Review for followings movies now available from www.dvdbeaver.com
1.
Sherlock Holmes [Blu-ray] 
Studio:
Theatrical: Wigram Productions
Blu-ray: Warner Home Video
Disc:
Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)
Runtime: 2:04:50.607
Disc Size: 38,400,175,270 bytes
Feature Size: 27,188,656,128 bytes
Video Bitrate: 19.61 Mbps
Chapters: 13
Case: Standard Blu-ray case w/ slipcover
Release date: March 30th, 2010
Video:
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps
Video codec: VC-1 Video
Audio:
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3787 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3787 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio French 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
DTS Express English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / 16-bit
Subtitles:
English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, none
Extras:
• Maximum Movie Mode with Walk-Ons by Guy Ritchie, and others in PIP
• Sherlock Holmes: Reinvented – HD (16:17)
• 8 Focus Points – in HD (31:17)
• DVD/Digital Copy Disc
• BD-Live
The Film: 7
Image: 8/9
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The first number indicates a relative level of excellence compared to other Blu-ray video discs on a ten-point scale. The second number places this image along the full range of DVD and Blu-ray discs.
Warner's VC-1 transfer to high definition retains the painterly look of the film's theatrical presentation. There's nothing glossy or refined about the image. It's all a little murky and modestly grainy, with textures suggesting, rather than defining themselves. Contrast is high but well under control, blacks are deep and noiseless, shadow detail is sufficient, but is easily swamped by the general lack of resolution. (There are exceptions: check out the close up of Blackwood at Capture #11.) Color is desaturated for stylistic reasons, flesh tones are agreeable, with flashes of color that peek through from Irene and Mary's costumes. Since a not inconsiderable part of what we see is CG, the difference between its comparatively high resolution and the feature film is a little disconcerting, but this is not the fault of the transfer. However, Maximum Movie Mode seems to take up so much file space that bit transference for the feature film appears potentially compromised, but even with MMM, there's plenty of room left on this dual layer disc for a more robust rendering.
Audio & Music: 9/7
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From the opening shot of horse-drawn carriages rumbling down the streets in a rush, passing our point of view from behind, we know this is going to be a carefully planned soundscape. Indeed, this movie simmers with opportunities galore for the sound mixer – all convincingly blended in uncompressed DTS-HD MA 5.1 with the music and dialogue – the latter always crisp and clear (I never even needed to resort to the subtitles.) And, as much as I deplored the shipwreck scene for all sorts of reasons, the audio does its part to pull our chain good and proper.
Operations: 9
Extras: 10
Bottom line: 8
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OK, I have reservations about the movie, but I can't say it wasn't diverting. I was never bored and always entertained, even when not entirely happy. There are huge dollops of humor, romance, mystery, and fantastic imagines of London 150 years ago. I should place this Blu-ray in nomination for Best Special Features. Great sound. An image that does proper justice to the intentions. So, if you're not sure of a purchase, rent it first, but make sure you check out the Extra Features. Thumbs Up.
2.
Collateral [Blu-ray] (2004)
Production:
Theatrical: Paramount / Dreamworks
Video: Dreamworks Video
Disc:
Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)
Runtime: 1:59:56.189
Disc Size: 42,839,304,136 bytes
Feature Size: 36,434,202,624 bytes
Video Bitrate: 31.79 Mbps - DVD Average Bitrate: 8.16 mb/s
Chapters: 20
Case: Standard Blu-ray case
Release date: March 30th, 2010
Video:
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio:
DTS-HD Master Audio English 4263 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4263 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -4dB / Dolby Surround
Subtitles:
English (SDH), English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, none
Extras:
• Director Michael Mann Commentary
• City of Night: The Making of Collateral
• Special Delivery
• Shooting on Location: Annie’s Office
• Cruise & Foxx split screen rehearsals
Image:
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Collateral appears to have benefited in the move to Blu-ray although the transfer still identifies some of the limitations of the HD camera usage. The noise is most prevalent in the darker scenes that tend to dominate Collateral. When there is some better lit close-ups they accentuate the differences. Colors tighten up marginally but detail advances significantly at times over the SD-DVD. There is no video-haze that we sometimes wee with this manner of production but glare exists when direct fluorescent light appears in the frame. Overall this Blu-ray more accurately reports the visuals but fans expecting crystal clear clarity will be left wanting. It wasn't shot with that intention. The dual-layered rendering has a high bitrate and, in my opinion, is a vastly stronger presentation depending on the equipment you are using.
