Must have bluray discs

[Clarkey_71]

I'm sure this question has been asked and I also know how subjective it can be. I recently bought a PS3 because it ticked all the boxes for game play and also the step up (again subjective) to bluray. I previously played my dvds via a decent Denon player through my hifi. I'm not interested in surround sound as I only listen in stereo, so that may help you with some suggestions. To date I don't have any bluray discs, nor have I seen any. So my request is simple, bearing in my set up, what are the "must see" discs? I'm aware that the Dark Knight and Wall:E are often cited as great discs to own. I'm sure there are other topics relating to this, so if this has been discussed before, even a link to that thread would be really useful.
Thanks!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Admittedly I now have 17 Blu Ray movies in my collection most of which were given to me as christmas presents some of which I also bought. However I still continue to buy DVD's...most recently IRON MAN, INDIANA JONES KINGDON OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL and DIE HARD 4

I have also seen the Blu Ray movies of the above and quite a few others too and I still wrestle with the determination by so many others that Blu Ray is leaps and bounds superior to that of DVD. The 3 DVD's which cost me a total £20.00 have great image quality...why should I therefore wish to spend almost as much...say around £18 for just one Blu Ray Disc especially on a TV up to 42ins

The DVD picture on IRON MAN is fantastic....what is the difference on Blu Ray...I can't see it..honestly I can't

When Blu Ray came out I envisaged the kind of picture quality that I have on the Bond Blu Rays like DR NO and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

Not all films are actually filmed in 1080p such as ZODIAC for example as II understand it and many have just been transfered to 1080p but those like the Bond Films have received not only the 1080p transfer but also a lot of TLC in remastering them for Blu Ray and by God they are quite simply divine to watch in Blu Ray

 

[Anonymous]

Good point.

The distinction I'm drawing is in buying TV series on DVD instead if BD, even if the BD is available. Some films, like Out Of Africa, where the picture quality is secondary to the atmosphere, and especially TV series I can't see where the benefit of BD would be. For box sets of TV series like (hmmm hmmmm Battlestar Gallactica) where the box set is £75 for four seasons, I'd hate to think what the BluRay would cost, and you don't tend to watch TV series multiple times, like films. (Well I don't at any rate).

But there are definitely some must have BluRays. I can't take the shame though and won't admit to which ones I actually have! ;-)

 

[Anonymous]

I bought Black Hawk Down on Blu-ray the PQ was only slighty better then DVD but the audio is streets ahead. As said its not cut and dried that just because its Blu-ray its got to be better. Here is a case in point Gladiator on DVD fed from my blu-ray and upscaled is fantastic so good I would not think about purchasing it on Blu-ray. Must admit I thought Iron Man was superb in blu-ray as was Batman Begins and Spiderman 3 was jawdropingly brilliant so much so I play the end action scene most nights,sad i know i am

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Tallyho:
Admittedly I now have 17 Blu Ray movies in my collection most of which were given to me as christmas presents some of which I also bought. However I still continue to buy DVD's...most recently IRON MAN, INDIANA JONES KINGDON OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL and DIE HARD 4

I have also seen the Blu Ray movies of the above and quite a few others too and I still wrestle with the determination by so many others that Blu Ray is leaps and bounds superior to that of DVD. The 3 DVD's which cost me a total £20.00 have great image quality...why should I therefore wish to spend almost as much...say around £18 for just one Blu Ray Disc especially on a TV up to 42ins

The DVD picture on IRON MAN is fantastic....what is the difference on Blu Ray...I can't see it..honestly I can't

When Blu Ray came out I envisaged the kind of picture quality that I have on the Bond Blu Rays like DR NO and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

Not all films are actually filmed in 1080p such as ZODIAC for example as II understand it and many have just been transfered to 1080p but those like the Bond Films have received not only the 1080p transfer but also a lot of TLC in remastering them for Blu Ray and by God they are quite simply divine to watch in Blu Ray

Zodiac is one of the must haves - especially if you are not listening in surround sound - Tallyho, I don't know what Zodiac was shot in but it's right up there with the very best pictures Bluray has to offer. I suppose if you are only interested in picture quality, it's all down to what sort of film you like. You are missing out on the audio though! Check out this website - it's like a bible for HD!

