SUPERBIT question...

[rushmore beauty]

I am planning on buying Crocuhing Tiger, Hidden Dragon on DVD....but there is a Superbit DVD and the normal one. Now, I only really care about the extra features if it's a movie like The Matrix or LOTR: FOTR. So tell me, of the two, which has the better picture quality? The Superbit or the normal? And do Superbit DVD have any features?

[platanero79]

well I have the normal one the quality is very good but I heard the Superbit one is better but not mush of a different that u can really Notice and for the extra on the Regular one there alright don't know about superbit extra features but they maybe the same features

[Trick Or Kill]

Superbit never has exta features unless it's a 2 disc superbit deluxe. But I'd go with the regular, I would never support a collection that eliminates all extras for really little improvement in the picture quality.

[The Shootin Surgeon]

In my experience, Superbit has proven to be the biggest crock of shite. Unless you're Superman, it's virtually impossible to tell the difference.

[sirmatto]

Originally posted by The Shootin' Surgeon
In my experience, Superbit has proven to be the biggest crock of shite. Unless you're Superman, it's virtually impossible to tell the difference.

Agreed, with Superbit, all that increases is the bit rate, and only maybe 1000 MBps at that. The sound increase is nice, but only if you have a 1500 watt system. Also, Superbit started as movies that were decent...nowadays, a bunch are pathetic movies, and the series is also used to double dip, even triple dip movies (Patriot anyone?).

Matt

[The Locnar]

Originally posted by The Shootin' Surgeon
In my experience, Superbit has proven to be the biggest crock of shite. Unless you're Superman, it's virtually impossible to tell the difference.
What kind of set up do you have S.S.? I'd like to have a normal DVD and a superbit version of the same DVD to compare on my set up to really test it out.

I have a Sony 57" 16:9 widescreen HDTV and a Panasonic XP50 progressive scan DVD player hooked up using component video connections.

I'm thinking the only way to get the best out of a superbit DVD is to run it on an above average set up.

[The Shootin Surgeon]

Originally posted by The Locnar
What kind of set up do you have S.S.? I'd like to have a normal DVD and a superbit version of the same DVD to compare on my set up to really test it out.

I have a Sony 57" 16:9 widescreen HDTV and a Panasonic XP50 progressive scan DVD player hooked up using component video connections.

I'm thinking the only way to get the best out of a superbit DVD is to run it on an above average set up.

I have Samsung 52"HDTV and a Samsung Colorstream DVD player. I had done the comparison with the regular SNATCH DVD and the Suberbit and couldn't notice any difference save for a slight one in sound.

Problem is that the average dude has average equipment and the difference is only perceptible if you have a top of the libe system and by then, you can easily afford two copies of each movie but for the general public, I don't see any gain in superbit.

[Movieguy16]

I've got a 35" 16:9 Panasonic Tau HDTV with a Toshiba Progressive Scan DVD-Video/Audio player with a Kenwood DTS-ES receiver, granted there are not that much improvement with the newer releases, some of the older ones, ie Dracula is a great improvement, I would also take DTS over most features anyways. I am not really a fan of most so called special features, much of which are shown on HBO and Showtime on a regular basis. But I guess its up to ones own opinion...eh sirmatto?

[sirmatto]

Originally posted by Movieguy16
I've got a 35" 16:9 Panasonic Tau HDTV with a Toshiba Progressive Scan DVD-Video/Audio player with a Kenwood DTS-ES receiver, granted there are not that much improvement with the newer releases, some of the older ones, ie Dracula is a great improvement, I would also take DTS over most features anyways. I am not really a fan of most so called special features, much of which are shown on HBO and Showtime on a regular basis. But I guess its up to ones own opinion...eh sirmatto?

Actually, Movieguy, I was more referring to the fact that most movies for Columbia/Tristar and other companies are already in the 8 MBps (which I believe is the limit for a red laser) area, so therefore, the whole Superbit title is a scam, as there is not much improvement over other titles, granted there are some exceptions *cough* Predator 2 *cough* but other than that, most DVDs utilize the maximum bitrate possible.

Matt

[bob]

Superbit, I think, is just a scam (not really an original thought, but oh well) it actually costs MORE than the regular discs do, usually, and the packaging looks likes rejects from the Terminator 2 packaging concept art.

Especially with a great movie like CTHD, I'd go with regular.

