Post by CkRtech on Nov 7, 2006 18:00:14 GMT -5
Hey all. Posted this on TNI. Obviously, I am going to post it here too.
---------
Well the new release of our 1986 classic is finally here. Just as various advanced reports on the net have stated, it is absolutely stunning.
Many of you are possible home theater heads like me. I have a fairly decent-sized TV set in my home theater - 57". The original 2000 release of Transformers The Movie on DVD looked absolutely HORRIBLE at times when played back at 27" ...even more so at 57" and beyond.
I almost minored in telecommunications & took quite a few film courses while I was in college.
These two facts about me are partially the reason why I took a few screen captures.
It is worth noting that the original release was done on a single layer, single-sided DVD by the now despised Rhino. Obvious advances in compression technology as well as the fact that Sony put more money into this release than Rhino did helps bring out Transformers The Movie in a way worth bragging about.
Notes
There were two major complaints I personally had about Rhino's release - aside from general nitpicking.
1st - The opening scene has a lot of flashing in it, and this is something that doesn't work well with compression used on DVDs. The Sony release is much better in this area, but not perfect. (It is possible that it will never be perfect with DVD technology)
2nd - The Planet Junk - as depicted in my screen captures - looked like absolute JUNK on the original DVD. I guess they substituted a VHS tape for missing footage.
This was one major thing I was looking forward to seeing on the new DVD. Since I go for original theatrical release & have a widescreen TV, I used the widescreen transfer of the film to compare.
Let's begin. (First shot is Rhino DVD. Second shot is Sony. Images come from PowerDVD & have been resized to maintain proper aspect ratio)
You may notice that while the widescreen release from Sony is loses picture in the top and bottom, it also gains picture on the sides - At least for the Planet Junk scenes starting here:
Didn't notice the line on the right side of the Sony while watching the film. It may have just appeared in the one frame I captured:
Note how each of these screen captures demonstrates a superb improvement in color saturation:
The backgrounds have a lot more detail and help make the shot have the beauty it should:
Did you notice the debris under the cycle while watching the Rhino version? Well...it's there:
Foreground/Background in good contrast:
Quite possibly the worst shot of the entire Rhino disc vs. Sony release:
--------------
The pictures do the talking. I am pretty darn happy with this release, and this has nothing to do with the extras - which are also nice - but rather with the film itself. Make no mistake about it, this was the pinnacle component of animation from the Generation One era. No low budget, quickly drawn filler background, etc...like the TV series had. Sure there may have been animation mistakes in the film, but the great artwork is undeniable.
I suggest picking up the disc if you haven't already.
---------
Well the new release of our 1986 classic is finally here. Just as various advanced reports on the net have stated, it is absolutely stunning.
Many of you are possible home theater heads like me. I have a fairly decent-sized TV set in my home theater - 57". The original 2000 release of Transformers The Movie on DVD looked absolutely HORRIBLE at times when played back at 27" ...even more so at 57" and beyond.
I almost minored in telecommunications & took quite a few film courses while I was in college.
These two facts about me are partially the reason why I took a few screen captures.
It is worth noting that the original release was done on a single layer, single-sided DVD by the now despised Rhino. Obvious advances in compression technology as well as the fact that Sony put more money into this release than Rhino did helps bring out Transformers The Movie in a way worth bragging about.
Notes
There were two major complaints I personally had about Rhino's release - aside from general nitpicking.
1st - The opening scene has a lot of flashing in it, and this is something that doesn't work well with compression used on DVDs. The Sony release is much better in this area, but not perfect. (It is possible that it will never be perfect with DVD technology)
2nd - The Planet Junk - as depicted in my screen captures - looked like absolute JUNK on the original DVD. I guess they substituted a VHS tape for missing footage.
This was one major thing I was looking forward to seeing on the new DVD. Since I go for original theatrical release & have a widescreen TV, I used the widescreen transfer of the film to compare.
Let's begin. (First shot is Rhino DVD. Second shot is Sony. Images come from PowerDVD & have been resized to maintain proper aspect ratio)
You may notice that while the widescreen release from Sony is loses picture in the top and bottom, it also gains picture on the sides - At least for the Planet Junk scenes starting here:
Didn't notice the line on the right side of the Sony while watching the film. It may have just appeared in the one frame I captured:
Note how each of these screen captures demonstrates a superb improvement in color saturation:
The backgrounds have a lot more detail and help make the shot have the beauty it should:
Did you notice the debris under the cycle while watching the Rhino version? Well...it's there:
Foreground/Background in good contrast:
Quite possibly the worst shot of the entire Rhino disc vs. Sony release:
--------------
The pictures do the talking. I am pretty darn happy with this release, and this has nothing to do with the extras - which are also nice - but rather with the film itself. Make no mistake about it, this was the pinnacle component of animation from the Generation One era. No low budget, quickly drawn filler background, etc...like the TV series had. Sure there may have been animation mistakes in the film, but the great artwork is undeniable.
I suggest picking up the disc if you haven't already.