New HD-DVD Reviews - BEOWULF, and ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES (by Eddie)

DVDTOWN Message Board member Eddie Feng (known as 'posters5') has 2 new brief HD-DVD reviews of current releases BEOWULF (deluxe 2-disc set), and THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD (combo disc). View them in succession on his website -

> http://hddvdreviews.blogspot.com

BEOWULF - "The Beowulf: Director’s Cut HD DVD is yet another comprehensive, two-disc high-def release from Paramount. In addition to excellent picture and sound, you get a rich set of supplements that are all in high-def video. Due to the substantive nature of the extras and the aggressively forward-thinking technology used by the production, this release is quite possibly the best HD DVD yet."

A. OF JESSE JAMES... - "The Assassination of Jesse James is a beautiful character study. Its deliberate pacing and length reflect the drawn-out death that hard-charging gunslingers faced when American society began maturing. The title isn’t just a “spoiler” it also functions as an allusion to literary eulogies."

Thanks Eddie - that Beowulf release is surely a 'must own' by HD-DVD fans.

-LH (The Loverboy)
~ HI-DEF DUAL FORMAT SUPPORTER ~

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Feb 15, 2008]

I'll have to check out the SD version of Beowulf before I decide whether I want to buy the HD version or not.

Hi Mike... Well, for me I hope to enjoy this film better than 300 (that was just too 'over the top' in SPARTAN machoness ). BEOWULF looks to be an improvement over similar live actor/animation techniques used by the director for The Polar Express. The trailer has that -wow- factor. And I think I'll enjoy this CGI sword 'epic' compared to the slow-mo/blue-screen sword epic of 300.

And it might be one of the last great HD-DVD releases. Just look at that comment Eddie gave (my original post above). And I want to see this in HIGH-DEFINITION the 'first' time. (not SD-DVD)

-LH (The Loverboy)

Beowulf might be the first HD-DVD title to let me down PQ wise. I saw it in 3-D at an IMAX theater and the 3-D effects were fantastic. So I'm little worried that the HD-DVD won't hold up to that experience. I'm buying it regardless.

I've got Beowulf on pre-order from Amazon, along with "Across the Universe" and "30 Days Of Night" and err... *cough* "Resident Evil" on Blu-ray that's supposed to ship February 26.

On a separate future pre-order shipping March 18, I've got: Enchanted, Gattaca, Independence Day and I, Robot.

Movielover316... (good comment) - yeah, that's what I've been reading too (about the amazing 3-D, compared to 2-D for home video). But since I haven't seen it in 3-D, I'm just going to enjoy it for everything it does great -apart- from not being in 3-D.

And I'm not bothered by alot of CGI effects, especially done well. LOFRings has much CGI (especially the 3rd film), but it compliments the great acting/screenplay etc.

I'm aware that this BEOWULF isn't 'accurate' to the original story, but I never read it anyway(!), and don't care - just hoping it's a much more pleasing sword/battle film than 300 was. So, I'm buying the HD-DVD too.

-LH (The Loverboy)

I remember one of the people I went with to see Beowulf. Thought they just Motion captured the actual voice actors. Which made me laugh because Ray Winstone who plays Beowulf looks like this.



and Beowulf looks like this

Skyhawk... I'm just waiting patiently until that REvil Blu-ray Box Set gets reduced on one of those 'special' 1-day sales, or something similar. Don't want to pay more than $10 for each film, so when that set is lowered from the current $50 down to $30, I'll pick it up. Otherwise, I can rent if needed.

FYI: I only have the first film on DVD (Superbit edition - $10 on sale).

-LH (The Loverboy)

loverboy,

thanks for your show of support.

however, i'm still voting for nader and not jeb bush.

eddie

Quote:
Don't want to pay more than $10 for each film

Actually with the various BOGO sales, I don't think I've paid much more that $10 averaged out for all 3.

The trailer for Beowulf looked pretty amazing. I sure hope the film isn't painfully slow like Beowulf and Grendel though. I just caught that one on satellite the other day and that was horrible.

Hey Eddie - yeah, Ralph Nader is actually 'cool'. My brother also has voted for him too. He's definitely is serious in his convictions concerning wasteful government spending [unlike Pres Bush], and corporate 'bondage' on various financial issues affecting consumers.

Enough of that. OK, we are all looking forward (also) to your forthcoming review of AMERICAN GANGSTER. And I like how 'neat' your site looks (appearance).

Note to everyone: Eddie also has many reviews here on the DVDTOWN archives. Oh, and he's friend with Tim Raynor, who we all know is the message board's BEST ASSET.

-LH (The Loverboy)

"american gangster" will have to wait as i want to review "michael clayton" first.

however, here's the lowdown on "american gangster":
1) if you want extras, then buy the two-disc or three-disc sd dvds.

2) if you don't mind watching the extended version in sd video, then buy the hd dvd as the hd dvd side only has the theatrical version (which is the director's cut anyway).

Yeah, critics are praising MICHAEL CLAYTON as a possible Best Picture winner. Will look forward to seeing that review first then. [also available on Blu-ray, being a Warner release].

