* Did you watch a film last night (on Blu or DVD), and what was it? *

[NorthStar]

Last night :: The 2D Version ::

---

* Check this out! Last night I slipped the 2D Blu-ray disc version of that flick into the drawer, then after about only five minutes I was going to eject the disc from one of my Blu-ray players and watch somethin' else, but I simply let it spin longer...till the very end! :b

Yes, I enjoyed it a lot; it was fun and all that cool story jazz.
{You can click on it by the way.}

 

[cjfrbw]

Finally saw "The Descendents", which was touted as a golden statue vehicle for the Clooney-man.

It was OK, maybe 50 percent chick flick but not enough to trigger much on the vomit meter.

It employed some tiresome Hollywood tropes i.e. endearing role reversals between adults and children (Clooney elicits advice from his daughter's stoner dude boyfriend) and of course, he drags the kids all along with him in situations no real parent ever would.

The humble rich suffer so much more grandly than the same events occurring to the actually humble peasantry.

Clooney's character seems to be a bit of a wimpy, sentimentalist naif for a gnarly lawyer. That propels him into soap opera territory.

Sorry George, I agree with the Academy, no golden, naked android on your shelf to keep the Syriana Oscar company, better luck next time. You'll have to be a mere mono-Oscar famous person until a producer takes pity and gives you a meatier and less effervescent role.

The illustrated fake history of Hawaii was kind of cool, as was the cinematography and locale shots. My wife liked it and I didn't mind sitting through it.

 

[NorthStar]

Last night :: revisited :: both ::

-------------1.--------------------------------And--------- 2.

---------------------​

* You can click on either one for some info. ...I'm a Blues Brothers' fan, so the emotional impact is more genuine. :b But that 3D flick (technically only) is some' else!

 

[NorthStar]

Last night :: Two flicks :: Again :: One in 2D and the other in 3D :::

---------------​

1. 'Contraband' = Sucks big time! ...Don't even go there; you'll thank me later, guarantee!

2. 'Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D' = Can't be more stupid than that! And the 3D effects are the worst that I ever seen! ...Well, some of.
Plus the audio (English) is only Dolby Digital 5.1!!! But the funny thing is that the French audio language is DTS-HD MA 5.1!!! ...Talk 'bout a big screw up by Alliance Films here in Canada (the distributor of this Blu-ray title).
By the way, this 3D Blu-ray title is probably the most controversial of them all from all over the Internet! ...Absolutely, 100%!
Me I suspect that; or people are having trouble with their eyes, or that there are two different video transfers of that flick (within the USA).
And here in Canada we are totally screwed by Alliance Films; our distributor. By the way, it is a Sony Pictures title.
{I aready saw this Blu-ray 2D version couple times before, as experimentation's purpose only.}

* You can click on them picture covers from above, but be aware that not everyone is on the same page here.
...And not only that (various opinions), but the material reviewed is also sometimes different! ...As is the case here for that 3D Blu-ray title from above.
But what is no good is that no one knows for sure because no one is mentioning it in all over the Internet! ...You've read it only here at WBF, and from me! :b

Sometimes it pays off to be an American; and at other times it sucks to be a Canadian!

All in all, last night was a nightmare at the movies (my place)! And it's not even Halloween yet!

 

[Mike]

Leviathan at the Chicago International Film Festival.
When a guy got up before the movie began to introduce it mentioned "no refunds," I guess I should have taken the hint.

 

[NorthStar]

Ok, I've got to say this ::

1. Not all HDTVs are created equal.
2. No two same HDTVs are calibrated the same.
3. No one has the exact same set of eyes as another person.
4. There are various transfers out there (movies & music).
5. No one has the exact same view of the world as another person (eyes, ears, and mind).

Now that this was said with perfect understanding; perhaps we can all create our own individual happiness, and respect the right to live and freedom of others. :b

 

[audioguy]

-----I don't know the exact count now but way over 3,000 anyway. ...Blu-ray only. .......... Perhaps 5,000 DVDs, or more.

WOW!! 3000 Blurays and 5000 DVD's ! Even at $10 each, your source collection is more valuable than 98% of most high end home theater systems!

What do you watch this magnificent collection of movies on? Projector? Large Plasma, LCD or LED?

 

[NorthStar]

Finally saw "The Descendents", which was touted as a golden statue vehicle for the Clooney-man.

It was OK, maybe 50 percent chick flick but not enough to trigger much on the vomit meter.

