Which Laserdiscs have the best picture quality?

flcl4evr · Posted: 22 Mar 2012, 01:58

sdraper wrote:

flcl4evr wrote:

I have to disagree, I think the Connery Collection Vol.1 was a half assed release. They barely restored any of the films and left them in really rough shape for home video releases.

I like them because the transfers are pretty much straight from the MGM vault elements, in original 1.66:1, feature the original Technicolor brilliance, and straight lossless mono. They aren't mucked with in any way and are very clean for what they are. I'd rather have a bit of print marks than the over-processed awful editions nowadays. Though FRWL has a really really hissy soundtrack. I thought it was my player at first, but it is indeed something akin to master tape noise you'd hear on a vintage LP. Must have been straight from the optical track on the print.
CC Vol. 2 (Thunderball-Twice-Diamonds) has much dirtier transfers, lots of print defects, damage, general roughness. My copy is a little banged up so I can't tell if all the video noise is because of condition. But it certainly has noise.

laserdiscoking wrote:

For older films, the Criterion CAV transfer on Casablanca is incredible looking. Clean and crisp picture without a nick to be seen.

Good to know. I've been wanting a good LD of Casablanca.

If you ever have a chance, check out the THX Mastered releases of the three films from the Connery Collection Vol. 1. They maintain the original aspect ratio as well as present the original mono soundtrack. It also helps that they look absolutely gorgeous. They're at least 150% better than the Connery Collection masters

sdraper · Posted: 22 Mar 2012, 16:12

And usually go for more than the banned CAV Criterion releases! Someday I hope to have all the letterbox Bond LDs, DTS discs of Goldeneye and TND, Criterions, and THX discs on my LD shelf.

flcl4evr · Posted: 22 Mar 2012, 22:41

sdraper wrote:

And usually go for more than the banned CAV Criterion releases! Someday I hope to have all the letterbox Bond LDs, DTS discs of Goldeneye and TND, Criterions, and THX discs on my LD shelf.

I picked up Goldfinger CAV THX Mastered Box set for like 15 dollars + shipping, it wasn't too bad.

limeibook86 · Posted: 23 Mar 2012, 04:19

I agree Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace looks great. Also 'Toy Story' (CLV or CAV) looks pretty damn good too.

Guest · Posted: 26 Mar 2012, 03:28

sdraper wrote:

And usually go for more than the banned CAV Criterion releases! Someday I hope to have all the letterbox Bond LDs, DTS discs of Goldeneye and TND, Criterions, and THX discs on my LD shelf.

i was fortunate enough to get the DTS discs of Goldeneye and Tomorrow Never Dies on ebay a year or so ago for less than $15 each. Love finding deals like that! They're both in pretty great condition too. Just keep watching and checking regularly, you'll find them all eventually lol

pnes.lds · Posted: 14 Apr 2012, 20:42

I remember thinking the US release of Jingle All the Way looked really good.

And yes...I just admitted to watching Jingle All the Way.

grzebyk · Posted: 10 Jun 2012, 18:34

Quote:

May I say the two Criterion Editions of both "Robocop" and "Seven" are also worth mentioning. Great looking, clear pictures showing a lot of fine details (especially the dark scenes in "Seven"!).

Totally agree with the criterion editions of Robocop and Seven. In the criterion box set of Seven there's some info about the transfer and how to correctly adjust the color bars on your t.v. so you can view it the way it was filmed. I can't remember exactly what it said but the film has a silver tint throughout; very cool, worth picking it up just for that. :thumbup:

I don't know why but Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness (1993) [41288] looks super clean to me. I was really surprised and if the other two Evil Dead look that good i can't wait to add them to my collection. :thumbup:

hippiedalek · Posted: 12 Jun 2012, 17:15

grzebyk wrote:

I don't know why but Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness (1993) [41288] looks super clean to me.

