The Godfather on Blu-ray September 15, 2008
Posted by clydefro in : Classic Films, 1970s , trackbackSeptember 23rd sees new R1 releases of The Godfather trilogy, now restored and available on Blu-ray for the first time. I can’t pretend that the idea of trying to efficiently and properly review this set isn’t intimidating, especially with nearly five hours of special features (not even counting commentaries on each film), but cross your fingers for a review at DVD Times next week. For now, here’s a look at the packaging, which consists of an embossed slipcase with a slightly thicker than normal Blu-ray case inside. A twelve-page booklet is glued onto the back of the box. (Click to enlarge)
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I’ve just seen the screencaps over at the Beaver; on my monitor, only one really stands out as presenting a yawning gap between SD and BD, and as predicted it’s one of the darker scenes (the assassination attempt on Don Corleone). It’s here where BD really seems to excel, plumbing the depths of shadow and detail. HD was invented for films like this.
I’m wavering, I’m right on the verge…to BD or not BD? That is the question…
Look forward to reading your thoughts clydefro.
My hesitation in the Beev’s caps are that he’s comparing the old, pre-restoration releases to the Blu-ray. Part II is now up and it’s mentioned that the new standard DVD will be also be compared at some point. Even with what’s available, it doesn’t appear the differences will be as mindblowing as some might like. As you say, though, it’s really in the detail that BD triumphs over DVD. Gordon Willis can do no wrong in my book. I want the films to look dark, but I also like seeing what’s inside that darkness.
My rationale in getting a player (at the expense of that fine-sounding Oppo) was based primarily on this release, with the upcoming Criterion discs a close second. With films on the level of these, I want to have the best quality version. Having the restored versions on DVD seems unnecessary, especially at the hefty price tag and being forced yet again into buying Part III, so it seemed like Blu-ray or nothing in this instance.
Ah, but clydefro have you not seen the annoucement of Oppo’s new Blu-ray player? All that BD has to offer, plus SD playback that will be - at the very least - the equivalent of the incredible 983, and unrivalled customer support to boot.
That’s why I’m feeling Blu right now…
The screencaps at DVDBeaver do not really give you an idea of the difference in picture quality between SD and BD. To really compare the two he should blow up the SD caps to the size of BD.
If you have a large enough screen the difference is really stunning. I never expected it would be that big but it really is. And that goes for every title I’ve watched so far. The difference in resolution between SD and BD is bigger than the difference in resolution between VHS and SD so that should tell you something. No upconverting player will make up that difference. But it’s not only the resolution that makes BD shine but also the lack of compression artifacts.
I invested in BD (and HD-DVD) early on and I consider it the best investment I ever made. The only negative thing I can say about it is that it made my SD collection unwatchable for me on my projector (on my 32″ TV SD is still ok).
Btw, How The West Was Won in smilebox is a real stunner. The best thing I’ve seen on BD yet.
John, I did see that Oppo was introducing a Blu-ray player, which made buying one now even tougher. If not for the Godfather set I wouldn’t have gone through with it.
Which BD player did you end up with clydefro? I’m considering buying a cheap Region B machine, then the Region A Oppo and selling my 983 should Oppo’s BD machine prove the business. But it really does go against the grain. Mad, completely and utterly mad.
hitchfan; apparently George Feltenstein says that you can’t be a true Home Theatre enthusiast if you don’t own a BD player, and hints that the Smilebox presentation was aimed squarely at those enthusiasts with large screens and Blu-ray machines. In fact it may exist solely to sell BD players (which it surely will).
I don’t own a BD player, nor a PJ and my monitor is a miserly 52″; suddenly - remarkably - I feel like a second class citizen. You have to admire old George…
Last year I went for the Toshiba A2 because I didn’t expect Warner Bros. to kill HD-DVD. I was very happy with it and thought standard DVDs looked noticeably crisper. I also accumulated several HD-DVDs.
