Blu-Ray:Wall-E Vs Monsters Inc or Other Demo Discs

[Sliced Bread]

I've just ordered my first blu-ray player (a lovely Pioneer 320) and it's time to get down and geeky with it! I'm looking for some good looking / sounding blu-rays so I can appreciate the new technology.

I've already ordered the obligatory Dark Night and Casino Royale films, but I would also like to order a couple more (one of which a Pixar film as they look superb).

So my question is:

Does anyone know which of the following look and sound best? Wall-E or Monsters Inc (or other)! I already have both films on DVD of the two Monsters Inc probably was the best sounding with Wall-E having the most three dimensional picture. In fact on DVD Wall-E didn't sound that impressive at all...does the Blu-Ray of Wall-E sound significantly better / more dynamic on blu-ray? Is it better than the sound of the Monsters inc Blu-ray?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Oh, and any other suggestions would be good

Tata
J

 

[bigboss]

I Am Legend has excellent sound......from the subtle chirping of birds to the high speed car chase of the deers. There's a great attention to detail & authenticity. It completely wraps you in sound, as if you're in the scene. I loved the Wall-E blu ray sound wise, but I can't comment if it's better than the DVD version or Monsters Inc.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

JohnNewman:I've just ordered my first blu-ray player (a lovely Pioneer 320) and it's time to get down and geeky with it! I'm looking for some good looking / sounding blu-rays so I can appreciate the new technology.

I've already ordered the obligatory Dark Night and Casino Royale films, but I would also like to order a couple more (one of which a Pixar film as they look superb).

So my question is:

Does anyone know which of the following look and sound best? Wall-E or Monsters Inc (or other)! I already have both films on DVD of the two Monsters Inc probably was the best sounding with Wall-E having the most three dimensional picture. In fact on DVD Wall-E didn't sound that impressive at all...does the Blu-Ray of Wall-E sound significantly better / more dynamic on blu-ray? Is it better than the sound of the Monsters inc Blu-ray?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Oh, and any other suggestions would be good

Tata
J

I watched Monsters Inc at the weekend on Bluray and it's stunning in every respect. Wall-E is also very good but not as good a film in my opinion. Also consider, Big Fish which is just a brilliant film and is brought to life even more in bluray. Hairspray - the picture quality is superb. Ratatouille and Ice Age 2 cannot be faulted. Also consider Zodiac, Iron Man, Spiderman 3 (unequaled yet for me in both A and V), No Country For Old Men...... there are probably a few I've missed but these are great for starters.

 

[Garth Man]

Hellboy 2

 

[Sliced Bread]

Thanks everyone...please keep em coming

Gerrardasnails: I totally agree that Monsters Inc was the better film (not many of us do). Was the sound better than Wall-e?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

JohnNewman:Thanks everyone...please keep em coming

Gerrardasnails: I totally agree that Monsters Inc was the better film (not many of us do). Was the sound better than Wall-e?

Very difficult to say whether it was better as they are very different. In Wall-E there are a lot more subtle moments. I would say for all round slam dunk, Ice Age 2 and Ratatouille beat both.

 

[Garth Man]

Cars is a good one for motion

 

[professorhat]

I still think one of the best sounding Blu-Rays I've watched is the two Kill Bill films - the PCM soundtrack has fantastic dynamics and made the film a real treat to watch.

Of course I would advise being a fan of the movies if you're going to buy them - they're not to everyone's tastes I know!

 

[Anonymous]

I'd recommend the Kingdom of Heavon Blu-Ray, best picture quality i've seen and Its DTS-HD Master soundtrack is jaw dropping.

 

[Anonymous]

Try Apocalypto, you can smell the rainforest and I never knew there are so many shades of green!

I personally like Wall-E; I think it's a lovely film, full of some very subtle humour. It also looks and sounds fabulous with incredible levels of colour rendition and detail (the tracks in the dust, the ice crystals in the planetary rings, The rusting on his body. I could go on for hours)

Also try Batman Begins, Blade Runner, Master and Commander and LA Confidential.

