The Leopard

[TMDaines]

Thanks. I won't be able to play mine for a month as I'm at university and not at home.

[TMDaines]

My copy of The Leopard apparently arrived today but as I'm not at home I can't test it to see if it is the new disk. Weird considering I've had stuff dispatched from thehut, zavvi and Amazon on the 31st, the 4th and the 5th+6th respectively and none of them have arrived,

[perkizitore]

It's definitely the same disc, pixelation exists on the same scenes!

[MichaelB]

It's definitely the same disc, pixelation exists on the same scenes!

At the risk of repeating myself, the remastering was to correct the colour issues affecting the last third of the film. The pixilation issue is separate, and seems to be down to an Oppo software glitch.

So when you made your emphatic claim that "it's definitely the same disc", can you confirm that this was after you checked the last third against descriptions posted earlier in this thread?

[TMDaines]

So when you made your emphatic claim that "it's definitely the same disc", can you confirm that this was after you checked the last third against descriptions posted earlier in this thread?

Yeah, I'd love to know the answer to this.

[claude]

The pixilation issue is separate, and seems to be down to an Oppo software glitch.

The issue is not only with Oppo. I get the pixelation with (multiregion modified) Panasonic DMP-BD60.

[perkizitore]

Although i haven't got a clue about authoring, it is strange that pixelation would occur on the exact same frames with a new master, but maybe that doesn't mean anything. Moreover, i have watched parts of the last 2/3 of the film and found no difference with the old disc. There is a better way to check if i am right or wrong:
Someone with access to a PC blu-ray drive, could check the video files' date.
And Michael, instead of being High Inquisitor, if you are SO interested you have many ways of checking this.

[MichaelB]

Although i haven't got a clue about authoring, it is strange that pixelation would occur on the exact same frames with a new master, but maybe that doesn't mean anything.

It doesn't. In fact, it's what I would have expected, which is why I jumped on your earlier claim that the remaster would "probably" solve the pixelation issue, because logic suggested that it almost certainly wouldn't.

The reason for this is that the remastered disc will have exactly the same underlying encode as the faulty one - the only difference is that the colour settings will have been changed on the final file on the disc, affecting the image for the last 71 minutes of the film.

You need to bear in mind that while three issues were reported with this disc and duly investigated, only one turned out to be demonstrably due to an inherent fault on the disc. The others were due to someone not setting his own equipment up correctly, and (as far as we can see, anyway) a software glitch peculiar to a single model of Blu-ray player. So the only issue that has been addressed by the remaster is the colour balance problem.

Moreover, i have watched parts of the last 2/3 of the film and found no difference with the old disc.

The exact point at which the colour balance changes is 1h 54m 28s. Can you watch for a few seconds either side of that point and confirm whether there's a noticeable colour shift? David Hare's post is the most detailed reference I have:

here is no doubt the last file, beginning at 1h 54m 28s has an entirely different image quality to the rest of the transfer, as though all tones approaching black have been rendered blacker than black, in the process obliterating literally all the shadow detail in dark ares of the image. The pitch blackness of the tones also appears to have forced colors and skintones into a darker cast, to the point where they are entirely different to earlier images of the same details in the film. Some examples: the red chair on which Burt is sitting is - in the last section affected by this problem - now a scarlet color, rather than the pale rose it had been in the first hour. During this entire scene in which Burt and LEslie rench talk about the political future for Siciliy, there are other evident tonal differences , the brown walls wich were a dark biscuit have become deep red based brown, the black and cream curtains now take on a virtually three dimensional relief, and lose their textural quality. And of course during the all important ballroom sequence all the shadow detail is lost in the costuming to the point where the dancing figures appear to be moving against a sea of pitch black.

There is a better way to check if i am right or wrong:
Someone with access to a PC blu-ray drive, could check the video files' date.

That would be definitive, but you should be able to check the colour issue by eye if your equipment is calibrated correctly.

And Michael, instead of being High Inquisitor, if you are SO interested you have many ways of checking this.

I'm only being a "High Inquisitor", as you put it, because you're not exactly unknown for posting guesswork (and poorly-researched guesswork at that) as though it was established fact, and frequently getting it wrong - and since inaccurate claims have an impact on sales (and, by logical extension, on the BFI's ability to carry on producing niche releases), it's obviously in all of our interests that errors get corrected as soon as possible.

Which means that if you make a statement as emphatic as "it's definitely the same disc", I'm afraid I'm not going to take it at face value without thoroughly checking! Especially since you still seem to be under the impression that the remastering was undertaken because of the Oppo pixelation issue, despite my explanation earlier this week.

if you are SO interested you have many ways of checking this.

I don't have an Oppo player (or indeed any other Blu-ray player aside from a British PS3), and neither do I have any means of knowing what HMV are currently sending out without actually buying a copy for myself - which is why these forums are so valuable.

[ellipsis7]

I noticed it subjectively when I screened the BFI disc first - essentially the final part of the film, the extended ball scene, appears duller, colours less crisp & vivid, blacks crushed etc., compared to the earlier 3/4 of the film - thanks to the techies on the forum who identified there was an actual problem and what it was, and to BFI Publishing for taking it all on board and reacting so swiftly... No doubt the replacement discs will be forthcoming sometime soon, addressing this central issue...

This 'Oppo pixellation' appears to be a more isolated and individual problem, which is entirely separate to the central issue as above, and appears local to that particular hardware model, not to the BFI disc which is playing perfectly for the rest of us...

