Better than DVD?

Paff · 05-12-2006, 05:09 PM

Earlier this week, I was digging through some unopened LDs, and came across Dragon Inn...a Hong Kong flick with Brigitte Lin and Maggie Cheung that was a "throw-in" from an auction that had Fist of Legend. I already had the new Tai Seng re-mastered DVD, so I never bothered opening the LD (it was still sealed).

Well, I was watching it, and for a goof, I threw in the DVD and cued them to the same point. A few A-B comparisons, and it was readily apparent which version looked better: the Laserdisc!!! Sure, it's a little fuzzier in detail compared to the DVD, but the colors are rich and vibrant. The DVD is practically black and white!

I was wondering if anyone else noticed other Lasers that look better than their DVD counterparts (and how the hell can that even happen?).

Reservoir Dogs is another that comes to mind, except the LD has one of the WORST side flips (middle of Nice Guy Eddie's phone conversation) in the history of the format. But I still think the laser looks better.

This is why I'll never give up the format, as long as my player holds out.

KR~! · 05-12-2006, 06:08 PM

sometimes... VHS might look better than DVD as well, but that doesn't mean it is better. It is really a case by case matter.

Sometimes studios do some weird stuff to their films while remastering them and transfering them to DVD, making them look worst!

speanroc · 05-12-2006, 06:27 PM

if u use professional industrial equipment,(panasonic ag-1980) some vhs look comparible to some dvds, but yes some laserdisc(which is the TRUE collectors media), looks better than some , especially the laserdics released in japan...........

horrorlover · 05-12-2006, 07:06 PM

Laserdisc don't compress the video like dvd's do isn't that right? I never watched a laserdisc, but from the way that makes it sound, it seems like laserdisc if given a good transfer would be better than dvd.

KR~! · 05-12-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horrorlover

Laserdisc don't compress the video like dvd's do isn't that right? I never watched a laserdisc, but from the way that makes it sound, it seems like laserdisc if given a good transfer would be better than dvd.

no, the best DVD will still look better than the best LD.

JeffCostello · 05-12-2006, 08:23 PM

My Japanese "Dellamorte Dellamore" laser looks and sounds great (it's definitely better than the crappy German DVD). I don't feel the need to upgrade to the upcoming AB disk, "Cemetary Man" is such a trashy title.

My Japanese "Phenomena" laser looks better than my DVD, caus' it's signed by Dario.

Paff · 05-12-2006, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KR~!

no, the best DVD will still look better than the best LD.

Yeah, that's my point. It sucks that I go to an old outmoded format, with a disc produced more than 10 years ago, and the video outperforms the current format. No reason for that.

There's a definite decrease in resolution with LD, as limited by the format. But when I see a DVD that has distinctly less rich and vibrant colors than it's LD counterpart, I'm kind of scratching my head...

KR~! · 05-12-2006, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paff

Yeah, that's my point. It sucks that I go to an old outmoded format, with a disc produced more than 10 years ago, and the video outperforms the current format. No reason for that.

There's a definite decrease in resolution with LD, as limited by the format. But when I see a DVD that has distinctly less rich and vibrant colors than it's LD counterpart, I'm kind of scratching my head...

as is everyone else, or at least they should be!

05-12-2006, 07:56 PM

The Demolitionist, it's an uncut special edition to boot

bigdaddyhorse · 05-13-2006, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patmcgahern

The Demolitionist, it's an uncut special edition to boot

Yeah the dvd for that is crap all around, probably mastered from vhs. Glad I found that laser for cheap and should just get rid of my dvd as it's worthless when compared.

I think the CAV side (2) of Crierion's Sid and Nancy looked a bit better than the Criterion dvd when I compared them way back.
On pause it definitly did, probably about even when playing.

indiephantom · 05-13-2006, 05:48 PM

Most of my 80+ LD's do not look as good as their DVD counterpoints, but there are certainly a few that give them a run for the money. However, in terms of 5.1 DD audio...I have a few titles that seem to sound richer and with deeper bass. I don't have and DTS LD's (or a player capable of utilizing them) but I had heard that the lack of compression made many of them superior to the DVD versions.

05-12-2006, 10:11 PM

Add the Widescreen Laserdisc of NEMESIS, although I'm not sure if it's the director's cut that apparently came out as a limited edition VHS the picture is much better than the DVD

Sam · 05-13-2006, 12:30 AM

I used to find quite a few titles better than DVD on an older 52" big screen analog CRT tube set. Those same gems unfortunately don't hold up too well on HDTV, even with a good deinterlacer like the Faroudja. I must say that B&W movies hold up very well on LD, as do animated movies. B&W more so -- it's just a really nice, smooth image and since sharpness isn't a concern I don't notice the flaws as much and can concentrate on the movie more.

