The Deer Hunter Universal vs Studio Canal/Momentum

[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?

[AES256]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[MJeeves]

Thanks 73.

Any reviews or comparisons online yet?

[bosque]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

[jsgreen89]

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