Blu-ray releases that made you go "WOW"

Katatonia · 03-10-2009, 01:19 AM

Which Blu-ray releases made you go "WOW" when compared to their old DVD counterparts? Sure, many Blu-rays look great and are general improvements; but I'm specifically talking about major improvements by leaps and bounds.

Here's two from me, and DVD Beaver review links attached with screen comparisons:

The Longest Day Blu-ray. The film itself was released way back in 1962 in black and white. The DVD releases always seemed rather blurry, but the Blu-rays transfer is sharp as a tack and the contrast and black levels are infinitely superior. The DTS Master Audio track is also quite impressive from an older film such as this. And thankfully Fox chose to include all of the extras from the old 2-DVD release here.

The Boys from Brazil Blu-ray. Gregory Peck as a fervent Nazi! The DVD was released way back in the 90's, and looked pretty shabby in a letterbox-only transfer...recently even reissued by Lions Gate with new artwork. The UK Blu-ray is superior in virtually every way. The colors are much richer, the detail is a huge step up, the contrast and background detail is greatly improved, and the framing is wider and more composed on all 4 sides of the picture. The original Mono audio was never all that impressive for the film, but it's encoded at a relatively high bit-rate on the Blu-ray for more clarity. No extras beyond the trailer in full HD.

Grim · 03-10-2009, 02:16 AM

The first ones that come to mind are definitely Blade Runner and The Road Warrior. Warner Bros. did an amazing job with both of these titles. They look better than half of the newer flicks I have on the format. The same goes for 2001: A Space Odyssey. The only way I could describe the pic quality is "eye-porn". Other standouts are the Fifth Element, the other Kubrick flicks, Edward Scissorhands, and the Thing.

SaviniFan · 03-10-2009, 02:33 AM

Blade Runner for sure. I was quite floored by the reference quality transfer for Neil Marshall's Doomsday, a sometimes maligned film which I happen to like a lot. Friday the 13th (despite the controversial framing) is leaps and bounds better than the standard DVD release.

MorallySound · 03-10-2009, 02:35 AM

Even though both are newer films, and their DVD transfers are excellent, but both House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects look amazing on Blu-ray.

Mutilated Prey · 03-10-2009, 02:46 AM

Texas Chainsaw Massacre is pretty friggin' sweet looking.

Matt89 · 03-10-2009, 03:15 AM

The Searchers, my fucking GOD The Searchers. I nearly shit my pants when I saw how good it looked. 2001 and Blade Runner are up there as well, same with How the West Was Won, Bonnie & Clyde, Friday the 13th, Burn After Reading, The Road Warrior, The Warriors and The Mummy.

~Matt

gunner · 03-10-2009, 03:15 AM

The Lost Boys, Dawn & Day of the Dead (originals), Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday The 13th 1, 2 & 3, and The Amityville Horror. Those have been the most impressive to me so far. I rarely appreciate the transfers on new movies, no matter how perfect. I can't wait for some more 70's & 80's genre classics to get announced, they look terrific!!

KamuiX · 03-10-2009, 04:12 AM

Some of my favorites:

Wall-E
The Prestige
The Shining
Assault on Precinct 13
Ratatouille
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Shoot 'Em Up

indiephantom · 03-10-2009, 05:50 AM

I have to say Dirty Harry and Magnum Force. I bought the Ultimate Dirty Harry Collection and man, I love the set. The opening shot looking down the barrel of the sniper in Harry is practically 3-D. These first two films in the series show substantial improvement and WB retains the filmic grain, so it never looks plastic...but it certainly is gleaming.

Baraka is my runner up. Terrific eye-candy imagery, if you want to show off.

I, too, look forward to more releases from the '70s and '80s. Nothing like making an old classic look better than new!

_pi_ · 03-10-2009, 10:36 AM

Boo hoo, I want a Blu-ray player

And a big ass TV. And some movies too.

