Krammer's Take On HD DVD

[krammer]

Mallrats (1995)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Mystery Men (1999)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

The Watcher (2000)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

[krammer]

Billy Madison (1995)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 10/10

Dante's Peak (1997)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

The War (1994)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 10/10

The Wedding Date (2005)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

[krammer]

Revised some ratings I thought I was too harsh on.

The Last Samurai (2003)

HD Video - 9/10 (was 8/10)

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

HD Video - 9/10 (was 8/10)

Training Day (2001)

HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10 (was 10/10)

Serenity (2005)

HD Video - 9/10 (was 8/10)

GoodFellas (1990)

HD Video - 8/10 (was 7/10)

Pitch Black (2000)

HD Video - 8/10 (was 7/10)

[krammer]

The Host (2006)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 9/10
HD Audio dts - 8/10

The Contract (2006)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 9/10
HD Audio dts - 9/10

I'll just note that the dts track is around 15-20db below reference. Once I matched volume output, both the Dolby Plus & dts were equal. Also being the first, First Look feature for HD DVD I was impressed that both the audio & video were just shy of perfection + this title also has an "In Movie Experience" type deal + 6 First Look trailers in 1080p & 5.1 surround. Not too bad.

[krammer]

The Bourne Identity (2002)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Deep Purple: They All Came Down to Montreux (2006)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio dts - 9/10

[krammer]

Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux (2004)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio dts - 9/10

Yes: Live at Montreux (2003)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio dts - 9/10

In Good Company (2004)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Uncommon Bach - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM (2007)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio dts - Reference

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

From the beginning of "Shaun" it looked like it was gonna be a decent transfer. Not perfect, a few areas with noise & some areas which looked flat. No biggie for a film of its budget but when they get to the pub everything good about "Shaun" falls apart in a bad way. Colors are washed out, heavy noise & grain throughout, very poor contrast. It looked like a bootleg SD DVD for gods sake. Thankfully the rest of the HD transfer is passable. The audio is mixed real well. Never had to grab the remote when lots of action presented itself. Dilaog is sharp, ambient effects are more distinguished than the standard dvd release.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

HD Video - Reference
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

A perfect 10 for Hot Fuzz (PQ), literally night & day difference from "Shaun" in the PQ area. There are few background scenes which sometimes look flat, but there isn't much there to knock this transfer down. Its probably intentional too. Detail is insane with vibrant colors, strong blacks, no noise or grain. Lots of eye poppin' 3D moments as well. Daylight, Nightlight, Exterior, Interior shots look flawless. The DD+ track is good, dialog is strong, lots more beef to the surrounds than I expected. Problem is not even the Toshiba can keep the dynamic range consistent on this track when on. The audio sporadically changes in db level. Once I got a good level for volume output, any ambient effects (quick action) increased the overall db output around 8 to 12db! I probably would have gave this one a 9/10, but this a problem in the audio, not a shining moment of HT goodness.

Darkman (1990)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

HD Video - 5/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Scent of a Woman (1990)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Streets of Fire (1984)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Sea of Love (1989)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake (2006)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio dts - 9/10

Erin Brockovich (2000)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Mercury Rising (1998)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

What Dreams May Come (1998)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Meet the Fockers (2004)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Heroes: Season One - Disc 1 (2006/07)

Genesis+Unaired Pilot

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Don't Look Back

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Heroes: Season One - Disc 2 (2006/07)

One Giant Leap

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Collision

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Hiros

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Better Halves

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Heroes: Season One - Disc 3 (2006/07)

Nothing to Hide

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Seven Minutes to Midnight

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Home Coming

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Six Months Ago

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Heroes: Season One - Disc 4 (2006/07)

Fallout

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Godsend

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

The Fix

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Distractions

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Heroes: Season One - Disc 5 (2006/07)

Run!

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Unexpected

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Company Man

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Parasite

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Heroes: Season One - Disc 6 (2006/07)

.07%

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Five Years Gone

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

The Hard Part

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Landslide

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Heroes: Season One - Disc 7 (2006/07)

How to Stop an Exploding Man

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Dawn of the Dead: Unrated Director's Cut (2004)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - Reference

Blades of Glory (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 10/10

The Hurricane (2000)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

The Way To Paradise - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio dts - Reference

Jazz Standards - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio dts - Reference

Without a doubt all 3 releases from Surround Records are truely reference audio quality. I admit I am not a fan of the music itself, but I have never heard my HT sound any better. I thought LPCM was the best of the best of the best until I popped any one of these (Uncommon Bach, Way to Paradise, Jazz Standards) in my HD DVD player. The first release is 5.1 dts-HD & the latter 2 are 7.1 dts-HD. If you want to hear the fullest potential of your audio gear, than I recommend giving any one of these discs a spin.