Yowie · 06-11-2006, 07:39 PM

If one has only a TV set with no fancy sound system connected, LD will sound a lot better than DVD. The sound is fuller with better bass, DVD is thin sounding like a CD. In this case, bigger is better.

wago70 · 06-19-2006, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yowie

If one has only a TV set with no fancy sound system connected, LD will sound a lot better than DVD. The sound is fuller with better bass, DVD is thin sounding like a CD. In this case, bigger is better.

This is my situation! My DVD's are so low in audio (except sound effects) that I'm constantly turning the volume up and down. I have only TV speakers. Don't have this problem with LD's and VHS.

05-12-2006, 05:09 PM	#1
Paff Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,538	Better than DVD? Earlier this week, I was digging through some unopened LDs, and came across Dragon Inn...a Hong Kong flick with Brigitte Lin and Maggie Cheung that was a "throw-in" from an auction that had Fist of Legend. I already had the new Tai Seng re-mastered DVD, so I never bothered opening the LD (it was still sealed). Well, I was watching it, and for a goof, I threw in the DVD and cued them to the same point. A few A-B comparisons, and it was readily apparent which version looked better: the Laserdisc!!! Sure, it's a little fuzzier in detail compared to the DVD, but the colors are rich and vibrant. The DVD is practically black and white! I was wondering if anyone else noticed other Lasers that look better than their DVD counterparts (and how the hell can that even happen?). Reservoir Dogs is another that comes to mind, except the LD has one of the WORST side flips (middle of Nice Guy Eddie's phone conversation) in the history of the format. But I still think the laser looks better. This is why I'll never give up the format, as long as my player holds out. __________________ CINEMA PAFF - Your BB-Movie Showcase * * - The extra B is for BYOBB Paff's Laserdiscs

05-12-2006, 06:08 PM	#2
KR~! The Apocalyptic Kid Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: In Hel's Womb Posts: 5,462	sometimes... VHS might look better than DVD as well, but that doesn't mean it is better. It is really a case by case matter. Sometimes studios do some weird stuff to their films while remastering them and transfering them to DVD, making them look worst! __________________ We do not have to visit a madhouse to find disordered minds; our planet is the mental institution of the universe. - Johann von Goethe

05-12-2006, 07:06 PM	#4
horrorlover Stalker Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 408	Laserdisc don't compress the video like dvd's do isn't that right? I never watched a laserdisc, but from the way that makes it sound, it seems like laserdisc if given a good transfer would be better than dvd. __________________ Robots do it better!

05-13-2006, 05:48 PM	#11
indiephantom Horny Spirit Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ghost World Posts: 3,880	Most of my 80+ LD's do not look as good as their DVD counterpoints, but there are certainly a few that give them a run for the money. However, in terms of 5.1 DD audio...I have a few titles that seem to sound richer and with deeper bass. I don't have and DTS LD's (or a player capable of utilizing them) but I had heard that the lack of compression made many of them superior to the DVD versions. __________________ My Collection 2011 2010 2009

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05-12-2006, 06:27 PM	#3
speanroc I WANNA BAN Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: AMERICA Posts: 2,537	if u use professional industrial equipment,(panasonic ag-1980) some vhs look comparible to some dvds, but yes some laserdisc(which is the TRUE collectors media), looks better than some , especially the laserdics released in japan...........

05-12-2006, 08:23 PM	#6
JeffCostello Stalker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 283	My Japanese "Dellamorte Dellamore" laser looks and sounds great (it's definitely better than the crappy German DVD). I don't feel the need to upgrade to the upcoming AB disk, "Cemetary Man" is such a trashy title. My Japanese "Phenomena" laser looks better than my DVD, caus' it's signed by Dario.

05-12-2006, 07:56 PM	#9
patmcgahern Guest Posts: n/a	The Demolitionist, it's an uncut special edition to boot

05-12-2006, 10:11 PM	#12
patmcgahern Guest Posts: n/a	Add the Widescreen Laserdisc of NEMESIS, although I'm not sure if it's the director's cut that apparently came out as a limited edition VHS the picture is much better than the DVD

05-13-2006, 12:30 AM	#13
Sam Maniac Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 809	I used to find quite a few titles better than DVD on an older 52" big screen analog CRT tube set. Those same gems unfortunately don't hold up too well on HDTV, even with a good deinterlacer like the Faroudja. I must say that B&W movies hold up very well on LD, as do animated movies. B&W more so -- it's just a really nice, smooth image and since sharpness isn't a concern I don't notice the flaws as much and can concentrate on the movie more.

06-11-2006, 07:39 PM	#14
Yowie Hologram Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Palookaville Posts: 868	If one has only a TV set with no fancy sound system connected, LD will sound a lot better than DVD. The sound is fuller with better bass, DVD is thin sounding like a CD. In this case, bigger is better.