What is good in HD, and What should we stay away from?

kbaker2002de · 11-05-2007, 11:29 AM

Question to the long time HD DVD crowd. As this crowd has grown in leaps and bounds in the past two weeks, we new to the A2 could use some recommendations on what titles to purchase, as well as which ones are not worthy of the Red Box. From everthing I have read, not all HD titles are created equal so your experience would help all of us out a lot.

Thanks in advance.

Bravestime · 11-05-2007, 02:24 PM

Here is a site that rates movies and can give you a good start:
http://www.hidefpreview.com/index.html

Couple I like:

King Kong
Batman Begins
300
Transformers

(oh yeah,,,this thread may be better suited under: High Definition DVDs (Blu-Ray, HD DVD). This forum is for actual reviews of movies)

Enjoy your movies!

LazerGuided · 11-05-2007, 02:50 PM

I will tell you that Planet Earth in HD DVD is wonderful. I mean it is absolutely gorgeous. Not everyone is into the nature scene stuff, but this is a highly recommended HD DVD to purchase. Wal-Mart sells it for like $65 for the complete four disc set which is a lot less then what other places sell it for.

I saw this on my SDTV awhile back when it was on Discovery and it looked amazing. Now I have purchased the HD-A2 and this is my first HD DVD and man does it look awesome! Get this HD DVD you will love it.

dea21 · 11-12-2007, 08:56 AM

stay away from Harsh Times!!!!! Bad pic quality!!!

RedSIinPA · 11-12-2007, 01:46 PM

go here and research movies before you drop the $20-$30 on a disc. some people apparently don't DO that and then cry about it afterward.

caliber const. · 11-13-2007, 08:06 PM

Definatly get Transformers, awesome picture and sound and is a great movie. Wyatt earp is good just watched that recently.Mission impossible 3 is good too.

hdridge · 11-18-2007, 06:34 AM

Serenity is awesome. If your into SciFi.

Noct · 11-20-2007, 03:05 PM

Apart from the titles already mentioned, I think the stuff that impressed me the most visually were the cleaned up older titles that I had already seen a ton on SD.
Things like:
Shaun of the Dead
The Matrix
Superman 2
The Last Starfighter

Outside of those, Hot Fuzz looked outstanding (and is a great film if you havent seen it), and the Dawn of the Dead (remake) has fantastic sound.
If you like zombie movies in general the Land of the Dead HD is a huge improvement over the SD in terms of quality and extras. 9(Some people will argue over the quality of the movie itself, but I love Romero movies so it's a must have for me)

The NIN concert looks and sounds outstanding if (you're into thair music of course.)

Bleedgreen71 · 11-20-2007, 03:09 PM

I was very happy with the PQ on:

Casino
Blades of Glory
Evan Almighty
Borne Identity

~ MallRats was alright but not great and 300 looked good if you deal with the fact that it was made intentionally grainy.

I let you know about the Ocean's and Goodfellas when they arrive.

anythingwt · 11-20-2007, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleedgreen71

I let you know about the Ocean's and Goodfellas when they arrive.

I felt Goodfellas was great, better than it has ever looked.

I actually haven't watched any HD DVDs yet that I was disgusted with. Plenty that didn't give the pop and color of some of the best, but every HD DVD I've viewed so far I think has been an upgrade over the SD version.

Chris Gerhard · 11-20-2007, 03:40 PM

I believe "Goodfellas" is the worst HD disc, in terms of picture quality, I have seen. This is not to say it is bad really, just that everything else I have seen is better. The movie is excellent.

Chris

**PFC5** · 11-20-2007, 04:50 PM

I agree that Goodfellas is an EXCELLENT movie. It IS the best it has ever looked on home media but not the best PQ out there. It is good, but no where near great PQ.

Sometimes you get movies because of the content of the movie more than just the PQ/SQ too. At least I do which is WHY I own Casino & Goodfellas.

RedSIinPA · 11-21-2007, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Gerhard

I believe "Goodfellas" is the worst HD disc, in terms of picture quality, I have seen. This is not to say it is bad really, just that everything else I have seen is better. The movie is excellent.

Chris

That's not an opinion I hear often - I agree with others that I thought it never looked better.

Chris Gerhard · 11-21-2007, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSIinPA

That's not an opinion I hear often - I agree with others that I thought it never looked better.

