Dark Knight Blu-ray Audio Details

mutelight

Well yes, I can understand those with masking systems but for the vast majority of viewers, I wouldn't consider it a "problem".

Ron-P

Yep, that's right, I cannot use my mattes.

Add to that, it's a problem as this is not the way I saw this in the theater, I saw it with a fixed AR, if this was not the directors intent then it should never have been shown that way. So, personal or not, this Blu release is a problem.

Also, I have yet to find anyone who can actually post a comment by Nolan stating that this Blu release is his preferred version of the film.

millerman 3732

Ron-P wrote: »

Add to that, it's a problem as this is not the way I saw this in the theater, I saw it with a fixed AR, if this was not the directors intent then it should never have been shown that way. So, personal or not, this Blu release is a problem.

The Dark Knight was meant to be seen in an IMAX theater, that's the way Nolan shot it so obviously that how he wanted it to look in theater, aspect ratio change and all, So personally I have no problem with it, but I could see some one using a masking system being bothered by it.

mutelight

millerman 3732 wrote: »

The Dark Knight was meant to be seen in an IMAX theater, that's the way Nolan shot it so obviously that how he wanted it to look in theater, aspect ratio change and all, So personally I have no problem with it, but I could see some one using a masking system being bothered by it.

Exactly. If Nolan had it his way, he would have shot the entire film on IMAX film stock. But yes, I can also understand the issues with masking systems.

danger boy

I'm heading to BB right now to get this movie on BD.

polkatese

It appears that Danger Boy has been born again Blu-Ray...

Ron-P

For those that might not know, I saw Target has a 3-disc set for $29.99 and it comes with a Batman Mask type disc holder, just like the Iron Man set.

I don't see it on their website but I did see it in the store this morning.

danger boy

I picked this up this morning. it's limited edition... includes Dark KNight in Blu Ray and also Batman begins with tons of extras. I just wish the audio was DTS MA instead of DTS EX or whatever it is..

wingnut4772

I think I'm getting it for Christmas.:p I wish it had DTS 7.1. That is da bomb.

Ron-P

danger boy wrote: »

I picked this up this morning. it's limited edition... includes Dark KNight in Blu Ray and also Batman begins with tons of extras. I just wish the audio was DTS MA instead of DTS EX or whatever it is..

The audio is Dolby TrueHD, which IMO, is just as good as DTS-MA HD.

mantis

Quickly it changes ratios. They do it tastefully if that is even possible. I don't care for it. The full screen shots are awesome. They audio and video quality of this movie is top notch. I liked the film overall but I think I still like the first one better.

I don't like Actor changes. They changes out Rachel. The new actor looked amazingly close but you can tell she was not the same person. Only real bummer for me. Other then that the movies was great. The Joker was sick and twisted like he is suppose to be.

I own it and I will watch it again. I'm cool with it.

Dan

Ron-P

After viewing this, I'll be at Target to pick it up, the Bat Mask set that is.

The varying AR isn't too bad, only was it a distraction during the daylight scenes, being that the film is primarily dark it's noticeable but not a distraction. As for EE, what EE? I didn't notice any. The TrueHD track is fantastic as well. The PQ is also first rate.

mutelight

Ron-P wrote: »

After viewing this, I'll be at Target to pick it up, the Bat Mask set that is.

The varying AR isn't too bad, only was it a distraction during the daylight scenes, being that the film is primarily dark it's noticeable but not a distraction. As for EE, what EE? I didn't notice any. The TrueHD track is fantastic as well. The PQ is also first rate.

I was definitely noticing some EE due to visible edge haloing but it still looked really good. The 70mm scenes had my jaw as well as my friends' on the floor, amazing image fidelity. The Dolby TrueHD track though, is absolutely flawless.

Grimster74

Well worth the purchase on Blu if you ask me, absolutely kick a$$ movie in my opinion.

Rob

sdcfan19

Grimster74 wrote: »

Well worth the purchase on Blu if you ask me, absolutely kick a$$ movie in my opinion.

Rob

I agree. I thought the aspect changes would throw it off, but it isn't really a big deal. I noticed it because I'm into this kinda thing, but my wife didn't even notice it until I brought it to her attention. The Dark Knight is just as good in repeat viewings as it was when I saw it in theaters.