Very interesting considering the DVD release looks pretty rough in places.

nissling · Posted: 12 Jun 2012, 17:22

The THX remaster (with AC3-sound) of Apocalypse Now looked amazing to me, the sharpness are just like the Dvd but the colors are even better.

kris · Posted: 12 Jun 2012, 20:04

IMO:

Austin Powers The spy who shagged me :oops:

Austin Powers International man of mystery :oops:

Both Austin Powers discs can fool anyone by saying it's dvd playing...

Diabolos (Japanese Devil's advocate release)

awesome picture that came as a surprise to me
The world is not enough (great black levels)
Goldeneye
Tomorrow never Dies
Fight Club (play around with black levels)
MI2 (play around with black levels)
The Matrix looks good... compared with dvd release that is :crazy:

Se7en looks stunning :clap:

Toy Story ... all animation looks fine IMO on laserdisc

Worst Picture (I own)

U-Turn (Japanese release)

sdraper · Posted: 27 Sep 2012, 00:10

Goldeneye
Blade Runner: Director's Cut looks much better than the 1997 DVD.

naiaru · Posted: 27 Sep 2012, 02:13

I don't have any screenshots to show, but the TwinBee Paradise OVAs (especially vol. 1-3) have great PQ. Very sharp and clear with chroma noise in only a few places every so often.

exinferis · Posted: 28 Sep 2012, 10:53

pnes.lds wrote:

I remember thinking the US release of Jingle All the Way looked really good.

And yes...I just admitted to watching Jingle All the Way.

I admit watching htis movie too..and enjoying it, as I remember, picture quality was very good.

reel2reel · Posted: 02 Oct 2012, 19:31

exinferis wrote:

pnes.lds wrote:

I remember thinking the US release of Jingle All the Way looked really good.

And yes...I just admitted to watching Jingle All the Way.

I admit watching htis movie too..and enjoying it, as I remember, picture quality was very good.

Sinbad and Jingle All the Way are hilarious. No shame.

chente · Posted: 03 Oct 2012, 03:29

It's been a while, but I remember the CAV Criterion set of Brazil looking great.

laserreadfan · Posted: 02 Aug 2013, 21:24

Let's see. Some great looking Laser Discs would have to be:
Saving Private Ryan-looks gorgeous, and sounds great, the way I remembered it from the theaters.
True Lies
Titanic-looks great, great warm sunlight colors and great sharpness.
Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition Box Set-this is the 1997 box set from the 20 year theatrical release. Despite the horrible changes done to the films, this set looks pretty good.
Star Wars trilogy individual discs Japan Special Collection CAV-These look the way they were shown in theaters. Great sound.
Star Wars CLV LBX Special Widescreen Edition individual movies-These look quite good, though not reference quality, but very enjoyable. Great sound too.
The Arrival Pioneer Special Edition box set

jazz2future · Posted: 09 Aug 2013, 13:06

I love a great classic film on LD

War of the Worlds just impressed me a lot ...the clarity and quality of color

sega3dmm · Posted: 21 Aug 2013, 18:39

For me, the absolute crème de la crème of standard LD picture quality include:

Jurassic Park [41830]
Saving Private Ryan [ID5916DW]
Gate to the Mind's Eye, The [ID2926MM]

Those three also sound great.

laserbite34 · Posted: 21 Aug 2013, 18:55

APOLLO 13 (1995) dts THX Laserdisc.

Image looks breathtaking with nice contrast/brightness/colours sweet. The LD has been so watched many times since early 1999 when I bought it off dts website where they had knock-down of prices and it was too tempting to pass on.

Image looks a bit smoother cleaner like, though the Onkyo TX-SR875, than when it did when, when I was running it though the Yamaha RX-V650. The Onkyo, as video up-scaling processor.

brmanuk · Posted: 18 Sep 2013, 04:52

Saving Private Ryan
Boogie Nights (Criterion)
Robocop (Criterion)
Jurassic Park
T2 (THX)
Robocop
Blade Runner DC
Lethal Weapon 4

Which Laserdiscs have the best picture quality?

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