Exactly how is that different than the opinion I stated? I only stated it is not good compared to all other HD discs I have seen, not that it is not better than any other version of the movie itself I have seen. I have seen the DVD, and the HD DVD is better. If someone wants reference quality HD on disc, this HD DVD isn't anywhere near that list.

Chris

SLedford · 11-21-2007, 10:51 AM

I am going to quickly go through the HD-DVDs I have and give you a "high", "medium", "low" as far as PQ. Sound is pretty good on all of these. The H-M-L is compared to other HD-DVDs, not the SD-DVD or VHS picture.

Shrek the Third - high
Sahara - high
The Mummy & The Mummy Returns - high
Forbidden Planet - low
Backdraft - medium
Last Samurai - high
Planet Earth - high. Awesome set.
Transformers - high
Top Gun - medium
Next - high
Elizabeth - high
Seabiscuit - high
Blazing Saddles - medium
Shooter - high
Letters from Iwo Jima - high. Very good movie.
We Were Soldiers - high
Flags of our Fathers - high
Tomb Raider - high.
Spartacus - medium
The Dirty Dozen - low
Dune - high
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - medium. Thought this was the cartoon version or wouldn't have purchased.
The Bourne Supremacy - high
Miami Vice - high
Aeon Flux - high
Chronicles of Riddick - high
Casablanca - high, but in black & white.
Sky Captain and the World of Tommorrow - high/medium
The Matrix trillogy - high.

Hope this helps. There really isn't a "bad" picture. What I think really stands out is the sound - a big improvement over SD-DVDs.

11-05-2007, 11:29 AM	#1
kbaker2002de Even HD can be Reasonable Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bear, DE Posts: 643	What is good in HD, and What should we stay away from? Question to the long time HD DVD crowd. As this crowd has grown in leaps and bounds in the past two weeks, we new to the A2 could use some recommendations on what titles to purchase, as well as which ones are not worthy of the Red Box. From everthing I have read, not all HD titles are created equal so your experience would help all of us out a lot. Thanks in advance. __________________ Vizio GV42L Toshiba HD-A2 Motorla 6412 Harmony 676 Remote Nintendo Wii Games Beaten in 2010: Muramasa: The Demon Blade No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle World of Goo Currently Playing: Super Mario Galaxy Mega Man 2 Mega Man 10 Tales of Monkey Island 3 2010 Games Targeting: Red Steel 2 Mega Man 9 & 10 Tales of Monkey Island 4 & 5 Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People 3, 4 & 5 Metroid: Other M Super Mario Galaxy 2

11-05-2007, 02:24 PM	#2
Bravestime Supporter of HiDef Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Aiken, SC Age: 53 Posts: 4,478	Here is a site that rates movies and can give you a good start: http://www.hidefpreview.com/index.html Couple I like: King Kong Batman Begins 300 Transformers (oh yeah,,,this thread may be better suited under: High Definition DVDs (Blu-Ray, HD DVD). This forum is for actual reviews of movies) Enjoy your movies! __________________ Life is Short, Watch a Movie

11-13-2007, 08:06 PM	#6
caliber const. waylin rules Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 32	Definatly get Transformers, awesome picture and sound and is a great movie. Wyatt earp is good just watched that recently.Mission impossible 3 is good too. __________________ 50"hitachi lcd denon dvd-557 (up conversion) toshiba hd a-2 yamaha rxv-1400 front L/R polk R-300 center polk cs1 surrounds 4 polk R-150 10" klh sub

11-18-2007, 06:34 AM	#7
hdridge High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 319	Serenity is awesome. If your into SciFi. __________________ Toshiba HD-A1SN XBOX 360 HD DVD Add-On Pioneer Pro-520HD, Outlaw 1050 Receiver Paradigm Reference 60 Surround Samsung HL-S6187W , Denon 3808 FiOS HD DVR Logitech Harmony 880 Universial Remote Toshiba XA2 Paradigm Millenia 200's Russound Whole House Audio Toshiba HD-A35 - fire sale spare deck PS3

11-20-2007, 03:09 PM	#9
Bleedgreen71 HD Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Virginia Age: 27 Posts: 1,151	I was very happy with the PQ on: Casino Blades of Glory Evan Almighty Borne Identity ~ MallRats was alright but not great and 300 looked good if you deal with the fact that it was made intentionally grainy. I let you know about the Ocean's and Goodfellas when they arrive. __________________ Equipment: - 42" Toshiba 42HM66 DLP - Toshiba HD-A3 (43 HD-DVD) - Xbox-360 (live tag: BleedGreen71) - No sound equip for a while since im still in an apt.

