Hammer on DVD/BD Thread

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

This piece sums up the Curse picture quality very nicely.

An even more contentious issue is the quality of the HD transfer itself. The Warner Brothers DVD seemed to employ heavy use of Digital Noise Reduction techniques and sometimes seemed to possess a slightly unnaturally enhanced and brightened tinge which had been applied during its colour grading. This HD transfer, overseen by Deluxe, seems to recapture a more authentic-looking colour scheme, consistent with Jack Asher’s original wishes and, especially in the laboratory scenes, his contrasts in lighting and its use with intense colour combinations comes across very satisfactorily. Yet the transfer does seem very soft, in places much more so that the Warner Bros. DVD of ten years ago! There has been much debate, comment and discussion of this transfer and about the matting issues elsewhere online, and I won’t rehearse all the various positions and speculations about it here; it’s clear though that this doesn’t come across and hasn’t been received as a particularly spectacular example of the HD format, and that the boosted contrast sometimes seems to have bleached out the detail in some sequences especially early on, although in the main this isn’t a persistent problem. It is true though that there is, at best, only a marginal difference noticeable between the Blu-ray version and the DVD versions of the film that’s also included in the set; at the moment it seems the original negative couldn’t be rendered any more successfully in HD than we’re seeing here, and this is the tentative conclusion until such time as other Blu-ray releases of the film start to emerge for comparison.

I aim to get it at some point for the commentary by Hearn and Rigby and the new half hour doc. I already have The Four Sided Triangle. At least Curse is init's correct aspect ratio of 1:37:1

[Rob4]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Stolen Face is on The Mummy.

It's The Four Sided Triangle on Curse.

Both have been released before. On the Hammer Noir box set #1 in the case of Stolen Face and DD released The Four Sided Triangle ages ago with a lovely booklet.

As for the aspect ratio of Brides of Dracula and Night Creatures from Final Cut and Universal? Both are in the wrong aspect ratio. Stick with the dvd's.

thanks Dem, mixed 'em up

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Rob4

thanks Dem, mixed 'em up

You're welcome.

Is there any word on UK blus for Taste the Blood of Dracula, The Abominable Snowman or Frankenstein Must be Destroyed.

[Dave Boy]

I have heard nothing.
I was thinking about getting the import Blu rays of TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED, DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE.
There are no extras at all though and of course they are not dual format.

[profondo rosso]

I would love to see a release of Legend of the Seven Golden Vampire and Kronos Vampire Hunter. Also looking forward to when we 'eventually' get the Warner Brother Years documentary.

[Rob4]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

At least Curse is init's correct aspect ratio of 1:37:1

this bits not correct though...

[Crimson Blade]

Originally Posted by profondo rosso

I would love to see a release of Legend of the Seven Golden Vampire and Kronos Vampire Hunter. Also looking forward to when we 'eventually' get the Warner Brother Years documentary.

There's a decent australian release of Captain Kronos. I bought it off Amazon a while a go.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Rob4

this bits not correct though...

Perhaps i should have said it's nearer to the intended release than the 1:66:1 version.

1.37:1



1.66:1

[profondo rosso]

Originally Posted by Crimson Blade

There's a decent australian release of Captain Kronos. I bought it off Amazon a while a go.

I've seen that knocking about but I do not like the Aussie covers, they look like they've been printed off in someone's bedroom. Can't comment on the quality of the film though, is it any good?

[Crimson Blade]

Originally Posted by profondo rosso

I've seen that knocking about but I do not like the Aussie covers, they look like they've been printed off in someone's bedroom. Can't comment on the quality of the film though, is it any good?

I find the large rating certificates the most annoying on the aussie releases.
But other than that, it's a solid presentation, with good picture quality and sound. Well worth picking up.

I think there's also a german release as well.