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/

Some of my ever changing personal favourites for the picture quality are:

Zodiac
Hairspray
Big Fish
Ratatouille
Ice Age 2
Horton Hears a Who
Band of Brothes box set

 

[Gerrardasnails]

hilly10:I bought Black Hawk Down on Blu-ray the PQ was only slighty better then DVD but the audio is streets ahead. As said its not cut and dried that just because its Blu-ray its got to be better. Here is a case in point Gladiator on DVD fed from my blu-ray and upscaled is fantastic so good I would not think about purchasing it on Blu-ray. Must admit I thought Iron Man was superb in blu-ray as was Batman Begins and Spiderman 3 was jawdropingly brilliant so much so I play the end action scene most nights,sad i know i am

Spiderman 3 is the perfect example - you might not be that bothered about the film and you don't have surround sound. I'm not overly wowed by the film but it looks unbelievable and the sound is the best I've heard so far. I have it just to show off with!!

 

[Andy Clough]

Have to say it's the audio that generally does it for me on BD. Watched Hellboy II at the weekend: terrible film, but the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack was terrific. Made up for watching Mission Impossible III in stereo on C4 last night.

 

[lobby]

Audio is so much better on BD, i have about 20 films generally ones that i will watch over and over, and bargain ones like £8.98, 2 for 3 from Amazon.Just buy good blockbuster films like The Dark Knight for £14.99. Also just bought Ironman, wanted and Indiana Jones Kingdom of the crystal Skull for £5 on dvd, Ironman is still £17.99 on Bd

 

[Andy Madden]

One word - Transformers

 

[Simon Lucas]

Andy Madden:One word - Transformers

I can think of one word for Transformers, Madders, but this is after all a family forum...

 

[Anonymous]

Would have to agree that in general audio is better but more often than not better means much louder which isn't really my thing nor is the necessity to hear massive explosions rock the foundations of my lounge so I guess in the majority of cases I will still continue to buy DVD's as I am convinced ( having also experienced it) that picture quality certainly of the more recent movies are not light years ahead on Blu Ray

Incidentally I believe that 'Zodiac' holds the honor of being the first film shot entirely in 1080p high definition with digital Thompson Viper Filmstream cameras

 

[professorhat]

Tallyho:but more often than not better means much louder which isn't really my thing

Not necessarily true - a number of people have noted the Dolby Digital soundtracks sound louder than TrueHD tracks on some discs (have noticed it myself) and as you say, they wrongly equate louder being better. However, on listening to the different tracks, you notice more detail and the clarity in the hi-def tracks - this is where the improvements are to be made, not volume.

And even if the HD tracks were louder, you can just turn the volume down

Incidentally, my top BD discs so far (in alphabetical order) are 2001, Apocalypto, Batman Begins / The Dark Knight, Blade Runner, Blood Diamond, No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood, The Thing and Wall-E.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes prof I agree you do notice sounds that would be lost in a DVD soundtrack real clarity. Case in point the windows shattering in Spiderman 3 every little tinkle can be heard also in Hitman when the empty shells fall to the floor eerie and adding to the whole atmosphere it is some thing I like

 

[Anonymous]

For visuals/audio, these are particlaurily good

Die Hard 4

Jumper

T2

Tropic Thunder

Simpsons Movie

Ratatouille

 

[avnut]

BLACK HAWK DOWN.

wow! what a movie and on bluray its awsome not only fantastic picture but the hd soundtrack is immense.if you only get into picture quality then imo you miss two thirds of what bluray is all about

 

[Anonymous]

ABSOLUTELY! Transformers is an outstanding bluray. After being pretty impressed by my meagre bluray collection up to this point, I popped in Transformers and spent the next 2 hours in a state of visual & aural ecstacy. Havent seen a bluray since that blu (excuse the pun) me away as much.

 

[Stokesy]

I'd like to recommend Apocalypto, Mel Gibsons take on Mayan 'civilisation' - bought it as part of the 3 for 2 offer on Amazon (now just £9.98 delivered). Hadn't heard a great deal about it before, but when I read some of the comments on Amazon I was intrigued - I'd give it 5/5 for picture, 5/5 for sound and 4.5/5 for the story because it's a bit of a slow starter.

