**Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

I'm kind of surprised to see that Wal-Mart has the exclusive "IMAX" edition.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen comes out tomorrow. I'm going to rent it for all the guys jealous of my set up haha. Don't like the movie though so I'm not going to buy it.
However I'm saying this because there's a lot of confusion as to which version is the one with the preserved IMAX footage. I haven't been paying attention to it too much but supposedly it's a Wal-Mart exclusive version known as the Big Screen Edition. It has a different cover and everything, and should be more expensive than the regular edition.

It'll be a netflix rental until it drops to the $13-14 range. Wasn't a big fan of the sequal and have no problems waiting on the inevitable price drop.

Star Trek on the other hand......

[thaima1shu]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

I thought the movie was great. Might've actually liked it more than the first one, but not by much. Perhaps it was seeing it on IMAX that really did it for me. I'm definitely getting the Wal-Mart exclusive version. After seeing how great The Dark Knight's IMAX scenes looked, I definitely want to see Transformers' IMAX scenes on my TV as well.

[Blzer]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

I thought the movie was great. Might've actually liked it more than the first one, but not by much. Perhaps it was seeing it on IMAX that really did it for me. I'm definitely getting the Wal-Mart exclusive version. After seeing how great The Dark Knight's IMAX scenes looked, I definitely want to see Transformers' IMAX scenes on my TV as well.

Unfortunately (and you should know this pretty well since you saw it), it's not really so much of IMAX "scenes" as it is IMAX "shots." Its inconsistencies changing back and forth might be a little more than we'd like to see.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/24/how-the-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-imax-experience-compares-with-the-dark-knight/

[thaima1shu]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Unfortunately (and you should know this pretty well since you saw it), it's not really so much of IMAX "scenes" as it is IMAX "shots." Its inconsistencies changing back and forth might be a little more than we'd like to see.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/24/...e-dark-knight/

I know. Didn't bug me at all.

[Blzer]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

I rented Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen this morning (non-IMAX version) and the picture looks simply fantastic. I didn't completely watch it yet or anything but I gave the action scenes a look-over. I had to cringe a couple of times remembering why I feel I can't ever buy this movie, but I think I could watch the forest fight scene over, and over, and over again. Bay and crew must have spent a lot of time rendering each frame in that scene as it definitely looks like the shots there were handled with much more care than other shots.

I didn't yet jack up the audio since it was still the morning, but I'm giving a showing in my room tonight. I'll let you know how it fares out.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

From what I understand, the IMAX scenes on BD are jarring because of the switching back and forth. I went with the normal BD version.

[jmood88]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Moon is coming out on Blu Ray December 29. I can't wait.

[SidVish]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

The Sixth Sense, The Invisible, Signs, and Unbreakable on Bluray for $39.95 on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...YHPSAPTA5GWRXR

[Blzer]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

The Sixth Sense, The Invisible, Signs, and Unbreakable on Bluray for $39.95 on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...YHPSAPTA5GWRXR

Good deal, but what's The Invisible?

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Good deal, but what's The Invisible?

Pretty good movie. Don't want to give to much away

[Blzer]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Pretty good movie. Don't want to give to much away

I mean it's not M. Night Shyamalan, right? I was just wondering how it belonged with the others in the four-pack is all.

[SidVish]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

I mean it's not M. Night Shyamalan, right? I was just wondering how it belonged with the others in the four-pack is all.

I believe it's from the producers of the Sixth Sense.

[peteykirch]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

I know it's not Blu-Ray, but one of my favorite TV Shows ever has supposedly been announced to finally come to DVD. That being the cartoon Daria, there have been images and stories floating around about a 2010 DVD release.

[DTX3]

Re: **Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread Part II**

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen IMAX Edition review

Video

Arguably the quintessential version of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and it's available only at Wal*Mart. Presented in a shifting aspect ratio which approximates the film's IMAX presentation as seen in select cinemas during its theatrical run, this Blu-ray release of Michael Bay's latest mega-blockbuster features the majority of the film in its standard 2.39:1 aspect ratio -- the same as found on the entirety of the standard and widely-available Blu-ray release of the film -- but offers select scenes in a "full screen" 1.78:1 aspect ratio that opens the frame from the constraints of the scope presentation. Though it takes more than 50 minutes to arrive at the first IMAX sequence, the wait is well worth it. Optimus Prime battles several Decepticons in a woodland setting, and the screen transformers to an almost larger-than-life presentation that truly allows for the grandeur of the moment to be fully realized. The shift in ratio comes as something of a shock to the system, but shock quickly turns to awe as the footage -- in conjunction with the incredible sound effects -- dominates the screen and effectively places the viewer in the midst of the robot-on-robot carnage. The other major sequence comes about an hour later in the film; those shots featuring the gigantic Decepticon "Devastator" are presented in the 1.78:1 ratio, making the hulking monster of a Transformer all the more enormous and deadly.

