This disc sports about the best transfer you're ever going to see, it's so excellent. THX enhanced discs? Meaninless, just look at Titanic with it's terrible transfer. Here we see THE transfer of all tranfers for film based movies (as opposed to Bug's Life), it's sublime.

Perhaps the transfer is sublime, but the sound is superb. It enhances the feeling of experiencing what these men experienced and further conveys its anti war message. The sound is pinnacle here, about as good as DD 5.1 can do.

The extra is good, that is the documentary included, along with the trailers, and the special message from steven spielberg, and the cast and production notes.

I completely agree with everything you have to say about SPR's transfer, but what in the world are you talking about in reference to TITANIC's transfer? Other than the fact that it's lacking anamorphic enhancement, I think TITANIC is one of the most jaw-droppingly awesome DVD transfers to date!

Getting off topic

Indoors Titanic is a good transfer, but there seems like a lot of loss of detail on the overexposed outdoor shots. I had to put on some sunglasses so I didn't go blind. It reminded me of Pulp Fiction in the overexposure level. This might have something to do with preferences, but when I saw shots of the ocean and there was only white light, I thought it sucked. My point was that THX is not needed to ensure a quality transfer.

IMO...

I agree that the sound is phenominal and is as great as the original movie. But, I do not agree on the film transfer. Maybe, it is the copy that I received, but in some scenes there is a definite "wash out" of parts of the screen and shadows that were not part of the original. In the scene where Upham shoots the German at the bridge, a white/washed-out shadow passes infront of Upham once the Germans run away. Also, some of the distant fires seem to be too bright during different parts of the movie. This is the first DVD that I have watched that has shown any signs of a bad transfer. Otherwise, this is a great movie.

Just a final note about TITANIC's transfer. The overexposure you refer to, Gallant Pig, is intentional (notice it only exists during the vintage footage) and was evident during it's theatrical run. It is not a technical problem, but an aesthetic choice, which helped to differentiate stylistically between the 1912 and 1997 scenes. However, I realize that your main point was that THX is not necessary for a stellar transfer, and I am in full agreement. THX used to mean something back in the days of LaserDisc, but now, not so much.

Bassman, keep in mind SAVING PRIVATE RYAN is filled with intentional distortions, flares, color desaturations, and other such oddities to give the movie a documentary feel. These "flaws" you mention were made by the choice of the filmmakers, and are not indicative of a poor transfer. In fact, SPR is one of the greatest transfers in DVD history, in my opinion.

Titanic, decent transfer, will be better when SE is released. Not NEARLY as "contrasty" as Pulp Fiction.

Fair enough Filmmaker, but I swear I see more detail on the trailer of the movie than the movie itself on some of the scenes...

Bassman, as Filmmaker mentioned it is very intentional. People said the same about the matrix transfer but it's in the same boat once again. I believe dvdtalk mentioned matrix as a bad transfer but again it was very intentional the technique in the transfer.

Spielberg gets knocked a lot in this forum, but I agree: This is the best transfer I've seen short of the digital-to-digital in A Bug's Life.

Bassman: I've seen what you're describing, but I believe the effect is intentional. See wseaton's post:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/005599.html

The "desaturation filter" is supposed to make the image more like combat footage.

For those of you still waiting for your SPR-DTS version: read the review of the SPR DTS on DVDFILE.COM. It will make you feel good about your choice.

I haven't had time to watch the whole movie yet but have jumped through it and I like what I see. I did see all the extras though and for me, interviews just don't do it. If and when the DTS version comes available I will probably upgrade to the better sound. Having seen the documentary once, that is enough. If I need to see it again I can always borrow it. Of course if the DTS version doesn't come along this doesn't mean much does it.

Have a nice day

Nice job Steven - Hopefully this is a prelude to more good things to come.

My 2¢

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What's a videotape?
www.dvdtracker.com/~schrader.asp

Anti-war message? It is meant to demonstrate the horrors of war, yes, but it is not there to convey an anti-war message. Spielberg's commentary even goes out of its way to describe the just cause of this particular event. There is a difference between showing the reality of something, and conveying a particular message. This movie isn't particularly preachy as far as a message....it just shows it.

Gallant Pig

Beware some half-wits will start posting pissy comments because you posted a review of the quality of the DVD and not about the film itself.