Audio:
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Audio is a powerhouse 5.1 DTS-HD Master at a pulsing 4263 kbps. While handling the guns and car crashes with alacrity - it's the night pauses with their subtleties, that tend to draw the most praise from this reviewer. Comparatively to the DVD there is abundant depth. The Blu-rays offers DUBS and subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.
BOTTOM LINE:
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I don't share the enthusiasm that Joseph does for the film, but admit to it's entertainment value. Cruise and Foxx work well together and the support is awesome from the likes of a perfect, edgy but committed, L.A. detective in Ruffalo, a dash of lawyerly babe with Jada Pinkett Smith and pinch of seething Latin Javier Bardem. As an action/thriller this holds up just as well today even though I don't see the subtext beyond the violence. I certainly can't deny the Blu-ray gave me a better viewing than the older DVD - in both audio and video. This film has a certain style and aura that is really helped by the 1080P. The grittiness comes through as more 'naturalistic'. Yes, we recommend.
3. Dumbo Special Edition Combi Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) (UK version)
Studio:
Theatrical: Disney
Blu-ray: Disney
Disc:
Region: 'B'-locked (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)
Runtime: 1:03:56.833
Disc Size: 38,917,086,961 bytes
Feature Size: 18,516,480,000 bytes
Video Bitrate: 24.63 Mbps
Chapters: 17
Case: Standard Blu-ray case
Release date: March 22nd, 2010
Video:
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio:
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3279 kbps 7.1 / 48 kHz / 3279 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS Audio Dutch 1509 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Italian 1509 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Spanish 1509 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit
Dolby Digital Audio Hindi 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio Catalan 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio Dutch 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio Italian 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Subtitles:
English, Dutch, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, none
Extras:
• Cine-Explore PIP with Pete Docter, Paula Sigman & Andreas Deja
• Taking Flight: The Making of Dumbo – in HD (27:05)
• Magic of Dumbo : The Ride of Passage – in HD (3:00)
• Sound Design Excerpt for
• Walt Disney's TV Introduction – in SD (1:10)
• 2 Theatrical Trailers for Dumbo (1941 & 1949)
• Deleted Scenes:
• DVD Disc: Feature Film in SD (PAL)
The Film: 10
Image: 9/9
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The first number indicates a relative level of excellence compared to other Blu-ray video discs on a ten-point scale. The second number places this image along the full range of DVD and Blu-ray discs.
Compared to the U.S. "Big Top" DVD, the new Blu-ray is a revelation: Colors are brighter, and lighting has been reconsidered for proper dramatic intention. Noise is seriously reduced without loss in sharpness. Dumbo is not big on texture in the first place, but what little there is is now more apparent. One thing that the sharp-eyed among you will notice is the built-in edge enhancement. A close examination of the edges around the tuba reveals a subtle swash of shading to give dimension to the instrument, else it would appear completely flat. The artist did that. Cool, huh.
But don't expect the same level of restoration we see in the Blu-ray editions of Sleeping Beauty or Pinocchio. Scratches and specks, which in some scenes on the DVD seemed almost painted into the background, are now 99% removed. Natural watercolor splotching can now be seen where before it was just noise. Sharpness, especially in respect to the line art, is restored. All in all, a huge upgrade, but not perfect.
Audio & Music: 5/9
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I wish I could report the same level of care for the audio that was offered for Pinocchio. Alas, this is not be. I feel the idea of turning a mono score into a 7.1 surround is preposterous to start with, but I wouldn't have minded if there were an original somewhere to be found. But the bad news doesn't stop there. The DTS-HD MA mix is too screechy, with exaggerated treble. Much better is playing that same mix through the digital output of your player, possibly even the analog output (I didn't try it), bypassing HMDI for the audio.
The film won an Oscar for Best Musical Score and a nomination for "Baby Mine" – a song that any of today's composers would give their index finger to have written. And look at how Disney dramatizes the song in a series of mother and child tableaux, alternating sentiment with deft humor. At least the song had the good taste to lose to the Meryl Steep of composers: Jerome Kern, for "The Last Time I Saw Paris."
Operations : 2
Extras: 8
Bottom line: 9
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My only gripe – and it's no small one – is the audio. But it least there is a workaround. The image quality is a huge improvement over the DVD (I hope you appreciate my avoidance of elephantine metaphors here). The special features are quite good considering the lack of on the spot archival footage. And, yes, the Cine-Explore panel does address the question of the elephant in the room – the crows. I've always thought the issue was something of a pink elephant myself, but that's another story.
Mar 24 2010, 07:42 PM
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