While the aspect ratio as presented in the IMAX scenes is no different than any other number of "full screen" 1.78:1 Blu-ray discs, the effect is heightened for two reasons. First, the difference in aspect ratio between the scope footage and the IMAX footage is startling. Though the 2.39:1 footage never feels cramped, the added sense of height found in the IMAX presentation truly does make the footage seem bigger than life. Most importantly, however, is the increased resolution afforded to the IMAX sequences. Make no mistake about it, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen's 2.39:1 material is of reference quality for what it is, but the IMAX footage betters it. It seems brighter, more intricately detailed, and features a far greater sense of depth, all attributes afforded to the picture thanks to the 70mm film elements. Though most of the footage is rendered digitally, the higher resolution allows for even greater appreciation of the artistry that went into making the Autobots and the Decepticons. It's not the sweeping, grand scale effects that are improved upon here, but the smallest of details that truly sell the quality of the image. The small scuffs, scratches, dents, and grime on the robots look startling in the IMAX footage, and natural locations -- the forest and the pyramids in the Egyptian desert -- are nothing short of breathtaking. This is easily the definitive visual representation of the film.

As to what makes the majority of the image -- the 2.39:1 material -- it, too, looks fantastic, and as noted above, it's of reference quality. The video quality seems almost transparent to that found on the Blu-ray release of Transformers; flesh tones take on a decidedly red tint, but otherwise, there's nothing to complain about. Fine detail is exceptional, particularly when the camera slows down long enough to allow viewers to take it all in. Many such scenes occur in or around the Witwicky house or Sam's dorm room: small lines in leather furniture; scuffs and scratches in hardwood floors; the grass, shrubs, and flowers of Sam's father's prized landscaping; or creases in posters on the wall; all feature fabulous texture and crystal-clear clarity that allows viewers to absorb every square inch of information that zooms across the display. Even some of the darker locales -- the inside of an abandoned warehouse as seen in chapter nine, for instance -- reveal small dents, rust, grime, and other signs of desertion wonderfully. Even so, the Transformers themselves are the true stars of the show. Megatron's body appears appropriately beaten and rusted; Prime's windshield shows grime smeared across the glass; and each scrape, dent, and chip on Bumblebee's body is beautifully rendered and plainly visible, again though only when the camera slows down enough to catch a glimpse. Colors are rich and natural; bright green foliage, the red of a fire engine, Bumblee's yellow paint job, or any other number of hues are exceptionally translated to Blu-ray. Black levels are superb, and the Blu-ray retains a fine layer of film grain that completes a breathtaking visual experience.

Audio

Does this section really require analysis? Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack is terrific, quite possibly the best currently available on Blu-ray. The studio logo sequence alone is of reference quality; the Paramount stars sweep through the soundstage from front to back with a digitized, robotic sound, accompanied by a nice low-end presence and fully-engaged rear-channel activity. Bass is positively tight and robust throughout; the entire theater shakes with every heavy robotic footstep, gunshot and explosion, and percussion beat of the score. Gunshots zip across the soundstage, explosions push objects from side to side through the listening area, and voices echo about a tomb in chapter 14, all to startlingly realistic effect. Distant explosions and sound effects, particularly in the film's Egyptian combat sequence in the final act, do a superb job of placing the listener in the midst of the desert and the action. What's so amazing about this soundtrack isn't just that it features room-shaking bass and fully-realized surround activity. Instead, it's the seamlessness of it, its ability to draw listeners in and create a virtual world of sound where the home theater transforms into a space hosting a running gun battle, a bustling college campus, a wooded area engulfed by the destructive power of stories-tall robots, or an Egyptian desert devastated by brutal warfare. The faultless dialogue reproduction seems a mere afterthought, but it's the final piece to a perfect soundtrack.

Please note: it does appear that the soundtrack accompanying this IMAX version does lack the same amount of power and heft as that found on the standard release. This is still an amazing soundtrack in every regard, but the low end isn't quite as powerful and the sound effects perhaps not quite as loud. Two scenes were sampled several times in succession: the opening studio logo sequence and the forest battle in chapter nine. The IMAX version's DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack is still loud, aggressive, crystal-clear, and makes excellent use of the low end and the surround channels, but it packs just a bit less punch when compared to the standard 2.39:1 release and at the same reference volume level and utilizing the same settings on the same Blu-ray playback device.

Walmart.com has it listed at $18.86. I'll be picking it up after work, still haven't watched this movie.