143 replies to this topic

[XxDeadlyxX]

athlon, on Apr 18 2011, 08:35 PM, said:

Death Defying Acts released by Icon is cropped.

Thanks for that, added. Coincidently I have the German version on the way from amazon.de, hopefully it's OAR and not cropped.

[XxDeadlyxX]

Hey guys sorry I haven't posted an update in a while, I've finally got around to checking some more titles out so here's the results, with OP updated.

I can confirm that Death Defying Acts German version is 2.35:1 OAR, so that's the one to get. I have it for sale in the trade thread.

Doghouse UK version is also 2.35:1 OAR, and I can confirm from direct comparisons that the AU version is cropped. However the UK version only has Dolby Digital 5.1 so it's not the 'definitive' version (just like Black Death.... Sony UK don't seem to be providing lossless on many titles). The AU version does have DTS MA. But the cropping.... ugh.

New Town Killers UK version on the other hand is 1.78:1, like the AU version, and same amount of picture info in both. So no Blu-ray out there is 2.35:1 OAR. I have compared them to a trailer on the net though and can interestingly confirm that the Blu-rays are open matte, not cropped.

I have also received King of Fighters German release, and can confirm it is 2.35:1 OAR. In comparing it to the AU release though, the AU release is open matte, not cropped! So King of Fighters has been moved to open matte list. Has more picture at top and bottom, and no sides cut off.

More updates coming soon! There are many more local releases from Eagle Entertainment etc that I haven't obtained yet that I'm very suspicious of....

Edited by XxDeadlyxX, 11 May 2011 - 10:28 PM.

[athlon]

Stage Beauty released by Icon appears to be open matte/reframing (a little more on the top, heaps more on the bottom and a little bit off the sides).

Some OAR releases by Icon are, 'Vanity Fair' and 'An empress and the Warriors'.

[XxDeadlyxX]

athlon, on May 16 2011, 07:54 AM, said:

Stage Beauty released by Icon appears to be open matte/reframing (a little more on the top, heaps more on the bottom and a little bit off the sides).

Some OAR releases by Icon are, 'Vanity Fair' and 'An empress and the Warriors'.

Thanks, added. Looks like it's 1080i50 too - when will these studios ever get it right    I wonder if it's pitch-corrected or if it has 4% PAL speedup - I was checking out Strange Bedfellows yesterday which is also 1080i50 and noticed that it's at correct pitch - slowing down to 24fps makes it too 'slow'.

Good to hear those other two are 2.35 OAR. I wonder how empress and the warriors PQ compares with the HK release....

[XxDeadlyxX]

Update:

Compared Battle for Haditha to a 2.35:1 DVD and realised I have made a mistake thinking it was cropped... it's open matte and has been updated as so. A large majority of the titles in the list I have directly compared different versions but when there isn't any other readily available Blu-ray (or screenies from blu-ray.com), it can be a pain having to find a 2.35:1 trailer or DVD to compare to since most of these titles aren't big hollywood releases and often there isin't any trailer online other than youtube.

[XxDeadlyxX]

Has anyone picked up 22 Bullets local release? I'm wondering if it's cropped like the UK release, or 2.35:1 like the French release.

[XxDeadlyxX]

Update: New addition:

whilst not an issue exclusive to the Australian release, all of Reel's Thunderbirds discs have been cropped from their 4:3 apect ration to 16x9, but more picture info on the left.

[athlon]

XxDeadlyxX, on May 19 2011, 04:36 PM, said:

Has anyone picked up 22 Bullets local release? I'm wondering if it's cropped like the UK release, or 2.35:1 like the French release.

I havent watched it yet, but it looks like our release is either cropped or open matte, as the back cover states 1.78:1 on the Blu-ray but the DVD has 2.35:1 as its aspect ratio.

[XxDeadlyxX]

athlon, on May 22 2011, 08:24 AM, said:

I havent watched it yet, but it looks like our release is either cropped or open matte, as the back cover states 1.78:1 on the Blu-ray but the DVD has 2.35:1 as its aspect ratio.

Oh great, Roadshow strikes (or more like fails!) again!

Here's the review of the UK version with screenshots, if the AU version is the same as that well then it's cropped but need confirmation....

http://www.blu-ray.c...y/13514/#Review

The French version on the other hand (and Canada version) is 2.35:1 AND has better PQ as well! Review:

http://www.blu-ray.c...y/13515/#Review

Looks like I'll be importing..... (again   )

[XxDeadlyxX]

Update - New Addition, confirmed as cropped unfortunately - less picture on right & left and no extra on top/bottom (ie. typical cropping):

Elephant White (Roadshow) - US version is OAR

Damnit another one I have to import  

[MSB]

'The Next Three Days', released by Roadshow is OAR but 1080i/50.

On a general note, I can't understand why someone would crop 2.35:1 to 1.78:1.

