Underworld

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 7 Jan 2004, 06:41 am »

Just picked it up today- $16 at BB. Haven't had the chance to watch it yet (been helping my brother build a PC

- always something crops up to delay you). I'll probably watch either that one or American Wedding later...

bubba966 · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 Jan 2004, 06:51 am »

Well, the volume level is quite high. You'll probably have to watch it about 5dB quieter than you normally do.

I think it's overly compressed. I don't know if you'll be bothered by it or not.

I also think the layer change coulda been done better.

Not the greatest DVD release. But not terrible I 'spose. Maybe Japan will have a better release. They usually do. Guess I'll have to check...

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Jan 2004, 07:04 am »

The projector is warming up right now! I'm gonna watch one of 'em, just deciding which.

My Denon DVD player has a memory buffer for video; so far I've never been able to detect a layer change. We'll see if I can on this one.

bubba966 · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Jan 2004, 07:11 am »

It's actually a quick layer change. It's just not in a good spot for a layer change.

But you probably won't detect it w/your memory buffer...

PeteG · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Jan 2004, 05:10 pm »

The soundtrack is over compressed and the sound level is very high like Bubba said, pic was a little grainy not smooth at all. But the moive kepted my attention through out, I enjoyed it.

Ferdi · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Jan 2004, 04:52 pm »

Underworld is still to be released in the NL cinema. I have seen it in Finland about a month ago though. It may be that the grainy picture and high level of compression have nothing to do with the transfer but that the original soundtrack is like that. I remember not being completely happy with those qualities while that theater is usually set up pretty well.

Exciting movie with an interesting story. I like the whole experience a lot.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Jan 2004, 09:02 pm »

Okay, I watched Underworld last night; I have to say I was very, very impressed. Starting with the obvious (you know I have to say this)- Kate fills out the pleather very well!

I really dig the leather clad vampire babes!

Underworld is one of the more unique and original 'vampire/action movies' I've ever seen. The flick definately owe some debt to Anne Rice & Vampire the Masquerade, but the story puts an interesting twist on subject and has a very cool story behind the reasons that the werewolve (called Lycans) hate the vampires. I liked the complicated characters and I enjoyed the way their motivations were revealed as the story progressed. The movie is very clever in initially portraying on side as the nominal 'bad guys' while later showing the real story is more complicated.

I got the impression from watching the 'making-of' material (you know I loved the movie when I watch the bonus stuff! I never watch the bonus stuff) that this was intended to part of a cycle of movies, and I sure hope that's the case.

Visually the tone is very dark, which serves the film well. All that darkness is a test for a DLP projector, but overall it looked pretty good. Soundwise, I did end up backing the volume down about -3, and while there was a bit of dynamic compression I thought is sounded pretty good. The music soundtrack was pretty stale and uninspiring, though- it reminded me of the music in an action/adventure videogame. Lots of cool sounding gunfire to liven things up, though.

BTW, I wish I had pistols like Salene had. How many rounds do you think she fired before changing the magazine?

Several hundred, I'd guess. Loved the scene where she shoots a hole in the floor! Not that original, but cool.

I can't help it- the sight of a hot chick in leather firing a machine pistol gives me goosebumps!

bubba966 · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Jan 2004, 10:04 pm »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

I got the impression from watching the 'making-of' material (you know I loved the movie when I watch the bonus stuff! I never watch the bonus stuff) that this was intended to part of a cycle of movies, and I sure hope that's the case.

The go-ahead for both a prequel & a sequel has been given already. In fact, it was done a month before it was even released theatrically.

But it has sounded like we'll get a sequel first. Who knows though. It's a bit too early to know for sure. I don't care which comes first. Just as long as Kate is back...

Endless mag guns would be kinda nice, huh? I think one of the pistols she was using was a Beretta M93R (the all black ones). And I believe the others were a HK model.

Anyway, I found the compression to be wretched. I don't recall the film looking grainy at all in the theater. But due to the compression, the DVD looks grainy.

And I've yet to hear of a Japanese release.

So it looks like I'll have to live with the craptasic presentation that Sony felt like giving us until either a Superbit version is released here, or Japan gets a less compressed release.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 Jan 2004, 10:07 pm »

The other pistol is indeed an HK USP, very similar to one I used to have (damn, I wish I had it back!

). Although mine had only a 16 round mag, not the Hollywood-issue 500 rounder!

Yes, as long as Beckinsale is back it'll be a no-brainer. I thought this was one of the more original and creative flicks of the genre, and certainly much better than Blade II. I can't wait.

