Anyone seen the Dark Crystal or Labyrinth Superbits yet??
02-24-03, 01:51 PM
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Anyone seen the Dark Crystal or Labyrinth Superbits yet??
So far the only review I have seen is DVDREVIEW's write-up of The Dark Crystal. So does anyone have their hands on these?
I am mostly looking for picture-quality info, to see if they are worth the upgrade. Thanks!
I am mostly looking for picture-quality info, to see if they are worth the upgrade. Thanks!
02-24-03, 02:51 PM
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We'll be reviewing them soon, but having watched both back to back yesterday, let me make the following observations:
-The Dark Crystal is still in desperate need of a full-fledged restoration
-The DTS track on TDC is identical to the Dolby Digital mix found on the previous release--bass is still as powerful as a tin can with a bean in it being shaken vigorously
-Labyrinth suffers from minor speckling but otherwise looks great (as good as if not better than the previous disc), and its DTS track has slightly better fidelity than the DD audio, though neither is a dramatic improvement upon the 2.0 surround mix on Labyrinth's initial DVD release
-SuperBit represents a significant trade-off in the case of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, as the previous releases of each contained wonderful making-of documentaries and, in the case of TDC, a haunting funeral passage in a section of deleted scenes.
If I did not receive them as screeners I would've been content to stick with my old copies of these DVDs.
Bill C
filmfreakcentral.net
-The Dark Crystal is still in desperate need of a full-fledged restoration
-The DTS track on TDC is identical to the Dolby Digital mix found on the previous release--bass is still as powerful as a tin can with a bean in it being shaken vigorously
-Labyrinth suffers from minor speckling but otherwise looks great (as good as if not better than the previous disc), and its DTS track has slightly better fidelity than the DD audio, though neither is a dramatic improvement upon the 2.0 surround mix on Labyrinth's initial DVD release
-SuperBit represents a significant trade-off in the case of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, as the previous releases of each contained wonderful making-of documentaries and, in the case of TDC, a haunting funeral passage in a section of deleted scenes.
If I did not receive them as screeners I would've been content to stick with my old copies of these DVDs.
Bill C
filmfreakcentral.net
02-24-03, 03:05 PM
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I guess that is sort of good and bad news-good in the fact that I will be saving some $$, but I still wish DC had received a new transfer. If Superbit DVD's were always new transfers, I would buy most in a heartbeat. I also wish they would use the original theatrical artwork for these releases-both DC and Labyrinth had fantastic one-sheets, but the DVD covers are horrible!
02-26-03, 09:33 AM
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Just wondering how you get screeners? Do you need "your own" film website with reviews? Thanks.....I'm looking forward to both of these versions.
Originally posted by flmfreakcentral
We'll be reviewing them soon, but having watched both back to back yesterday, let me make the following observations:
-The Dark Crystal is still in desperate need of a full-fledged restoration
-The DTS track on TDC is identical to the Dolby Digital mix found on the previous release--bass is still as powerful as a tin can with a bean in it being shaken vigorously
-Labyrinth suffers from minor speckling but otherwise looks great (as good as if not better than the previous disc), and its DTS track has slightly better fidelity than the DD audio, though neither is a dramatic improvement upon the 2.0 surround mix on Labyrinth's initial DVD release
-SuperBit represents a significant trade-off in the case of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, as the previous releases of each contained wonderful making-of documentaries and, in the case of TDC, a haunting funeral passage in a section of deleted scenes.
If I did not receive them as screeners I would've been content to stick with my old copies of these DVDs.
Bill C
filmfreakcentral.net
We'll be reviewing them soon, but having watched both back to back yesterday, let me make the following observations:
-The Dark Crystal is still in desperate need of a full-fledged restoration
-The DTS track on TDC is identical to the Dolby Digital mix found on the previous release--bass is still as powerful as a tin can with a bean in it being shaken vigorously
-Labyrinth suffers from minor speckling but otherwise looks great (as good as if not better than the previous disc), and its DTS track has slightly better fidelity than the DD audio, though neither is a dramatic improvement upon the 2.0 surround mix on Labyrinth's initial DVD release
-SuperBit represents a significant trade-off in the case of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, as the previous releases of each contained wonderful making-of documentaries and, in the case of TDC, a haunting funeral passage in a section of deleted scenes.
If I did not receive them as screeners I would've been content to stick with my old copies of these DVDs.
Bill C
filmfreakcentral.net
02-26-03, 11:02 AM
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www.dvdfile.com has a review up
02-26-03, 12:59 PM
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Originally posted by NYCNetguy
Just wondering how you get screeners? Do you need "your own" film website with reviews?
Just wondering how you get screeners? Do you need "your own" film website with reviews?