[perkizitore]

And Michael, instead of being High Inquisitor, if you are SO interested you have many ways of checking this.

I'm only being a "High Inquisitor", as you put it, because you have one of the most notorious track records in these forums of posting pure guesswork (and poorly-researched guesswork at that) as though it was established fact, and frequently getting it wrong - and since inaccurate claims have an impact on sales (and, by logical extension, on the BFI's ability to carry on producing niche releases), it's obviously in all of our interests that errors get corrected as soon as possible.

Which means that if you make a statement as emphatic as "it's definitely the same disc", I'm afraid I'm not going to take it at face value without thoroughly checking! Especially since you still seem to be under the impression that the remastering was undertaken because of the Oppo pixelation issue, despite my explanation earlier this week.

if you are SO interested you have many ways of checking this.

I don't have an Oppo player (or indeed any other Blu-ray player aside from a British PS3), and neither do I have any means of knowing what HMV are currently sending out without actually buying a copy for myself - which is why these forums are so valuable.

If someone instead of reading a review of the disc is deciding only on my opinion, it's his own fault and not mine. Moreover, i don't mind you asking questions and i don't like being hostile, but you are always sarcastic! I shouldn't have said definitely, but working for the BFI you should know more about this than me, shouldn't you? Finally, i know the issue wasn't about pixelation, i am not British but i surely can understand English!

[MichaelB]

OK, I can now confirm with absolute certainty that the version currently being sent out by HMV is not the remastered version.

Further updates when it's definitely available.

[perkizitore]

Isn't the word 'emphatic' implying sarcasm? :-k

[TMDaines]

I have the "new" disk from HMV too but I can't test it as I'm at university. If anyone can test the darkness issues then it would be much appreciated.

[MichaelB]

Isn't the word 'emphatic' implying sarcasm? :-k

No, not at all. Saying "it's definitely the same disc" is more emphatic than saying "it's the same disc", which in turn is more emphatic than saying "it's probably the same disc". So it's a simple statement of fact - no sarcasm there at all.

Anyway, it turns out that you are actually right - it is indeed definitely the same disc, as the remastered version hasn't been released yet. So apologies for giving you the third degree, but hopefully you'll understand why!

[TMDaines]

Why did HMV get restocked then with faulty goods? And what should I do? Just hold tight and wait for BFI to announce a trade in?

[pashalifi]

BFI DVD dept staff confirmed in an email that the a version has not been released yet:

Currently the only version out in the market place is the first one. At the current time I cannot confirm when the second version will be available but as soon as I have more information I will let you know.

[perkizitore]

Isn't the word 'emphatic' implying sarcasm? :-k

No, not at all. Saying "it's definitely the same disc" is more emphatic than saying "it's the same disc", which in turn is more emphatic than saying "it's probably the same disc". So it's a simple statement of fact - no sarcasm there at all.

Anyway, it turns out that you are actually right - it is indeed definitely the same disc, as the remastered version hasn't been released yet. So apologies for giving you the third degree, but hopefully you'll understand why!

I made the post at a bad time, therefore it is badly written implying pixelation was the isuue. But, i checked the disc visually and also my instict was telling me it was the same old disc.

[MichaelB]

Why did HMV get restocked then with faulty goods? And what should I do? Just hold tight and wait for BFI to announce a trade in?

Yes. I'll post concrete information when I have any myself.

[TMDaines]

Any update on The Leopard issues?

[perkizitore]

If it's not ready yet, Amazon's 15th of February release date either must be incorrect or BFI will go ahead anyway.

[MichaelB]

Any update on The Leopard issues?

See my last post. As I said, I'll update the second I get concrete news from BFI DVD Publishing themselves, but there's no point responding before then.

[claude]

The Blu-ray is now selling at HMV for £9.49. Beats me why it is so cheap :-k

[perkizitore]

Buy it now and wait for the exchange programme, although if Amazon still lists it for 13£ it will save you the hassle!

[MichaelB]

THE LEOPARD - FAULTY DISC REPLACEMENT SCHEME

As was highlighted in a detailed post on this forum, BFI’s November 2009 release of The Leopard on Blu-ray contained a fault which, unfortunately, affected the last third of the film.  We are pleased to announce that this fault has now been fixed and that a new edition is shortly due for release.  Further to this announcement, the BFI would like to offer those customers who purchased a faulty copy of the Blu-ray with a replacement disc.

Customers wanting to take advantage of this offer are asked to send the BFI only the faulty disc (please do not send the arrtwork, booklet or packaging) and to include details of their name, address and e-mail.  Upon receipt of the faulty disc, BFI will post a replacement Blu-ray disc.

As a thank you for your patience and understanding on this matter (as well as in recognision of the fact that you will be incurring some postage fees), the BFI would also like to offer those customers returning faulty The Leopard Blu-ray discs a special discount price on any 2 Blu-ray or Dual Format editions released between now and December 2010.  By redemption of a code, which will be supplied to you, you will be able to buy these editions at £10 each (inclusive of postage).

We would like to apologise for the frustration and disappointment that has been caused due to the original Blu-ray release of The Leopard and thank you once again for your patience during the period of time it has taken us to rectify the problem.

Please send faulty discs to: Trevona Thomson, Video Publishing, BFI, 21 Stephen Street, London, W1T 1LN, United Kingdom.

[zedz]

Damn! I should have bought that faulty release after all!