Old Films Re-Born on HD DVD

Red-VIII · 12-11-2007, 9:27 PM

Hi guys, after seeing how great an 1968 movie in 2001 a space odyssey can look on HD DVD i am now thinking that there might be some other clasic Old Movie releases that have been re-born on HD DVD.

So the purpose of this thread is for other recommendations of great older movies that you think have been re-born on HD DVD.

AES256 · 12-11-2007, 9:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red-VIII

Hi guys, after seeing how great an 1968 movie in 2001 a space odyssey can look on HD DVD i am now thinking that there might be some other clasic Old Movie releases that have been re-born on HD DVD.

So the purpose of this thread is for other recommendations of great older movies that you think have been re-born on HD DVD.

Several older threads on this topic already, but nothing recent comes to mind, so...

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) stunning PQ with vivid colours for this 1938 classic!
Casablanca (1942) reference disc
The Searchers (1956) reference disc and the HD DVD that convinced me that HD was the only way to go for me!!!
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Rio Bravo (1959) not as good looking as Searchers but by far the best it's ever looked
Spartacus (1960) not the best, but very good nonetheless
Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) stunningly vivid colours, somewhat soft in certain scenes, which apparently is more visible on large 11 foot PJ screens than on more "normally" sized TV screens
Viva Las Vegas (1964) Elvis has never looked so good
Battle of the Bulge (1965)
Grand Prix (1966) reference disc
Bullitt (1968) the best it's ever looked at home
2001 (1968) already mentioned by the OP
The Wild Bunch (1969) Peckinpah's never looked so good!

domtheone · 12-11-2007, 9:50 PM

A few threads on this subject I think.

Not seen any of these but they come recommended.

Casablanca
Robin Hood (1938 or something)
Grand Prix (have but not watched)
The Searchers

edit: beaten to it

AES256 · 12-11-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by domtheone

Not seen any of these but they come recommended.

Casablanca
Robin Hood (1938 or something)
Grand Prix (have but not watched)
The Searchers

These 4 HD DVDs are indeed probably the choice discs from the list above.
If you want to see what (35mm and 70mm) film can look like in all its glory, give these a go. You won't be disappointed!

GenVinyardTD · 12-11-2007, 11:42 PM

had my new HD copy of A Clockwork Orange delivered today from the states, very impressed with this release.
seen this film countless times when I was growing up so it was good to go back to it and really see the difference.
Im comparing against my R1 dvd.

Rom · 13-11-2007, 1:31 AM

I have both the Std R1 DVD and Collectors Edition HD DVD of Forbidden Planet. The difference is night & day. Warner did a great job with this film and it is the best it has ever looked. The scenery looks even more fake/painted...but that is part of the charm. Sharpness and colours excel. A classic sci-fi movie that set the trend and raised the bar in sci-fi (imo).

Kevo · 13-11-2007, 10:25 AM

What also makes some of these old films stand out is the Technicolor process from the 50s and 60s (the over use of colours) and the absence of any cgi or post production computer lighting 'enhancements'.

chrishull3 · 13-11-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AES256

Several older threads on this topic already, but nothing recent comes to mind, so...

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) stunning PQ with vivid colours for this 1938 classic!
Casablanca (1942) reference disc
The Searchers (1956) reference disc and the HD DVD that convinced me that HD was the only way to go for me!!!
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Rio Bravo (1959) not as good looking as Searchers but by far the best it's ever looked
Spartacus (1960) not the best, but very good nonetheless
Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) stunningly vivid colours, somewhat soft in certain scenes, which apparently is more visible on large 11 foot PJ screens than on more "normally" sized TV screens
Viva Las Vegas (1964) Elvis has never looked so good
Battle of the Bulge (1965)
Grand Prix (1966) reference disc
Bullitt (1968) the best it's ever looked at home
2001 (1968) already mentioned by the OP
The Wild Bunch (1969) Peckinpah's never looked so good!

why do think some are in better condition than others could it be the origional film spool negatives were better than others ,or some last better but as the adventures of robin hood is one of the better ones that can not be the answer there.

Kevo · 13-11-2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishull3

why do think some are in better condition than others could it be the origional film spool negatives were better than others ,or some last better but as the adventures of robin hood is one of the better ones that can not be the answer there.

A lot of the older classics have been digitally restored, but not all.

Robin Hood, Casablanca, Oz, Lawrence of Arabia, Beh Hur, Singin in the Rain to neame but a few have had major restoration work done on them in the past.

Pecker · 13-11-2007, 11:28 AM

Hitchcock's Vertigo is a cause célèbre in restoration circles - and also a cause of much argument, though more to do with the new sound mix than the picture.

Unfortunately it was a relatively early digital restoration - coming out first in the 'later LaserDisc' period, then on DVD.

Unfortunately the UD DVD was non-anamorphic. A later UK release was anamorphic, but this was taken from the same non-anamorphic master as the US release.

This really is a must for a high def release. It is one of the greatest films ever made, the colours are gorgeous, and it's a real jewel in Universal's crown.

I don't care how few people would buy it - it's a worthy release just to bring Universal a lot of Kudos.

Steve W

pRot3us · 13-11-2007, 4:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pecker

Hitchcock's Vertigo is a cause célèbre in restoration circles - and also a cause of much argument, though more to do with the new sound mix than the picture.

Unfortunately it was a relatively early digital restoration - coming out first in the 'later LaserDisc' period, then on DVD.

Unfortunately the UD DVD was non-anamorphic. A later UK release was anamorphic, but this was taken from the same non-anamorphic master as the US release.

This really is a must for a high def release. It is one of the greatest films ever made, the colours are gorgeous, and it's a real jewel in Universal's crown.

I don't care how few people would buy it - it's a worthy release just to bring Universal a lot of Kudos.

Steve W

They must release this, also North by Northwest (did I read that this is coming at some point?)

bosque · 13-11-2007, 5:15 PM

If The Shining is considered an old movie - and at 27 years I suppose it could be - in its new hi-def release it looks amazing, like a fresh print with gorgeous skin colours. The only thing I'm not keen on about this release is that, in using the longer US cut we get the blue skeletons in the ballroom scene at the end , which don't appear on the shorter UK cut. This movie doesn't need them and it looks like a "wrong" choice which Kubrick appears to have "corrected" for the UK version.