-LH (The Loverboy)

i'm reviewing the sd dvd as i don't have a blu-ray player. besides, you know how i feel about blu-ray.

by the way, could you please use your name/middle name/nickname? i don't really want to call you love_hendrix or loverboy any more.

Quote:
i'm reviewing the sd dvd as i don't have a blu-ray player.

Why not? Aren't you a movie reviewer? Of course I generally assume that people who review movies actually like movies in general too...

But Eddie, YOU were the one who gave me the nickname 'Loverboy'

Ok... just call me JIMI... as in JIMI HENDRIX

-Jimi (I'm a Voodoo Child)

(or one of my other alias, RUSTY).

skyhawk,

while i get dvds/hd dvds from media companies, i have to buy hardware with my own money. even a $400-PS3 is about two-thirds of my monthly rent. i'm not blowing hard-earned money on bricks.

eddie

Quote:
i'm not blowing hard-earned money on bricks.

Well Eddie, not to rub it in but you did buy an HD DVD player, did you not?

btw, skyhawk, john tells me that a few months back, you tried to argue that hd dvd has excessive edge enhancement with regards to "harry potter 5".

http://www.dvdtown.com/messageboard/topic/5275/10/1

guess what? dvdbeaver's editor actually used screenshots from the BLU-RAY because warner uses identical VC-1 encodes for dual-format releases. therefore, you were proving that the BLU-RAY has edge enhancement.

(laughs at another blu-ray chode)

i've bought two hd dvd players--one for myself and one for my gf. money is tight for me, but i am willing to spend it on hd dvd.

Yes Eddie, a number of Blu-ray titles have excessive edge enhancement that result in visible halo artifacts as well. I count on yourself as a reviewer to help convince these studios that this is not desirable in order to improve the quality of releases going forward.

Thanks for your cooperation in this matter.

(still laughing at skyhawk)

Oh Eddie...

Just keep your hearty laughter centered on THIS BLU-RAY CHODE!

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)
-my new nickname-

Ummm... Eddie I hate to break it to you. But my complaint about EE was not "format" related, nor did I ever suggest it was. It's a studio/transfer thing. As a reviewer, I'm sure you know this. So you can stop laughing now, because that kind of childishness does not lend much credibility to yourself nor your reviews.

Edit: Interesting that in the link Eddie provided I said the following:

Quote:
Yes I'm aware that both formats use the same master, and on top of that likely use the same bit-for-bit VC-1 encode since Warner usually does it this way. I wasn't implying that this EE existed on one format and not the other.

I wonder what Eddie's agenda is? Why would he mislead people here about something so trivial? I hope he doesn't mislead (lie) with the Beowulf review he did also, because I have this one on pre-order!

[Post edited by Skyhawk on Feb 15, 2008]

jimi: that guy is a chode, period.

skyhawk: why don't you pre-order the UK blu-ray version instead? it has a lossless audio track but fewer extras because blu-ray supporters don't like extras according to sony.

(still laughing at skyhawk)

(still disappointed at Eddie's loss of credibility)

skyhawk =

Eddie =



[Post edited by Skyhawk on Feb 15, 2008]

Timmy =

DOH!

Skyhawk, what a comeback. That was sweet.

Quote:

And it might be one of the last great HD-DVD releases. Just look at that comment Eddie gave (my original post above). And I want to see this in HIGH-DEFINITION the 'first' time. (not SD-DVD)

Well I'd rather see on SD first because I don't know if I'll like it. It isn't about it being prettyful or anything... it's about the story. On of the main reasons I stood away from it was because I love the story of Beowulf and Grendul but this just didn't appeal to me. HOWEVER... now that I know that Neil Gaiman was behind the story ... I may check it out.

Mike... definitely not everyone will like the 'adaptation' of the forthcoming Beowulf. I suggest you read feedback comments on sites like imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com, reel.com, amazon.com etc.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)
-my new nickname-

Jimi, I think I'll just go ahead and Toss it on my Netflix Queue. Then If I really like it... I'll buy it.

jimi,

here you go, buddy.

http://hddvdreviews.blogspot.com/2008/02/michael-clayton-tony-gilroy-2007.html

eddie

Thanks Eddie - good brief review. I'll be renting it for sure.

However, I don't agree with this comment - "I don’t like the Coen Brothers’ movies" (as most of their films I've really enjoyed). Haven't seen their new film, so am not pulling for anyone in particular for 'Best Picture' on Oscar night.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

eddie --

great reviews ! would you be doing Criterion reviews?

ranjan: i'm not getting screeners from criterion right now, so any criterion titles that i review will be from my own collection. i plan on getting criterion's edition of ang lee's "the ice storm", so i'll review that. in the meantime, i might review another criterion/eclipse title.

jimi: i've always tried giving the coens a chance, but my final verdicts have always been in the "indifference" to "hate" range.

http://hddvdreviews.blogspot.com/2008/02/american-gangster-hd-dvd-ridley-scott.html

[Post edited by posters5 on Feb 19, 2008]

Who's this Posters guy shilling reviews on our site? I say we either ban him or pay him.

John

john,

i didn't start this thread--jimi did.

eddie