Age Group | just younger than Star Wars Ep IV |
Video Likes | 16 x 9 anamorphic transfers, vibrant colours that don't bleed (see Bring it On) - Sharp transfers that make me forget I'm watching a movie. Detail,sharpness. |
Video Dislikes | Mpeg artefacts in their various forms - Grrrr (if it means losing extra features to get a decent transfer - so be it). Soft transfers that make films unwatchable on a projector |
Audio Likes | Extensive use of surrounds to put you in the middle of the movie (i.e. Boucho clapping in the opening scene of Desperado - my first 5.1 experience with my system) |
Audio Dislikes | Center channel bias on older titles. I rekon that even the 5.1 Godfather mix is too center specific, and that the dynamic range on that track is low. Low fidelity on 5.1 = laziness by the DVD team. |
Favourite DVDs | Desperado superbit, Das Boot superbit, Die Hard with a vengeance(R1) DTS, Starship Troopers, Moulin Rouge, Futurama Season 1. LOTR:EE |
Least Favourite DVDs | Of mine: Godfather Set - (dissapointing 5.1 audio), but still love the movies. Casino |
Most Eagerly Awaited DVDs | Star Wars Ep 4,5,6, Indiana Jones trilogy. |
Titanic | Fab production values, pity about the acting and dialogue. |
The Matrix | Film was ok, a bit derivative - Joey Pants! - DVD was less good than I had been led to believe, but still an essential part of most collections, and better than average. |
Terminator 2 | T2:UE is great, Film is great, but I'm starting to feel like I've seen it too many times. Best looking DVD package (except perhaps for the Total Recall R1 case) |
Star Wars | Pity Lucas is getting so fat that he can't waddle down from the ranch and direct someone to just put out the first 3 DVD's. Surely the cost justification to employ people to do it full time is there. Even if it is just a bare bones release first, with the full blown - lets add extra footage(again!) - done later |
Godzilla | Haven't wasted my time with this, not even vaugely interested. |
Independence Day | Wish I could get my mac to dial up to an alien ship :-) |
DVD Player | Custom HTPC (Abit NF7-S, XP 2500+, 512mb DDR 400, Pioneer DV-107, ATI Radeon, WIN XP,Theatretek DVD) , using RGB output |
Display | Nec XG-750 CRT Projector, 100" 4:3, 2.2 gain . Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL). This display device is 16x9 capable. |
Audio Decoder | Built in to amplifier/receiver . Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL). |
Amplification | Denon AVR-3801 |
Speakers | Equinox Aphelion mains, Equinox Eclipse center, Mordaunt Short MS95 surrounds, JBL sub |
1. Das Boot: The Director's Cut (Superbit) (1997) Truly a reference transfer, both audio and visual are superb. | 2. Moulin Rouge: Special Edition (2001) Well presented DVD with an excellent soundtrack | 3. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Special Extended Edition (2001) A DVD Benchmark, tho the R4 pitch correction forced me to R1 | 4. Lawrence of Arabia: Collector's Edition (1962) How does a film this old look so good on DVD?? | 5. The Fifth Element (Superbit) (1997) Great transfer, great demo material (shh, mine is R1!) |
6. Starship Troopers: Special Edition (1997) A fine example of Verhoven's work | 7. Diana Krall-Live in Paris (Warner Vision) (2002) Great audio and video, and some fine music... | 8. Gladiator: Deluxe Collector's Edition (2000) A must have... | 9. Shrek: Special Edition (2001) Great kids film with a full to the brim DVD. | 10. Futurama-Season 1 (Box Set) (1999) Great looking DVD's that really show off my projector. |