While I'm at it I'd also recommend 3:10 to Yuma, again beautifully filmed and a great story, but for those who like to give their surround channels a good workout its recorded in 7.1 PCM! Enjoy!

 

[Anonymous]

markdemasterful:
I popped in Transformers and spent the next 2 hours in a state of visual & aural ecstacy. Havent seen a bluray since that blu (excuse the pun) me away as much.

I can't imagine that had anything to do with a certain Megan Fox?

;-)

 

[jase fox]

Will Harris:[
I can't imagine that had anything to do with a certain Megan Fox?

;-)Dont know what you mean Will,? Didnt realise she were in it............. Honest !!

 

[Rorschach]

Will Harris:markdemasterful:

I popped in Transformers and spent the next 2 hours in a state of visual & aural ecstacy. Havent seen a bluray since that blu (excuse the pun) me away as much.

I can't imagine that had anything to do with a certain Megan Fox? ;-)

God know's why that girl was voted sexiest woman of the year. Shakira deseres it at least once.

 

[jase fox]

hilly10:Spiderman 3 was jawdropingly brilliant so much so I play the end action scene most nights,sad i know i am

Your not sad at all on this , its what i do with a few movies, the end action scenes on spiderman 3 are brilliant ! I must agree with a few on here though that Bluray is more about the sound quality than the picture, when i watched "hancock" & "strangers" on standard dvd they were that good even my brother thought thay were blurays playing, its a good thing really as it proves that theres still plenty of life left in DVD & i still find plain ol dolby digital & DTS to be still great.

Then again there is obviously some titles that are cracking PQ espec animation on bluray.

 

[jase fox]

Rorschach:Will Harris:markdemasterful:

I popped in Transformers and spent the next 2 hours in a state of visual & aural ecstacy. Havent seen a bluray since that blu (excuse the pun) me away as much.

I can't imagine that had anything to do with a certain Megan Fox? ;-)

God know's why that girl was voted sexiest woman of the year. Shakira deseres it at least once.
Kate Beckinsale for me all day long !!

 

[Anonymous]

jase fox:Kate Beckinsale for me all day long !!

Haha, showing your age there mate! ;-)

The first moment Megan Fox comes on screen to the last, were entirely designed to oodle the minds of all men under 99. God only knows what the director said to her. Errr please act in such a way that roughly 55% of the worlds population will want to sleep with you. Now there's a "making of" documentary that'd make an amusing watch!

 

[Rorschach]

Will Harris:jase fox:Kate Beckinsale for me all day long !! Haha, showing your age there mate! ;-) The first moment Megan Fox comes on screen to the last, were entirely designed to oodle the minds of all men under 99. God only knows what the director said to her. Errr please act in such a way that roughly 55% of the worlds population will want to sleep with you. Now there's a "making of" documentary that'd make an amusing watch!

Believe it or not that's what he actually said, lol! When Megan asked what would be the best way to do a certain scene, michael bay simply replied "oh don't worry about that, i just want you to look hot all the time". Now if that's not a director who doesn't care about the storyline and acting in favour of money, publicity and magazine cloumns then i don't know what is. This isn't the real Transformers, they've got lips for God's sake, i'm really hoping films like Transformers, Harry Potter, Daredevil, Judge Dredd among others are all done properly to their source material. One of the worst things ever to take a legend of a character and shove it into a storyline that it doesn't mould with and completely takes it out of it's element, pathetic.

Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. Thanks, Rorschach.

 

[jase fox]

Will Harris:jase fox:Kate Beckinsale for me all day long !!

Haha, showing your age there mate! ;-)

The first moment Megan Fox comes on screen to the last, were entirely designed to oodle the minds of all men under 99. God only knows what the director said to her. Errr please act in such a way that roughly 55% of the worlds population will want to sleep with you. Now there's a "making of" documentary that'd make an amusing watch!This maybe the case Will, but im also showing you what a 1st rate woman is? I used to be like you thinking the Megan Foxes of the world were the real deal mmmmm youll get there one day !!