Since the other HD DVD owners thread is getting huge, I thought we should keep that one for hardware (which it is mostly about now) and have a new one for software, as in opinions/reviews/thoughts on movies you have watched in HD DVD. (instead of having individual reviews in the review section)
We'll see how it goes. Just put the movie title in bold for easy viewing
AGAIN, NO BLURAY VS HD DVD TALK.
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Batman Begins Impressions
Finally got to watch Batman Begins tonight. After watching it, I realise how good an upconverting player my Sony DVPNS 92 hdmi player was. There was not a day and night difference in picture quality.
I was pretty disappointed with the first 20 min, which looked just a bit clearer than the upscaled version. I was never a fan of the first 20 min, i think its the colours or the soft look of it. Once I passed this, the HD DVD version started to shine. From the moment Bruce starts his training it starts to look really good. When he becomes Batman, this is where the picture shines. Its so detailed and blacks are black with excellent shadow detail. Not alot of 3D effects (ice fight and gotham at night near end are standouts) but just a clean detailed picture. No where as near as good in pic quality as MI:3 or CORiddick, but a very good transfer.
Soundwise, this movie kills. The Bass is awsome, the the last 20 min, with the train sequence......my oh my, this almost blew my walls down. I had to turn the volume up a little more for the TrueHD track, but again after the first 30 min when the actions starts, it really kicks in. Does it beat the SD DVD version, sh$$ yeah, but only once the action starts up.
All up it shows how good the SD version was, but this takes it up a notch. The sound is definitely a 10, and the pic is almost there, but I think i was too spoiled with how the upconverted version looked. Still, an excellent tittle. Nothing beats MI:3 yet, but reading about King Kong, it might have some competition...
Can't wait to watch MI:3 again. Can't say enough about this movie..
MI:3 IMPRESSIONS
Is it all its cracked up to be......
HELLL YEAH !!!!
I think I've just found my new reference HD DVD. This movie is so picturesque it's not funny. The Scenes in Rome are just gorgeous. The 3D element to this is unbelievable !! It's just like being there. The colours are deep and detailed Likewise when they go to China, where most is at night, the clarity and 3D look is amazing.
This HV DVD is definitely my new reference movie now, as it shows a good cobination of day and night, and is sooooo detailed, all in it's 3D glory, where Chronicles is mostly dark throughout. If there's 1 HD DVD you have to get it's this.
Sound wise, it's amazing. The first 15 min the surrounds are quiet, but after that it never stops. Bullets ricochet around, bouncing off metal objects, you will be ducking yourself. The bass is very tight and all 5.1 speakers never let up. The bridge scene is fantastic with jets swishing by from left to right.
The movie is pretty darn good do. Just action from start to finish with the usual twists, typical for a MI movie.
I thought I had heard and saw home theater perfection with Chronicles of Riddick, but overall I think this is a better film and better picture quality with more 3D effects. Just wait until you see it, some scene are like looking out a window !! Best thing was, there was rarely any FP noise from my projector.
Those that are waiting this title or bought a player and wondering what movie to play first, MI:3 IS IT !!!!!!!!!
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Impressions
Picture starts off with darker colours, then opens up in to the lavish greens and reds when you get inside the factory. Not alot of 3D effects, but a clean colourful picture. The faces on the people (mainly willy wonka) are soft at times but this was the was it was shot/meant to be by the director. Not a bad movie either. Not a reference title but excellent.
One thing watching this movie, it it really showes the FP noise on my projector with the light blue backgrounds (the squirel room) Will be defnitely be upgrading my projector in the next 6 months as this is the only thing that annoys me about my whole set up.. The Pana AE700 doesnt do the best job with daylight/bright scenes, as shows FP noise. Darker scenes and movies and jaw dropping and 3D like.
Sound was pretty good too. The music is good, but the soundtrack is mainly front heavy. Dialogue was clear but the ompa ompa songs were hard to understand at times.
Overall great movie and a very colourful movie to show HD DVD to those who want to show a more family frinedly movie
F & F -Tokyo Drift Impressions
Finally watched Tokyo Drift on HD DVD last night. WOW the sound is awsome. Not as detailed or nor does it have the pans of the surrounds like my ref title chronicles of Ricddick, but really good sound. Felt like i was in a nightclub for 2 hrs with the music. Probably has rattled my walls the most out of all my dvd's. Since its a newly built house, hope it doesnt contribute to more cracks in the cornieces !!! The car sounds sounded like you were there, and loved the 'grunt' sound of some of the engines.
Picture was pretty good, again no where near as good as chronicles, but very clean and bright. I think ive been spoiled by HD DVD now as my eyes are used to the picture quality and didnt get a sexcitied as when i first got it. But then i flipped over to the SD DVD side to watch the sd dvd and OMG, it really look like i was running a VHS player on my projector. I used to think my sd dvd looked 'almost hd' but boy was i wrong. The pic was soft and washed out.
Put back in the HD DVD side and 'snap' pic looked crisp and colours were gorgeous. Watching HD DVD on a projector on a 100' screen reminds me of like watching a 100" plasma. Sure a 42" plasma will look more 3d than a 100' screen, but as in clarity its on a par.
Chronicles of Riddick Impressions
(This was prior to MI:3)
Just finished watching Chronicles of Riddick with a few friends on my projector.
I must say in all of the last 8 or so years in owning/getting in to HT/demoing at shops/going to cinemas, tonight i just witness THE BEST picture my eyes have ever seen on screen and the best sound i have ever heard in my life !!!
This is no understatement. Chronicles of Riddick is the best DEMO movie i have ever seen/heard.
I have never seen a picture so 3d like and crystal clear. Couldnt wipe the smile of my face and friends couldn't believe what they saw. It is photographic and so detailed its unbelievable. Show anyone this HD DVD and i guarantee they will be sold.
The sound is just jaw-dropping. The DD+ soundtrack makes saving private ryan dts sound like dolby prologic. Words cannot descibe how perfect the sound was. Bass knocks you dead, my blinds were blowing from the air from the sub ! Dialogue is spot on, and the surrounds....my god the surrounds. The end battle whizes around all the speakers and the panning through out the movie from rear to front is second to none. Examples are when the ships fly towards you at the screen or coming in from the left to the front. Detailed/open/crisp, its got it all.
Anyone that has a HD DVD player, you just have to get this title. I've been reading about this title being #1 demo title, and im usually so-so but this is the title to own. The story isnt half bad either i thought. non stop from start to end.
Tonight I witnessed Home Theater perfection with HD DVD. Bring it on !!
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So far my favourites in relation to reference quality:
MI:3 - 10/10 (ABSOLUTE REFERENCE)
CORiddick - 9.5
Training Day - 8.75
Tokyo Drift -8.5
Batman Begins - 8.5 (sound is definitely a 10)
CATCFactory -8
Aeon Flux -8
Still to watch and unwrap - The Rundown, T2, End of days.