Writings > DVD Image Comparisons > Unleashed (SD vs. HD)

Unleashed

Region 0 HD DVD/Region 1 DVD combo (USA) - Universal
DVD side vs. HD DVD side

Details

Bit Rate

R1 USA

Screen Captures

Example 1

Full frame:

Mouse over to switch between versions:
DVD | HD DVD

(720x720 crop - HD DVD actual size/DVD upscaled to 1920x1080)

Example 2

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DVD | HD DVD

(720x720 crop - HD DVD actual size/DVD upscaled to 1920x1080)

Example 3

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DVD | HD DVD

(720x720 crop - HD DVD actual size/DVD upscaled to 1920x1080)

Example 4

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DVD | HD DVD

(720x720 crop - HD DVD actual size/DVD upscaled to 1920x1080)

Example 5

Full frame:

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DVD | HD DVD

(720x720 crop - HD DVD actual size/DVD upscaled to 1920x1080)

Example 6

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DVD | HD DVD

(720x720 crop - HD DVD actual size/DVD upscaled to 1920x1080)

Example 7

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(720x720 crop - HD DVD actual size/DVD upscaled to 1920x1080)

Comments

For my first ever standard definition to high definition comparison, I've chosen a film that has received a fairly middle of the road HD transfer while still constituting a considerable improvement over its DVD counterpart. Unleashed is an interesting title, since it is a combo release with both versions contained on the same disc, and both, it would appear, minted from the same master. This allows us to accurately examine the improvements offered by HD DVD without wondering whether they can be attributed to differences in source materials. (The differences in colour balance, I believe, are due to the more accurate reproduction of the colour spectrum offered by HD.)

One thing that should be readily apparent is the dramatic reduction in compression artefacts. Look at the mountains of mosquito noise around the lettering in Example 1, or the horrible macro-blocking to the left of Kerry Condon's head in Example 5. On the HD DVD version, these are gone. Also, compare fine details such as the raindrops on the car window in Example 3 and the fibres of Morgan Freeman's coat in Example 4. On the DVD, these are represented as random clumping, a combination of the compression and the low resolution. On the HD DVD, it's as if a veil has been lifted, as details that were previously non-existent suddenly leap out. The HD DVD version appears to have been slightly filtered, removing a layer of fine detail, but it's unclear whether this was done at the encoding stage or was present in the original master.

Suffice to say, the HD DVD constitutes a massive improvement on its standard definition counterpart. If you can play the HD DVD, there's really no reason to hold on to the old standalone DVD.