Anyone seen Tarsem's The Fall? The Beaver gave it a stellar A/V review, and since it never got a theatrical release over here I kinda decided I'd only watch it once I got me some Blu-ray equipment.

indiephantom · 03-10-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Anyone seen Tarsem's [I

The Fall[/I]? The Beaver gave it a stellar A/V review, and since it never got a theatrical release over here I kinda decided I'd only watch it once I got me some Blu-ray equipment.

I have this on blu. It looks stellar.

03-10-2009, 03:51 PM

Dark City (one of my favorite movies), The Shining, Blade Runner, TCM

burieddeep · 03-10-2009, 05:04 PM

Zulu
The Wild Bunch
2001: A Space Odyssey

03-11-2009, 03:37 AM

Doomsday and Serenity

othervoice1 · 03-11-2009, 04:49 AM

Run Lola Run looks great
Lost Boys surprised me at how great the picture was for an 80's flick
The Descent looks amazing to me- perfect horror movie for HD
Nightmare Before Christmas looks amazing
and I thought Goodfellas was another 80's flick that looked really good
and I agree most of the new movies look great but should- its the older ones that are really hit and miss and sometimes I get surprised with how much they can really do with some of those

03-10-2009, 01:19 AM	#1
Katatonia Hellbound Heart Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Missouri Posts: 15,903	Blu-ray releases that made you go "WOW" Which Blu-ray releases made you go "WOW" when compared to their old DVD counterparts? Sure, many Blu-rays look great and are general improvements; but I'm specifically talking about major improvements by leaps and bounds. Here's two from me, and DVD Beaver review links attached with screen comparisons: The Longest Day Blu-ray. The film itself was released way back in 1962 in black and white. The DVD releases always seemed rather blurry, but the Blu-rays transfer is sharp as a tack and the contrast and black levels are infinitely superior. The DTS Master Audio track is also quite impressive from an older film such as this. And thankfully Fox chose to include all of the extras from the old 2-DVD release here. The Boys from Brazil Blu-ray. Gregory Peck as a fervent Nazi! The DVD was released way back in the 90's, and looked pretty shabby in a letterbox-only transfer...recently even reissued by Lions Gate with new artwork. The UK Blu-ray is superior in virtually every way. The colors are much richer, the detail is a huge step up, the contrast and background detail is greatly improved, and the framing is wider and more composed on all 4 sides of the picture. The original Mono audio was never all that impressive for the film, but it's encoded at a relatively high bit-rate on the Blu-ray for more clarity. No extras beyond the trailer in full HD. __________________ "The machines are faster and the bombs are worse, as we're all sucked into this unholy curse." - Saint Vitus - War Is Our Destiny DVD Profiler Collection

03-10-2009, 02:16 AM	#2
Grim HackMaster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 7,277	The first ones that come to mind are definitely Blade Runner and The Road Warrior. Warner Bros. did an amazing job with both of these titles. They look better than half of the newer flicks I have on the format. The same goes for 2001: A Space Odyssey. The only way I could describe the pic quality is "eye-porn". Other standouts are the Fifth Element, the other Kubrick flicks, Edward Scissorhands, and the Thing. __________________ AIM: MrGrim132002

03-10-2009, 02:33 AM	#3
SaviniFan I Have A Fetish Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: On the cutting room floor. Posts: 5,446	Blade Runner for sure. I was quite floored by the reference quality transfer for Neil Marshall's Doomsday, a sometimes maligned film which I happen to like a lot. Friday the 13th (despite the controversial framing) is leaps and bounds better than the standard DVD release. __________________ Exercise. Eat right. Die anyway. PS3 Gamer Tag: SaviniFan Steam Gamer Tag: ToastyBuffoon My DVD Profiler

