Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Audiophilander (A) on March 20, 2007 at 00:38:19

In Reply to: Re: Picture-wise I found a marked improvement, especially in color correction; sound-wise, we're in total agreement. (n posted by rico on March 19, 2007 at 13:16:22:

The orangy-red palate of the earlier Special Edition never quite looked right to me; I just assumed that the color dyes had changed over the years. Well, to my eyes the remaster looks dead-on from start to finish.

DVDBeaver Reviewer comments:

>>> "The new remastered MGM is superior in just about every area - from the important original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 (SE was in 1.78 - slightly cropped) to the color scheme which appears more correct to my eye (although I am unsure of its theatrical correctness). The new remastered release is smoother (cleaner), less artifacts, has more information in the frame - the image quality towers above the old Special Edition. Audio - the new remastered gives a DTS, 5.1 or original mono track as options. The bumps sounded quite buoyant. Even the subs are more complete. Note two errors in the SE - it IS 'FIns' Brandy (not 'fine') and in the second example the famous line DOES include Mr. Bond's name. The new subtitles are extremely bulky though." <<<

MY Impressions:

There are vivid differences and subtle differences, including the film looking much cleaner, more natural and less grainy; when I say "less grainy" I don't mean without enough film grain to have an appropriate film-like appearance. The amount of grain in the earlier MGM Special Edition actually gave the film the look of generational loss, as if a 16mm print had been blown up to 35mm or a worn inter-positive print rather than a pristine negative had been accessed.

You and I may still have a differing perspective, but one thing I suggest looking for in the DVD Beaver frame grabs I've linked below is how a initially sharper or brighter looking frame in the SE release given more than a cursory A/B comparison with the exact same frame from the remaster displays noticeable ringing and flatness, not to mention the aspect ratio cropping and orangy-reddish appearance mentioned before.

I've seen other frame grabs elsewhere that demonstrate these differences even more accutely; granted it isn't night and day, but as I see it the older transfer has a dusk-ier feel (as inexpensively as these remastered editions can be picked up individually it seems like a no-brainer to me, anyway)! :o)

Cheers,
AuPh

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