I am curious, what would look better image wise, a HD broadcast ripped to a SD DVD but being played in an upconverting DVD player or an official studio release on SD DVD in an upconverting player? I don't need complex in depth details, I am just curious what would look better image wise generally speaking.

I'm sure a studio transfer would be the most optimal.

From what I've done, I'd disagree.

Just posted at Bloody Disgusting with link to original source...

One of our new favorite horror mags, HorrorHound Magazine, just scored some amazing info this afternoon - Lionsgate Home Entertainment is working on a special DVD release for Monster Squad, which is slated for release sometime this year. The DVD will not be bare bones as the plan is to pack the 20th anniversary release with extra features. More news as it comes in and don't forget to pick up the next HorrorHound, which features a special retrospect on the film. Dracula is alive. In fact, he plans to rule the world and that is why he seeks the help of other legendary monsters. However, a bunch of kids regarded by their peers as losers uncover the devious plan and prepare for a counter strike. "Wolf Man has nards!"

http://www.horrorhound.com/news/news...=11&t=65&p=138

Actually, my HD2DVD transfer of Blade Runner is better than the released version.

Keep the bitrate high and there can be a definite improvement over what the studios give you.

Thank you, Lionsgate!!

Wowzers! LGF? Didn't see that company doing.

Please don't this be another false-lead... please!

I think my HD version of Monster Squad looks great! As DFNYC says, his copy of BR is better than the studio release.

I am very happy to hear about the official release, *crosses fingers* for lots of extras, thats the only thing lacking in my HD copy. I will definitely cop the official release as long as there are plenty of extras. What would REALLY make my day is a real HD release of this film, hey I can dream can't I???

Thought I would share some The Monster Squad HD caps from my copy.

Lions Gate???? That has me worried.

"Yeah Squad fans! Here's a bunch of extra features! oh and the movie is full screen."

I live on hope when it comes to DVD. Maybe Lions Gate will surprise us. It will do a lot to bring their reputation up if they pull this off. They already get some points for making it a special edition.

HOLY HANNAH this is good news!


Rudy: Where the hell am I supposed to find this DVD? K-Mart?

Guess what, folks. An "upconverting" DVD player doesn't bring the quality back up to HD. In fact, it doesn't really restore any lost detail. It really just helps smooth out the artifacting you might see in SD content when you view it on an HD display. Don't make me get out the cluebat.

That said, if the studio doesn't use an HD source for the DVD, it probably won't look as good as a homemade DVD from the HD source. Of course you also have to take into account that a studio transfer will be replicated onto a dual-layer DVD, so if you use a standard DVD-R disc, you'll have to compress the material that much more, thereby pretty much losing a lot of the advantages of starting with an HD source.

Uhh...i think you COMPLETELY misunderstood.

I hope so... I just want to make sure nobody's counting on the "upconverting" DVD player to get the quality of that HD source back on the screen.

Again, if the studio doesn't use an HD transfer to create the official DVD, a homemade DVD of the HD broadcast might look slightly better. If you create a DVD-ROM containing WMV9 content, you could preserve the detail from the HD broadcast, but of course you lose the ability to play it on set-top players.

You know, it's not out of the realm of possibility that they could release it on BD. They've been fairly aggressive at putting out their more popular titles, and they don't have a lot of big movies like the major studios. With the predominantly male early adopters this might go over well with, I wouldn't be completely surprised.

no. we're saying that an HD2DVD transfer can look better than an official DVD transfer from the same master. We've both done it.

I don't like the HD version. It is too cropped for me.

agreed. but the quality of the bootlegs from the japanese laserdiscs sucks. so it's a trade off.

nin74 Thanks a lot....your screen cap totally shits on mine, thats for rubbing it in


Shit I will take a quality near HD picture over OAR. Even if its cropped, ya it bothers me a little bit, but damn look at that first cap, it looks great! I guess its personal preference at this point. I know a lot of people have issues with movies that are not OAR, as long as it fills my TV its cool with me. (Stupid X-Files movie) I will take my HD copy for now and evaluate the new release.

Hey nin74 if you have any more caps can you post them I would love to see some more.

Well if you'd read my posts I'm agreeing with you. So much emphasis was placed on the "upconverting" DVD player by the OP that I had to step in and say something. Of course my point about a DVD-9 vs. a 4GB DVD-R still stands (although there are DVD-R DL discs), and it seems unlikely that the best possible source wouldn't be used for an official release. Stranger things have happened, though.

Oh, and you might want to reconsider that part about "the same master". If the studio uses the same HD transfer that was sent down the pipe to your DVR, there's no way you're gonna get better results on a home PC burning a 4GB DVD-R than you'd get on a dual-layer DVD from the studio. Still, I'll give you that if whoever releases this doesn't use the existing HD transfer, a homebrew disc could potentially look somewhat better.

Wow, nothing more dangerous than telling a fan that he can't do something as well as the almighty studio... better tread lightly here.

Sure glad I didn't have to step in and pretty much say what Mike Adams just said, lol. But that's exactly what I was talking about. I never doubted that a home disc couldn't look great if done right, but yeah, 4gb vs a dual layer disc, nah.

Uhh..all of mine are dual-layer.
I don't know what you're talking about. I never use single-layer unless it's an hour or under.

And again, my Blade Runner is a helluva lot better than the one WB released.

Maybe, but I have (had) the japanese LD as this was taken from and I find it to be okay. I prefer OAR all the way.

I can do it later today. So can someone do the HD version so we can compare. I didn't like the cropping and I hope the DVD will be as warm in color.