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Next Kino Blu-Ray Silent: The Black Pirate
Topic Started: Nov 12 2010, 08:35 AM (512 Views)
JazzGuyy
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The next big silent classic on Blu-Ray coming from Kino is The Black Pirate on December 14. It's supposed to be the full two-strip Technicolor version fully restored. http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5249

They'll be a DVD version too.
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The Batman
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Great stuff! Thanks, Jazzy!

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panzer the great & terrible
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There's a real question whether a Blu-Ray of an ancient film is any better than a DVD. Of course Cliffhanger is better in Blu, but is Stagecoach? I'm not so sure. I can't see any signif diff, so I'm not feeling as Blu as I did at first. One thing for sure, a regular DVD looks better played on a Blu player, except for color. The colors don't seem as saturated. Couldn't begin to guess why. Maybe Jazzy could weigh in with some technical stuff.
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JazzGuyy
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Blu-Ray is capable of a slightly broader color palette than DVD was. The main difference though is that the greater resolution allows for better color in general because outlines and details are much crisper and more of the color information can be carried in the signal.

If you don't think that Blu-Ray improves on DVDs for classic old films, see the review link I just posted for Metropolis. There are comparison pictures. The old Kino DVD is horrible compared to the Blu-Ray. Even the better Region 2 DVD pales next to the Blu-Ray.
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The Batman
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Gotta go with, Jazzy, Mr P. I, too, was a Blu-skeptic on old films, but they keep proving me wrong.

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Inspector Carr
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JazzGuyy
Nov 12 2010, 09:07 AM
Blu-Ray is capable of a slightly broader color palette than DVD was. The main difference though is that the greater resolution allows for better color in general because outlines and details are much crisper and more of the color information can be carried in the signal.

If you don't think that Blu-Ray improves on DVDs for classic old films, see the review link I just posted for Metropolis. There are comparison pictures. The old Kino DVD is horrible compared to the Blu-Ray. Even the better Region 2 DVD pales next to the Blu-Ray.
I'm convinced.....
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Frank Hale
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The mood on the web seems to be that Blu-Rays improved dramatically this past year, and I would agree with this.

From a color standpoint, the recent Criterion Black Narcissus and Red Shoes discs showed what is achievable. The opening shot in Narcissus, of the morning sunlight reflected in the bells of the monastery alpine horns, would be hard to top even in the theatre.

For old films, of course, a lot depends on what source materials were available, and it seems to be wise to wait for reviews before buying.
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Black Tiger
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JazzGuyy
Nov 12 2010, 09:07 AM

If you don't think that Blu-Ray improves on DVDs for classic old films, see the review link I just posted for Metropolis. There are comparison pictures. The old Kino DVD is horrible compared to the Blu-Ray. Even the better Region 2 DVD pales next to the Blu-Ray.
Jazz, where is the link you posted that has this comparison?

Thanks,
BT
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The Batman
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Frank Hale
Nov 12 2010, 12:42 PM
From a color standpoint, the recent Criterion Black Narcissus showed what is achievable. The opening shot in Narcissus, of the morning sunlight reflected in the bells of the monastery alpine horns, would be hard to top even in the theatre.

I couldn't agree more, Frank. BLACK NARCISSUS looks absolutely gorgeous in Blu and I can't imagine it looked any better for its premiere on the big screen back in 1947.

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JazzGuyy
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Especially at the average movie palace where the projector lens only got cleaned occasionally and the bulb might have already started to wear out.
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The Batman
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JazzGuyy
Nov 12 2010, 01:17 PM
Especially at the average movie palace where the projector lens only got cleaned occasionally and the bulb might have already started to wear out.

Wow, Jazzy, never even thought about stuff like that. Very, very solid points.

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JazzGuyy
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And I didn't even mention that the projectionist might not have tried to get the very best focus possible on the screen and the screen possibly having repaired spots, discolorations and wrinkles. Unfortunately, only the best kept movie houses give you the best possible picture.
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The Batman
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Again, stuff I never really considered when determining best picture quality and all that. Thanks!

I don't feel as bad for missing these classics on the big screen. In Blu, I am probably seeing them in better shape than even the premiere audiences did.

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panzer the great & terrible
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I saw the restored Metropolis on Blu-Ray, because that's the only way it can be shown in theaters. It doesn't exist on old-fashioned film and probably never will. That Castro Theater experience was the deciding factor in my going Blu-Ray. It was better than any other Metropolis I had seen, though the Moroder version looked good too. I don't think that all Blu-Rays are about equal to a DVD, but some are, and we'll be seeing more as the usual cynics enter the market. You know we'll see the equivalent of Alphas on Blu-Ray as time goes by and DVD sales continue to shrink.

I wrote zero, zip, nothing about color Blu-Ray. I did say something about playing regular color DVDs on a Blu-Ray machine, and that seems to have confused some. Sorry about that. It was simply an aside.

My point was that I'm disappointed in some B&W Blu-Ray discs, and I'm sure going to continue renting before I buy. Funds are limited, and I'm not spending money on duplicates that don't look better than what I have. Show me all the graphs and little lines in the world and I'm still going to believe my eyes. One more thing -- if anybody tries to tell me there's any difference in quality between a Blu-Ray recorded off TV and a Blu-Ray that you buy, and for some unexplained reason costs more than a regular DVD (which are already overpriced, which we know because sales and discounts are so frequent), well, he'll need to do some convincing.

I have the DVD of Black Pirate and will rent the Blu-Ray to see if it's worth the upgrade, but suspect I won't buy it. Two-strip Technicolor is an inferior process even in a pristine 35mm print. You can't "improve" the color except by colorization. Plus if I were to upgrade a Fairbanks picture it would be one I like, not one that needed a gimmick to sell tickets.
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CliffClaven
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Meanwhile, let it be noted that The Black Pirate is a darn fun movie even in its previous Kino release. It was the silent era's pirate movie to end all pirate movies. Where could anybody go after Fairbanks comes to the rescue with what looks like a Roman galley?

A favorite outsized moment: In the final battle, a handful of Fairbanks' men have forced some of the pirates to the rail. The pirates go over the side into the water. Fairbanks' men, not quite finished, go over the rail after them.
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