03-10-2009, 02:35 AM	#4
MorallySound There is no magic. Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 5,847	Even though both are newer films, and their DVD transfers are excellent, but both House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects look amazing on Blu-ray. __________________ "Things only seem to be magic. There is no real magic. There's no real magic ever." - Martin Bad Monster Films \| Mantis in Black Lace \| Vimeo \| Letterboxd \| Tumblr \| Twitter \| Reel to Reel \| Oh, the Horror! \| DVD Aficionado

03-10-2009, 02:46 AM	#5
Mutilated Prey Soul Stealer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texarkana Posts: 5,087	Texas Chainsaw Massacre is pretty friggin' sweet looking. __________________

03-10-2009, 03:15 AM	#6
Matt89 HackMaster Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 4,002	The Searchers, my fucking GOD The Searchers. I nearly shit my pants when I saw how good it looked. 2001 and Blade Runner are up there as well, same with How the West Was Won, Bonnie & Clyde, Friday the 13th, Burn After Reading, The Road Warrior, The Warriors and The Mummy. ~Matt __________________ "If a man can bridge the gap between life and death ... I mean, if he can live on after his death, then maybe he was a great man." - James Dean

03-10-2009, 03:15 AM	#7
gunner Cropsy Maniac Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Bar Harbor, Maine Posts: 809	The Lost Boys, Dawn & Day of the Dead (originals), Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday The 13th 1, 2 & 3, and The Amityville Horror. Those have been the most impressive to me so far. I rarely appreciate the transfers on new movies, no matter how perfect. I can't wait for some more 70's & 80's genre classics to get announced, they look terrific!! __________________ My Stash

03-10-2009, 04:12 AM	#8
KamuiX The Eighth Samurai Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,948	Some of my favorites: Wall-E The Prestige The Shining Assault on Precinct 13 Ratatouille The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Shoot 'Em Up __________________ Please visit my site...It's the future! Wii Friend Code: 8897-8584-2714-5768 // XBL & PS3 GamerTag: KamuiXZero

03-10-2009, 05:50 AM	#9
indiephantom Horny Spirit Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ghost World Posts: 3,880	I have to say Dirty Harry and Magnum Force. I bought the Ultimate Dirty Harry Collection and man, I love the set. The opening shot looking down the barrel of the sniper in Harry is practically 3-D. These first two films in the series show substantial improvement and WB retains the filmic grain, so it never looks plastic...but it certainly is gleaming. Baraka is my runner up. Terrific eye-candy imagery, if you want to show off. I, too, look forward to more releases from the '70s and '80s. Nothing like making an old classic look better than new! __________________ My Collection 2011 2010 2009

03-10-2009, 10:36 AM	#10
_pi_ Peace, bitch Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Iceland Posts: 2,620	Boo hoo, I want a Blu-ray player And a big ass TV. And some movies too. Anyone seen Tarsem's The Fall? The Beaver gave it a stellar A/V review, and since it never got a theatrical release over here I kinda decided I'd only watch it once I got me some Blu-ray equipment. __________________ "Compared to her I'm just some bland, flappy hausfrau." Baby, there ain't nothing good about this goodbye.

03-10-2009, 03:51 PM	#12
Odin Guest Posts: n/a	Dark City (one of my favorite movies), The Shining, Blade Runner, TCM

03-10-2009, 05:04 PM	#13
burieddeep Stalker Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 185	Zulu The Wild Bunch 2001: A Space Odyssey

03-11-2009, 03:37 AM	#14
sgtpeppers Guest Posts: n/a	Doomsday and Serenity

03-11-2009, 04:49 AM	#15
othervoice1 HackMaster Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,386	Run Lola Run looks great Lost Boys surprised me at how great the picture was for an 80's flick The Descent looks amazing to me- perfect horror movie for HD Nightmare Before Christmas looks amazing and I thought Goodfellas was another 80's flick that looked really good and I agree most of the new movies look great but should- its the older ones that are really hit and miss and sometimes I get surprised with how much they can really do with some of those __________________ 'Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love... the clarity of hatred... and the ecstasy of grief.' Angel Passion

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode