'Chronos' -- High-Def Digest review

[PeterB]

Checked out 'Chronos'

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

Interesting film, if Koyaanqatsi-lite. A good first HD DVD effort from R&B, too. Unfortunately, the master is somewhat dated -- grain and wavering are evident throughout. Still, a solid disc for a now-twenty-year-old IMAX film.

[Paulleahey]

Peter - thanks for an excellent review - am thinking of picking this title up.

Just one question i'm not sure of - the DTS-HD Lossless Master audio - how is this output from the HD-DVD player - through analogue 5.1 cables or via HDMI 1.1/1.2? Just asking because as far as I've seen this is the first HD-DVD disc to have this audio track?

Just wondered how it's displayed on your amp/receiver?

Keep up the good work!

Paul.

[Pfreddy]

Good review. I would take exception to the following though:

"There are also some surprising bits of dirt on select shots. For example, there is a short series of images of Egyptian statues that suddenly appear marred by splotches and the like."

If you look closely you'll see those are birds and or bugs that are appearing for only a few frames (being a timelapse film). Especially in the sequence you mention at the egyptian statues, those are indeed bugs or birds. Try and pause on any of those frames and you should be able to see them better. I've had this film in every incarnation since Laserdisc days, and they have been there. I will add that this is the most spectacular this has ever looked!

The biggest issue is with the "wobble" seen intermitently. I see that same thing in an imax theater and it must be the way the film goes through the projector, being such a big piece of celluloid, it is difficult to hold it steady as it goes in front of the bulb. I think the fluctuation in brightness is again a byproduct of timelapse photography, and not a defect per se. Each frame is captured several seconds apart and the lighting conditions can change quite a bit between exposures. The shot of times square has a noticeable flicker, due in part to all the neon signs (probably some flashing on and off) in and just out of frame.

This is a perfect film to "just have on" during a party or something as it can play unobtrusively in the background and no matter where you start watching it, it'll work out fine!

[dkny75]

Originally Posted by Paulleahey

Peter - thanks for an excellent review - am thinking of picking this title up.

Just one question i'm not sure of - the DTS-HD Lossless Master audio - how is this output from the HD-DVD player - through analogue 5.1 cables or via HDMI 1.1/1.2? Just asking because as far as I've seen this is the first HD-DVD disc to have this audio track?

Just wondered how it's displayed on your amp/receiver?

Keep up the good work!

Paul.

It is converted to DTS core only signal at 1.5mbps which is the same rate as Universal and Paramounts DD+. If you are connected through HDMI it will show on your receiver as DTS. If analog then whatever your receiver typically displays.

[dkny75]

Peter, if the grain is inherint to the master can you really deduct points off of the HD video quality?

[Paul Cordingley]

Originally Posted by Pfreddy

Good review. I would take exception to the following though:

"There are also some surprising bits of dirt on select shots. For example, there is a short series of images of Egyptian statues that suddenly appear marred by splotches and the like."

If you look closely you'll see those are birds and or bugs that are appearing for only a few frames (being a timelapse film). Especially in the sequence you mention at the egyptian statues, those are indeed bugs or birds. Try and pause on any of those frames and you should be able to see them better. I've had this film in every incarnation since Laserdisc days, and they have been there. I will add that this is the most spectacular this has ever looked!

The biggest issue is with the "wobble" seen intermitently. I see that same thing in an imax theater and it must be the way the film goes through the projector, being such a big piece of celluloid, it is difficult to hold it steady as it goes in front of the bulb. I think the fluctuation in brightness is again a byproduct of timelapse photography, and not a defect per se. Each frame is captured several seconds apart and the lighting conditions can change quite a bit between exposures. The shot of times square has a noticeable flicker, due in part to all the neon signs (probably some flashing on and off) in and just out of frame.

This is a perfect film to "just have on" during a party or something as it can play unobtrusively in the background and no matter where you start watching it, it'll work out fine!

I was justy about to post exactly the same things as you - yes, they are most definitely birds - we saw that straight away. Looks cool actually. Also the wobble, which is sometimes problematic. I bet the new Blu-ray transfer will be better in that regard, which I'm none too pleased about.

Having said that, this is a must-have title - great picture and sound.

[WesleyTech.com]

For some reason this title (Chronos) caused my Toshiba HD-D2 player to freeze and become unresponsive after playing through the end credits (Title 2, CHP 9, 00:42:28).

Has anyone else seen this behavior occur?

[jonathan.morris]

When I saw this thread bumped today, I thought someone had released this film Chronos

[WesleyTech.com]

I guess my previous post in this thread can be disregarded.

I rebooted my player and tried it again, this time it did not freeze at the end of the credits.

@jonathan.morris, note the difference in spelling between the two titles. The title discussed in this thread is Chronos, while the film in your link is named Cronos (no h).

[jonathan.morris]

Originally Posted by WesleyTech.com

@jonathan.morris, note the difference in spelling between the two titles. The title discussed in this thread is Chronos, while the film in your link is named Cronos (no h).

I've had the DVD for over 5 years and had never noticed the Mexican spelling had no h!