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Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

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Old 11-17-16 | 12:32 PM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Originally Posted by Dan
So... is there a list of theatres that are actually showing this in true 120fps?

It's great that it was shot that way, but if it's impossible to watch it that way, why should we care?
Replying to myself... I still haven't been able to find a definitive list. I do know that the hyped LA and NYC screenings were/are both 120fps. I know that one theatre in Toronto is showing it that way as well. Other than that...

Looks like I'll be skipping it entirely.
Old 11-17-16 | 03:02 PM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Last day at the Arclight Hollywood for the 'enhanced' viewing is today.

I did not get to see it in 120fps. As for the film itself, is the book more compelling? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to take away from this flick.
Old 11-17-16 | 09:59 PM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

But Armond White (who now writes for Out magazine) says it's Lee's best film!
Old 11-17-16 | 10:12 PM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

WHAT? It looks alright. I think I know what to expect. His best film?

(salvaging this from another post I just made)

Old 11-18-16 | 09:33 PM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

saw this at Tysons Corner at an advertised 120fps presentation - it didn't impress me.

EDIT - apparently it was 24fps

Last edited by Giles; 11-20-16 at 12:41 AM.
Old 11-18-16 | 09:50 PM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

^ From what I understand, unless your screening was at a specific theatre in LA, NYC, Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver, it wouldn't have been 120fps. I read (somewhere... can't recall...) that those were the only five cities worldwide to get it in 120fps. Could be wrong...

edit: yeah... I'm wrong.
Old 11-19-16 | 05:48 PM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

This movie is fucking awful.
Old 11-19-16 | 06:10 PM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

This bombed hard.
Old 11-20-16 | 12:39 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

due to technical error, the first screening of the day at Tysons (Friday) didn't playback in 120fps ([bangs head on wall] - AMC gave me a free pass for the screw up)
Old 11-20-16 | 01:16 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

At least they'll get their Technical Oscar.
Old 11-20-16 | 09:11 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Any way to get a list of theaters playing this way it is intended to be seen?
Old 11-20-16 | 09:17 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Originally Posted by Troy Stiffler
WHAT? It looks alright. I think I know what to expect. His best film?

(salvaging this from another post I just made)

It's Armond White. That means he predicts that nobody else will like it.
Old 02-16-17 | 07:20 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Watched the 4K disc last night. The image was beautiful and the 60 fps was very jarring at first.

The movie itself was just OK, but from a technical stand point, with the right equipment is well worth a watch. Its not even close to film like.

I loaded the digital copy (which is 24 fps) on my phone during a scene and watched them together, and its like 2 different movies.

Last edited by stingermck; 02-16-17 at 08:59 AM.
Old 02-16-17 | 08:16 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

I'm assuming that's a typo that you saw it at 120fps because the UHD is only at 60fps.
Old 02-16-17 | 09:00 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Originally Posted by trespoochies
I'm assuming that's a typo that you saw it at 120fps because the UHD is only at 60fps.
Old 02-16-17 | 09:16 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Just making sure. I do want to buy it strictly for the technical aspects. I'll assume the Atmos mix is reference as well. I'll just have to wait for it to be on sale. Based on the reviews, I don't feel inspired to spend any more than $19.99 for it.
Old 02-16-17 | 10:35 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

I picked it up with some other movies at Targets b2g1 sale this week.
Old 02-16-17 | 11:22 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

I just did the same thing, came out to $14.50 per item (using $15 in gift cards).
Old 02-16-17 | 11:40 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Can someone please explain the specs of the 4K disc? Is it really possible to recreate the 120 fps at home?
Old 02-16-17 | 11:46 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

This kind of lays it out on how the frame rate affects the overall picture. And at home, the UHD disc is at 60fps, not 120. Although I'm not sure if the 60fps rate is only because the 120fps would be too much to store on a 4K disc, or a limitation of the current 4K TV's at this time. But bottom line, the increased fps rate is to make movies look "more real" on screen, but really it's a soap opera effect, albeit with much more clarity, that we're experiencing.

http://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php...&id=1484135543

For much smoother motion

While many in Hollywood consider 24fps part of the “cinema look” it is undeniable that it introduces significant motion blur to the picture. To film in 24fps the camera needs to smooth out motion by introducing motion blur between frames. This is very easy to confirm: Just pause any movie at any point during an action sequence.

Several fronts have proposed solutions to this. Peter Jackson doubled the frame rate to 48fps in ‘The Hobbit’. This is sometimes referred to HFR (High Frame Rate) but there is disagreement over the term. The broadcast industry considers only 100+ fps HFR whereas Hollywood considers basically anything over 24fps HFR.

