The Deer Hunter Universal vs Studio Canal/Momentum

myersfan73 · 03-04-2007, 7:46 PM

Just done a compare of THe Deer Hunter Universal US release against the UK Optimum/Studio Canal version!
The difference between the two is massive & it's the UK release that wins for me!
The dts-MA track on the optimum version at -16db it is awesome, were as the US is very bland & low key in the scenes it should be a lot more powerfull.
The picture on the UK disc is really sharp & very colourfull on the US side I found it very soft & a touch murky!
I suspect Studio Canals Terminator 2 is gonna be awesome!
Is there any places doing comparisons of HD titles yet?

AES256 · 03-04-2007, 8:05 PM

Thanks for that. Amir on the insider thread mentioned that SC take special care and pride in their transfers.
Has the UK release been censored or changed compared to the US release? Are all the violent scenes still intact?

I'm under the impression that the UK censors have changed very recently, but I wouldn't want to risk it as they used to absolutely butcher action movies with even the slightest hint of violence in them; to the point of actually breaking up the continuity of the film (Eraser being a good example).

domtheone · 03-04-2007, 8:24 PM

I wouldn't have thought that the Deer Hunter would be cut. Granted some of the scenes are disturbing but i've never heard of it being cut.

A comparison HD-DVD site would be very usefull indeed as 73 mentioned.

I guess at some stage, one will spring up, that's a certainty. As long as HD-DVD continues.

Geoff_D · 04-04-2007, 12:25 AM

Hmmm. The US transfer is excellent IMO, while the sound is functional at best. I'd be interested in an even better version, but I'm not gonna spring for the UK version without seeing some evidence first...

jsgreen89 · 04-04-2007, 11:02 AM

Hmmm i'm not too concerned about the audio, but another boost in picture quality would be great. The US HD-DVD looks great anyway!

MJeeves · 04-04-2007, 2:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myersfan73

Just done a compare of THe Deer Hunter Universal US release against the UK Optimum/Studio Canal version!
The difference between the two is massive & it's the UK release that wins for me!
The dts-MA track on the optimum version at -16db it is awesome, were as the US is very bland & low key in the scenes it should be a lot more powerfull.
The picture on the UK disc is really sharp & very colourfull on the US side I found it very soft & a touch murky!
I suspect Studio Canals Terminator 2 is gonna be awesome!
Is there any places doing comparisons of HD titles yet?

Cool! Are there any extras on the UK HD-DVD ?

myersfan73 · 04-04-2007, 6:46 PM

No extra's, but best version! Support the UK market & we'll get more releases!

MJeeves · 04-04-2007, 8:27 PM

Thanks 73.

Any reviews or comparisons online yet?

bosque · 04-04-2007, 9:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myersfan73

No extra's, but best version! Support the UK market & we'll get more releases!

I wasn't going to chip in here but having read this follow-up it's clear that myersfan doesn't exactly come across as impartial. Actually, the picture quality of the US version is a clear upgrade on the UK version. The UK version is an adequate transfer of problematic camera work, which was sometimes deliberately smeared, scuffed etc; the US version, however, is much better and sharper and is obviously the master for the Hi-Def disc. I would still recommend getting the UK version as well, so long as you ensure you get the copy with the Michael Cimino commentary which is remarkable.

jsgreen89 · 05-04-2007, 6:40 AM

Hold on, are you still talking about the US HD-DVD vs UK HD-DVD?

Are you saying the US HD-DVD looks better than the UK HD-DVD?

MJeeves · 05-04-2007, 7:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosque

I wasn't going to chip in here but having read this follow-up it's clear that myersfan doesn't exactly come across as impartial. Actually, the picture quality of the US version is a clear upgrade on the UK version. The UK version is an adequate transfer of problematic camera work, which was sometimes deliberately smeared, scuffed etc; the US version, however, is much better and sharper and is obviously the master for the Hi-Def disc. I would still recommend getting the UK version as well, so long as you ensure you get the copy with the Michael Cimino commentary which is remarkable.

Hi Bosque...

Are these the HD-DVD's you are talking about? Thanks

bosque · 05-04-2007, 8:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJeeves

Hi Bosque...

Are these the HD-DVD's you are talking about? Thanks

I'm talking about the SD DVD versions, although I also have the US Hi-Def version. If myersfan is talking about comparing the US and the UK HD-DVD releases, I would be very interested in seeing picture comparisons. Does he own both versions ?

myersfan73 · 05-04-2007, 10:21 AM

Yep! I'm taking about the HD versions! Totally agree that the US SD-DVD release beats all UK releases, but US HD-DVD vs UK HD-DVD is a totally different matter.

MJeeves · 05-04-2007, 10:24 AM

Might be of interest BUT... this is re the SD-DVD releases:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCom...deerhunter.htm

jsgreen89 · 08-04-2007, 5:43 PM

Anyone else got any more info on the US vs UK HD-DVD?

MJeeves · 17-04-2007, 1:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsgreen89

Anyone else got any more info on the US vs UK HD-DVD?

Bump

bosque · 17-04-2007, 5:14 PM

I could be worng but it doesn't look like anyone writes online reviews of UK HD discs. I did see a review of Deer Hunter in one of the UK HiFi magazines - I don't have much regard for these magazines' views on disc quality so I won't repeat it. Be good to hear if someone has the disc and has a view.

**Greg** · 18-04-2007, 4:45 PM

You should find loads of HD reviews at our very own AVPlay.

www.avplay.com

domtheone · 18-04-2007, 10:03 PM

I hope, in time, that AV play will begin to do comparisons between the various regions (when required) if indeed there are differences between some HD-DVD discs.

As HD-DVD has no region coding and we are all free to import whatever disc from where ever, without having to worry about multi region compatibilities, then comparisions (just like they were when DVD took off) will be really usefull

bosque · 19-04-2007, 10:56 AM

I'm going to try and get hold of the Momentum UK release (swap another HD disc for it) and will post here if I can see a significant difference between the US and UK versions.

dannyboy104 · 17-07-2007, 11:48 PM

Any more thoughts on the US vs UK hd-dvd. I have the US hd-dvd and it really looks superb.As others have mentioned the audio is the weaker element.

thanks Dannyboy