DVDBeaver Comparisons

[manicsounds]

Or its the menu setup on your PC,

For examples, The Pixar Shorts Collection (US version), if you have your menus set to Japanese, Japanese language and subtitle options become available, but if you have the menu settings to English, the Japanese options are all locked away.

on the new Adventures of Baron Munchausen (US Version), the english setup menus include French and Portugese options, but if your menus are set to Japanese, French and Portugese are not selectable anymore.

Didn't you have problems getting the English menus to show up on your Matrix Trilogy too?

Have you toggled around with the audio key?

[Gary Tooze]

No it's not my set-up - I've triple checked but I see other reviews now and I have definitely been shafted with some sort of 'Quebecois' release.
My box is in French only too.
I just can't believe Lions Gate would produce two different editions. The French wouldn't require the English options removed (why 2 releases?).... and sales to French-speaking Canada etc. would be miniscule. Truly it seems ridiculous.
I'll post more when I get to the bottom of it.

....

New...

Lions Gate (Two-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC "High Noon" vs. Artisan - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Artisan Collector's Edition - Region 1 - NTSC

Artisan Collector's Edition


Lions Gate (Two-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition)


http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Cheers,

[HerrSchreck]

Wow what a difference-- a total instruction on the perils of brightness boosting combod w edge enhancement.

The Lions Gate is a must have-- glad I've held off all this time.

[Gigi M.]

Wow what a difference-- a total instruction on the perils of brightness boosting combod w edge enhancement.

The Lions Gate is a must have-- glad I've held off all this time.

Maybe you might want to wait for a Blu Ray disc. Something tells me is very near and Lionsgate's Blus have been very good.

[Gary Tooze]

New... (warning nudity)

DeltaMac (2 Disc Taiwanese DVD) - Region 0 - NTSC "The Wayward Cloud"vs. Strand Releasing - Region 0 - NTSC

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Cheers,

[tavernier]

Damn watermelon!

[HerrSchreck]

That's the strangest looking baby I've ever seen.

[sidehacker]

Fuck Strand. One of the best movies ever made and they just half-ass it.

[foggy eyes]

Gary, no need to be suspicious of the Axiom R2 UK release of The Wayward Cloud - it's excellent, and hugely superior to the other two. There are caps in this thread.

[zedz]

Gary, no need to be suspicious of the Axiom R2 UK release of The Wayward Cloud - it's excellent, and hugely superior to the other two. There are caps in this thread.

Yeah. I haven't watched the whole thing yet, but I was very impressed. Looks like it's far and away the best release internationally.

[Gary Tooze]

Thanks guys - I'll get and compare to existing.
***
New...

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC "Alphaville" vs. Optimum Home Entertainment - Region 2 - PAL

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Cheers,

[justeleblanc]

Thanks Gary!

Is it me or does the Optimum look slightly stretched horizontally? I felt the same way about the Lionsgate Diva.

[HerrSchreck]

Not to mention the Optimum is lh cropped vs the CC.

[Gary Tooze]

Could be... (or could be Criterion is stretched vertically) - very slight though... I gauge around 1.3% difference (5 pixels)




This type of variation is not uncommon, but as I said in the review - it's a personal choice which edition you prefer.

Not to mention the Optimum is lh cropped vs the CC

Actually that is mentioned in the comparison.

The supplements may be enough for some to want the Optimum.

....
Further to the Lions Gate Diva that I own... lots of EE





Cheers,
Gary

[jbeall]

Well, I'm sold on the Optimum Alphaville--thanks, Gary. And the amazon.uk price is good.

[HerrSchreck]

Not to mention the Optimum is lh cropped vs the CC

Actually that is mentioned in the comparison.

Sure, I saw that. I was more pointing that out to juste re the specific possibility of the stretching issue in the telecine. I wasn't suggesting anything about your review.

[MichaelB]

Gary, no need to be suspicious of the Axiom R2 UK release of The Wayward Cloud - it's excellent, and hugely superior to the other two. There are caps in this thread.

I just watched Axiom's Alice in the Cities, and it's a superb release (good transfer - given the limitations of the practically zero-budget 16mm original - and excellent extras), so I'd be more than inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

[Gary Tooze]

Further to my Diva comparison, the new Lions Gate I own is also horizontally stretched (as well as color manipulated, cropped and having edge enhancement halos).

Anchor Bay LEFT - Lions Gate (Meridian) RIGHT





THe DVD producer has contacted me - but I've yet to hear from Lions Gate themselves regarding my concerns over this release.

Cheers,
Gary

[Gary Tooze]

Eric and Gregory have been busy...

Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC "Five Dolls For An August Moon" vs. Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC

Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC "Four Times That Night" vs. Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC

Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC "Lips of Blood" vs. Encore Entertainment - Region 0 - PAL

Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC "The Living Dead Girl" vs. Encore Entertainment - Region 0 - PAL

....

Updated....

Axiom Films - Region 0 - PAL "The Wayward Cloud" vs. DeltaMac (2 Disc Taiwanese DVD) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Strand Releasing - Region 0 - NTSC

....
More....

Carlotta Films - Region 0 - PAL "Cluny Brown" vs. BFI Video - Region 2 - PAL

Strand - Region 0 - NTSC "I Don't Want To Sleep Alone" vs. Axiom - Region 0 - PAL

Cheers,

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

The Axiom I Don't Want to Sleep Alone looks more like 2:1 than 1.85:1, which is slightly worrisome as 2:1 is a decidedly non-standard AR (was Storaro an uncredited DP?). The compositions don't seem particularly damaged (at least not in those captures), but it's worth mentioning.

[Gary Tooze]

Funny, I also noticed this morning.... I gauge it at 1.98:1. Strange.
Best,
Gary

[foggy eyes]

It is strange, and means that the image is definitely cropped - as one can see here when Lee Kang-sheng almost loses his head (not a problem in 1.85):



Great transfer nevertheless, and I don't think it's a problem that should prevent anyone from buying the disc.

[domino harvey]

Gary, DVDTimes reported that Cluny Brown's chapters had a strange way of alternating between progressive and interlaced transfers, did your copy not encounter this anomaly?

[Gary Tooze]

Just took a second look Domino and no I don't see that.
It could be the 'alchemist' method of transfer, but I couldn't find any strong examples of combing (not saying they don't exist, but under the magnifying glass of the computer I couldn't detect - and saw none on my system).
Best,
Gary
P.S. I'll keep looking and post if I find.

....

Mistaken aspect ratio...

Artificial Eye - Region 2 - PAL "4 Months 3 Weeks & 2 Days" vs. Mongrel Media - Region 1 - NTSC

Artificial Eye correct at 2.35:1


Mongrel Media and IFC opened up, and inaccurate at 1.77:1


NOTE: The IFC (U.S.) edition is a duplicate of the Mongrel Media despite DVDTalk (HERE) incorrectly stating the aspect ratio is 2.35:1. It isn't.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/

Regards,

[sidehacker]

There seems to be more information on the top and bottom of the IFC disc. How is this even possible? Wouldn't they have to go out of their way to find the stuff cut from the film's intended ratio?