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BACK IN STOCK - Rambo Collection 1-4 Blu Ray £17.99 HMV - Bargain
- Thread starter matengawhat
- Start date
radovantz
Well-known member
According to other DVD/BD review sites (best not post any links for fear of being told of) the PQ on First Blood and Rambo 2 is not very good.
lets just put this in to context - the picture quality on the first 3 films is not as good as the best blu rays out at present but it is an increase in picture quality over the dvd rips
Also if you don't own the dvds is 14.99 for the set - blu ray is 17.99 - i know where i would be putting my money!!
Also if you don't own the dvds is 14.99 for the set - blu ray is 17.99 - i know where i would be putting my money!!
First Blood
Rating: 4/5
First Blood is not a fancy, glossy, bright picture and will never rival the best of the best transfers of the slick and modern action movies, but this 2.35:1, 1080p transfer is solid. This is a somewhat drab looking film that takes place mostly at night and in a damp forrest. Colors don't overly impress, but there is not a lot of color to be seen in the first place. Shades of dark greens, blacks, and browns permeate the length of the film. This is a rather two-dimensional looking image, but it looks great for its age, and compared to the various DVD and VHS versions of the film, this Blu-ray disc is nothing short of brilliant. Blacks are spot-on for most of the movie, but here and there they lighten up to a dark gray. Detail is good but not extremely high. The image is neither very sharp nor overly soft. Skin tones look natural. Overall this is a fine presentation of a movie that is 25 years old.
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Rating: 3/5
Rambo: First Blood Part II engages on Blu-ray with a 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer that offers a mixed-bag video quality. The image is best described as "solid" overall, the film definitely benefitting from the high definition treatment, but it is not without some annoyances. The print is clean, free of any severe defects, save for an odd blue line that popped up several times, noted at the following time frames: 31:30, 52:00, and 55:20. There may have been other such lines, though each lasted for only a split-second. The image lacked depth at times, and rarely did it pop off the screen. Colors proved to be rich and natural, the brightly colored daytime shots of the jungles of "Vietnam" (the movie was actually filmed in Mexico) appearing splendid, such scenes the deepest and most pleasing to be found in the movie. There is a bit of softness about the image; many scenes lack sharp, defined edges, some appearing as if a fine haze surrounded the actors. Black levels are excellent; a scene in chapter three where Rambo boards the plane at nighttime is perhaps the best example of the solid black levels offered by this transfer. Detail is also better than ever in this edition of Rambo: First Blood Part II than in previous home video releases. Flesh tones appeared to be problem-free. Several scenes exhibit some intentionally diffused lighting, such instances director intent rather than a flaw with the disc. While not a top-flight transfer, Rambo: First Blood Part II has never looked as good as it does here.
Rambo III
Rating: 4/5
Rambo III hits Blu-ray in a 2.35:1 framed, 1080p high definition transfer that looks good and fares decidedly better than its predecessor. Compared to Rambo: First Blood Part II, this film is crisper, sharper, brighter, and showcases a good bit more detail. This solid transfer allows viewers to see every bead of sweat on John Rambo's face during his stick fighting match at the beginning of the movie. Other small nuances in the image -- the wear and tear on guns and clothes, the detail in faces, and even each pebble and grain of sand in close-up shots of the desert floor -- look great, lifelike, and better than expected. A very fine layer of grain is noticeable throughout most of the film. It's unobtrusive and only heavy in dark, underground scenes. Colors are strong and natural; earth tones dominate the picture, from the tans of the desert to the greens of military uniforms, all looking just as they should. Just as much action takes place at night as it does in the brightly lit deserts of Afghanistan, and both look equally great. Flesh tones appear as natural as they did in the previous Rambo film. A few scattered black vertical lines did appear in at least two scenes during the film's climactic battle scene. Despite a few minor flaws, Rambo III looks great on Blu-ray. This is another winner from Lionsgate.