[The Shootin Surgeon]

Originally posted by Movieguy16
granted there are not that much improvement with the newer releases, some of the older ones, ie Dracula is a great improvement


That's actually a pretty good point, I never thought of checkig it out. most of the Superbits Ive seen have been newer releases. worth a look.

[Dude]

The only 2 Superbit titles worth owning are:

Dracula: I dont have a 1500 watt system as someone stated above you need, ( I have a 500 watt) and hell yes, there is a noticable sound difference between the regular Dracula and the SB one.
The colors in the SB version are a little more stable...the reds do not tend to bleed out as much.. again, slight improvement here.

Desperado: So far, this is the ONLY SB title to have had a NEW PRINT STRUCK for a SB release. The other SB titles use the SAME DVD PRINT. Desperado is an ALL NEW TRANSFER for SB.. and if you have the old one... UPGRADE NOW! It is SO WORTH IT.

Other than that:

The Big Hit is already pretty darn near reference quality for the $10 dvd.. save your $$$

The Fifth Element is STUNNING as well... again, save your bucks and get the regular version.

I dont know about Gattaca or Patriot Game... but both those regular dvds were decent as well. :)

[The Locnar]

Wow, this is some really great info. Thanks S.S., Dude and sirmatto.

I've heard The 5th Element is pretty much the best DVD in terms of audio/video. I'm not crazy about the movie but I might just add it to my collection anyway.

The one DVD I was curious about that is in Superbit form now is Labyrinth. Dude, do you know if that one is a copy of the old DVD or if it came from a new print? I noticed the superbit version doesn't come with the "making of" featurette so I probably wouldn't buy it anyway.

[Dude]

Sorry,

I dont have that info. I havent seen Labrynth on dvd yet.

Fifth Element still holds its own for being one of the first few dvds released, as far as having that near 3d effect.

[xirtam]

Well, the normal version of 5th Element doesn't have any extras anyway, so why not just get the SB version? (Unless they come out with a special edition)

[Dude]

True.. BUT, if you dont have or arent planning on getting an HDTV 16:9 Widescreen TV anytime soon, why spend $23 on Fifth Element when you can get for $15... and when on sale $11.99. ;)

The sound field is pretty intense (as well as the image) on the regular dvd. :)

[The Shootin Surgeon]

thoughtI'd bring this back to life... Like Dude had mentionned before, the advantage to SUperbit might not be in recent films like PANIC ROOMS, or SNATCH or any others but in reviving older ones... I just had a chance to see both LABYRINTH and DAS BOOT on superbit DVD'S (my reviews will be up in the DVD clinic this week) and finally had a great superbit experience. Both looked as if they's been shot yesterday.

just though I'd mention it and make amends since IO've pretty much been crapping on superbit of late... then again, they deserve it if they release brand new films taht look just as good on a regular DVD though...

the result:
new films on superbit are a waste
old films on suberbit are a wonder

[The Locnar]

Ah ha, this is exactly what I was looking for. So let me ask you SS, have you seen the non-Superbit DVD of Labyrinth to compare the video quality to the Superbit version?

Also, has anyone seen the documentary that comes on the original DVD of Lab.? I want to know if it is something worth having since (I assume) it doesn't appear on the Superbit DVD?

Basically, I want Labyrinth on DVD but don't want to buy both versions of the DVD so I'm trying to figure out which one to buy.

[KcMsterpce]

Originally posted by The Locnar
Ah ha, this is exactly what I was looking for. So let me ask you SS, have you seen the non-Superbit DVD of Labyrinth to compare the video quality to the Superbit version?

Also, has anyone seen the documentary that comes on the original DVD of Lab.? I want to know if it is something worth having since (I assume) it doesn't appear on the Superbit DVD?

Basically, I want Labyrinth on DVD but don't want to buy both versions of the DVD so I'm trying to figure out which one to buy.

Well, I haven't seen the Superbit version of Labrynth, but the original release version is a pretty decent transfer. Just like any other good quality DVD out there. As for the documentary, it's an old 20 minute bit that was shown on television back in the day to promote the movie's release. It's nothing great, I wouldn't say you'd miss too much if you got the Superbit version.

[Dude]

I havent seen Labyrinth... but from what I have been hearing is this:

The Superbit version of this film may be just a little TOO GOOD.. ie, the clarity is such that the MATTE LINES can clearly be seen in some of the special effects... like I said, it's just what I have heard, but since it IS an older film with dated effects, this may have some relevance to it.