Hammer on DVD/BD Thread

[Daemonia]

Originally Posted by P-Mac

I have the Hammer Horror Originals boxset, but I'm sorely tempted to get this! I'm conflicted !

Why the conflict? This'll be in high definition, is as uncut as it can possibly be and is presented in two alternate ratios, either of which seems better than the previous 1.78:1 transfers Warner have put out so far, where the framing was way too tight. And you get loads of extras and an extra film thrown into the bargain.

Conflict? No conflict here. I'll be getting it - and I'm betting this new release will render previous versions obsolete.

[Slippery Jack]

Originally Posted by Stephen@Cult Labs

And to top it off...original artwork!

While it's good to see original artwork on there, some consistency would be nice! I wonder if that's just a temporary image and the final thing will be a new illustration like the others . . . ?

[the blob]

Originally Posted by Slippery Jack

While it's good to see original artwork on there, some consistency would be nice! I wonder if that's just a temporary image and the final thing will be a new illustration like the others . . . ?

Different company so doubtful.

Now, time to be controversial... Oooh

While I appreciate original art as much as anyone, that was designed for a quad and to me it looks really overly cluttered in this format, especially with that stupid little DVD/BD blurb in the middle. In a sense it's only based on original art and the reformatting completely changes its composition as its designed to allow space for the huge title going across the middle. Just my two cents worth. I much prefer how Warner recomposed it on the DVD. They stuck the title at the top and it looks a lot more striking.

[Slippery Jack]

Originally Posted by the blob

Different company so doubtful.

Oh yeah, not paying attention

...and agreed on the second point . . .

[EMcG]

Word from the Leicester Hammer event over the weekend is that viewers should expect a 'softer' image that the current Warner version as excessive DNR was applied to that release.

[Daemonia]

Originally Posted by EMcG

Word from the Leicester Hammer event over the weekend is that viewers should expect a 'softer' image that the current Warner version as excessive DNR was applied to that release.

How's that, then? Excessive DNR 'smooths' over the image and makes it softer. So, if less DNR (or none) is being applied, then the new BD should actually be sharper than Warner's release, not softer. At least, that's my understanding of it.

[EMcG]

I know. Doesnt make sense when I thought about it.

Here's the actual quote from someone at the screening in Leicester

"Hammer's Nic Ransome warned that the first thing we'd probably notice is the softness of the picture, and the film does indeed look pretty soft. He said that it was restored from the same elements that the current US DVD had used, but that that old disc had had DNR applied to make it look a bit sharper and less grainy."

[the blob]

Originally Posted by EMcG

I know. Doesnt make sense when I thought about it.

Here's the actual quote from someone at the screening in Leicester

"Hammer's Nic Ransome warned that the first thing we'd probably notice is the softness of the picture, and the film does indeed look pretty soft. He said that it was restored from the same elements that the current US DVD had used, but that that old disc had had DNR applied to make it look a bit sharper and less grainy."

That makes no sense in he slightest. You can't sharpen with DNR. Sounds like he got a bit confused somewhere. Unless some sharpening enhancement was used in the old DVD after the grain was reduced. I never noticed anything untoward in the way of edge enhancement before. I'll have to give it another look.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

It does sound as if he got a little confused as, with less DNR, the picture should be 'harder' and sharper, not softer. I haven't seen the US BD, that will definitely buy the British release – it'll be interesting to hear some other opinions of the new encoding and see it for myself.

[the blob]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

It does sound as if he got a little confused as, with less DNR, the picture should be 'harder' and sharper, not softer. I haven't seen the US BD, that will definitely buy the British release – it'll be interesting to hear some other opinions of the new encoding and see it for myself.

There is no US BD. He's comparing it to the old Warner US DVD, which makes it even stranger.