|
|
HD Image Quality Rankings
A semi-comprehensive breakdown of all the high definition movie releases I have seen, ranking each transfer out of 10 and listing them in rough order of quality.
Writings
|
Writings > HD Image Quality Rankings
Introduction
When I first jumped aboard the high definition bandwagon back in the summer of 2006, I immediately began to notice major discrepancies between the ratings being awarded to the image quality of HD DVD and Blu-ray releases on major review sites, and what I was seeing with my own eyes. As with standard definition DVD, I quickly lost track of the number of times a reviewer would praise a transfer to the heavens, only for me to discover that it was in fact blurry, filtered and/or edge enhanced, or for them to utterly trash (or at the very least remain indifferent to) discs that turn out to feature smooth, natural, film-like image quality. Broadly speaking, there seems to be a lack of understanding among reviewers, even so-called professional ones, of what constitutes a filmic "look" and how to accurately describe the various strengths and weaknesses on display in a transfer. I thought, and still think, that reviews such as these can potentially cause damage to the format (a distributor, for example, might see that a filtered and/or edge enhanced title is receiving rave reviews and therefore mandate that all transfers have the same work done on them) and bring the profession into disrepute (by appearing ignorant).
Therefore, I made up my mind to add my own voice, wherever possible, and "call it as I see it". Initially, reviewing every disc that landed on my doormat wasn't too much of a tall order, but, as I ended up buying or otherwise receiving more and more discs, this became increasingly difficult until, fairly quickly, I realised that it would be impossible to write in detail about every single HD DVD and Blu-ray disc I'd seen. This is why I decided to create the HD Image Quality Rankings chart.
A few preliminary notes about my review criteria. Above all else, I favour a film-like appearance that is faithful to the source materials. That may be an extremely rough, grainy image (in the case of the 16mm-sourced scenes in Babel) or one that is completely grain-free (as in the digitally-sourced Ratatouille). The next most important criterion for me is detail - and by that I mean real detail, not artificially induced sharpness. A brilliantly detailed, pin-sharp image with some compression artefacts (e.g. Sony's Blu-ray release of Silent Hill) will impress me infinitely more than one that is artefact-free but filtered and lacking in detail (e.g. Batman Begins). There is always going to be some level of personal preference involved, and the inherent limitations of the source materials may sometimes prevent a transfer that is in actual fact transparent to the master from gaining top marks (Crank, for example, features excessive edge enhancement that was intentionally added by its filmmakers, but nets a 4 out of 10 rating due to its ugly appearance, and giving it the same rank as Casino Royale would therefore be simply ludicrous).
It's also important to note that, while the chart was originally intended as a linear ranking system, with each title listed in descending order featuring a weaker transfer than the one above it, things are no longer so clear cut. In the early days, with only a dozen or so titles in the list, this was quite feasible, but nowadays, with over 100, the waters have become much muddier, to the extent that, within each ranking tier ("10", "9", etc...), the actual ordering is somewhat more arbitrary. Broadly speaking, my aim is to ensure that the titles at the top of each tier are better-looking than those at the bottom (The
Supremacy is assuredly a better "9" than The Last Samurai, for example), but, in less extreme cases, it becomes a lot more nebulous (is The Bourne Supremacy really better-looking than Miami Vice, or are they both comparable in quality within the limits of their decidedly different visual styles). This is particularly relevant when you consider that different transfers may suffer from a variety of different flaws, making it difficult to judge relative quality. For example, are DVNR artefacts and lack of definition in Basic Instinct worse than the ringing in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas? How do you measure one against the other?
Finally, I must stress that, while I do happen to think that my opinion is closer to the truth than that of many reviewers out there (well, I would, wouldn't I?), ultimately that's all it is: an opinion. There can be no substitute for seeing with your own eyes and making up your own mind. If you think the 480i upconverted Traffic looks great on your system, then bully for you. I certainly am not about to tell you what to enjoy and what not to, but the list below is, in my opinion, the closest thing there is to a genuine critical appraisal of the relative qualities of the various HD transfers out there.
PS. A transfer achieves an automatic "0" if it looks no better than a standard definition transfer (e.g. the upconverted Traffic).
Latest changes
September 5th, 2008 - Added The Life Before Her Eyes from Magnolia (USA), along with screenshots. 9/10
September 2nd, 2008 - Added Memento from Sony Pictures (USA). 7/10
September 1st, 2008 - Added The Nightmare Before Christmas from Buena Vista (USA), along with screenshots. 7/10
August 24th, 2008 - Added screenshots for Transformers from Paramount (USA). 9.5/10
August 24th, 2008 - Added screenshots for Mr. Bean's Holiday from Universal (UK). 9/10
August 24th, 2008 - Added screenshots for The Skeleton Key from Universal (USA). 8/10
August 23rd, 2008 - Added I, Robot from 20th Century Fox (USA), along with screenshots. 9.5/10
August 22nd, 2008 - Added Doomsday from Universal (USA), along with screenshots. 9.5/10
August 16th, 2008 - Added Escape from New York from Optimum (UK), along with screenshots. 0/10
August 14th, 2008 - Added 28 Weeks Later from 20th Century Fox (USA), along with screenshots. 9/10
August 1st, 2008 - Added Dark City from New Line (USA). 5/10
July 29th, 2008 - Added screenshots for Babel from Paramount (USA). 9/10
July 29th, 2008 - Added Gangs of New York from Buena Vista (USA), along with screenshots. 2/10
July 25th, 2008 - Added The Manchurian Candidate from Paramount (UK). 7/10
July 25th, 2008 - Added Persepolis from Sony Pictures (USA). 9/10
June 30th, 2008 - Added Strictly Ballroom from ITV (UK), along with screenshots. 4/10
Note: changes prior to June 30th, 2008 are not listed.