11-05-2007, 02:50 PM	#3
LazerGuided HD world here I am!!! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 469	I will tell you that Planet Earth in HD DVD is wonderful. I mean it is absolutely gorgeous. Not everyone is into the nature scene stuff, but this is a highly recommended HD DVD to purchase. Wal-Mart sells it for like $65 for the complete four disc set which is a lot less then what other places sell it for. I saw this on my SDTV awhile back when it was on Discovery and it looked amazing. Now I have purchased the HD-A2 and this is my first HD DVD and man does it look awesome! Get this HD DVD you will love it.

11-12-2007, 08:56 AM	#4
dea21 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 39	stay away from Harsh Times!!!!! Bad pic quality!!!

11-12-2007, 01:46 PM	#5
RedSIinPA hd junkie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Outside Phila. Age: 31 Posts: 899	go here and research movies before you drop the $20-$30 on a disc. some people apparently don't DO that and then cry about it afterward.

11-20-2007, 03:05 PM	#8
Noct Toys in the attic... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NY Posts: 392	Apart from the titles already mentioned, I think the stuff that impressed me the most visually were the cleaned up older titles that I had already seen a ton on SD. Things like: Shaun of the Dead The Matrix Superman 2 The Last Starfighter Outside of those, Hot Fuzz looked outstanding (and is a great film if you havent seen it), and the Dawn of the Dead (remake) has fantastic sound. If you like zombie movies in general the Land of the Dead HD is a huge improvement over the SD in terms of quality and extras. 9(Some people will argue over the quality of the movie itself, but I love Romero movies so it's a must have for me) The NIN concert looks and sounds outstanding if (you're into thair music of course.)

11-20-2007, 03:40 PM	#11
Chris Gerhard High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,979	I believe "Goodfellas" is the worst HD disc, in terms of picture quality, I have seen. This is not to say it is bad really, just that everything else I have seen is better. The movie is excellent. Chris

11-20-2007, 04:50 PM	#12
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 31,317	I agree that Goodfellas is an EXCELLENT movie. It IS the best it has ever looked on home media but not the best PQ out there. It is good, but no where near great PQ. Sometimes you get movies because of the content of the movie more than just the PQ/SQ too. At least I do which is WHY I own Casino & Goodfellas. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier PSN: PFC5

11-21-2007, 10:51 AM	#15
SLedford HD Fan Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 1,023	My collection rated for you I am going to quickly go through the HD-DVDs I have and give you a "high", "medium", "low" as far as PQ. Sound is pretty good on all of these. The H-M-L is compared to other HD-DVDs, not the SD-DVD or VHS picture. Shrek the Third - high Sahara - high The Mummy & The Mummy Returns - high Forbidden Planet - low Backdraft - medium Last Samurai - high Planet Earth - high. Awesome set. Transformers - high Top Gun - medium Next - high Elizabeth - high Seabiscuit - high Blazing Saddles - medium Shooter - high Letters from Iwo Jima - high. Very good movie. We Were Soldiers - high Flags of our Fathers - high Tomb Raider - high. Spartacus - medium The Dirty Dozen - low Dune - high How the Grinch Stole Christmas - medium. Thought this was the cartoon version or wouldn't have purchased. The Bourne Supremacy - high Miami Vice - high Aeon Flux - high Chronicles of Riddick - high Casablanca - high, but in black & white. Sky Captain and the World of Tommorrow - high/medium The Matrix trillogy - high. Hope this helps. There really isn't a "bad" picture. What I think really stands out is the sound - a big improvement over SD-DVDs. __________________ Toshiba 57H83 television, Paradigm Monitor 5 front speakers, Paradigm CC370 center speaker, Paradigm Mini Monitor surround speakers, Sony subwoofer, Yamaha HRT-5590 receiver, Denon DVD-2800 II, Toshiba HD-DVD A2, Play Station 3 - 40 Gig, Comcast HD Cable

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