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I just did a "side-by-side" (well, flip back and forth between video inputs) comparison of the DVD Blade Runner: Directors Cut and the CAV laserdisc Criterion Collection Blade Runner (which is *not* the "Directors Cut"). The DVD looks *so* much better that it's just plain ridiculous. The difference is even bigger than I thought it would be after having viewed the DVD alone. The difference is easily noticable in the opening scene in which Leon is interviewed by another Blade Runner (who's shot by Leon). This scene on the Criterion CAV laserdisc looks washed out and almost colorless in comparison to the DVD version which has vibrant color. The difference in resolution is also easily noticable - details like "Tyrell Corp" written on the seatbacks are very sharp on the DVD while fuzzy on the laserdisc. The laserdisc also has a much "snowier" image than the DVD. In the very next scene there's a shot of a (flying) "car" passing a huge video sign depicting an Oriental woman taking a pill. In the letterboxed LD version there are very noticable moire patterns on the sign. In the letterboxed DVD there is absolutely no moire effect and the image is sharp and colorful. Other scenes in the movie show similar differences, some more noticable than others. What's especially impressive about the sharpness/detail is that the DVD version of Blade Runner actually has a smaller image than the laserdisc. This is because the DVD is slightly "window boxed", meaning that they have left some space on the sides of the image, not just the black bars at top and bottom. You wouldn't see these bars on most TVs because they overscan too much (although you'd still benefit from seeing more of the movie image), I've adjusted my TV to eliminate most of the overscan. In spite of the smaller image the details are much sharper on the DVD. Now, it's important to realize that at least in the case of color a good bit of the difference could be due to differences in source material available to Voyager when they made their Criterion laserdisc. The source may not have had as good color and it's possible that the studio "restored" the film for their "Directors Cut" version. In any case MPEG-2 has clearly not stunted the color in any way - the color is simply fantastic. It would be most informative if someone with both the Directors Cut laserdisc and Directors Cut DVD would do a direct comparison and post their findings. Another easily noticable difference is noise from the players. Laserdisc players are noisy - the discs are big and spin at high speeds. You hear a whirring sound which is noticable during quieter portions of movies. DVD's are small, light and spin more slowly. The DVD player produces more noise than an audio-CD player, but it's quieter than my VCR. And of course there's the issue of side breaks - none on the DVD, 3 on the CAV laserdisc (1 of which is a disc change). The CLV version has 1 side break. As a Monty Python Gumby would say, "I'm convinced!" The technology is great right now. It's probably wise to wait for prices to drop, but they aren't outrageous now either if you want to get in early. FYI: Pioneer CLV-D502 laserdisc player (connected to TV with monster cable video cable). Toshiba SD-2006 DVD player (connected to TV with s-video cable that came with player). Sony KV-27EXR20 27" TV. Incidentally, the s-video cable that comes with the Toshiba has some sort of filter on it. What does this filter do? What would happen if I plugged in some other s-video cable without a filter? Steve
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Stephen Jonke fun email: sjonke@jagunet.com
no-fun email: Stephen.Jonke@gsfc.nasa.gov
home page: http://www.jagunet.com/~sjonke
More as they arrive...
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