Posted by Morgan Montague on 07/18/06 18:23

"Rolleston" <Nemo@nullsome.net> wrote in message
news:lzmzb9xr00.fsf@null.nullsome.net...
>
> Hello. I'm new this group, so my apologies if the following questions have
> already
> been addressed. I've just bought a DVD of The Matrix. Watching it I am
> struck by how
> incredibly grainy it is throughout. These questions occur:
>
> (a) In general, is there only one DVD transfer of a particular movie, or
> can you
> shop around to find one of superior quality? If so, how can I tell if I
> have
> a good/bad/average one?
>
> (b) There are a lot of extras with the movie. Moreover, it all comes on a
> one-sided
> DVD. Could this mean that lower bit rates have been used for the movie
> iself,
> this being the cause of graininess?
>
> (c) Or is it just grainy because a lot of the movie is shot in low light
> conditions?
>
> Any answers to these questions most appreciated,
>
> Thank you,
>
> R.


THE MATRIX was filled in a process called Super 35 which, unlike
Panavision, gives a widescreen image (2.4:1) but uses only have the area of
the negative. There a many good reasons for using Super 35 over Panavision,
but the trade off is going to be in sharpness and in grain. Furthermore,
grain is dependent on the wether high speed film stock is used (because of
low light and/or higher f stop) is needed. Finally, it depends on the
Digital Intermediate made with all the color corrections and enhancements
that the directors needed to tell their story. Many times, grain reduction
computer algorithms are used to make a better image, but not always.

Then, there is the transfer. It depends on who made the transfer on what
equipment and what type of software (grain reduction programs again) the
transfer was done with. When the HD or NTSC transfer is completed it may
still make a crappy DVD master if, for example, a low bit rate and a non
anamorphic transfer is done of a widescreen title.

Many popular titles will go through multiple remasterings. I suspect the
matrix will get this treatment as well. The question remains is if you can
wait.
With HD-DVD and Blu Ray here, I suspect this will happen and so a regular
DVD release maybe imminent as well. Most titles before a certain date
weren't digitally mastered in HD. A huge library of DVD was release from
the crappy laser disk and VHS/beta masters since most folks were watching
early on their DVD's on 27" monitors. With folks buying 40+ inch monitors
(I have a 65" RPHD set) those early film transfers are crap.
For example: I bought the Universal release of SPARTACUS. Bad disk. Heavy
compression and non-anamorphic. Later on I bought the Criterion Collection
release of the same title. Gorgeous picture.

I'm sure other contributors of this n.g. can offer similar stories. Join
Netflix and preview stuff before you buy.

Morgan

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