GEEEEZ, I posted a review of Congo a couple weeks ago and I had some nimrod ripping me because I reviewed the film by way of the quality of the DVD transfer/audio. Appearantly some people believe you can only review a film for it's content and not it's tranfer quality. I for one think the review of the transfer quality far outways the review of the film itself. Almost everyone who buys DVD's already has seen the movie or has heard numerous reviews of the film itself but are looking for reviews of how good the DVD itself is so as to make decisions on whether to buy a certain DVD or not.

I myself thanks you for your review as I am even more pumped to receive the DVD version I ordered.

Well, I received the DD version I ordered for my brother in law today and watched up to their preparations for the arrival of the German tanks.

All I can say is WOW! I wish I had seen this in the theaters. But I think the sound is better at my house. And what sound! It's so immersive you really feel like your in the middle of the battlefield in some of the scenes. And I didn't even have the volume turned all the way up!

The transfer itself looks fine to me, but I'm not very discriminating in this respect (didn't help that I was wearing my glasses instead of my contacts ).

I haven't seen the last "bookend" scene yet, but while the first one was pretty obviously contrieved at some point I stopped caring. That cemetary is just too powerful a symbol to get hung up on the director's intent.

I think I'll be using this for the Friday night movie at my house! Just wish my DTS copy was here already. Oh well, good things come to those who wait.

Frank,

That guy was just kidding around. He didn't mean to get you all upset. The "muse" just hit him and he made up that whole quasi-religious piece. I really don't think he meant anything personal by it.

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-David

Blade

Oh he definetly was not kidding. In fact the little nimrod actually eMailed me with more of his snyd remarks. Looking at his profile showed he's a law student and just shows again my point that lawyers are the true pond scum of society.

I still hold that the best reviews for DVD's are ones that review the quality of the DVD as opposed to the film review itself.

As for "Saving Private Ryan," I haven't seen it yet, this weekend I may catch up on some DVD-watching with that and "The Thin Red Line."

Frank S., if you feel you've been personally attacked in the future and would like a thread (that you began) closed or the forum rules reiterated to that person (yeah, I know some people don't find either of these measures that helpful, but some do), e-mail me and I'll take care of it.

--Heather

Reviews Forum Moderator

How is the quality of The Thin Red Line DVD?

Frank S., according to www.dvdreview.com , THE THIN RED LINE's transfer is nothing short of astonishing--and, yes, it's anamorphic!

Frank,

Oh.



Me shut up now.

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-David

Well I finally got to see it last night and I have to say it was amazing. I liked it. Very emotional. The DD5.1 is amazing. When those tanks rolled inthe whole room vibrated. Was it the most amazing story ever conceived? No. But not every battle, or every mission was a John Wayne win the war kind of event. My dad who was in Korea said this was the most accurate portrayal of battle he has ever seen. The only thing they missed is the tired look. If you check the film reels you can see that these guys don't sleep much and you can see it in their faces. In the movie they look dirty but well rested. Also I felt the opening sequence could have done more to present the passage of time. When they took the beaches it took hours and hours just to get up the beach let alone attack the bunkers. But I would say my biggest complaint is the 3 hour length which means I'll be lucky to see the movie once or twice a year in one sitting if I'm lucky.

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What's a videotape?
www.dvdtracker.com/~schrader.asp

I have one of those cheesey Sony home theater kits (two tower thingies, no external sub woofer) ... and I was completely blown away by the quality of the 5.1 audio mix for the "Saving Private Ryan." Just plain ... "WOW!" I can only imagine how amazing it rolls out in some of y'alls fancy setups.

Those of you who are miffed by the transfer ... I can only assume you didn't see the film in the theater ... the print isn't your typical Hollywood fare. -N!

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MY DVDs: A study in addiction
THE FAKE NEWS: An e-zine for NORM MACDONALD fans

While everyone keeps saying the off-colour of the Matrix video transfer was intentional, it really is degraded compared to what I saw in the cinema. I saw it 4X in various cinemas and, honestly, on the DVD the blacks are washed out in a blue tone, and the scene where Trinity is running across the triangular things on the rooftop looks absolutely horrid...the black is all washed out in blue so that you can't even see her left outline.

It was *not* this bad in the cinemas. I noticed the colour was off in the cinemas as well, but not even close to this degree. Also, the voices are too washed out compared to in the theatres (such as when Trinity is whispering in his ear in the dance club). It was so easy to hear, but not on the DVD. The DVD was a disappointment, which is a rarity for me.

I love the movie, just wish the DVD video was at least up to par with the cinema image.

Saving Private Ryan is an amazing DVD in both picture, extras, and sound. Saw it today (on Remembrance Day, no less) and wasn't disappointed at all.

MG.