Seven [Se7en] [Platinum Edition]

Hi John,

I was just wondering about one little thing:

" I was not so impressed by its occasional inability to maintain a straight line. Fluctuations in closely spaced horizontal lines, moire effects, and jagged diagonal lines are observable on several occasions. In one scene where the two detectives are walking by a brick wall, the side of the building practically comes to life with dancing, shimmering pixels."

Can you give me more details about the scene with Brad and Morgan there? I want to see for myself the shimmering pixels. Also, feel free to tell me more about some of the other scenes with video problems.

Ah, I see what you're talking about. It's that scene right before Kevin Spacey walks into the the police station, right?

I'm not sure if it's the fault of the video engineers though. If I'm not mistaken, this shimmer/moire effect is a by product of what engineers call "aliasing". I think, in this case, the resolution of DVDs is at fault here - with only about 400 horz lines to work with (this is 2.35:1), the high frequency signals (the fine, high contrast brick wall pattern) aliases to low frequency signals resulting in a quasi-periodic moire effect.

Moire effects can be observed on almost every DVD, but the problem is worse in some transfers than in others.

The problem is exactly as you noted, and until we get high definition it will always plague us. But enhanced, or "anamorphic," DVD images show less of this shimmering effect, as do some DVD players. My Sony 7700 tames most gross line jitters but not all of them.

I only report what I see and don't impute the blame for what I see to anyone.

For the best enhanced vs. unenhanced comparison I've seen, try the one among the extrtas on "The Limey" DVD.

John

Yeah I'm so excited about HD!

It makes me wonder though...when we've reached as high a quality as good HD, I wonder how far 2D video will go. I think HD is about where it starts to level off, at least until someone finds a 3D video breakthrough or something.

Its gonna end up like the box from Batman Forever

Notice the title. It's Se7en, not Seven. That's a must-know for any film buffoon. Is this the best New Line Platinum Series DVD out there? YES. Bought it new for $20 at Blockbuster, I thought this was their answer to Metallica's black album. Funny how similar Brad Pitt's performances are. It's kind of like a cheap hyper Sonny Corleone imitation. Especially when he gets active. :@ (7777777777)

i too think brad pitt has similar performances. i thought he was very similar in this and fight club.

did anyone feel that this set really needed a making of? Or did I miss it among the so-called bevy of extras? The problem with a lot of DVD special editions these days is there is no clear cut making-of documentary. Sure you'll get some short little featurettes scattered around the place totaling to 20 minutes, but all that could have been pushed aside for a simple making-of. Like Aliens: the Collectors edition. The whole special feature was basically a 6 hour making of, then there was the other features thrown in. But here we must listen to 4 audio commentaries (of which there is nothing wrong with) to get a making of. I don't know, maybe I'm insane... you think?

Onijay,

That is a matter of opinion. Most of the extras I see today are really nothing special, unless you like seeing actors and directors kiss butt to eachother. Some extras are very insightful and add a special touch to spending the money on a DVD.

That's what us people here at DVD town are here to do; help you the consumer. Read the reviews and get some insight before you purchase something you might not be happy with. ;)

I'm not saying I want and HBO making of, but I want something that cleraly, with words and pictures details the PRODUCTION of this film. You're right that some docs we get are kiss-ass pieces of fluff, but there are some very good ones also. Don't think that all docs are re-iterated nonsense. Its okay to give some praise if it's required (say LOTR trilogy), but the docs also give very detailed production. I mean storyboards are great, but you can't find out how they made the movie that way. Maybe I'm taking this to seriously. But I don't appreciate it if you talk to me like I am a misguided traveler. I thought the point of these message boards was to give opinions, now at every board I've posted I'm being talked to like I have no idea what I'm saying. Frankly I'm surprised at that. It's like people don't like to hear any criticism about a film's 'perfect' DVD release. Sorry then, what am I supposed to talk about?

Please don't take offense, Onijay. We do respect your opinion. Sometimes, though, it sounds like another person's opinion is in conflict when it isn't meant to be a slam. Tim's was just an expression of a differing viewpoint, which happens on occasion to differ from mine, too.

Keep posting. You'll get reactions, to which we will apprecitate your response as well.

Incidentally, I'm with you in that I don't think any DVD release is perfect and above criticism.

John