Rating: 4/5
First Blood is not a fancy, glossy, bright picture and will never rival the best of the best transfers of the slick and modern action movies, but this 2.35:1, 1080p transfer is solid. This is a somewhat drab looking film that takes place mostly at night and in a damp forrest. Colors don't overly impress, but there is not a lot of color to be seen in the first place. Shades of dark greens, blacks, and browns permeate the length of the film. This is a rather two-dimensional looking image, but it looks great for its age, and compared to the various DVD and VHS versions of the film, this Blu-ray disc is nothing short of brilliant. Blacks are spot-on for most of the movie, but here and there they lighten up to a dark gray. Detail is good but not extremely high. The image is neither very sharp nor overly soft. Skin tones look natural. Overall this is a fine presentation of a movie that is 25 years old.
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Rating: 3/5
Rambo: First Blood Part II engages on Blu-ray with a 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer that offers a mixed-bag video quality. The image is best described as "solid" overall, the film definitely benefitting from the high definition treatment, but it is not without some annoyances. The print is clean, free of any severe defects, save for an odd blue line that popped up several times, noted at the following time frames: 31:30, 52:00, and 55:20. There may have been other such lines, though each lasted for only a split-second. The image lacked depth at times, and rarely did it pop off the screen. Colors proved to be rich and natural, the brightly colored daytime shots of the jungles of "Vietnam" (the movie was actually filmed in Mexico) appearing splendid, such scenes the deepest and most pleasing to be found in the movie. There is a bit of softness about the image; many scenes lack sharp, defined edges, some appearing as if a fine haze surrounded the actors. Black levels are excellent; a scene in chapter three where Rambo boards the plane at nighttime is perhaps the best example of the solid black levels offered by this transfer. Detail is also better than ever in this edition of Rambo: First Blood Part II than in previous home video releases. Flesh tones appeared to be problem-free. Several scenes exhibit some intentionally diffused lighting, such instances director intent rather than a flaw with the disc. While not a top-flight transfer, Rambo: First Blood Part II has never looked as good as it does here.
Rambo III
Rating: 4/5
Rambo III hits Blu-ray in a 2.35:1 framed, 1080p high definition transfer that looks good and fares decidedly better than its predecessor. Compared to Rambo: First Blood Part II, this film is crisper, sharper, brighter, and showcases a good bit more detail. This solid transfer allows viewers to see every bead of sweat on John Rambo's face during his stick fighting match at the beginning of the movie. Other small nuances in the image -- the wear and tear on guns and clothes, the detail in faces, and even each pebble and grain of sand in close-up shots of the desert floor -- look great, lifelike, and better than expected. A very fine layer of grain is noticeable throughout most of the film. It's unobtrusive and only heavy in dark, underground scenes. Colors are strong and natural; earth tones dominate the picture, from the tans of the desert to the greens of military uniforms, all looking just as they should. Just as much action takes place at night as it does in the brightly lit deserts of Afghanistan, and both look equally great. Flesh tones appear as natural as they did in the previous Rambo film. A few scattered black vertical lines did appear in at least two scenes during the film's climactic battle scene. Despite a few minor flaws, Rambo III looks great on Blu-ray. This is another winner from Lionsgate.
radovantz:Rambo part 1, 2, & 3 are old movies. Do they improve sound quality?
First Blood
Rating: 4/5
Lionsgate presents First Blood with two audio options: a 1.5 Mbps DTS 5.1 track and a 5.1 Dolby Digital EX track that runs at 640 kbps. The movie was reviewed utilizing the DTS track. This is a loud and aggressive mix. Goldsmith's score plays rather subtly and crescendos beautifully several times throughout, complementing the film perfectly with its clear and mesmerizing tones. Bass is aggressive. Explosions sound great and rumble with authority. There is some good use of the surround channels here and there, but for the most part this front-heavy mix offers good separation. On the negative side, dialogue at times sounds a bit muddled. Not as rambunctious as modern action soundtracks, First Blood is still a fine example of how good a quarter-of-a-century old track can sound.