 

[visionary]

Ratatouille, especially the "barbeque on the chimney" near the beginning

Horton Hears a Who, if you're into animation and Wall-E for picture and Kung Fu Panda for sound

Casino Royale (thought the house was collapsing around me at one point), I am Legend, Blade Runner

Just about to try Top Gun tonight - will let you know

 

[Gerrardasnails]

visionary:
Ratatouille, especially the "barbeque on the chimney" near the beginning

Horton Hears a Who, if you're into animation and Wall-E for picture and Kung Fu Panda for sound

Casino Royale (thought the house was collapsing around me at one point), I am Legend, Blade Runner

Just about to try Top Gun tonight - will let you know

Forgot about Horton - superb.

 

[dcanham001]

Although i've not seen it Coraline is supposed to be superb on blu-ray (you also get 2 discs - one with the 3D version on it. Supposedly the 3D version isnt so great but just see it as a bonus to the theatrical release)

 

[Tom Moreno]

visionary:
Ratatouille, especially the "barbeque on the chimney" near the beginning

Horton Hears a Who, if you're into animation and Wall-E for picture and Kung Fu Panda for sound

Casino Royale (thought the house was collapsing around me at one point), I am Legend, Blade Runner

Just about to try Top Gun tonight - will let you know

I've got all the Pixar films in my collection and they regularly find their way off the self for an evening. I think some of the scenes in the first 20 minutes of Ratatouille are some excellent examples of mixing. Absolutely amazing from the opening rain fall, the thunderstorm, and then the wash through the storm drains. But the quality is matched by all the Pixar Blu-rays so you wouldn't go wrong with any of them.

Kung Fu Panda is also an excellent listen, building up the oriental soundscape and balancing it with the awesomeness of the fighting scenes.

As someone earlier mentioned the Kill Bill 1&2 discs with the PCM tracks designed by the RZA are also an amazing audio ride.

And here's one that I haven't seen mentioned yet- Night at the Museum. This has a gorgeous DTS-HD MA track that hits you immediately with some of the most lush sounding orchestral recording right in the opening sequence of the film. It really stands up and shouts "Bitrate? I've got all the bitrate you can handle right here!"

 

[6th.replicant]

The Matrix Trilogy (£28.88 at Amazon) & Blade Runner Final Cut (£9.98 Amazon) are great for 'whoa!'-factor when comparing BD & DVD versions - the BDs' pic & sound are infinitely superior.

For example, in the opening scene of Blade Runner, you can see clearly that Leon's pale green smock & trews are actually made of a crepe material - always assumed previously that the material was of 'flat'-type weave; & in the Matrix, the pic clarity of Trinity's opening punch-up with the cops is in a different league on BD.

FWIW, I'd think twice re the Connery-era Bonds on BD. IMHO, if you already own the Ultimate Edition DVDs, then you're not going to notice a huge difference in the BDs, which are are sourced from the same restored master tapes as the Ultimate Edition DVDs.

BTW, which Bu-ray player was rated best in the sub-£300 range (my 'local newsagent' - it's a Sainsburys - still hasn't recvd the Sept issue!!!!!!!!)?

 

[Anonymous]

If you want to test out the bass try Hell Boy 2 when he enters by smashing down the door into the building. House falls down!

 

[professorhat]

6th.replicant:FWIW, I'd think twice re the Connery-era Bonds on BD. IMHO, if you already own the Ultimate Edition DVDs, then you're not going to notice a huge difference in the BDs, which are are sourced from the same restored master tapes as the Ultimate Edition DVDs.

Really? I haven't seen the Ultimate Edition DVDs but I'd find that incredible if true as the Blu-Rays are fantastic and were again remastered for Blu-Ray by Lowry Digital - have a read here.

 

[6th.replicant]

professorhat:
6th.replicant:FWIW, I'd think twice re the Connery-era Bonds on BD. IMHO, if you already own the Ultimate Edition DVDs, then you're not going to notice a huge difference in the BDs, which are are sourced from the same restored master tapes as the Ultimate Edition DVDs.

