Thinking about seeing a movie in Digital Projection...is it better than regular film?
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Thinking about seeing a movie in Digital Projection...is it better than regular film?
Just want to know from peeps who have seen movies recently in theaters with digital projection. I am thinking about seeing "Collateral" in the dp form versus the regular film form and just simply want to know if it is better in terms of visual (I assume the audio remains the same, correct?). Thanks in advance for comments.
#2
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I would say definitely check it out and see for yourself. I've heard both pros and cons and have seen it myself (Signs and Star Wars Ep2).
It is a much cleaner image, no scratches or poorly cut reel changes for sure, but depending on some people's tastes, it looks too clean, because there is hardly any grain to speak of. And some people have complained that it looks too much like a video projection, which it is of course, and not enough like regular film projection.
It would be interesting to see Collateral in DP because a lot of it was shot on digital video, so I'm curious if it would look better or worse than a movie shot only on film.
It is a much cleaner image, no scratches or poorly cut reel changes for sure, but depending on some people's tastes, it looks too clean, because there is hardly any grain to speak of. And some people have complained that it looks too much like a video projection, which it is of course, and not enough like regular film projection.
It would be interesting to see Collateral in DP because a lot of it was shot on digital video, so I'm curious if it would look better or worse than a movie shot only on film.
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You bring up a good point that I didn't think of...with "Collateral" having that gritty feel to it, would it be better in regular film to have the gritty, grainy picture quality to enhance the realistic effect of LA. Or should it be seen on the format it was actually shot in mostly?
Now, this is a quandry.
Now, this is a quandry.
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Collateral was shot on digital. Being shown in digital projection makes it a lot better. format <--> format. I saw Collateral twice. Once on DLP and once on film. it looked much nicer on DLP. It still had the gritty look Mann was going for is still there. Just cleaner since it didn't have to go from Digital to film.
that was also the case with Episode II. Not only did you get a sharper image, but you also recieved extra scene not shown on the regular film print of episode II.
Open water is another title I would suggest watching on DLP.
Film on DLP sometimes suffered pixelation in the past. Not sure how true that is now a days. But if it's offered on DLP I will watch it that way.
that was also the case with Episode II. Not only did you get a sharper image, but you also recieved extra scene not shown on the regular film print of episode II.
Open water is another title I would suggest watching on DLP.
Film on DLP sometimes suffered pixelation in the past. Not sure how true that is now a days. But if it's offered on DLP I will watch it that way.
Last edited by Jackskeleton; 08-13-04 at 11:50 PM.
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Some people see a "rainbow" effect and get headaches when they watch a home DLP projector. Could this also be the case with a theatre one, or are they more advanced and minimize that possible effect?
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Ive seen three movies on DLP. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Alien Special Edition, and Collateral. I can honestly say that DLP is superior than regular film projectors.
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We had DLP in Vegas for a month when Attack of the Clones came out, and boy was it fantastic. It completely blew away any 35mm presentation that I've seen.
The moment Attack of the Clones left theaters, DLP left Vegas with it.
The moment Attack of the Clones left theaters, DLP left Vegas with it.
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Originally posted by Jackskeleton
Collateral was shot on digital. Being shown in digital projection makes it a lot better. format <--> format. I saw Collateral twice. Once on DLP and once on film. it looked much nicer on DLP. It still had the gritty look Mann was going for is still there. Just cleaner since it didn't have to go from Digital to film.
that was also the case with Episode II. Not only did you get a sharper image, but you also recieved extra scene not shown on the regular film print of episode II.
Open water is another title I would suggest watching on DLP.
Film on DLP sometimes suffered pixelation in the past. Not sure how true that is now a days. But if it's offered on DLP I will watch it that way.
Collateral was shot on digital. Being shown in digital projection makes it a lot better. format <--> format. I saw Collateral twice. Once on DLP and once on film. it looked much nicer on DLP. It still had the gritty look Mann was going for is still there. Just cleaner since it didn't have to go from Digital to film.
that was also the case with Episode II. Not only did you get a sharper image, but you also recieved extra scene not shown on the regular film print of episode II.
Open water is another title I would suggest watching on DLP.