The Rankings
|
Rating
|
Title
|
Studio
|
Country (*)
|
Format (¥)
|
Codec
|
Screenshots
|
Review
|
|
|
| 10 |
Open Season |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Ratatouille |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Inside Man |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Resident Evil: Extinction |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
The Bourne Ultimatum |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Casino Royale |
Sony Pictures |
Finland |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Enchanted |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
yes |
|
| |
Hot Fuzz |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Descent |
Lions Gate |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 9.5 |
Silent Hill |
Concorde |
Germany |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Spider-man 3 |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
King Kong (2005) |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Doomsday |
Universal |
USA |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Across the Universe |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
I, Robot |
20th Century Fox |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
Cars |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Black Snake Moan |
Paramount |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
Aeon Flux |
Paramount |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Blade Runner (Final Cut) |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Zodiac |
Paramount |
USA |
HD DVD |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
Running Scared |
EMS |
Germany |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Mission Impossible III |
Paramount |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Transformers |
Paramount |
USA |
HD DVD |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
300 |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Serenity |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
Warner |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
Norbit |
Paramount |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Looney Tunes: Katnip Kollege (§) |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Blades of Glory |
Paramount |
UK |
HD DVD |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Dreamgirls |
Paramount |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Les Triplettes de Belleville |
Warner |
France |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Babel |
Paramount |
USA |
HD DVD |
AVC |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Gone Baby Gone |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Miami Vice |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
The Bourne Supremacy |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
Juno |
20th Century Fox |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Underworld |
Concorde |
Germany |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
Black Book |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Black Book |
Tartan |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Corpse Bride |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 9 |
Resident Evil: Apocalypse |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
The Life Before Her Eyes |
Magnolia |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
Kingdom of Heaven |
20th Century Fox |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
Yes |
|
| |
Persepolis |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
The Kingdom |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Looney Tunes: Rabbit Hood (§) |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Smoking' Aces |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Layer Cake |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
The Brave One |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
The Reaping |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
TMNT |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Happy Feet |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Reign Over Me |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
A Scanner Darkly |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Eastern Promises |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Mr. Bean's Holiday |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Children of Men |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
28 Weeks Later |
20th Century Fox |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
The Shining |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 8 |
Silent Hill |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
Yes |
| |
The Rock |
Buena Vista |
France |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Flightplan |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Pearl Harbor |
Buena Vista |
UK |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
Looney Tunes: Robin Hood Daffy (§) |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
The Last Samurai |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Letters from Iwo Jima |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Flags of Our Fathers |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Constantine |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
Million Dollar Baby |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
La Môme (La Vie en Rose) |
TF1 |
France |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
Astérix et les Vikings |
Warner |
France |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
The Island |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Atonement |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Run Lola Run |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
Seed of Chucky |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Dawn of the Dead (2004) |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
Stardust |
Paramount |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Blood Diamond |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Adventures of Robin Hood |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Wolf Creek |
Weinstein |
USA |
HD DVD |
AVC |
|
Yes |
| |
Unleashed |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
The Orphanage |
New Line |
USA |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Red Dragon |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
The Bourne Identity |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Full Metal Jacket (remastered) |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Casblanca |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Volver |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
Yes |
|
| |
Ghost Rider |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Mulholland Drive |
Studio Canal |
France |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Starship Troopers |
Buena Vista |
UK |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
2001: A Space Odyssey |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow |
Paramount |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Skeleton Key |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Land of the Dead |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Machinist |
Toshiba |
Japan |
HD DVD |
AVC |
|
Yes |
| |
Pan's Labyrinth |
Optimum |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Bonnie and Clyde |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 7 |
The Golden Compass |
New Line |
USA |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Poseidon |
Warner |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Hulk |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Matrix |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Swordfish |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Matrix Revolutions |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Matrix Reloaded |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Devil's Rejects |
Lions Gate |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
Yes |
|
| |
Syriana |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Simpsons Movie |
20th Century Fox |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
V for Vendetta |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
Sleepy Hollow |
Paramount |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Nightmare Before Christmas |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
The Manchurian Candidate |
Paramount |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
