Predator on Blu-ray

Damn, that's nearly enough to make me go purple! GIMME ALIENS!

Finally!
Does anyone know when it will be released in Europe? Same day?


"Tell me, does Universal always travel on the wrong side of the HD border?"

i don't get it. you can 50 gigs onto a blu ray disc, and instead of putting everything on the special edition of predator in it, they only give you the trailer? wtf

because FOX sucks, but if Blu is truly the winner of the format, get used to releases like this.

True. They should include the extras from the SE, but that would prevent them from double-dipping further down the road. In a year or two, they will release the Predator SE on Blu-Ray, once BD Live is finalized. Remember, Blu-Ray is way behind HD DVD when it comes to standardized specs for extra features. So, in order to release a new high def SE of Predator, not just the same as the SE on DVD, it is not vialble to release it now. Or they just want to earn a lot more money.

Buy the way.. this f*cker is $40. Pass. Fox + Blu-Ray = Screwed over consumer.

[Post edited by Cellien on Jan 10, 2008]

FYI...



> PREDATOR Blu-ray Review (includes color pics)

MPEG2, 25GB, DTS-HD... "the results are probably about as good as can be expected." Excerpt from the linked review -

Presented in 1080p and framed in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, PREDATOR hunts for the first time in high definition for the home video market, and the results are probably about as good as can be expected. Presented in the antiquated MPEG-2 format, the movie doesn't look very good in comparison to many (if not most) Blu-ray titles on the market, but I attribute most trouble spots to the source and not the disc.

Predator has always had a very grainy, somewhat drab (save for the bright greens of the jungle), "dirty" look to it, and that look is replicated on this disc, but the high-definition master does manage to bring out some fine detail not seen in previous VHS, LD, and DVD versions. For example, much more gruesome detail was to be seen than I have ever noticed before (and I've seen this film countless times) in the scene showing the skinned bodies of Harper and his men, not to mention the entrails left behind from the Predator's first victim.

We can also make out more fine detail on the clothing and weapons, for example, and for the first time I noticed what look to be some sort of plugs in the barrels of many of the weapons wielded by the men throughout the movie. Colors appeared a bit more accurate this go-round, noted especially in the many shades of green of the jungle, but also in the green Predator blood and the flesh tones of the characters.

Many special effects shots look their age and quality in 1080p, especially those seen in conjunction with a major explosion during the finale of the film, although the appearance of the camouflaged Predator still looks good. I wasn't quite as pleased with the result of this transfer as I was that of Commando, but I have no hesitations to say that this is the absolute best Predator has ever looked on any home video format.



Faring better than the video quality is the lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 sound mix. I was most impressed by this track. It's a loud one, but remains clearly defined and engaging from start to finish. The excellent score by Alan Silvestri remains one of my favorites, its militaristic-yet-slightly-sci/fi sound coming through loud and clear on this disc, fantastic and a joy to listen to as always. Even "Long Tall Sally" has never sounded this good. Much of the music finds its way into the rear channels, as do all the sounds of the jungle. “Predator-vision” has that underwater-ish, tribal beat sound to it, and it is fairly deep and bass-y with solid lows.

Gunfire and explosions, the bread-and-butter of this soundtrack, sound so real they place you in the middle of the battles. Each combat scene features excellent directionality, not as forceful and clean as more modern sound mixes, but certainly as good as can be expected from Predator. Explosions rattle and rumble the subwoofer, some so hard-hitting that if it were any more real you'd be knocked on your rear and have the wind knocked out of you.

The waterfall scene sounds fabulous, completely engrossing (it could only sound more real and threatening if you were there in the water) a bit muffled perhaps, but deep and loud, the sound beating the viewer into submission, just one more scene for action fans to salivate over and keep them smiling.

Like Commando, Predator simply doesn't measure up to the latest and greatest soundtracks, but it doesn't have to to be successful. When you can take a 20 year old film, one that so many people who are the target Blu-ray audience are familiar with, and make it sound this awesome, then you've got something good, and Predator is just that, a fantastic, loud, exciting listen that easily blows away all previous home video versions, and probably didn't even sound this terrific in most theaters 20-some years ago. -[END]-





-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Apr 8, 2008]

Well that kinda sucks - concerning the video quality. I'd care less about the PQ if I didn't know every word of dialog in the movie by heart already. I'll probably give this one a rent because this movie screams to be remastered from scratch.

For now, because of Fox's premium pricing (even Amazon's discounted price is not worth it for this bare-bones edition), I too will only give the PREDATOR Blu-ray a rental. However, within a few months, whenever Amazon has one of those BOGO sales (Buy 1, Get 1 Free), then I'll buy the AvsP: Requiem at a discounted price (already have the original on Blu-ray), and pick up Predator as the 'free' disc. Should average out to about $15 per disc net.

I also own the SD-DVD SpEd Predator, so the bonus features lacking on the Blu-ray are included here. At least the Blu-ray edition (at present) will show the film as best as it's ever looked on home video. We'll just have to wait for the future, for Fox to re-master it in 4K resolution, like Warner did with Blade Runner. And I'm looking forward to the eventual Blu-ray of Predator 2 too, as well as the original Alien series.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Here's a great idea... for those choosing to buy PREDATOR on Blu-ray this week, on sale for $19.99 at Target (or price-match at a local competitor). As you know, it doesn't have any of the SpEd features (except for a trailer) found on the SD-DVD 2-disc set. So...IF you already own this SpEd DVD set, you might want to follow the lead of this poster (from another Msg Bd), who said -

"Got it for 19.99 at Target, which is a pretty good deal. No way I was paying $30 for it. I already own the 2 disc special edition. I put Predator in a 2 disc Blu Ray case along with the special features from the 2 disc of the SD set. Then, I sold the Predator DVD to a friend who doesn't care about special features for $10. So I only paid $10 to upgrade to high def without losing any of the special features."

Very cool idea, if you so choose.

-JIMI LOVE (the Voodoo Child)