JohnR · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 Jan 2004, 10:21 pm »

Why would Japan get a less compressed version - ?

bubba966 · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Jan 2004, 10:30 pm »

Quote from: JohnR

Why would Japan get a less compressed version - ?

Japan frequently gets not only better quality pressings, better art/packaging, DTS sound tracks (when we don't get them), and stuff spread out on more discs.

The Japanese will pay more for their movies, so they get more. The US version of Underworld had a ton of stuff crammed onto one disc. When it gets released in Japan, there's a decent chance that it will be released on two discs as they're more willing to pay for it.

A couple of recent examples...

The US release of The Transporter had both FS & WS versions as well as extras on one disc, with only DD audio. All on one disc. The Japanese release had WS only, DD & DTS tracks, and was a 2 disc release.

The same goes for The Terminator. The recent US release had DD only, and a buttload of extras all crammed on one disc. The Japanese release had all of the same extras (if not more), DD & DTS audio, and was pressed on 2 discs. And the Japanese copy has much, much cooler art & packaging.

JohnR · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Jan 2004, 10:34 pm »

Ah... that makes sense. Thanks! I was wondering

if they had, like, better TVs or something

bubba966 · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Jan 2004, 10:38 pm »

They probably do have better TV's....

I should also mention that they seem to have better compressing facilities (or at least put more effort into it).

Just recently got Equilibrium from Japan. Seems to have the same extras that the US copy has. ALso has a Japanese DD track, and a English DD & DTS track. Yet the video looks better than the US release. And they're both only single disc releases. So I can only imagine that they took more time to do a better job of compressing it in Japan than they did here. Because there's more info on the Japanese disc, but it still looks better.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 Jan 2004, 10:38 pm »

I've seen better video quality, but it looks okay. The darkness/grain serves the films tone. Bubba is a tad pickier on video than me; I tend to be a stickler more for sound. Plus I do need to refocus the projector- the very minute vibrations from the fan does cause the focus ring to drift slightly over the course of many months, I've found. I just noticed recently the picture looking soft, so I'll focus and clean the lense. Of course, then it'll look like crap!

bubba966 · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 Jan 2004, 10:49 pm »

Yes I'm pickier than most. But It's usually because I know it doesn't have to suck. US DVD's suck because the average idiot here won't pay for anything resembling quality. Mostly because they wouldn't know quality if it bit their arm off.

I was looking forward to Underworld. I enjoyed the movie greatly (mostly due to Beckinsale) and was hoping for a good DVD release. And we didn't get a good DVD release. Is Sony pulling another Superbit ploy, or do they not give a shit because putting out something quality would cost $?

As soon as I can get a better copy of Underworld, I will. Which'll probably come from Tokyo. Which means it's gonna cost me...

ton1313 · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 12:30 am »

A little off the HT subject, but if you guys really liked the movie,
& want a great book to read try Midnight Blue: The Sonja Blue Collection by Nancy A Collins. Sonja is a bad ass killing machine. This book is very hard to put down.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1565049004/qid=1074039829/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-2595763-9698404?v=glance&s=books

Also try Vampire Diary: The Embrace (World of Darkness)
by Robert Weinberg, Mark Rein, Robert Weinberger, Mark Rein-Hagen (Editor) This book can be read in about an hour. It is an actual diary, with sketches and "actual accounts" of how this individual is turned into a Vamp. It is one of the most uniqe books I have read. It is quite pricey unless you shop or ebay.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1565048008/qid=1074039971/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/002-2595763-9698404?v=glance&s=books

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 01:40 am »

Look like interesting books, ton1313. One series I really loved was Kindred: The Embraced. It was a short lived TV series based on the RPG game. The whole series is out on a 2 disc DVD set for about $20.

It's not usually that I think movies look bad, but the SuperBit always seems to cream the standard. I guess I don't notice it looks bad until I see it along the SB!

I loved the cast of Underworld; I think they're solid all around. Of course, Beckinsale is the main attraction...

mca · « **Reply #17 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 01:54 am »

That's pretty bogus

I was a little disappionted by the look of Underworld although I thought it was a great movie. Wish we could get together and complain to Sony, although it would probably do no good. I would certainly be willing to pay a little more for better picture, sound and presentation. But as Bubba said, we are probably in the minority

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #18 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 01:58 am »

Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll gouge us with a special edition with a good picture!

IF so I'll buy it.

ton1313 · « **Reply #19 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 11:54 am »

I did watch that series when it was on tv. If memory serves me, the reason it was ended was because the guy who played the main character was killed in a motorcycle accident.