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Profile of Andrew Siers

Andrew Siers

Site Reviewer

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Vital Statistics

Age Group 19
Video Likes When the film is presented in its original aspect ratio. When the DVD looks better than it did theatrically (seems to happen more often than not these days with my local cinemas).
Video Dislikes When edge enhancement is used excessively, aliasing, bad layer changes.
Audio Likes When you don't know where the sound is coming from, you just know it's there. New 5.1 remixes so long as the original mix is on there also.
Audio Dislikes Lack of bass at times in music.
Favourite DVDs Robocop: Criterion Collection (R1), Goldeneye: SE (R1), Fight Club (R1), American Pie (Unrated, R1)
Least Favourite DVDs Anything that says Harry Potter on it. I mean, can we be any more commercial?
Most Eagerly Awaited DVDs Panic Room, The Game SE, Alien 3 SE. Yes, they are coming, it's only a matter of time - this is Fincher remember.

Opinions About Specific Movies and their DVDs

Titanic Haven't seen it. Don't plan to see it. Don't want to see it. Three hours of my life that are not going to be wasted.
The Matrix Quite good first time round. After reading way too much about it, not so good, though Chapter 29 on the R1 disc has been viewed way too many times in my home theatre.
Terminator 2 Reminds me of the days when I used to watch LDs. The DVD is superb, although my UE Disc 1 has a crack in it!
Star Wars Good, but not obsessed.
Godzilla How exactly can you lose a giant lizard?
Independence Day A summer no-brainer, but that still didn't stop me from seeing it on the first day and loving it. How exactly is an alien spaceship compatible with a Macintosh?

Equipment

DVD Player Pioneer DV-626D , using Component output
Display Toshiba 34N9UXA . Calibrated with Video Essentials.
Audio Decoder Built in to DVD player . Calibrated with Video Essentials.
Amplification Yamaha CX-600 Pre-Amp, Yamaha MX-600 Stereo Power Amp for Mains, Yamaha DSP-E300 for Center, Teac AS-M50 for Surrounds.
Speakers Main Left and Right Acoustic Research AR12s, Center Yamaha NS-C70, Surround Left and Right JBL Control 1s

Top 10 DVDs

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1. Fight Club: Special Edition (1999)
Just an utterly brilliant film, R4 DVD could have been *much* better though.
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2. Snatch: Collector's Edition (2000)
One of my most watched discs in the collection, still funny each time and a great transfer.
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3. GoldenEye: Special Edition (1995)
Still the best 007 film ever made, with an excellent transfer that has seen many viewings in my house.
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4. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within: Collector's Edition (2001)
An absolutely brilliant transfer with a storyline that could only have come from Japan.
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5. A Night at the Roxbury (1998)
Very, very stupid, but funny all the same. A major video glitch puts a downer on things though.
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6. El Mariachi/Desperado (1992)
Give me Rodriguez anyday, if only Once Upon A Time In Mexico would be released!
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7. Any Given Sunday (1999)
I didn't think gridiron was this brutal! The only Oliver Stone film I have seen, quite good.
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8. Starship Troopers: Special Edition (1997)
If not for the violence, then for the girls.
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9. Men in Black: Limited Edition (1997)
Looks and sounds great, and Will Smith is, well, Will Smith.
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10. Mission: Impossible II (2000)
So many continuity faults, but action packed.

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