Blu-ray release titles review roundup
Blu-ray is pretty much here. The initial titles have been release and if you really wanted one of the players, you probably have one by now. If not they are officially going to be in the stores in four days. But why did you buy one of these players? The picture quality of course. But what if the picture quality wasn't all it was supposed to be? Plus, the discs didn't have anything HD exclusive on them yet. Don't think of us as hating on Bu-ray as the picture quality is certainly better then a normal DVD but...well you might want to check out these reviews.The Fifth Element - "And it does look good, no doubt -- it just is not the best HD I've seen."
50 First Dates - "Certainly, in terms of a Blu-ray release, this is comparable to most of what has come out on HD DVD so far."
xXx - 'First, make no mistake, this can be an eye-popping transfer at a glance (just don't look too close)."
Underworld: Evolution - "Presented in 2.40:1 and encoded at 1080p, 'Underworld: Evolution' overall looks quite striking."
Crash - "However, this initial Blu-ray release from Lionsgate is a disappointment."
Filed under: Programming, Industry, Reviews
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hmurchison @ Jun 21st 2006 11:01AM
MPEG2 on a single layer isn't going to look as good as VC-1 or AVC on a 30GB disc.
You can excuse Sony for not having Dual Layer discs ready but to use MPEG2 which is prone to macroblocking was just inexcusable. My recommendation for Blu-Ray purchasers is to email Sony and let them know you're not going to put up with SL MPEG2 discs.
pete @ Jun 21st 2006 2:03PM
Dude, whats up with that? Sony has 2 times the space and aren't taking advantage of it to increase the quality?
It could spell doom for Bluray. I'm on the fence now but would not spend $500 more for the same quality as HDDVD.
People here might have a different opinion but what do you think an average Joe (who doesn't do research) who walks into a Best Buy is going to think after talking to a sales rep?
Jellodyne @ Jun 21st 2006 2:38PM
I was just out at CC and oh... my... god does Fifth Element look bad. Honestly, worse than broadcast HD bad. Constant block noise. Which is consistant with what digital bits said about it (they said some of the other launch titles were much better). It probably didn't help that the TV was probably not calibrated at all since this is CC we're talking about, but still, it was terribly.
Neal Saferstein @ Jun 22nd 2006 12:36AM
How depressing is it, with the lack of content.
Neal Saferstein
Ken @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:15PM
Rats, I was hoping 'The Fifth Element' would be 'perfect'.
T Anderson @ Jun 24th 2006 7:14AM
i went to CC to see the new blu ray..WOW sorry to tell everyone it was a horrible experience,house of flying daggers was playing and the backgrounds didnt even match up to the dvd release...the movie looks better on my HD-DVD player upscaled to 1080i....think i will wait for sony and blu ray to get there act together before i spend 1000.00 hard earned dollars...
Kevin M. @ Jun 25th 2006 11:14PM
Can't wait for dual-layer... then, things may change.
Lord Thanatos @ Jun 27th 2006 10:50AM
I must concur- I went down to my newly built CC here in NYC and i just happened to come across the Blu-Ray display......OMFG!!!
HORRIBLE- WHY DID THEY BOTHER? the pictur sucked- to a point that i had to look to make sure the movie was actually playing off of a bluray player....dear god it was piss poor and i thank my lucky stars i havent wasted any money on 1.0 hardware. Personally i'm rooting for HDDVD- sony is too much of a bastard corporation.
if consumers let sony rule the market yet again, we will al be toast as thier legendary high prices and sony way or the hogh way mentality gets groaned upon then eventually accepted by consumers with no other choice. sigh....if it wasnt for playatsation, sony would damn near out of business...
MAN THAT VIDEO LOOKED BAD!!!
T Anderson @ Jun 28th 2006 7:45AM
PUNISHER,SAW,T2 REVIEWS
im returning punisher and saw because both movies have dropped frames during the whole movie...punisher is the worse one with dropped frames every minute...saw isnt as bad but still not HD quality...T2 isnt bad but isnt up to HD quality...think i'll keep it anyway...lionsgate better get there act together....
H Butler @ Jul 4th 2006 11:38AM
Sony has done a great job to DOOM Blu-Ray. I had a deposit on my hotly anticipated new Pioneer 1080p Plasma and their Elite Blu-Ray. Just took it back. HD-DVD blows away Blu-Ray, RIGHT NOW! I don't have to replace my Qualia 006, can watch gorgeous 1080i on cheap mediocre players knowing full well that HD-DVD which has been recorded with a better codec CAN play 1080p from that same disk when 1080p HD-DVD players come available this holiday season. So what to do with the old player? Move it to another "old" 1080i TV while I research the best 1080p screens. Choice with Blu-Ray is to buy all the MPEG-2 crap that plays at 1080p now, albeit terribly, only to have to replace your WHOLE Blu-Ray collection should Sony get its act together and adopt a better codec. The cheaper and clearly better way to go now is HD-DVD. No comparison despite all the "theoretical" benefits of Blu-Ray. Another Sony BetaMax.