[krammer]

Top Gun (1986)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio dts - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Knocked Up (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Evening (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Evan Almighty (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

The Getaway (1994)

HD Video - Reference
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Notting Hill (1999)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Elizabeth (1998)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Next (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Transformers (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 10/10

For Love of the Game (1999)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Patch Adams (1998)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

The Last Starfighter (1984)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Seed of Chucky: Unrated (2004)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Not much of an improvement over the SD DVD video wise. Colors & blacks are better but thats about it. The DD+ track sounds great & in some scenes, it oddly sounds better than the TrueHD track. The score for example, you can clearly hear ambient sounds better throughout. The TrueHD track has a more solid mix overall. Take your pick, it doesn't matter & lately thats been Universal's problem.

Shrek the Third (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Carlito's Way (1993)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Hot Rod (2007)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

A Mighty Heart (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (2005)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Inside Man (2006)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

The Heartbreak Kid (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Old School (2003)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Zodiac (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

[krammer]

Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 - Disc 1 (1966/67)

The Man Trap

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Charlie X

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Where No Man Has Gone Before

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 - Disc 2 (1966/67)

The Naked Time

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

The Enemy Within

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Mudd's Women

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 - Disc 3 (1966/67)

What Are Little Girls Made Of?

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Miri

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Dagger Of The Mind

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 - Disc 4 (1966/67)

The Corbomite Maneuver

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

The Menagerie, Part 1

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

The Menagerie, Part 2

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 - Disc 5 (1966/67)

The Conscience Of The King

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Balance Of Terror

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Shore Leave

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

[krammer]

Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 - Disc 6 (1966/67)

The Galiled Seven

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

The Squire Of Gothos

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Arena

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 - Disc 7 (1966/67)

Tomorrow Is Yesterday

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Court-Martial

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 7/10

The Return Of The Archons

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 - Disc 8 (1966/67)

Space Seed

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

A Taste Of Armageddon

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

This Side Of Paradise

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 - Disc 9 (1966/67)

The Devil In The Dark

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Errand Of Mercy

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

The Alternative Factor

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 - Disc 10 (1966/67)

The City On The Edge Of Forever

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Operation.. Annihilate!

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Eastern Promises (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

[krammer]

Uncommon Mozart - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio dts - 10/10

Balls of Fury (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Talk to Me (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 10/10

Space or Dream of Life - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio dts - 10/10

Spatial Dynamics - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality TM (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio dts - 10/10

Face/Off (1997)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio dts - Reference

Beowulf (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Mozart - Die Zauberflote (1993)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Video isn't too bad for a 3 hour Opera. There are noticeable compression issues though. All close up shots look great, its background shots which leave to be desired. The intro after you see the music people & in many other areas of the transfer has some bad MMB. Audio is ok as well. Little use of surrounds which is a disappointment from me. I feel an engulfing 360 surround is needed throughout to justify a higher rating on this one.

300 (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 10/10

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Keali'i Reichel - Live in Concert (2006)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 10/10

Arctic Tale (2007)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Tremors (1990)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

[krammer]

Battlestar Galactica - Season 1 - Disc 1 (2003/05)

Mini-Series Part 1

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Battlestar Galactica - Season 1 - Disc 2 (2003/05)

Mini-Series Part 2

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

33

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Battlestar Galactica - Season 1 - Disc 3 (2003/05)

Water

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Bastille Day

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Act of Contrition

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Battlestar Galactica - Season 1 - Disc 4 (2003/05)

You Can't Go Home Again

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Litmus

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Six Degrees of Separation

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Battlestar Galactica - Season 1 - Disc 5 (2003/05)

Flesh and Bone

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

The Hand of God

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Battlestar Galactica - Season 1 - Disc 6 (2003/05)

Colonial Day

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 1

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 2

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 8/10

[krammer]

The Kingdom (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

The Moody Blues: Lovely to See You - Live (2005)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night (1987)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 10/10

Stardust (2007)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

R. Kelly Live! The Light It Up Tour (2007)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Cat People (1982)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 7/10

Timecop (1994)

HD Video - 6/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

American Gangster (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

Atonement (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10

Into the Wild (2007)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 9/10

[krammer]

White Noise 2 (2007)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 7/10

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10

Glad this format died. Glitchy, glitchy, glitchy

Had to skip past 6 minutes or so midway cause the picture froze & got error messages.

As for the transfer,

This is one good looking 1.85:1 picture. No doubt. Its on par with King Kong in terms of 3D wow factor. The audio isn't too bad. Only 5 db below reference which mostly effects the center channel. Other than that this a solid soundtrack. Hope it makes its way over to the Blu side.

[Abrahamvipamjed]

Wow thats seems really interesting. Thnx for sharing ...

[blammo]

Wow, thats seems really interesting.
Thnx for sharing ... - Abrahamvipamjed

Wow, Abrahamvipamjed, thats seems really interesting.
Thnx for sharing ...