It employed some tiresome Hollywood tropes i.e. endearing role reversals between adults and children (Clooney elicits advice from his daughter's stoner dude boyfriend) and of course, he drags the kids all along with him in situations no real parent ever would.

The humble rich suffer so much more grandly than the same events occurring to the actually humble peasantry.

Clooney's character seems to be a bit of a wimpy, sentimentalist naif for a gnarly lawyer. That propels him into soap opera territory.

Sorry George, I agree with the Academy, no golden, naked android on your shelf to keep the Syriana Oscar company, better luck next time. You'll have to be a mere mono-Oscar famous person until a producer takes pity and gives you a meatier and less effervescent role.

The illustrated fake history of Hawaii was kind of cool, as was the cinematography and locale shots. My wife liked it and I didn't mind sitting through it.View attachment 6215

-----How do you spell 'The Descendants'?

 

[NorthStar]

WOW!! 3000 Blurays and 5000 DVD's ! Even at $10 each, your source collection is more valuable than 98% of most high end home theater systems!

-----I said it several times before; my investments are in the BEST software. :b
...Cinema, and Sound. ...Or Movies & Music.
But the true value is not financial (it's all relative), but in the true emotional impact of the content.
You do need some good gear to reproduce it though. But without quality music recordings (high res audio) and movie transfers (high def video), people are just swimming with the fishes.

What do you watch this magnificent collection of movies on? Projector? Large Plasma, LCD or LED?

-----I'm still waiting for a 3D, 4K front projector, bulbless. :b

For now, I'm still using a 60" plasma HDTV (3D) from Samsung. And I sit at 7.0 to 8.0 feet from it.
* But I might change my position to between five and six feet; as I only watch 1080p (movies) and 1080i (music concert videos).

'Bout you?

 

[cjfrbw]

Bought my first blu ray. (No, it wasn't "The DescendAnts." I have no excuses, I didn't type it on a cell phone.)

"Magaruber, The Ultimate Tool", 99c at Goodwill, 90c with discount. I'll watch it some other day. I'm in Bob's taillights. Another 2999 and I'll be caught up.

Can't believe blu rays are cropping up next to the musty old vinyl.

 

[audioguy]

'Bout you?

I own approximately 500 Blurays and DVD's (my wife doesn't understand why I just don't rent, and based upon some I have purchased, she is right some of the time). We do rent movies that I'm reasonably confident I will have no interest in watching again. On the other hand, we have rented some where I loved the movie and bought one the next day. $1.50 to rent at Redbox is pretty reasonable.

As for equipment, from my profile:

VIDEO EQUIPMENT:

JVC RS55 w/ Motorized Anamorphic Lens
Lumagen video scaler and CalMan calibration software
Screen Masking System by Somis Systems
Stewart Studiotek Filmscreen 2:35 120 x 51 inch screen (Gain of 1.3)
Darbee Darblet

SPEAKERS:

LCR: Seaton Catalysts Powered Speakers on sand-filled Seaton Stands
SUBS: Seaton SubMersive HP (4);
Surrounds: Seaton Sparks (4) Powered Speakers

ELECTRONICS:

Integra 80.2 SSP
APS 1050 Power Conditioner
APS 2000 Power Conditioner
Antelope Zodiac Gold Plus DAC

SOURCES:

Music Vault Music Server
Oppo BD83 Bluray Player
DirecTV DVR

ROOM STUFF:

Theater chairs by Berkline
RPG BAD Panels
RPG BAD ARC Panels
Acoustic Panels by GIK
RPG Skylines

MISCELLANEOUS:

BlueJeans Speaker and Interconnect Cables
Control4 Equipment Controller

 

[NorthStar]

---...And how many LPs, CDs, SACDs? ...I bet you spent quite a big chunk of money right there. :b
I know I did!

 

[NorthStar]

Last night :: The 3D version :::



* The 3D effects are well done, and the story, the cast (characters) are fine; I enjoyed it. :b
=> You can also click ^ on the above picture cover for more info.

 

[NorthStar]

Last night ::

---

----Click on it ^ if you want to.

* ...And stick with your five dollars ($10 max) 2D version. ...Because this 3D title from FOX sucks!

We are going to see a lot of catalog Blu-ray releases in 3D in the next while; so that the movie studios can cash in some more. ...You know how it goes anyway ....

_____________________

Forget the attachment down below; it's an error, and cannot be fixed!
It is impossible to delete on its own unless you delete the entire post and start all over.