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Rating: 3/5
Perhaps "adequate" best describes the DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless sound mix accompanying Rambo: First Blood Part II. It gets the job done but nevertheless leaves a bit to be desired. There is a definite lack of presence in the rear channels, resulting in a front-heavy soundtrack that lacks atmosphere and oomph. A sequence in chapter 12 featuring a steady downpour is fairly enveloping and is definitely the best use of ambient sound in the movie. Music is also at times heard playing in the back speakers, but with little volume. Bass and power are two qualities that are noticeably lacking in this soundtrack as well. As Rambo leaves for the mission on a jet, the sound is surprisingly underwhelming, the jet engine not packing much of a punch, but upon take-off listeners do hear a bit of movement from front to rear as the plane seemingly flies through the listening area. The track simply lacks a booming authority, disappointing for an action film of this calibre. A heavy machine gun attack on a boat in chapter seven is perhaps the most disappointing listen of the soundtrack; the shots ringing out flat and dull with barely a thump or thud. In fact, all of the explosions in the movie hardly pack a wallop. Dialogue plays a major role in the movie, political gamesmanship and intrigue definitely adding to the story, and this is one aspect of the track that excels. This mix is somewhat of a letdown; it's not a total loss, but it's best to lower expectations going in.
Rambo III
Rating: 3.5/5
Like the video quality of this film, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless sound mix accompanying Rambo III provides a noticeable improvement over what was heard in Rambo: First Blood Part II. The rear channel presence is notably heightened, but still reserved in a few places where one might expect a livelier surround presentation. It's mostly in areas where fine ambient sound would heighten the realism of the track where this one seems lacking, but the more action-oriented sequences sound marvelous. Audiences hear helicopters buzzing from the rear of the soundstage to the front in chapter 4, the directionality and imaging of the effect perfect. Echoes and reverberations also make an appearance in the rear channels in several lower-key scenes in underground passages or in other close-quarter locales. Surrounds also erupt with gunfire in the film's third act, sounding punchier and more defined than they did in Rambo: First Blood Part II. Bass is still a bit more reserved than expected, and some explosions still fail to work the subwoofer all that hard. However, as the film moves on and the action intensifies, the track does pick up in power and authority. Dialogue reproduction is once again nothing to worry about, proving to be one of the disc's strengths. All in all, this is a perfectly acceptable high definition sound mix, one that is probably about as good as one may expect of a mid 1980s B-grade action film.
First Blood
Rating: 4/5
Lionsgate presents First Blood with two audio options: a 1.5 Mbps DTS 5.1 track and a 5.1 Dolby Digital EX track that runs at 640 kbps. The movie was reviewed utilizing the DTS track. This is a loud and aggressive mix. Goldsmith's score plays rather subtly and crescendos beautifully several times throughout, complementing the film perfectly with its clear and mesmerizing tones. Bass is aggressive. Explosions sound great and rumble with authority. There is some good use of the surround channels here and there, but for the most part this front-heavy mix offers good separation. On the negative side, dialogue at times sounds a bit muddled. Not as rambunctious as modern action soundtracks, First Blood is still a fine example of how good a quarter-of-a-century old track can sound.
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Rating: 3/5
Perhaps "adequate" best describes the DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless sound mix accompanying Rambo: First Blood Part II. It gets the job done but nevertheless leaves a bit to be desired. There is a definite lack of presence in the rear channels, resulting in a front-heavy soundtrack that lacks atmosphere and oomph. A sequence in chapter 12 featuring a steady downpour is fairly enveloping and is definitely the best use of ambient sound in the movie. Music is also at times heard playing in the back speakers, but with little volume. Bass and power are two qualities that are noticeably lacking in this soundtrack as well. As Rambo leaves for the mission on a jet, the sound is surprisingly underwhelming, the jet engine not packing much of a punch, but upon take-off listeners do hear a bit of movement from front to rear as the plane seemingly flies through the listening area. The track simply lacks a booming authority, disappointing for an action film of this calibre. A heavy machine gun attack on a boat in chapter seven is perhaps the most disappointing listen of the soundtrack; the shots ringing out flat and dull with barely a thump or thud. In fact, all of the explosions in the movie hardly pack a wallop. Dialogue plays a major role in the movie, political gamesmanship and intrigue definitely adding to the story, and this is one aspect of the track that excels. This mix is somewhat of a letdown; it's not a total loss, but it's best to lower expectations going in.
