, but if it wasn't for Target's exclusive lenticular packaging for the regular DVD release, I wouldn't even own this movie.

[Tejstar]

I agree slug. Whilst I was not impressed with the transfer I was even less impressed with the film. I found it to be a drag until the last hour or so, but even then I couldn't care less for the characters!

[davcole]

I finally got a chance to view this one yesterday. There's both good and bad to what I witnessed!!

First of all-- the good!!

The TrueHD was totally kick-assed!!! Having had the DVD this is a total upgrade over the audio (and the audio was pretty sweet on the DVD). The sound effects were very articulate and the soundfield never collapsed!! Very ambient in both the quiet moments and the bombast!

As for the video...

OMG... I thought it looked horrible on DVD and when I saw it on HD Cinemax, I thought the picture quality lacking there. Sadly, the HD DVD picture is no better. I think it's a matter of the source cause I saw the film theatrically and I don't recall it being impressive there!

I just wonder what's up with the drab greenish/bluish cast to the movie? Really there was no color fidelity and even worse it was very soft looking throughout the feature.