 

[audioguy]

---...And how many LPs, CDs, SACDs? ...I bet you spent quite a big chunk of money right there. :b
I know I did!

I sold my LP collection of about 600 albums. SACD's: maybe 10; CD's 700.

 

[NorthStar]

I sold my LP collection of about 600 albums. SACD's: maybe 10; CD's 700.

-----Alright, you had a modest LP collection, and you are perhaps more into music downloading (streaming) now.

My main point was this; a lot of people (myself included), from our audiophile (& videophile) hobby, have large investments in music or/and movie software.
I know I do; with well over half million dollars (music recordings & films). ...And others in the several millions of dollars.

* Look, just 600 LPs might represent an original $10,000 investment, or so.
For some people less (if used ones), and for others much more (if high quality remastered ones). ...And the same with CDs (some of my CDs cost $100 each! And people have LPs that they paid $200 for, or more, each!).

But it is really tough to put a true value today as everything is changing so fast.
And the hundred bucks you spend today will be worth less than ten bucks tomorrow.
But the fact remains that you did spend that money in the first place, irrelative of its today's true value.

What counts is today's emotions, and nothing else. :b ...And money has nothing to do with it; only us, each one of us, what we do with our life today. :b

 

[NorthStar]

---Last night I watched 'Prometheus 3D'; the 3D version this time.

Here are my overall impressions:

It started real good, with clean picture (detailed), nice (nothing fantastic but real nice nonetheless) 3D effects (with less brightness of course because of the glasses and mine is a plasma panel), and very good sound (the audio soundtrack is impeccable; the music score is fantastic)!

Now, as the film was progressing I was less enthralled somehow; I don't know why precisely, perhaps I was tired, but the fact is that the original impression I got at the beginning wasn't as intense no more.
But it is true; I was a bit tired, and I'll have to rewatch it again to have a fair opinion.

Don't get me wrong though; I luv this flick, and the 3D effects are very well done.
I calculate that it is an important 3D Blu-ray movie to have in your collection; no doubt 'bout it!

I want to emphasize one thing real clear here; the musical score in this film is excellent! :b
And the overall surround sound effects are top notch; so is the detailed picture and original creative art that went into this flick. Ridley Scott is a true creative artist; and you can see it on the screen, and hear it from the music composer and recording/mixing engineer. It is done with taste and intelligence.
This is a flick that I will be revisiting; 2D and 3D.

And by the way, I am growing stronger and better in appreciating 3D.
I know the pros and cons; and I try to remain on the pro side. :b
And another thing that is for sure; the future will just get improving regarding that 3D aspect,
plus eventually the better picture resolution with Ultra High Definition (4K).

For me, 'Prometheus 3D' is an avant-garde taste of things to come, like 'Avatar 3D', technically.

 

[NorthStar]

Last night ::

---

* This is the very worst of the bunch (four Indys)! The story, acting, locales, decors, special effects, picture quality, sound quality; everything is bad! And I mean that; very bad all the way!

You can click on the above picture cover if you wish to, but be warned; I totally disagree with the reviewer, and big time too, and about everything story wise, and technical aspects (video and audio).

I would give a 2.0 out of 5 for everything (movie, video, audio, and overall).
Nothing surprising here from this older flick, and with Lucas at the writing table plus.
And Paramount ain't my favorite studio either.
And the packaging for this 5-disc Blu-ray set is totally awful! ...Cardboard slip cases where you cannot take the discs without touching the playing surface with your finger, and a chance of scratching it too, by sliding it out of its prison's cell!
...Worst idea ever! ...Very cheap way to treat your customers!

 

[NorthStar]

Last night :: Much Better ::

---

* I love the beginning; amazing vistas! On Blu-ray it shines! :b
This is a much better flick than 'The Temple of Doom', without any doubt.
And the technical quality (picture & sound) is improved too.

Overall (in my own book): 3.75 out of 5. :b
{You can also click on the above picture cover.}

 

[Mike]

---View attachment 6340

* I love the beginning; amazing vistas! On Blu-ray it shines! :b
This is a much better flick than 'The Temple of Doom', without any doubt.
And the technical quality (picture & sound) is improved too.

Overall (in my own book): 3.75 out of 5. :b
{You can also click on the above picture cover.}

For some reason, i just don't see you watching these mainstream flicks, Bob. I'm glad that you like this stuff, too! I really liked this movie.