Polkitup2

I bought it on Blu-ray but am holding off until the Holidays to watch. I hope my POS Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray player can handle it. I'll probably have to wait for another firmware release so it can actually play the movie.

millerman 3732

Great movie, enjoyed it even more the second time around. The aspect ratio change wasn't distracting at all, I didn't even notice most times, BUT.... I don't know if it was the EE or the added sharping, it was alittle hard on the eyes at times, especially the bright scenes in the city.

polkatese

I have to say that changes in aspect ratio is mildly annoying since it happens with no warning throughout the movie. the digital copy is a nice bonus, since I can watch it on my ipod video. al in all, good BD to own.

Ron-P

Does the digital copy have the varying AR, or is it fixed?

polkatese

varying AR, just like the BD, which lead me to speculate that the DVD is that way too.

dholmes

I loved this blu-ray,the ar changing wasnt bad at all like I thought it would be I did think the imax sceens where a little soft compared to reg shots. The sceen where they are testing the machine guns omg I took one to the shoulder!!!!

Ron-P

polkatese wrote: »

varying AR, just like the BD, which lead me to speculate that the DVD is that way too.

Not a chance. The BD would blow the doors off the DVD in every respect. After all my bitching about the varying AR and then watching it, it's not near as bad as I would have thought. Only a couple switches were noticeably drastic. Now, where did I put that slice of humble pie?

Ron-P

Oh, and here's some good news for the Bat Man...and Blu!

‘Batman’ Could Save the Day


By Thomas K. Arnold | Posted: 10 Dec 2008
tarnold@questex.com

Can Batman save the home entertainment industry?

In a season of hit-or-miss theatrical blockbusters, where some of the misses have been by as much as 30% off target, Warner Home Video’s The Dark Knight landed squarely on the hit side, selling more than 3 million units its first day in stores, 600,000 of them on the high-definition Blu-ray Disc format.

That sets the stage for the Batman sequel to become the top-selling home video release of the year, mimicking its performance on the big screen, where its domestic gross of $530.3 million stands unmatched by any other theatrical release in the past decade.

“We were extremely pleased with first day sales, and we now think it will easily be the biggest title of this year in home video,” said Ron Sanders, president of Warner Home Video.

He notes that the Warner number includes sellthrough only in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom; sales to rental dealers are not factored in.

Sanders also projects that the Blu-ray Disc sales tally alone could rise to 1 million units by Saturday. “In the first two days across those three territories, Blu-ray Disc sales are running between 25% and 30% of total sales, which is a massive number,” he said. “We had expected Blu-ray to account for a significant percentage of sales, but not quite this high, which speaks well for the format. It’s really catching on with consumers.”

The previous Blu-ray Disc sales record was set earlier in the fourth quarter by Paramount Home Entertainment’s Iron Man, which sold more than 500,000 high-definition discs its first week. The Dark Knight shattered that record — in a single day.

“Blu-ray is clearly catching on with consumers,” Sanders said.

There are bigger implications as well. For the home entertainment industry, the DVD/Blu-ray Disc release of The Dark Knight wasn’t just about one title, albeit the biggest title of the year. It was more about the short-term future of the business.

Throughout the fourth quarter, studio executives, key retailers and analysts have been closely monitoring sales of the summer blockbusters. With total home video sales projected to be off by as much as 6% this year, the performance of the hits has taken on special significance.

Back when the DVD business first began to slow four years ago, the first cracks to appear were in the sales totals of the megahits, beginning with Shrek 2, which sold phenomenally well upon its November 2004 release — but not as well as DreamWorks had anticipated.

From that point on, the video-to-theatrical ratio for the big-screen blockbusters continued to decline — and, with it, the fortunes of the entire home entertainment business, which, like its theatrical counterpart, had grown increasingly dependent on the hits.

This year the fourth-quarter parade of summer theatrical blockbusters has had a spotty performance. Some titles, such as Iron Man, did exceptionally well; others, such as Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, could have done better.

The day The Dark Knight went on sale, a Wall Street Journal article said the film’s home video sales performance would be a bellwether for the entire industry.

“When the Warner Bros. film The Dark Knight shattered box office records this summer, it was hailed as a sign that Hollywood can repel an economic downturn,” the article said. “But as that latest Batman installment is released on DVD … it could show that Hollywood’s defenses against a recession are crumbling. Batman’s fate in a declining DVD market will be just one way the movie industry’s claim of being recession-proof will be tested.”

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/batman-could-save-day-14069

I saw give it another year or two and I bet we start seeing Blu sales beating out DVD.

polkatese

Ron-P wrote: »

Now, where did I put that slice of humble pie?

I think you left it right underneath the Kung-Fu Panda case, Ron.