Rambo III
Rating: 3.5/5
Like the video quality of this film, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless sound mix accompanying Rambo III provides a noticeable improvement over what was heard in Rambo: First Blood Part II. The rear channel presence is notably heightened, but still reserved in a few places where one might expect a livelier surround presentation. It's mostly in areas where fine ambient sound would heighten the realism of the track where this one seems lacking, but the more action-oriented sequences sound marvelous. Audiences hear helicopters buzzing from the rear of the soundstage to the front in chapter 4, the directionality and imaging of the effect perfect. Echoes and reverberations also make an appearance in the rear channels in several lower-key scenes in underground passages or in other close-quarter locales. Surrounds also erupt with gunfire in the film's third act, sounding punchier and more defined than they did in Rambo: First Blood Part II. Bass is still a bit more reserved than expected, and some explosions still fail to work the subwoofer all that hard. However, as the film moves on and the action intensifies, the track does pick up in power and authority. Dialogue reproduction is once again nothing to worry about, proving to be one of the disc's strengths. All in all, this is a perfectly acceptable high definition sound mix, one that is probably about as good as one may expect of a mid 1980s B-grade action film.
Gutted
Was totally gutted when it went up to £70 because I was so close to buying it.
No stopping me today!
BARGAIN!
"You know what you are. What you're made of. War is in your blood. Don't fight it. You didn't kill for your country. You killed for yourself. God's never gonna make that go away. When you're pushed, killing's as easy as breathing."
Can't wait!!!
No stopping me today!
BARGAIN!
"You know what you are. What you're made of. War is in your blood. Don't fight it. You didn't kill for your country. You killed for yourself. God's never gonna make that go away. When you're pushed, killing's as easy as breathing."
Can't wait!!!
Mine came today and with the weather turning for the worst over the next 4 days, it is a perfect excuse to watch this boxset complete with 4 Artcards.
TOTALLY P'D OFF!!!
Recieved my Rambo box set today.
BUT...HMV did it to me again! Opened the first fold our...no disk...the second fold out...no disk...the third fold out...you get the picture!
No disks again. This also happened with another HMV order.
Now have to wait for my disks...JOY!
Recieved my Rambo box set today.
BUT...HMV did it to me again! Opened the first fold our...no disk...the second fold out...no disk...the third fold out...you get the picture!
No disks again. This also happened with another HMV order.
Now have to wait for my disks...JOY!
jlack
maybe a neighbour has it in for you do you play your films too loud
is the missus sick of you spending to much money or time with your av system
or maybe a magpie loose at p-o sort office, or hmv depot i have used
hmv for years and never had any problems
so maybe better luck with your replacement
send for columbo or inspector clouseau to investigate
because thats murder whats happend
maybe a neighbour has it in for you do you play your films too loud
is the missus sick of you spending to much money or time with your av system
or maybe a magpie loose at p-o sort office, or hmv depot i have used
hmv for years and never had any problems
so maybe better luck with your replacement
send for columbo or inspector clouseau to investigate
because thats murder whats happend
From a value point of view, I quite agree with matengawhat, but Rambo wasn't even filmed Digitally, never mind in HD! What do you all expect? It's still an awful film-series with a very ugly guy in it! 'High-Definition' just nails that fact right home!
robjcooper
Well-known member
harrisonaard1,
All the Rambo films were shot on 35mm film which has a far higher resolution than any of the HD tape formats or Disc based recording systems which are often used today. It is also a fully recognised HD acquisition format, so, yes, it was filmed in HD.
Personally never thought the films were that great, but £17.99 is a pretty good deal if you do.
All the Rambo films were shot on 35mm film which has a far higher resolution than any of the HD tape formats or Disc based recording systems which are often used today. It is also a fully recognised HD acquisition format, so, yes, it was filmed in HD.
Personally never thought the films were that great, but £17.99 is a pretty good deal if you do.
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