- GonSmithe
- Apr 25, 2010
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Perhaps it's in the nature of television. Just waves in space.
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Welcome to the physical media thread! This will be the defacto thread for discussion of all types of physical home media from DVD to UHD and beyond.
Why would I buy a stupid disc when I could just stream it?
To a lot of people the biggest answer is “streaming speeds.” ISPs can charge ludicrous amounts of money for Internet and speeds, resulting in stuttering and low-quality presentations of your favorite media. Streaming as a platform in general also results in compression which reduces the audio and video quality of the media. When you buy physical media, the only limitation on these is the TV and sound system you own.
What's the difference between Blu-ray and UHD?
UHD discs are the new step-up in physical media quality. While blu-ray will give you a 1080p presentation, UHD allows for a stunning 4K presentation. The largest benefit UHD discs have over blu-rays, however, is HDR.
What's HDR?
If you have a 4k TV that supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), it allows for a wider contrast ratio as well as a wider color gamut. This results in your TV being able to display supported media closer to the original scan of the film, which is mutes these qualities in lesser resolutions. For more information, here's a very detailed article by CNET explaining it.
Hey, I want to buy some physical media but I hate that mainstream superhero poo poo, is there anything for me?
A quick guide to boutique labels...
The Criterion Collection (US/CA/UK)
Started in 1984 as a joint venture between film distributor Janus Films and laserdisc manufacturer Voyager, Criterion has become the gold standard of stellar home video releases. They switched from laserdisc to DVD in March 1998 and later began releasing Blu-rays in December 2008. The label is best known for high quality, restored presentations of films with extensive supplemental features. Their second laserdisc, King Kong, featured the first audio commentary track (though, Orson Welles was approached to record one for Citizen Kane prior to his death). While they release many arthouse and foreign films, such as those by the directors like Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa, and Federico Fellini; they also release many mainstream and cult films by newer directors like Wes Anderson and Richard Linklater. Their eclectic range of titles include film school staples (The Seventh Seal, 8 1/2), mainstream hits (Dr. Strangelove, Night of the Living Dead), cult classics (Multiple Maniacs, House), and deep obscurities (A Hollis Frampton Odyssey, Jean Painleve: Science is Fiction).
Recent and upcoming releases (as of April 2018) include: Night of the Living Dead, The Silence of the Lambs, Elevator to the Gallows, Tom Jones, The Passion of Joan of Arc, Dead Man, King of Jazz, Women in Love, An Actor's Revenge, Bowling for Columbine, and Female Trouble.
Shout! Factory (US)
Started as a primarily music-oriented label in 2002 by former founders of Rhino Records. They specialize in cult classics, horror, and sci-fi. Among their most frequently released directors are John Carpenter, Sam Raimi, Brian DePalma, Joe Dante, and Tobe Hooper. Shout! also owns the rights to Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Roger Corman's self-produced films, as well as US distributor for IFC Films and Studio Ghibli.
Recent and upcoming releases (as of April 2018) include: Carrie, Drag Me to Hell, The Thing, Curse of the Cat People, It's Alive, In the Mouth of Madness, Wild at Heart, and Matinee.
Kino Lorber (US)
One of the oldest home video labels has gone through many changes since its founding in 1977 as a theatrical distributor. Best known for their releases of silent cinema and foreign films. Currently, while also specializing in silent cinema (being the US distributor for nearly all German silent films), they have also branched out to mainstream studio libraries. Their sublabel Kino Lorber Studio Classics mines the MGM, Fox, and Paramount libraries for both well-known and obscure films.
Recent and upcoming releases (as of April 2018) include: Fritz Lang: The Silent Films, The Outer Limits: Season 1, The Lion in Winter, The Covered Wagon, Seven Beauties, and Pioneers of African-American Cinema.
Arrow Video (UK/US/CA)
While originally known as purveyor of shlock and cult titles only when they began releasing on VHS in 1991, Arrow has become an equal to Criterion in terms of presentation quality and supplements. Releasing a wide range of films such as cult classics like Zardoz, Forbidden Zone, and the films of Herschell Gordon Lewis; they have also branched into classic and arthouse cinema with films like Sullivan's Travels and The Tree of Wooden Clogs. In 2014, they started their US branch and have released many titles in both US and UK territories, though many UK exclusives are available from other labels. They supervise many 2K and 4K restorations, including some imported into the US by other labels (Criterion used their 2K remaster of Time Bandits).