Regardless of the definition of the word, there is reason to be excited about HFR. It will usher in a new type of movies by giving giving the movie creator an even wider palette. Combined with other advances such as 4K and HDR, HFR will take (some) movies to new heights.

That is why we are also excited to learn that ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk’ will be the first UHD Blu-ray release in 60fps HFR. Not only that, it will be presented in 4K and HDR, too, as well as in Dolby Atmos. A HD 3D version will also be available in the box. Furthermore, the disc will include a ‘Technology as Art: Changing the Language of Cinema’ featurette about how the high frame rate technology was implemented.
Old 02-16-17 | 09:30 PM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

How's the actual movie? Anyone see in 3D?
Old 02-19-17 | 09:23 PM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

just saw this. didn't hate it, but could have been done better. PTSD is more than that and Lee made it too stylized. Alwyn was good as Billy. Even Stewart didn't bother me. Hedlund didn't impress me and found him too stiff. That Leigh chick, the cheerleader is so cute.

This should have been more emotional. The only emotional moment was Billy and sister's hug at end. Dialogue seemed stilted as well. Didn't feel like an Ang Lee movie. And don't know what the hoopla over video is, unless you can't see it on regular bluray. Either way, just look ok and filmic.

Wanted to have a better time with this movie, but not sorry I saw it.
Old 02-20-17 | 04:31 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Originally Posted by OldBoy
And don't know what the hoopla over video is, unless you can't see it on regular bluray. Either way, just look ok and filmic.
Didn't read the thread, eh?
Old 03-22-17 | 09:21 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Curiosity got the best of me, and I bought the 4K UHD version, which shows the movie at 60fps (not the original 120fps, and not the typical 24fps)

The frame rate is jarring, but not as bad as when the TV is adding in fake frames. The motion is smooth, and generally not overly distracting after awhile. I'm not yet convinced that HFR is of any use to cinematic storytelling, but I'm not giving up on it entirely yet.

But... the cinematography in this is so bad. It must have been a stylistic choice, but I would say most shots are the type that have EVERYTHING in focus, emphasizing the 'video' look. There's obviously some scenes that are done with a little bit more of a cinematic feel, using more deliberate framing, focus, etc. but they're few and far between.

It's maybe just me, but HFR (high frame rate) seems to capture an extra layer of the nuances of actors' performances in a way that isn't as evident at 24fps for some reason. In this film, that's a huge disadvantage, because most of the acting is downright atrocious. Everyone looks and feels like they're acting, and not like characters. At first I thought it was just me projecting my feelings about the frame rate & cinematography onto the performances as well, but then Kristen Stewart shows up and her performance is great. She takes generally weak scenes in the film and makes them watchable. Not just because she's recognizable, but because she's actually doing a good job, unlike everyone else in the flick (including Vin Diesel, sorry.)

I can't say much about sound quality, since I don't even have a proper 5.1 setup anymore.

Also worth noting, at least on the Xbox One S I used to play this, there seems to be some sort of issue causing it to playback with heavily crushed blacks. I don't have my Vizio professionally calibrated or anything, but most flicks look pretty damn nice on it. This one, as soon as the Sony logo comes up on the feature presentation, looks VERY washed out. I don't think this is how it is encoded on the disc... I think this is purely the Xbox One S causing the problem (something about how it recognizes flags, or something? I have no idea), but I had to go into my TV settings to tweak it a bit. Also, it stuttered once near the beginning of the film, but was smooth for the rest of it. I noticed a stutter on Sicario too, many months ago. Seems like the console struggles with higher bit-rates maybe...

tl;dr: HFR is still kind of a bust. This movie isn't good, regardless. Don't waste your time.
Old 03-22-17 | 09:52 AM
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Re: Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016, D: Ang Lee)

Originally Posted by Dan
But... the cinematography in this is so bad. It must have been a stylistic choice, but I would say most shots are the type that have EVERYTHING in focus, emphasizing the 'video' look. There's obviously some scenes that are done with a little bit more of a cinematic feel, using more deliberate framing, focus, etc. but they're few and far between.
Could this have something to do with the film being shot in 3D as well, rather than a conversion? As in, perhaps the 3D was intended to shape/direct the viewer's focus, but without it you're stuck with everything being equal? Seems like this film is impossible to watch in anything even remotely resembling the director's intent, at least technologically speaking (obviously, the drama itself and the acting have faced considerable scrutiny). You can watch the higher-frame rate (still not as high as what it was shot in) but not in 3D, or you can watch the 3D disc, but lose the higher frame rate.

Still, I'd be interested in seeing it under ideal circumstances at least once some day just to say that I did. Supposedly it played here in Toronto, somewhere, with all the bells and whistles, but I'm told it wasn't something people turned out for in droves.

Last edited by Brian T; 03-22-17 at 10:01 AM.


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