Review of the Serenity HD-DVD

POSTED BY: onetransmission
UPDATED: Sunday, April 23, 2006 22:57
VIEWED: 13282
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ONETRANSMISSION

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 2:45 PM

just in case anyone was wondering

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/serenity.html

GREENFAERIE

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 4:11 PM

I was wondering. Was even considering getting an HD-DVD player. Now I know I can save my money. Too bad there isn't anything on there that wasn't on the first region 1 DVD release. Stupid Universal drops the ball again.

DECLAN

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 5:29 PM

From the referenced review:

That said, this HD-DVD release certainly looks more detailed than its standard DVD counterpart. Despite the all the technical trickery, the overall depth and clarity of the image is considerable, especially during the cleanest-looking sequences in the film. Colors are also a bit more stable than the standard DVD, with less apparent noise on the most vibrant hues. I also felt the blacks where a tad bit more robust, and shadow delineation improved -- in some of the darker moments, such as the opening action scene, I could clearly make out fine details in the dimmest areas of the picture that weren't discernible at all on the standard DVD release. However, overall, someone who pops this one in as their first taste of HD-DVD may come away wondering what all the fuss is about.

I am not sure if it is realistic to expect anymore than this.

I've been playing around with HDTV on a 50" Samsung HD DLP for about two years. Let me tell you: there is HD and there is HD Lite.

The good HD, things like Discovery Channel, some PBS channels, the Super Bowl, major college football games, etc. will blow you away.

The bad HD, things like unimportant NFL and college games, bad transfers of old movies, bad cameras, etc. is ho-hum. Some videophiles call this "HD-Lite".

To my eyes, if you have an upconverting DVD player you can get close to this HD-Lite level. It's better than Standard Definition but it is not breathtaking like true HD is.

The reviewer mentioned more detail and blacker blacks. What I like about Joss's work is that on multiple viewings you will see things in the background that you didn't see on the earlier viewings. So, detail matters. Blacker blacks matter also because Serenity has its darkly lit moments. I never try watching it in daylight. Again, this is almost a trademark Joss thing (think Angel), having the dark lighting.

Is this enough to run out and buy a HD-DVD player? Not yet. In a few months to a year, when the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray wars settle down and the pricing settles down? Probably yes.

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"'Course, there are other schools of thought."

STORYMARK

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 6:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GreenFaerie:
I was wondering. Was even considering getting an HD-DVD player. Now I know I can save my money. Too bad there isn't anything on there that wasn't on the first region 1 DVD release. Stupid Universal drops the ball again.

I wouldn't say they dropped the ball. All the HD-DVD launch titles are the same extras-wise, as their DVD counterparts.

For one thing, the way extras are going to be done on HD (be it HD-DVD or Blu-Ray) is slightly different from DVD. A lot of the special features are aupposed to be accessed durring, or concurrent with the movie, as opposed to seperate sections like current DVD. The thing is, this first generation of HD-DVD players do not support this system (yet - early adopters will have to take their players in for firm-ware upgrades).

Sure, they could have added the extras from the Region 2 release, but that cuts into their profit by preventing a double-dip release of a "Shiny" edition (or whatever) later.

It's a new format, and it'll take time to find it's feet (if it doesn't crash 'n burn). Remember, the first wave of DVD's didn't have special features, and some disks you had to flip over half-way through the movie.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

ZEEK

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GreenFaerie:
I was wondering. Was even considering getting an HD-DVD player. Now I know I can save my money. Too bad there isn't anything on there that wasn't on the first region 1 DVD release. Stupid Universal drops the ball again.

Um...do I care? I'm buying this just to own it. I doubt I'll even get an HD-DVD player for at least 2 years. I don't have any HD tv/monitor and I don't see any particular need for one either. This is Serenity though. If they released Serenity toilet paper I'd probably buy a roll just to look at.

ANNIE

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 8:07 PM

I ordered one; just another sale racked up for Joss. I have an HD tv and maybe someday soon I'll get an HD dvd player.
In any case, I am doing whatever I can to support Joss/FF/Serenity.

Sex and violence on the big screen, where it belongs.

DONCOAT

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 9:11 PM

Amazon just notified me: they've shipped my Serenity HD-DVD.

Now if I can just get my hands on a player for a few days...

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I don't disagree on any particular point.

KARENKAY99

Tuesday, April 18, 2006 9:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
This is Serenity though. If they released Serenity toilet paper I'd probably buy a roll just to look at.

ROTFLOL

me too. hehe

"They say the snow on the roof is too heavy. They say the ceiling will cave in. His brains are in terrible danger."

SERENITYBOY

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 2:22 AM

They can say anything they want, Serenity was NOT a flop! sure it didnt break blockbuster records, but I am in this buisness (or will be soon, i'm a student of film now) and anything that makes over 75% of the budget is at least mildly successful. A flop would be like if Episode III of Star Wars had gotten 40million. that was like 1/185 of it's budget.

And hey, when I hear people say it was a flop, I think of Mal's quote. "We're still flyin. That's enough."

people aggrivate me sometimes! our movie was not a flop!

"Been more'n a year since I had anything twixt my nethers didn't run on batteries!"

NOSADSEVEN

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 5:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by GreenFaerie:
Too bad there isn't anything on there that wasn't on the first region 1 DVD release. Stupid Universal drops the ball again.

Well, the reviewer said it had a theatrical trailer, which the original does not. (Though, he could be wrong, I suppose.) Of course, I'm more annoyed that the trailer wasn't on the original one than I am excited that it'll be on the HD one.

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Ain't. We. Just.

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