Old films on Blu-Ray

The Criterion ones on Blu-Ray are probably as good as it gets.

I have North by Northwest and Billy Jack on Blu-Ray. The pictures are pretty sharp and the sound is much cleaner. Then, there's the superior menu system and additional bonus stuff.

Also, don't forget that the Blu-Ray discs are less prone to damage. That, alone, makes it worth it.

JimmyB27 said:

Woot, a reply - thank you, but....I don't know what that means...

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Criterion is a company well-known (at least in the US) for reissuing old films, foreign films, etc. They often have a best quality available of certain old movies. Sometimes old films have been cut down over the years for one reason or another (a movie that was originally 122 minutes will be cut down to 114 minutes), or else the quality has been allowed to deteriorate; Criterion will usually try to issue the movie as it was originally released.

You can find their website online, and places like Amazon will have a separate section on the Criterion Collection (just put that in the search box on the Amazon website).

So anyway, what I meant was an old movie reissued by Criterion on Bru-Ray is probably the best copy you will be able of find of many old movies. Their version will often get rave reviews from old movie fans.

I misunderstood. I didn't realize you were asking about converting your own old movies; I thought you were asking if it was worth it to buy old movies on Blu-Ray because of the transfer limitation.

All I know is that animated movies on Blu-Ray seems pointless to me, but that's how they all are now - on DVD and Blu-Ray - in the same package.

You might rent one of the Criterion Collection ones on Blu-Ray and see what you think. Again, Criterion usually gets kudos for doing a good job (on a few rare occasions I've heard complains, but it's mostly been good).

JimmyB27 said:

OK - thanks. The decision to update my existing collection of VHS to DVD was a very clear cut choice. DVD to Blu-Ray is a bit closer.
I think, for now at least, I will stick to DVD for anything I already have, but buy anything I don't have - old or new - on Blu-Ray.

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Playing a regular DVD on a Blu-Ray player makes the picture sharper just as a standard. Add in a HDTV and it's a pretty amazing combo, even with all the additional detail of a Blu-Ray disc. We don't have many Blu-Ray discs, but the clarity it gives on the rest of our collection (and, no, we don't auto-buy everything in Blu-Ray just 'cause we have one) makes it well worth the cost of upgrading.

DeleyanLee said:

Playing a regular DVD on a Blu-Ray player makes the picture sharper just as a standard. Add in a HDTV and it's a pretty amazing combo, even with all the additional detail of a Blu-Ray disc. We don't have many Blu-Ray discs, but the clarity it gives on the rest of our collection (and, no, we don't auto-buy everything in Blu-Ray just 'cause we have one) makes it well worth the cost of upgrading.

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Very true. And the Blu-Ray players read scratched discs better than most DVD players. I have a DVD of Scooby Doo that skips and freezes on every DVD player that I have, but plays without a glitch on the Blu-Ray (I recommend getting a PS3 as a Blu-Ray player, btw).

PS3 as Blu-Ray--highly seconded

One of the best players out there and for a very reasonable price. Gaming not required.

DeleyanLee said:

PS3 as Blu-Ray--highly seconded

One of the best players out there and for a very reasonable price. Gaming not required.

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Thirded. And of course, if you also happen to be a gamer it's... well, it's a complete drain on your writing time, but it's outstanding. I'm a Blu Ray addict now, it's almost all I buy. It's like I'm rediscovering home entertainment...

I just watched "The African Queen" on Bluray and it was excellent. I love old movies so I'm glad to see so many being released on Bluray and available through Netflix.

I've had mixed results with older titles on Blu-ray, myself.

The Criterion recommendation is a good one, especially as one doesn't tend to pay as much of a Criterion tax on Blu-rays compared to DVDs. Still, I bought Last Year at Marienbad from Criterion and I'm not sure the higher definition helped. The images had a great deal of noise--perhaps it's possible that Blu-ray can show the grain of the film at that resolution? Maybe it was more noticeable because it was in black and white. I didn't have similar issues with Criterion's El Norte, which was in color.

I've generally had pretty good experience with the technicolor classics, like North by Northwest and Rio Bravo. I can't quantify it, but it seems like the color saturation is much more intense on Blu-ray. I've got Casablanca, The Searchers, and Gone With the Wind in my to-be-watched stack, I can report back on those when I get around to them.

I think the real litmus test would be something filmed in Panavision, like Lawrence of Arabia.

A classic whose quality really surprised me on Blu-ray was Clockwork Orange. 2001 looks decent as well. I keep hoping for Barry Lyndon to make an appearance in the format, because of the legendary technology Kubrick used.

I was amazed at how muddy and dated Total Recall looked on Blu-ray. I guess is shows that just because something is more recent, it doesn't mean that it will look great. I wonder if many of the big hits of the 90s and 80s may get lost in the shuffle over time with the better sort of home-viewing technology we have.

I think maybe Total Recall is one of those titles that was just flipped over to Blu-Ray, with no thought to quality. I noticed that Aaaaahnuld films were out in Blu-Ray right away, owing to the recognition that they're easy sells.

Classics do look spectacular on Blu-ray. Films made in the 60s and earlier look 20 years younger on the medium. I've seen Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, The Planet of The Apes, The Searchers and more on blu-ray thanks to my ps3. Every classic film should be restored to blu-ray before Disney makes some more direct to dvd trash!

Hi, by the way

http://ithinkthereforeireview.blogspot.com/2009/12/in-defense-of-blu-ray.html