Cult Labs

Go Back   Cult Labs > Film Discussions > Horror > General Horror Chat

Like Tree78Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 5th October 2012, 06:21 PM
Criterion7's Avatar
Cultist on the Rampage
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: St.John's NL. Canada
Default The Pickiness of Fans

Mentioned over in the purchase thread that I felt horror fans were becoming pampered and expected all the dvds to now be high-def quality and whined when they weren't.

A good and valid point was brought up that said if its out there than its not unreasonable to expect it. Which I can definitely see.

However when I grew up watching horror and managed to find the old bootlegs and the vhs i'd watched over and over again not once did I think if only I could see the zombies clearer or this film I love would be so much better in high def.

I still don't. I'll pick up blu rays(I have quite a few) when they are cheap or have superior extras but for my horror I'm not looking for pristine.

I like my Mill Creek comps with the VHS quality horror. It takes me back to a simpler time in my horror fandom.

Just wondering if anyone else feels that its gone too far and that the old quality still has a place ?
__________________
The Poster Formerly Know As Arrowfan
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 5th October 2012, 06:26 PM
PaulD's Avatar
Cult Addict
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Newcastle, UK
Default

Oi! Is that a dig at me? Just kidding

You do make an interesting point but ultimately I think it's just about wanting the best that technology can offer. If 3rd generation VHS is the only way to see a film then fair enough. However if a company can bring out an HD release and replicate the original film print as accurately as possible then this is obviously a better way to view the film. We're at the stage now where films like Blood Feast, Cannibal Holocaust and Alien 2: Terror on Earth can be found in excellent HD transfers. If I had the chance to watch Cannibal Holocaust on a grimy VHS or the Shameless bluray I'd go with the latter (although I know some people find watching a poor quality representation of a film like that enhances the experience due to the nostalgic quality) As a result, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the same high standards from other releases. If they fall short then so be it, but these days there's no point in lowering expectations. And I say that as someone who has a fair few Mill Creek sets and enjoys them
Peter Neal, Rik, Steel76 and 1 others like this.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 5th October 2012, 06:36 PM
Criterion7's Avatar
Cultist on the Rampage
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: St.John's NL. Canada
Default

Actually I started the thread because I liked your response so cheers

I agree with what you are saying but I also think some films dont need to be complete pristine quality and it often takes away from them. Some of those realistic cannibal/grindhouse /video nasties really dont come off the best when put in HD. It was often the nastiness of the copy that gave it that "ohmygod is this real" feeling.

I've also noticed that we are starting to see some films actually coming in collector VHS format.

I buy a lot of Troma and millcreek knowing its that old style feel to it. That actually has become a selling point when I am buying dvds.

I love the high-def stuff that comes of well and adds to the film, I just don't think that it always does add to the film.
__________________
The Poster Formerly Know As Arrowfan
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 5th October 2012, 06:41 PM
PaulD's Avatar
Cult Addict
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Newcastle, UK
Default

It also depends what you mean by bad quality in a way I guess. There could be a really great 1080p transfer of an old film from a heavily print-damaged source or it could just be a really bad lazy transfer which does the master no justice
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 5th October 2012, 06:49 PM
Criterion7's Avatar
Cultist on the Rampage
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: St.John's NL. Canada
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulD View Post
It also depends what you mean by bad quality in a way I guess. There could be a really great 1080p transfer of an old film from a heavily print-damaged source or it could just be a really bad lazy transfer which does the master no justice
I guess what I mean isn't when they just butcher the film and its horrible even compared to the old ep VHS copies but people seem to think VHS quality automatically means bad when in actuality its far from it.
__________________
The Poster Formerly Know As Arrowfan
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 5th October 2012, 10:11 PM
platostotal's Avatar
Cult Acolyte
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Berks.
Default

I think nowadays that the best quality print/release is just a mouse click(and a wait for the post) away people become less prepared to to tolerate less than what was expected, but I all too clearly remember slogging around central London on a shopping trip and getting great joy finding a rare, maybe even pre-cert vhs and knowing the p.q. was not going to be great but it didn't matter just great to have a copy of 'Nights of Terror' and sit down and check it out. But having said all that, I do love a good bluray, but just imagine what people will expect in a decade or two.
oaxaca and Criterion7 like this.
__________________
"Mama... this Cult Labs forum smells of death"
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 6th October 2012, 01:44 AM
Daemonia's Avatar
Cult Addict
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Blog Entries: 1
Default

I expect BD to be better than DVD. That's about it. I'm glad the days of watching poor quality nth generation VHS tapes are long gone. And yes, when watching bad VHS tapes I did wish I could own a better copy.
__________________
Sent from my Hoover using the power of Uri Gellar

Last edited by Daemonia; 6th October 2012 at 12:33 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 6th October 2012, 09:10 AM
bdc's Avatar
bdc bdc is offline
Cult Addict
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Belgium
Default

I think people are a bit misguided,not knowing that you can't release a bd or even a good dvd of many films.
Why?
Because no decent materials exist anymore/can be found.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 6th October 2012, 09:34 AM
bdc's Avatar
bdc bdc is offline
Cult Addict
Good Trader
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Belgium
Default

Here's an interesting podcast which touches on the subject of fan's expectations and reality concerning HK film releases on vhs/ld/dvd/bd.

Discussion starts at about 32:30

Podcast On Fire 125: Tom On Fire AKA Come On, Let’s Make Happy
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 6th October 2012, 05:08 PM
Cult Acolyte
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Default

I'm just glad to be able to watch some of my favourite horror films clearly, whether it's on DVD or BD, without having to squint through a layer of fuzziness and snow.I don't feel any nostalgia for battered old VHS tapes at all.
Pete likes this.
__________________
From the bowels of the earth they came ... to collect DVDs!
Reply With Quote
Reply  

Like this? Share it using the links below!

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Our goal is to keep Cult Labs friendly. If you feel discouraged from posting by certain members' behaviour then you can e-mail us in complete confidence.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
All forum posts are contributed by members of the site; Cult Labs cannot take responsibility for all content posted on the site. If you have an issue with content posted on the site please click the 'report post' button.
Copyright © 2014 Cult Laboratories Ltd. All rights reserved.