Film on DLP sometimes suffered pixelation in the past. Not sure how true that is now a days. But if it's offered on DLP I will watch it that way.
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Originally posted by Lara Means
Ive seen three movies on DLP. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Alien Special Edition, and Collateral. I can honestly say that DLP is superior than regular film projectors.
Ive seen three movies on DLP. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Alien Special Edition, and Collateral. I can honestly say that DLP is superior than regular film projectors.
In other words, IMO, film projectors are superior to DL projectors.
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I agree with corvin. If a film is shot on digital then it will look beyond great on DLP. but if it's shot on 35mm then there is no real reason to go out of your way to watch it on DLP. you get the format transfer that will be there with the pixels showing up. Go for digital films but don't go out of your way for any regular films.
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Digital is not "perfect," but I agree that it benefits 'motion pictures' originated that way.
Do not believe ANY DLP shill who tells you digital has more resolving power than celluloid in regard to color or detail. It's a lie and can be objectively proven by researching the respective technologies.
Do not believe ANY DLP shill who tells you digital has more resolving power than celluloid in regard to color or detail. It's a lie and can be objectively proven by researching the respective technologies.
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I wish I would have had the opportunity to see Collateral in DLP ... the theater I went to had the film spliced together horribly ... the worst I've ever seen. On two of the changeovers, there was actually a second or two of black screen and a beep.
#15
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Originally posted by cultshock
Some people see a "rainbow" effect and get headaches when they watch a home DLP projector. Could this also be the case with a theatre one, or are they more advanced and minimize that possible effect?
Some people see a "rainbow" effect and get headaches when they watch a home DLP projector. Could this also be the case with a theatre one, or are they more advanced and minimize that possible effect?
I have had that same reaction to every DV film I have seen and it severely sucks!
Even if I don't get a major headache from it(I have had some severe ones though),I always feel abit dizzy and just light headed. Meanwhile sometimes a splitting headache will slowly creep up,then explode in my skull making me feel beyond terrible and takes hours to subside.
So DV has not won me over yet. But it would be interesting to see how I react to Collaterials visual quality and if it even looks 'gritty' to my eyes. Since other DV attempts at gritty grainy looks have'nt fooled me yet(28 Days Later) and still look 'too' good for their own good.
#16
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Originally posted by Jackskeleton
that was also the case with Episode II. Not only did you get a sharper image, but you also recieved extra scene not shown on the regular film print of episode II.
that was also the case with Episode II. Not only did you get a sharper image, but you also recieved extra scene not shown on the regular film print of episode II.
Anyway, I saw the DLP release of Episode 2. While it was superior to the 35mm print of that same film (which looked very muddy), it was not superior to a normal 35mm film. For one thing, I could see the pixels.
Eventually, DLP will get up to film quality. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. But it wasn't there for Episode 2. Once the technology catches up, there's no question that DLP will be the wave of the future, with the advantages far outweighing the cons.
#17
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As far as I can remember, I've seen Episode 2, Terminator 3, and I, Robot on digital projection. All three are big SFX movies with a lot of digital effects. Of the three, I, Robot looked the best, but I attribute that to advances in DLP technology. Even in I, Robot I could make out pixels. Terminator 3 was by far the worst. Most of the effects in that film don't look digital, even if they are, and the pixels stood out like a sore thumb. Episode 2 wasn't so bad. It definitely looked clearer than the film print. But I would rather have grainy 35mm than not-grainy but pixelated DLP.
As Groucho said, when DLP manages to get to (or hopefully beyond) the level of film, then we'll have something to brag about. As it is, I wish everytime I saw a DLP screening of a film, they had then paid for me to see the 35mm, because I know I would enjoy it more.
As Groucho said, when DLP manages to get to (or hopefully beyond) the level of film, then we'll have something to brag about. As it is, I wish everytime I saw a DLP screening of a film, they had then paid for me to see the 35mm, because I know I would enjoy it more.
#18
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If people are seeing pixels, then something is wrong with the projection itself. I saw SW Ep2 at Mann's Chinese, which, for those who don't know, has a massive screen, and on something that huge and with such a busy movie, there wasn't a hint of pixelation.
