The Cyberhome is an Apex in disguise. At least it acted the same as my old 600a.

Get a modded JVC instead. Thats what I ended up doing. Better build quality, PQ, and it'll letterbox and transcode at the same time.

I've got both a CH500 and a Apex 600a. 2 very different players. Don't quite know what you mean by the 'acted the same' but I've noticed: CH500 has much higher PQ than the 600a, yet the 600a ran smoother and had much less quirks than the CH500. That aside, the 600a couldn't do proper anamorphic PAL conversion with a gun to its' head.

I'll up the original suggestion, don't buy a CH 500, buy a new TV w/ anamorphic squeeze. Higher resolution and the TV will do your letterboxing for you!

Thats because it can't do it. You have to pick if you want pal conversion or letterboxing of 16:9 material. Can't have them both.

I thought the PQ of the CH500 was pretty close to the Apex and the build quality even less.

Blackstar shipped my 28 Days Later DVD today. Soooo excited about this. :)

We have the posters in at work for 28 Days Later. I snapped one up, and oh, the rest are so envious that they have to wait another month-and-a-half before they see it. :D

Life as one of the enlightened is good.

Region Free 28 Days Later?
 

I just noticed to ebay auctions for the dvd of 28 days later....both were US sellers. Both dvds were region free...one was listed as widescreen and one as full screen. Now I know they could be pirated copies, but I was curious if anyone knew of a genuine dvd version other than the region2, PAL? Thanks in advance.

I'm leaning towards bootlegs on those Ebay region-frees

Re: Region Free 28 Days Later?
 

No official releases besides the R2 PAL, as far as I know. The full-screen is almost certainly a bootleg from the screener tape.

-edit-

After looking at the ebay ads in question, I'm saying definitely bootlegs on both counts. The full-screen boasts "Chinese, Thai, and Bahasa" subtitles, and the ad for the supposedly widescreen version says "Foreign Release has everthing a US released DVD has but gives you the option to turn on and off added foreign subtitles."

They're bootlegs. Furthermore, unless the "Foreign Release" makers got ahold of a digital master, I promise you that both versions look like crap.

Thanks for the info. I figured I had a reason to be skeptical!

I'd definitely agree witht he build quality. The 600a was like a tank. Almost the difference between and old DeSoto and a new Honda as far as construction goes.

Pic wise, I had both going to a Wega via component cables, and I noticed a lot more artifacting and 'haloing' with the 600a, although the colors were pretty good. With the CH 500 things look more washed out, but the artifacting I had with the 600a was gone for the most part. It was kind of give / take; but I think overall the CH500 was better. Unfortunately the CH500 also doesn't maintain color levels at all, so it's got it's own set of probs, I think.

I agree with Nocturnaloner, those Ebay ads pretty much scream, "I'm a poor quality chinese preview copy!" and are fairly expensive for bootlegs, anyways. I'd stay away.

And for not much more, (about 24 bucks) you can get the full-featured special edition from companies like cd-wow that have free shipping. I've said it before, I'll say it again: If you really love film, you must have an all-region, PAL converting dvd player. It's a matter of choice. Why be limited by region codes and tv standards? As just one example, the true uncut version of Peter Jackson's Braindead might never be released in the US. If you love zombie movies, it's a must have.

Here Here! I'll second that!

Yes, having a region free DVD player is definately good. I placed my order for 28 Days Later at Amazon.co.uk today. I can't wait! :D

There's a great review of the film up at CHUD.

http://www.chud.com/reviews/28devin.php3

He seems to back up my thoughts about the video look of the trailer versus the film, and the review is, IMO, spot on.

Great, now I really can't wait for my disc to come. This movie sounds pretty damn good.

Thanks for the link. :)

Got my copy today (Monday) here in Chicago (ordered from Blackstar).

Just popped it into the player to prepare to add it to my database. First thought: Gaaah, menu looks like crud! Hope the movie's not like that! Second thought: Gaaah, movie looks like crud! Why must they pour on the noise reduction and edge enhancement, why, why? Final PQ rating for my database: 5 out of 10.

Then I came here to post something about it, viewed this thread for the first time, and pretty much read everything I was thinking, already written by others.

Anyone have the Masterworks edition of RAN? This is comparable, but worse. DVNR to the max, and edge enhancement on top of that. MUD. Please, studios, if there's grain in the picture, just LEAVE IT THERE, don't mess with it. Leave it untainted by your horrid filters.

Still, I do look forward to watching it. :)

Allow me to demonstrate with a few captures.

Here is a completely untouched, raw capture from 28 Days Later. (It's only a portion of the image, I cropped it.) It's saved as a high quality JPG.

http://shillpages.com/28days1.jpg

Now here is a completely untouched, raw capture from a different disc I got today, the SE of The People vs Larry Flynt. The bitrate is actually lower than that of 28DL. Again, this is a cropped portion of the picture, and it's saved with the same high quality setting.

http://shillpages.com/people1.jpg

NOW... I'm going to give you my impression of a studio running their evil filters over that image. I've taken the original, done some noise reduction, and then some edge enhancement. NOTE the difference, THEN compare it to the pic from 28DL above...

http://shillpages.com/people2.jpg

Horrid, isn't it?

This has been a public service message brought to you by the People for the Abolishment of Cruddy Video Filters.

I have RAN and it does look like crap.

We can't be too sure the studio did add EE and DVNR to 28DL. It was shot on DV and not a particularly highend camera at that. I read it was an XL1. Hell, thats what they shoot weddings with! DV is gonna give you some artifacts in and of itself. Like motion blurring etc. Some cameras even add EE while shooting. Sony is notorious for this.

On an up note, if they shot this in PAL at 25fps then we won't suffer with PAL speedup.

That doesn't look that bad considering it was shot on a DV camera. I was expecting worse.

I got my copy yesterday, along with the Bunker and My Little Eye (which, incidentally, is probably one of the best DVDs that I've ever seen). The picture quality in 28DL looks fine to me; it lends itself quite well to the style of movie, IMO.

I got my copy yesterday too, watched it late at night. The transfer is, to my eyes, about as good as you could hope for, considering the way the film was shot. No complaints.

If you're a fan of zombie movies, or Romero's Living Dead trilogy in particular, the film is going to rock your world. I watched the entire thing with a huge smile of pleasure plastered across my face, except for the moments when I was jumping off my couch. Good stuff.

Also watched the deleted scenes (many of which are so good, it's baffling why they were taken out) and the alternate endings. Still haven't watched the doc or listened to the commentary, but I will soon, probably this weekend. This movie made me feel the same way I felt when I saw Dawn of the Dead for the first time. Not nearly as gory, but definitely possessed by the same spirit and sensibility.

I really think the look of the dvd is intentional, especially given that I'm sure Danny Boyle saw it, either during the commentary recording or afterward. The bottom line is that it's a visual style that they're going for, and you either like it, or you don't.

I just got my copy from Amazon.uk.co and I now have to configure my computer so it can convert the PAL format...after that I am rolling... :)

Does anyone know where we can pick this up for a bit cheaper. Blackstar seems a little steep seeing how t comes out to approx 28 US dollars and thats not evening covering shipping charges., not to mention conversion fees from our banks or CC company. Thanx, I appreciate it.