Really? I haven't seen the Ultimate Edition DVDs but I'd find that incredible if true as the Blu-Rays are fantastic and were again remastered for Blu-Ray by Lowry Digital - have a read here.

Hmm, interesting comments from the fella at Lowry. On the Dr No BD, the promo doc' re the remastering/restoration is identical to the one on the 007 Ultimate Edition DVD series & is also dated the same (2006).

I've compared Dr No BD & Ultimate Edition DVD back-to-back & the BD has slightly richer colours; a little bit more detail in faces, clothing material etc; & slightly more depth of field - but the differences are VERY slight. Was also very disappointed that the majority (like 95%?) of the 5.1 soundtrack still emanates from the centre speaker (mono origins?). TBH, I felt a bit conned.

However, I can see/hear major differences in the Casino Royale BD vs DVD. Similarly, the differences 'tween The Matrix, Blade Runner, Kingdom of Heaven, Sahara BDs, for example, compared to their DVD versions are also huge.

But hey, it's only my opinion...

 

[professorhat]

No, no, fair enough if that's the case, I assumed all the restoration work done was purely for the Blu-Rays you see. Since I haven't seen the DVDs, you're in a much better place to comment than I am!!

I do know the Blu-Rays are streets ahead of the versions I have on DVD though which came as some sort of Ultimate Box set which included everything up till Die Another Day in it (not that I can think of any reason why anyone would want that film....). Can't remember when I got this but it was at least 3 or 4 years ago.

 

[Anonymous]

Great Thread, the format has rekindled my interest in HT due to blue ray and HD audio and I am now upgrading my system because of it.

Love reading about the kit you guys are using and the results you enthuse about

Personally animations astound me with there level of detail ICE AGE 2 ,Kung Fu Panda ( the textures are amazing ) , even BEE Movie recently on SKY

Sound wise Master and commander DTSHD MA blew me away with its subtle sounds and then the initial cannon attack, the atmosphere almost made me seasick.

Casino Royale, which I watched after M&C was a disappointment sound wise for some reason and would love to know why, picture was excellent.

Please keep posting

Regards

Andy

I lot of films mentioned are on my shortlist

 

[Sliced Bread]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I think I'll have to get another mortgage to pay for them all

 

[Anonymous]

I always use the opening scene of Blade Runner BD to demo HD sound to friends. The scene at the street food vendor has some great subtle effects of conversations, rain and footsteps around you, as well as the soundtrack in general.

 

[Tom Moreno]

Acciesboy:
I always use the opening scene of Blade Runner BD to demo HD sound to friends. The scene at the street food vendor has some great subtle effects of conversations, rain and footsteps around you, as well as the soundtrack in general.

As far as a Demo Disc for showing off the kit to friends, my go to disc is Transformers. The opening Paramount logo with the bass pulses and then the ensuing chaos at the base leaves just about every friends' jaw somewhere near the floor and giddy. On more than one occasion it's produced a 30+ year old man begging his wife that they can stay to watch the whole film, not unlike the scenes we used to produce in the toy store when we were nippers.

 

[Big Chris]

Tom Moreno:Acciesboy:
I always use the opening scene of Blade Runner BD to demo HD sound to friends. The scene at the street food vendor has some great subtle effects of conversations, rain and footsteps around you, as well as the soundtrack in general.

As far as a Demo Disc for showing off the kit to friends, my go to disc is Transformers. The opening Paramount logo with the bass pulses and then the ensuing chaos at the base leaves just about every friends' jaw somewhere near the floor and giddy. On more than one occasion it's produced a 30+ year old man begging his wife that they can stay to watch the whole film, not unlike the scenes we used to produce in the toy store when we were nippers.

I dunno the name of the 'robot' in question, but in the battle in the streets near the end, there's a slow-mo shot of a robot as it vaults over a woman huddled on the ground, it fires its rockets into the ground to propel himself. Most bass I think I've ever heard, just pipping the Joker destroying the hospital in The Dark Knight.

It's not clever, but it is big.

;-)

 

[Tom Moreno]

Big Chris:It's not clever, but it is big.;-)

...and that'll do Big Chris fine, eh?