How can this be? It's a brand-new film. How could the transfer be so shoddy?

I didn't see this in the theaters, but I've heard that some directors and cinematographers prefer a grainier transfer over a crystal-clear one in order to give their film a certain tonality. Are we sure this isn't the case here?

I just put in an order at BB.com for what I thought was the tin (that is what is pictured). However, now I notice that my invoice only says "Special Edition" and that is the only special edition version that I see on the site (I don't see the non-tin version pictured). If they send me the wrong one can I exchange/return instore or will I have to send it back in the mail. The tin is pictured, but it wouldn't be the first time BB has the wrong version of a disc pictured on their site.

It isn't consistant throught the dvd. I wouldn't even really call it grainy, it's almost like pixelization at the beginning of the movie (not just the flashback scenes either).

The steelbook is sold out online as well as in most stores. They just haven't updated the picture to reflect the standard cover.

Exactly. It is a pixelation problem that is very apparent IMO. Check out the interview scenes with Leo towards the beginning and you'll notice it, especially around some of their faces.

Here in MA it appears all the Best Buy's in the area now carry the regular 2 disk version, no steelbook....So anyone still waiting you better go to the dark side (Ebay) soon.....

I noticed that too!..i totally started messing with my tv because i thought the convergence was off or something..glad to see it's not that...

I've only watched the first 5-6 minutes, but it looks pretty much flawless. Maybe it suffers on a 9' screen, but it's not even close to bargain-bin quality.

Yea, I have to agree there. Maybe for you guys with HD mega screens, it looks pixilated, but I'm watching it at 480p on a 42" plasma, and it looks quite sharp to me.

(I guess this also explains why I'm not that enthused about HD/Blu-Ray).

Its also very obvious in the scene where Leo and Damon are taking their State Trooper test. The blue wall behind them is very pixelated. This is a terrible transfer and I'm embarassed that I bought a "Special Edition" that looks like this.

Well here are two direct screen captures from the DVD that examples the poor picture quality in the beginning. Notice the pixellation in the face details.

It's really surprising that this got 4.5 stars in the DVD Talk review (or atleast a mention of this PQ problem). And how is it possible to fail to notice this on a 42" display?

(Edit: Funny thing, read the DVD Talk review again, and it says, quote: "No digital problems (edge enhancement and pixellation, for example) were spotted along the way...")

(Images are in png format so the artifacts are not due to image compression)

It has nothing to do with screen size. Its bad on every screen I tried in on when I first noticed it. And I laughed when I read "No digital problems" as well. This reviewer should be banished to writing porn reviews and should get his ass paddled with the steelbook edition until he cries.

I wonder if maybe there were some QC issues at the pressing plant, because not every copy seems to have this defect.

I watched it on a 27" CRT, and those scenes shown above looked terrible. I couldn't make out any real facial detail. The transfer seemed to improve as the movie went on, but those scenes really stood out for how blocky they were.

No question now there will be a BETTER release for The Departed on DVD since it has won Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars, 4 Oscars total. Get ready to double-dip eventually!

I didn't notice any problems in those scenes on my 27" Wega. Maybe there's some bad discs out there?

Glad I bought the HD DVD seeing that pixelation. May flip it over and see if I can spot that stuff on the DVD side.

Hmm...I thought the DVD looked pretty good on my 57" screen.

Maybe as someone said, it's specific DVD's?

= J

I checked two DVDs, the steelbook one and one "normal" 2-disc version, and they were both like in the screen captures. But anyone's welcome to put up other captures to prove different transfers exist (from the same scene in the beginning).

For comparison purposes, my copy that is pixellated is the SE in the cardboard slipcase from Best Buy in West Hollywood. I have viewed it on a Sony 27" CRT and a 50" Pioneer Plasma

the closest bestbuy to me still has about 32 of these steel book versions(yes, i counted them).

i thought about getting one, since theyre going for over $30 on ebay.

I saw it too. My wife didn't. It was driving me nuts and I had trouble watching the first 5 minutes or so. I had to turn off the DVD and go online to see if anyone else was having this issue. I finally finished the movie by sitting farther away from the screen so I wasn't as distracted.

So... the Region 4 DVD comes out March 14. What do you guys think? is it too close to the Oscars to get the "Winner of 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture" branding on the DVD cover? I'd love that, but seeing as the release is less than three weeks away, I think all the stock will have been packed up and close to shipping by now.

I wonder which they'd tout more if they did have time to add it to the packaging, giving the significance of Scorseses win?
"Winner of 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture", or
"Winner of 4 Academy Awards, including Best Director"

Another Region3 Release from Warner (whats bad is that it has the same exact design as Bestbuy's release)

Why would that be bad?

I think itīs great as international buyers are able to get this as well.