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Originally posted by FinkPish
If people are seeing pixels, then something is wrong with the projection itself.
If people are seeing pixels, then something is wrong with the projection itself.
#21
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Originally posted by Jackskeleton
Collateral was shot on digital. Being shown in digital projection makes it a lot better. format <--> format. I saw Collateral twice. Once on DLP and once on film. it looked much nicer on DLP. It still had the gritty look Mann was going for is still there. Just cleaner since it didn't have to go from Digital to film.
that was also the case with Episode II. Not only did you get a sharper image, but you also recieved extra scene not shown on the regular film print of episode II.
Open water is another title I would suggest watching on DLP.
Film on DLP sometimes suffered pixelation in the past. Not sure how true that is now a days. But if it's offered on DLP I will watch it that way.
Collateral was shot on digital. Being shown in digital projection makes it a lot better. format <--> format. I saw Collateral twice. Once on DLP and once on film. it looked much nicer on DLP. It still had the gritty look Mann was going for is still there. Just cleaner since it didn't have to go from Digital to film.
that was also the case with Episode II. Not only did you get a sharper image, but you also recieved extra scene not shown on the regular film print of episode II.
Open water is another title I would suggest watching on DLP.
Film on DLP sometimes suffered pixelation in the past. Not sure how true that is now a days. But if it's offered on DLP I will watch it that way.
1. The fast action sceens were a little choppy (not as smooth as film).
2. The 1st down town LA shot of the building looked better than normal.
3. "Purple Fringing" around some of the street lights (PF can be a problem with Digital Cameras)
#22
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Originally posted by FinkPish
If people are seeing pixels, then something is wrong with the projection itself. I saw SW Ep2 at Mann's Chinese, which, for those who don't know, has a massive screen, and on something that huge and with such a busy movie, there wasn't a hint of pixelation.
If people are seeing pixels, then something is wrong with the projection itself. I saw SW Ep2 at Mann's Chinese, which, for those who don't know, has a massive screen, and on something that huge and with such a busy movie, there wasn't a hint of pixelation.
In scenes with motion it wasn't as apparent...but when somebody stood still, or when there were letters on the screen (sub-titles in particular), it was very obvious.
There was nothing wrong with the projection.
#23
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Originally posted by Jackskeleton
But if it's offered on DLP I will watch it that way.
But if it's offered on DLP I will watch it that way.
#24
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As far as I can remember, I've seen Episode 2, Terminator 3, and I, Robot on digital projection. All three are big SFX movies with a lot of digital effects.
As Groucho said, when DLP manages to get to (or hopefully beyond) the level of film, then we'll have something to brag about.
Only in pure resolution and black level does film still hold the advantage. But I don't see that lasting long. Digital is still in it's infancy. The advancements made in the years between Episode II and III are pretty amazing. I can't even fathom the advances made in another 5-10 years. We already have 6-14 megapixel digital cameras that surpass 35mm film. There are a number of articles on this subject from professional photographers who've written detailed articles on why these digital cameras have now surpassed 35mm film cameras. It's only a matter of time before digital movie camera resolution increases as well.
Last edited by Terrell; 08-17-04 at 04:49 AM.
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Originally posted by Terrell
Only in pure resolution and black level does film still hold the advantage. But I don't see that lasting long. Digital is still in it's infancy. The advancements made in the years between Episode II and III are pretty amazing. I can't even fathom the advances made in another 5-10 years. We already have 6-14 megapixel digital cameras that surpass 35mm film. There are a number of articles on this subject from professional photographers who've written detailed articles on why these digital cameras have now surpassed 35mm film cameras. It's only a matter of time before digital movie camera resolution increases as well.
Only in pure resolution and black level does film still hold the advantage. But I don't see that lasting long. Digital is still in it's infancy. The advancements made in the years between Episode II and III are pretty amazing. I can't even fathom the advances made in another 5-10 years. We already have 6-14 megapixel digital cameras that surpass 35mm film. There are a number of articles on this subject from professional photographers who've written detailed articles on why these digital cameras have now surpassed 35mm film cameras. It's only a matter of time before digital movie camera resolution increases as well.