One theory I have is that it allows them to recycle the cable/TV/airline master rather than use a dedicated master. If true, it means that the Blu Ray folks are being held hostage by foxtel audiences who can't stand bars. Awesome.

[XxDeadlyxX]

MSB, on Jun 2 2011, 10:33 PM, said:

'The Next Three Days', released by Roadshow is OAR but 1080i/50.

On a general note, I can't understand why someone would crop 2.35:1 to 1.78:1.

One theory I have is that it allows them to recycle the cable/TV/airline master rather than use a dedicated master. If true, it means that the Blu Ray folks are being held hostage by foxtel audiences who can't stand bars. Awesome.

1080i50 hey? Wow Roadshow are sure putting out some random discs.... I don't see why anyone would want the AU version of that, compared to the excellent US version with 1080p and DTS MA 7.1. (AU is 5.1).

As someone said, this list shouldn't have to exist, but because of the poor AV quality standards of many local releases, it's a case of buyer beware.

And yeh there seems to be no logic to it - one minute we will get a OAR release from a local studio, then cropped.... you can't pick it and the only way to know is to check out the disc because the back cover can hardly be trusted.

[melmac]

XxDeadlyxX, on Jun 2 2011, 09:07 PM, said:

1080i50 hey? Wow Roadshow are sure putting out some random discs.... I don't see why anyone would want the AU version of that, compared to the excellent US version with 1080p and DTS MA 7.1. (AU is 5.1).

As someone said, this list shouldn't have to exist, but because of the poor AV quality standards of many local releases, it's a case of buyer beware.

And yeh there seems to be no logic to it - one minute we will get a OAR release from a local studio, then cropped.... you can't pick it and the only way to know is to check out the disc because the back cover can hardly be trusted.

Would the UK one be 1080i as well ?

[XxDeadlyxX]

Mel, on Jun 3 2011, 01:01 AM, said:

Would the UK one be 1080i as well ?

No - it's released by Lionsgate in the UK and the specs are the same as the US version. In this case it's just Australia with the crap version.

[XxDeadlyxX]

Update - new addition - yet another cropped one from Roadshow.... seems like Roadshow are getting worse with time rather than better....

The Resident (Roadshow) - US version is OAR

[MSB]

Let's throw another Roadshow on the fire, shall we? 'Tamara Drewe', released this week, is 1.78:1, whereas the US version is 2.35:1.

Roadshow wins the bonus round as well: the DVD is also presented at 1.78:1.

[XxDeadlyxX]

MSB, on Jun 14 2011, 09:47 PM, said:

Let's throw another Roadshow on the fire, shall we? 'Tamara Drewe', released this week, is 1.78:1, whereas the US version is 2.35:1.

Roadshow wins the bonus round as well: the DVD is also presented at 1.78:1.

Thanks for that info, added   Another one down the gurgler as you say  

The only thing I will give Roadshow credit for is they actually seem pretty accurate with their AR info on their back covers... another title I have coming is 22 Bullets which is 1.78 on back cover so it's almost certainly cropped but will check it to confirm 100%.

I just got After.Life (AUS) too (Roadshow), and it said 2.40:1 on back cover and it actually is in OAR (thankfully). Another one I recently tried that I thought would be cropped but isn't is Manolete (AUS, Eagle Entertainment), it's amazingly in 2.35 OAR... most of Eagle Entertainment titles are nearly always 1.78 (sometimes cropped sometimes open matte). The frame doesn't extend to the full edge though in many shots in Manolete, similar to Shaun of the Dead if you've seen that. But at least it's in 2.35. It just sucks that it's so random and with more being 1.78 than not  

[709er]

MSB, on Jun 14 2011, 09:47 PM, said:

Let's throw another Roadshow on the fire, shall we? 'Tamara Drewe', released this week, is 1.78:1, whereas the US version is 2.35:1.

Roadshow wins the bonus round as well: the DVD is also presented at 1.78:1.

I have the UK version. It is 2.39:1!

[cuvan]

This is what I know about the various versions of Arn - The Knight Templar so far:

Australian version from Eagle Entertainment - 1.78:1
Extended Australian version - 1.78:1
USA version - 2.35:1
UK version - ???

Can anyone here confirm that the UK version is in the OAR. Some reviews say yes, others say nay.

Thanks.

[XxDeadlyxX]

709er, on Jun 15 2011, 04:15 PM, said:

I have the UK version. It is 2.39:1!

Thanks for the info - I've updated it. I normally only put the US version as the comparison if it's OAR but there are cases where UK is OAR also All depends on the studio - Tamara Drewe is Momentum pictures in UK so thats why its OAR - we are stuck with the crap Roadshow version. Glad I imported the US Sony version. I could go through the list and try to add info about some UK releases but many of them I would be guessing unfortunately as blu-ray.com mainly review US releases which have the screenshots to compare with.

cuvan, on Jun 15 2011, 05:45 PM, said:

This is what I know about the various versions of Arn - The Knight Templar so far:

Australian version from Eagle Entertainment - 1.78:1
Extended Australian version - 1.78:1
USA version - 2.35:1
UK version - ???

