What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

I'm thinking of crummy quality DVDs, movies never released on DVD, and/or letterboxed DVDs that get released on Blu-ray....

Here's the list that I can come up with:

HEAT (USA Blu Ray)
ROAD WARRIOR: MAD MAX 2 (USA Blu Ray)
BOYS FROM BRAZIL (USA Blu Ray)
TANGO & CASH (USA Blu Ray)
ARMAGEDDON (coming soon) (USA Blu Ray)
THE ABYSS (coming soon) (USA Blu Ray)
JODHAA AKBAR (India Blu Ray)
THE KILLER (coming soon) (USA Blu Ray)
BOUND (Japan or France Blu Ray)


I'm not sure about the following, because weren't their last DVD versions pretty good or would you say that a Blu-ray upgrade is essential for the following movies?

ROBOCOP (USA Blu Ray)
ARMY OF DARKNESS (USA Blu Ray)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA 2 (HK Blu Ray)
TIME BANDITS (UK or German Blu Ray)
LAST ACTION HERO (USA Blu Ray)
BUGSY MALONE (UK Blu Ray)
DANCES WITH WOLVES (German Blu Ray)
LA FEMME NIKITA (USA Blu Ray)
WATERWORLD (USA Blu Ray)






I would love to see 1492 released on Blu-ray. Any word of an import blu-ray of that film?

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

The latest Gangs of NY.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

Roxanne, Spies like us, Funny Farm, Halloween triple feature (CA), The Rock, Weeds season 1

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

The African Queen

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

I thought that the new Blu Ray of GANGS OF NY was fixing a previous problamatic Blu Ray. What was wrong with the DVD? I remember that DVD being pretty sweet, with DTS and a lot of extras...Was there something wrong with the video quality? (I haven't watched it in ages)


The Rock? The Criterion DVD is pretty amazing...you mean that it's just a movie that's worth the upgrade? I do love that movie.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

for some reason i thought the criterion was non-anamorphic.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

The Rock blu-ray has all the extras of the Criterion dvd.

The Canadian blu-ray release of From Dusk to Dawn has a decent transfer for a blu-ray, but it absolutely obliterates the DVD which isn't even anamorphic. Unfortunately, the blu-ray has no extas.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

Maybe you were thinking of the ARMAGEDDON non-anamorphic Criterion?

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

There is an extended cut of Army of Darkness only available on R3 DVD that a lot of us would love to have on a US disc (DVD or Blu). From what I understand, it's far closer to the cut that was shown on the SciFi channel years ago that I was expecting to get on my 2 disc Anchor Bay LE and was somewhat disappointed when it wasn't.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

Grumpy Old Men/Grumpier Old Men

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

For Army of Darkness, I prefer the regular Theatrical Cut (I'm not crazy about the Director's/Extended cuts of this film). And I have the DVD from the HD-DVD/DVD combo, which I hear is better quality than the newer Screwhead DVD edition. So I'm thinking which one has the better video quality if I like the Theatrical version:
the remastered DVD from the HD-DVD/DVD combo or the Blu Ray Screwhead edition? (or the quality difference is small and not worth the upgrade?)

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

I've heard this is pretty awful.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

I've said it before and I will say it again here in this thread:

DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE - the DVD looks absolutely awful, and the BD is a revelation in comparison...

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

You're thinking of Armageddon.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

Broken Arrow: the DVD was non-anamorphic and the blu is an improvement.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

Another one: Hard Rain. DVD was letterboxed

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

Yep, non-anamorphic to BD is a no-brainer. Some others I picked up:

Mimic (Canada)
The Faculty (Canada)

Can't wait for Marked For Death in May!

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

Monsoon Wedding was previously available in a non-16x9 DVD, then was released on DVD/Blu-ray.

Same for 10 Things I Hate About You.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

Frantic (DVD was Fullscreen)

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

The GONY dvd has a mediocre transfer full of edge enhancement and DNR. These problems were just magnified on the original Blu-ray. Disney/Miramax put out a string of rough transfers during this time, supposedly sharpening their films for a non-discerning audience. Cold Mountain was another such mediocre transfer.

The Criterion The Rock is sweet and has a nice anamorphic transfer, though the Blu-ray looks great apparently.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

The Bonnie and Clyde DVD was pan & scan, too.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

The recent releases of Frantic and Spies Like Us were good starts. I have a couple on my list that have never had a decent release.

Honeymoon in Vegas FF only
Memphis Belle non-anamorphic only
Arthur FF only
Poseidon Adventure non-anamorphic only
While You were Sleeping non-anamorphic only
True Lies non-anamorphic wasn't it?


Several family/kids movies have only had FF releases

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

Do you mean the 1972 version? If you do, the special edition is anamorphic.

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

I stand corrected, never noticed there was an SE

Re: What are the essential Blu-Rays that fix problematic DVDs?
 

I think that the movie with the biggest change from a crappy bare bones,bad transfer, non anamorphic dvd to a blu ray with a great transfer, filled to the brim with extras(not to mention different versions of the movie) would be Bladerunner. It went from one of the worst dvd's to one of the best blu rays