Bill C
filmfreakcentral.net
02-26-03, 04:45 PM
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Originally posted by DJ_Longfellow
www.dvdfile.com has a review up
www.dvdfile.com has a review up
02-26-03, 08:55 PM
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I think Dan may not own the original disc. He didn't write the review for it (Cliff Stephenson, who is no longer with the site, did).
I have the original disc but not the SuperBit. Sorry.
I have the original disc but not the SuperBit. Sorry.
02-26-03, 11:21 PM
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03-03-03, 09:56 PM
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Originally posted by The Movie Man
Up late writing reviews again. Man, I need a life!
Anyway, my review for The Dark Crystal - Superbit should be posted tomorrow.
Now on to Labyrinth - Superbit.
David
Up late writing reviews again. Man, I need a life!
Anyway, my review for The Dark Crystal - Superbit should be posted tomorrow.
Now on to Labyrinth - Superbit.
David
David,
How poor is the original DVD release of Labyrinth's video quality? According to your review, it looks like Superbit is quite an improvement, plus it has the 5.1 audio. However, if the actual results are pretty close (like the two Dark Crystal DVDs), I would prefer to get the disc with special features; maybe even buying it two pack form with Dark Crystal.
Any more advice for me?
Thanks,
Barry
03-05-03, 04:22 PM
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If anyone's still interested, we've finally reviewed the discs proper. (So many discs, so little time.)
http://filmfreakcentral.net/dvdrevie...alsuperbit.htm
http://filmfreakcentral.net/dvdrevie...thsuperbit.htm
Bill C
http://filmfreakcentral.net/dvdrevie...alsuperbit.htm
http://filmfreakcentral.net/dvdrevie...thsuperbit.htm
Bill C
03-05-03, 11:09 PM
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Barry,
The original release of Labyrinth is an okay looking DVD. I'd say it's below what we would call the average standard of new DVD releases today. But on its own it holds up all right. The superbit does look a lot nicer. It has a much cleaner picture, though still not perfect by any means.
Honestly though, as much as I prefer the look of the superbit, I'd recommend buying the two-pack of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. There are many reasons for this. First of all, the original release of The Dark Crystal is a fantastic DVD! The special features are worth it alone. Plus, the superbit version only looks slightly better than the original. Secondly, on the Labyrinth DVD you get that great featurette that is wonderfully informative.
If you don't mind having a fair looking pair of movies, I'd go with the two-pack. They aren't bad looking discs by any means, so don't feel torn that you're going to buy crappy looking movies. If it's still a hard decision for you, go out and rent the originals. If they look fine to you, then you have your answer. Hope this helps.
- DB
The original release of Labyrinth is an okay looking DVD. I'd say it's below what we would call the average standard of new DVD releases today. But on its own it holds up all right. The superbit does look a lot nicer. It has a much cleaner picture, though still not perfect by any means.
Honestly though, as much as I prefer the look of the superbit, I'd recommend buying the two-pack of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. There are many reasons for this. First of all, the original release of The Dark Crystal is a fantastic DVD! The special features are worth it alone. Plus, the superbit version only looks slightly better than the original. Secondly, on the Labyrinth DVD you get that great featurette that is wonderfully informative.
If you don't mind having a fair looking pair of movies, I'd go with the two-pack. They aren't bad looking discs by any means, so don't feel torn that you're going to buy crappy looking movies. If it's still a hard decision for you, go out and rent the originals. If they look fine to you, then you have your answer. Hope this helps.
- DB
03-05-03, 11:20 PM
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Barry,
Sorry, one more thing. I'm just afraid that you will go out and buy the superbit versions expecting this phenomenal improvement in picture. It is an improvement, but it's not like "hot damn!" good. I can see it because my perfectionist eye is always glued to the screen, for better or for worse. If you plan on buying both movies, I'd go with the originals.
Okay, I'll shut up now.
- DB
Sorry, one more thing. I'm just afraid that you will go out and buy the superbit versions expecting this phenomenal improvement in picture. It is an improvement, but it's not like "hot damn!" good. I can see it because my perfectionist eye is always glued to the screen, for better or for worse. If you plan on buying both movies, I'd go with the originals.
Okay, I'll shut up now.
- DB
04-07-05, 05:11 AM
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I just watched the Labyrinth "superbit" on a Samsung 42" Plasma EDTV and the video was extremely grainy. Also the sound was very off from the video, with the video being delayed by at least a whole second. Great movie, but not impressed with the DVD at all. The Samsung always has some video latency (appalingly enough) but not that much. I was not impressed by 'superbit' --- seems like an excuse to charge SE prices for a crappy barebones disc IMO.