When it came time to get a Blu-ray player, I thought the ideal thing would be to have something that could play both formats so I found the LG BH200. With some tweaking it’s supposed to be able to play other regions, but I haven’t done that yet. I like the freedom the machine gives in format and region, even if it doesn’t upscale as well as the Toshiba.
Sounds good. Ah, for a complete one box solution (that isn’t a HTPC).
John, why don’t you buy a multiregion player? They are available here for instance from €579 and upwards: http://www.stegen.com/index.php/cPath/61?osCsid=f232f740c0e54c85a4b2814213c0f0fa
I’m sure that there are UK suppliers who can supply the same.
I bought a Pioneer LX70A with multiregion mod and it works perfectly. It allows me to play regions A and B BDs and regions 1 and 2 SDs. No problems with firmware upgrades either. You have to select the region by remote before you turn the player on but that’s not a lot of hassle.
I’ve looked at one of those big 52″ TVs in a shop and they’re huge so I have no doubt that you would enjoy the smilebox presentation on one of these. The quality of BD also allows you to sit much closer to your screen.
I hope the smilebox version does pull more classic movie lovers aboard the BD train so that classic BDs sell better and more are being released. But there’s already a lot of good stuff available and before the end of the year we will get: Zulu, The Ipcress File, Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Thunderball, Double Indemnity (in France), Gigi, Quo Vadis, An American In Paris, Casablanca, Straw Dogs, Cabaret, Beckett, Body Heat, Young Frankenstein, The Omen, Carrie, The Third Man, The Man Who Fell To Earth, Red Desert, Dr. Strangelove, The Day The Earth Stood Still.
Blu-ray seems very much like a work in progress; I’m willing to slap down £150-ish for the Samsung BDP1500 to get a foothold, but £500 plus is a little too rich for my blood at this juncture.
But, and I guarantee this, there are very, very few (decently transferred) SD titles, that I’m willing to double (triple, quadruple…) dip into BD; I have invested far too heavily in SD to throw it all away. The Oppo 983H is not HD, but it’s good enough for me.
It’s a lark innit?
Meanwhile the Beaver has Godfather II screencap comparisons up; hmmmm….
You don’t have to throw any of it away, John - the good thing is because of the fact that BD machines will play DVDs too your BD and DVDs can sit alongside each other on your shelf and you only need to have one machine (multiregion of course for some of us, though this is now possible). I’m intending to upgrade DVDs only in my favourite cases and when there is a reasonable upgrade in the HD transfer. Everything else I’ll live with my old DVD. Of course all new titles may as well be bought on BD if available.
I’ve seen a couple of fantastic demos of BD and it’s generally capable of kicking DVDs ass - the JPEG stills on the internet, despite some being in full 1920×1080, don’t quite have the same impact as seeing the thing in the flesh and moving, they’re merely a flavour.
Paul, I’m afraid there is no BD player on the market that can come near my Oppo for SD playback (well, until the Oppo BD player comes on track that is). I don’t need a BD player for SD playback and my comment was intended to underline the fact that I won’t be suckered into replacing movies which I already own and which already look pretty spiffy via a machine that is pretty much as good as it gets.
That doesn’t include the BD ‘The Godfather’ (so I will not buy the restored version on SD), but the current disc of ‘Casablanca’ will do me. Probably. I’m reasonably certain.
Possibly…
I will say that some of the most impressive HD-DVD/Blu-ray releases I’ve seen were Casablanca and The Adventures of Robin Hood instead of things like Batman Begins or the Bourne movies. At some point, I decided that selling off my DVDs of The Getaway or Casino would allow me to purchase HD-DVD versions at no real loss, and that’s been my strategy for the most part.
Here you can find some 1920×1080 comparisons between the SD and BD of The Godfather: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1067721
They’re big files so may take some time to load but they will give you a better idea of the difference between SD and BD than the caps at DVDBeaver.