2 Fast 2 Furious |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Mummy |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Van Helsing |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Tideland |
Concorde |
Germany |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Lives of Others |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Danny the Dog |
Sony Pictures |
Japan |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
All the Boys Love Mandy Lane |
Optimum |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
Yes |
| |
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
The Fifth Element (remastered) |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory |
Warner |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
The Fly |
20th Century Fox |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
The Thing |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Arlington Road |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
House of 1000 Corpses |
Lions Gate |
USA |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
King Arthur |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Memento |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
The Exorcism of Emily Rose |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
Tears of the Sun |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
Mrs. Doubtfire |
20th Century Fox |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Phone Booth |
20th Century Fox |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
Edward Scissorhands |
20th Century Fox |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer |
Constantin Film |
Germany |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Black Rain |
Paramount |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Pianist |
Studio Canal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Paprika |
Sony Pictures |
France |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
Oldboy |
Tartan |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
Yes |
| |
Chicago |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Mission Impossible |
Paramount |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Deer Hunter |
Studio Canal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
King Kong (1976) |
Studio Canal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
A Clockwork Orange |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Fantastic Four |
20th Century Fox |
UK |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
Yes |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 6 |
Wolf Creek |
Optimum |
UK |
HD DVD |
MPEG-2 |
|
Yes |
| |
The Game |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Almost Famous: Extended Edition |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Resident Evil |
Sony Pictures |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Superman Returns |
Warner |
UK |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Fountain |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
Eyes Wide Shut |
Warner |
USA |
Blu-ray/HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Mummy Returns |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Batman Begins |
Warner |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Enemy of the State |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
Yes |
| |
Halloween (1978) |
Anchor Bay |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Hostel |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
Life of Brian |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 5 |
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider |
Paramount |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
Lost in Translation |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Brokeback Mountain |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
Yes |
| |
Mission Impossible II |
Paramount |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
An American Werewolf in London |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
Yes |
| |
Troy |
Warner |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Being John Malkovich |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Basic Instinct |
Studio Canal |
France |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
District B13 |
Magnolia |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4 |
Crank |
Lions Gate |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
Yes |
|
| |
Day of the Dead |
Anchor Bay |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Dawn of the Dead (1978) |
Anchor Bay |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Black Hawk Down |
Sony Pictures |
UK |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
|
| |
Brotherhood of the Wolf |
Studio Canal |
France |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Strictly Ballroom |
ITV |
UK |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
La Haine |
Studio Canal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Dark City |
New Line |
USA |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
American Psycho |
Lions Gate |
USA |
Blu-ray |
MPEG-2 |
|
Yes |
| |
Cat People |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2 |
Spartacus |
Universal |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
The Fugitive |
Warner |
UK |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
|
|
| |
Gangs of New York |
Buena Vista |
USA |
Blu-ray |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
The Night of the Werewolf |
BCI |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 0 |
Vengeance of the Zombies (non OAR) |
BCI |
USA |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
|
|
| |
Traffic (standard definition upconvert) |
Universal |
USA |
HD DVD |
VC-1 |
Yes |
|
| |
Escape from New York (standard definition upconvert) |
Optimum |
UK |
Blu-ray |
AVC |
Yes |
|
(*) - The country in which the version I viewed was released. Broadly speaking, the same encode appears to be used in all territories for which the rights are held by the same distributor (so, for example, I viewed the UK release of Open Season, but the US release more than likely looks identical). There are probably exceptions, though, so to save confusion I have made it clear which version I have watched.
(¥) - If a title is available on both formats and is known to feature the same encode, I have listed both despite, in most cases, only having watched one or the other. Sometimes, a different encode is used for each format (see Paramount's early releases, where the HD DVD versions were VC-1 but the Blu-ray versions were MPEG-2). If I am unsure, I have erred on the side of caution and only listed the version I have personally seen.
(§) - Included on the HD DVD release of The Adventures of Robin Hood.
List compiled with the assistance of David Mackenzie.
Other Questions
The compression artefacts in title X bother me much more than the edge enhancement in title Y. Therefore, title Y should be ranked above title X. I'd disagree with you, but that's your prerogative and mine. Everyone has a different set of viewing criteria: mine is that compression artefacts, while still troubling, are generally less of an eyesore than edge enhancement, filtering and noise reduction artefacts. Once again, I must reiterate that there is no substitute for watching a disc for yourself and making up your own mind about its transfer.
Have you really watched all the films listed here from beginning to end? Broadly speaking, yes. I get a lot of discs through Amazon UK's rental service, and sometimes I don't have the time or inclination to watch them in their entirety. These are the exception rather than the rule, however, and, if a title looks as if it will be polemical, I always make a point of watching it from beginning to end before adding it to the list. In most cases, though, I can generally tell how a transfer is going to rank within a few minutes of viewing.
Why isn't title X in this list? I can't rate what I haven't seen, and, while I do try to view as many HD releases as I can, there's only so much I can do. If you have a title that you feel ought to be included in the list, and are willing to pay for it to be shipped to me, feel free to email me at whiggles[at]whiggles[dot]com or whiggles[at]ntlworld[dot]com and we may be able to set something up. (I very much doubt it would be worth paying for postage simply so I can add a title to a list, though!)
Where can I get information on why a specific title has a certain rating? Check out the various full-length reviews that are linked to.
|
|