Can anyone here confirm that the UK version is in the OAR. Some reviews say yes, others say nay.

Thanks.

Ah thanks for that info - do you know if it's cropped or open matte? It was filmed on super 35 so it may be open matte - a couple times before I've assumed something was cropped but it was actually open matte (ie Battle for Haditha) and had to fix it up later. I only have the US version of this so I dont have the AU to directly compare.

Oh and to answer your question - looks like UK version is 1.78 as well, as someone has manually listed it as so here and its released by High Fliers who have cropped a couple other titles too so I wouldn't trust the UK release.

Off-topic but does anyone know if the follow up to Arn which is Arn: The Kingdom at Road's End has been released anywhere? Seems silly for studios to not release the second one. Or is it included somewhat in the extended Arn release? ie. like Red Cliff international cut?

Edited by XxDeadlyxX, 15 June 2011 - 06:36 PM.

[XxDeadlyxX]

Update - new addition:

22 Bullets (Roadshow) - French version is OAR - Canadian version is OAR

I have confirmed that the AU version is the same framing as the UK cropped version

[cuvan]

XxDeadlyxX, on Jun 15 2011, 06:25 PM, said:

Oh and to answer your question - looks like UK version is 1.78 as well, as someone has manually listed it as so here and its released by High Fliers who have cropped a couple other titles too so I wouldn't trust the UK release.

Off-topic but does anyone know if the follow up to Arn which is Arn: The Kingdom at Road's End has been released anywhere? Seems silly for studios to not release the second one. Or is it included somewhat in the extended Arn release? ie. like Red Cliff international cut?

It looks as if I'll have to settle for the shorter US version if I want to get the 2.35:1 version. Blu-ray.com (and every other review I've read) speak very highly of the picture quality. The 1.78:1 Australian PQ was very good too, but I would imagine the US version to have more of an 'epic' feel about it.
There's talk of another Arn film coming out in 2011, so it's possible that they're referring to The Kingdom at Road's End. Although I was under the impression that some of the second Swedish film had already been tacked on to the end of the initial film released around the world as Arn - The Knight Templar. If that's the case then I would expect the added sixty minutes-or-so of footage included to be used to expand on certain parts of the story that had seemed very rushed in the shorter version. I'm told the two original Swedish films are available on blu-ray but without English subtitles. And apparently there is even an 8 hour version that was shown on Swedish TV. You'd think with the level of interest in Scandinavian film and TV nowadays that they might try and cash in on it if it has already been filmed. Strange, too, that the extended version seems only to have been released in Australia.


*Edit* This very good review here confirms that High Fliers’ UK Blu-ray release comes with an attractive 1080p transfer that preserves the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio of the film.

Edited by cuvan, 16 June 2011 - 12:58 AM.

[XxDeadlyxX]

cuvan, on Jun 15 2011, 11:47 PM, said:

It looks as if I'll have to settle for the shorter US version if I want to get the 2.35:1 version. Blu-ray.com (and every other review I've read) speak very highly of the picture quality. The 1.78:1 Australian PQ was very good too, but I would imagine the US version to have more of an 'epic' feel about it.
There's talk of another Arn film coming out in 2011, so it's possible that they're referring to The Kingdom at Road's End. Although I was under the impression that some of the second Swedish film had already been tacked on to the end of the initial film released around the world as Arn - The Knight Templar. If that's the case then I would expect the added sixty minutes-or-so of footage included to be used to expand on certain parts of the story that had seemed very rushed in the shorter version. I'm told the two original Swedish films are available on blu-ray but without English subtitles. And apparently there is even an 8 hour version that was shown on Swedish TV. You'd think with the level of interest in Scandinavian film and TV nowadays that they might try and cash in on it if it has already been filmed. Strange, too, that the extended version seems only to have been released in Australia.


*Edit* This very good review here confirms that High Fliers’ UK Blu-ray release comes with an attractive 1080p transfer that preserves the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio of the film.

Whoa - 8 hours are you serious... ?! So they cut it down from 8 hours to 2 hours?      Not sure I actually want to watch my US version now I know that's the case...

The UK High Fliers' disc only has Dolby Digital 5.1 by the way according to that review so that version isn't really the one to get either...

Hmm.....

[XxDeadlyxX]

Update: new addition:

The Gift (aka Echelon Conspiracy) (All Interactive Entertainment) - open matte & reframing - US version is OAR - more picture info on top/bottom, less on sides

Another typical complete reframing of a super35 film release....

[cuvan]

http://hcc.techradar...ainst-2351-06-0

Came across the above article and thought it was quite interesting - similar to the problems we have here when they decide to muck about with the aspect ratio.