Recent and upcoming releases (as of April 2018) include: Last House on the Left (US/UK), The Marx Brothers at Paramount (UK), Between Night and Dawn (early George Romero features - US/UK), and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (UK).
Masters of Cinema (UK)
While only working on a fraction of output today, in its prime MoC was considered the Criterion of England. They have specialized in silent films by Fritz Lang, F.W. Murnau, and Ernst Lubitsch; as well as other classic and arthouse films. One hallmark of their editions is the inclusion of books, sometimes over 200 pages! Do note that all of their releases are coded for Region B only except for a few (Sunrise and City Girl). Most releases use existing masters by studios rather than any in-house work other than encoding/compression.
Essential releases include: Man with the Movie Camera and Other Works by Dziga Vertov, Nosferatu, Intolerance, Metropolis, and Fear and Desire.
Twilight Time (US)
One of the few labels that releases only strict quantities, usually 3000. Main hallmark of their releases is the inclusion of music-only tracks and commentaries. Only available on their website and Screen Archives Entertainment, besides second-hand copies on Amazon and eBay. Variable quality, as they only use existing masters provided by studios with rare exceptions. They did supervise a re-timing of John Huston's Moby Dick, though based on an existing transfer. Many releases use fresh 4K masters provided by Sony and Fox.
Notable releases include: The Blob (1988), Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, A Man for All Seasons, Zardoz, and The Birth of a Nation (coming soon).
Vinegar Syndrome (US)
One of the newest boutique studios, formed as a result of a highly successful Kickstarter campaign to remaster obscure films like those of Herschel Gordon Lewis. Specializing in everything from low-budget indies like the films of Rudy Ray Moore and Melvin van Peebles to pornos. They also have a side label, Etiquette Pictures, that releases obscure "regular" films like Catch My Soul. Usually perform their own high quality 2K and 4K restorations.
Notable releases include: Christmas Evil, Hobgoblins, Liquid Sky, Ice Cream Man, Jack Frost, and Dolemite.
Olive Films (US)
Originally started as a small label for new-to-DVD/Blu-ray Paramount films, they have branched into licensing from Republic, MGM and Fox as well. A relatively small studio, but highlights would be their Olive Signature Line featuring remasters and extras.
Notable releases include The Quiet Man, Welles' Macbeth, High Noon, Letter to an Unknown Woman, and Johnny Guitar.
Synapse Films (US)
Founded by Don May, former key figure of Elite Entertainment and Dark Sky Films, the label specializes in many underground cult and horror films. Best known for releases of Manos: The Hands of Fate and The Creeping Terror, as well as new restorations of Dario Argento films like Suspiria, Tenebre, and Inferno. Also released Thundercrack!, which is the most hosed up movie I've ever seen (yes, it's hardcore).
Flicker Alley (US)
Relatively new label specializing in silent cinema. Main output for Blackhawk Films and Lobster Films, as well as Cinerama and The Film Noir Foundation. Notable releases include This is Cinerama, Early Women Filmmakers, 3-D Rarities, The Lost World (silent), and Charlie Chaplin's Keystone, Essanay, and Mutual comedies.
Useful links
Blu-ray.com- A great resource for checking quality of titles. Some early reviews when the format was new are wrong/outdated, but the reviewers usually go into their picture and audio reviews. Also a great place to keep track of your collection online.
DVD Beaver- Reviews and screenshots comparing various older formats to new releases.
High Def Digest- More reviews and screenshots
Real or Fake 4k- A site that lets you know if the scan your UHD disc was filmed in 4k or upconverted. This is not the end-all-be-all quality tester, but this website also shows which UHD titles support HDR.
MZ Edit:
A giant list of boutique labels
Somebody fucked around with this message at 15:14 on May 21, 2021
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Apr 4, 2018 08:07
https://i.imgur.com/vw78XUD.jpg 