Diva - Teh Forum

<body> <div id="header"> <span class="left"> <span class="back"><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=DEFAULT"><span class="image mobile_back" title="Back"></span></a></span> <span class="image mobile_logo" title="Beehive Forum Logo"></span> </span> <ul> <li> <a class="reply_all" href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.0&return_msg=42559.9"> <span class="image mobile_reply_all"></span><span class="text">Reply to All</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="navigation" href="#"> <span class="image mobile_navigation"></span><span class="text">Show messages</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="main" href="#"><span class="image mobile_menu" title="Menu"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu main"> <ul> <li><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Messages</a></li> <li><a href="lpm.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Inbox</a></li> <li><a href="lsearch.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Search</a></li> <li><a href="llogon.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Login</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu navigation"><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.1">1–10</a><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.11">11–20</a><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.21">21–29</a></div> <div id="page_content"> <h3 class="thread_title"><a href="index.php?webtag=DEFAULT&amp;msg=42559.9">Diva</a> </h3> <div id="messages" data-navigation="42559_9_29_10"> <a name="a42559_9"></a><div class="message" id="message_42559_9"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Manthorp<span class="message_time"> 6 Mar 2020 14:01</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 6 Mar 2020 14:11"></span></span> <span class="message_count">9 of 29</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.9">42559.9</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.8">42559.8</a></div> <div class="message_body"> It sounds worth a pop, particularly as you have managed expectation.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.9&return_msg=42559.9" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42559.9"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42559_10"></a><div class="message" id="message_42559_10"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)<span class="message_time"> 6 Mar 2020 14:13</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Manthorp <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 6 Mar 2020 14:15"></span></span> <span class="message_count">10 of 29</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.10">42559.10</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.9#a42559_9" target="_self">42559.9</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Definitely. It's generally received top reviews.<br /> <br /> Maybe a tad too <u><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cin%C3%A9ma_du_look" title="Cinéma du look">cinéma du look</a></i></u> for my taste (that's Fr. for eye-candy).</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.10&return_msg=42559.9" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42559.10"> <span class="rating">+1/1</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42559_11"></a><div class="message" id="message_42559_11"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: william (WILLIAMA)<span class="message_time"> 6 Mar 2020 14:44</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 6 Mar 2020 14:47"></span></span> <span class="message_count">11 of 29</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.11">42559.11</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.8">42559.8</a></div> <div class="message_body"> It isn't a perfectly balanced film by any stretch of the imagination, and one of the aspects that knocks it out of wack is the lead character, amongst the cast of super-cool or super-bad characters. I know what you mean by weak and callow, but to me he just seems real. We're used to being fed stories about the angst of young and wealthy heroes coming of age, or lion-tamers and fighter pilots, or whatever, but here we've got a young kid who's a bloody postman. He's into Opera so he steals some on his tape machine. Then he steals some clothing from the singer's dressing room. Later when he sits next to her, his arm is inching round her back like a LAD would do. Anyway, that's my view. Other views are available.<br /> <br /> Just acquired the Meridian release from eBay. Region 1 but not fussed about that as it's going straight onto Plex anyway.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.11&return_msg=42559.9" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42559.11"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42559_12"></a><div class="message" id="message_42559_12"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)<span class="message_time"> 6 Mar 2020 14:57</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: william (WILLIAMA) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 6 Mar 2020 15:07"></span></span> <span class="message_count">12 of 29</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.12">42559.12</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.9#a42559_11" target="_self">42559.11</a></div> <div class="message_body"> The portrayal of the character was very believable, in the haphazardness of young people and how they cope with wayward impulses, such as diva-stalking (and who hasn't... never mind). His survival instinct e.g. the extended motorbike chase scene was also strongly believable. I disagree that other characters were super-cool despite mirror sunglasses etc., possibly excepting that nasty little hitman, who was a total scene-stealer as well as handy with an ice pick.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.12&return_msg=42559.9" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42559.12"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42559_13"></a><div class="message" id="message_42559_13"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: william (WILLIAMA)<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2020 15:07</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2020 15:40"></span></span> <span class="message_count">13 of 29</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.13">42559.13</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.9#a42559_12" target="_self">42559.12</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Just got the Meridian version. A quick side by side comparison and it's obvious that the Meridian cut is cleaner and occasionally clearer, although it isn't a night and day change. They appear to have played with some other digital "enhancements" which are heavy-handed in several places.<br /> <br /> Sadly, they've made some bizarre decisions considering this is supposed to be a super-gorgeous cut of the film. They have actually <em>reduced</em> the VOB size and bit rate from the original DVD releases in order to cram more extras on! The mkv from my old DVD is 4.84 GB with a bit rate of 5843 kb/s. The Lionsgate/Meridian version is more than a gigabyte smaller at 3.62 GB and 4217 kb/s. The extras are all encoded at the same bit rate as the main feature whereas a far lower rate would have been perfectly adequate, and left more room on the disc for a better quality main, irrespective of whether the remastering is better on the Meridian release than on others.<br /> <br /> Overall, the look is different rather than better and I haven't really decided which I prefer and I'm leaning towards the version I already had - which is sad. I've also just discovered <a href="http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare2/diva.htm">a review</a> which rather slams the Lionsgate/Meridian release for just the things I found: excessive digital manipulation and reducing the bit rate. Judging by this review and the cover you posted, you may have had the Anchor Bay version (unless it said Meridian on the box) which looks to be the best of the lot. Since this is £48 on Amazon UK I shan't be checking.<br /> </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.13&return_msg=42559.9" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42559.13"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42559_14"></a><div class="message" id="message_42559_14"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2020 15:46</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: william (WILLIAMA) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2020 17:30"></span></span> <span class="message_count">14 of 29</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.14">42559.14</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.9#a42559_13" target="_self">42559.13</a></div> <div class="message_body"> It was definitely the Meridian version, different to the cover I posted and it said "Meridian". Interesting comparison, not sure I would notice it on our old CRT television (as I pointed out previously). Apart from it looking perfectly presentable (clean and sharp), nothing jumped out at me about the quality, and I probably wouldn't have even thought about it if it was a recent release. Did they change color balance, brightness, saturation etc.?</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.14&return_msg=42559.9" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42559.14"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42559_15"></a><div class="message" id="message_42559_15"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: william (WILLIAMA)<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2020 17:49</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2020 18:01"></span></span> <span class="message_count">15 of 29</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.15">42559.15</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.9#a42559_14" target="_self">42559.14</a></div> <div class="message_body"> All of those, plus they stretched the image in the anamorphic conversion to reduce cropping. The most noticeable things are edge enhancement and contrast fiddling, plus there's a sort of "smoothing" evident on flat surfaces like faces. The review said that they lost detail by reducing the bit rate, but I suspect that's in comparison to the Anchor Bay release, which I haven't seen. I know that towards the end of CRT production there were some pretty fancy sets around, including a few that worked with HD inputs, but I doubt there are many that would show a big difference between the three versions.<br /> <br /> Incidentally, while faffing about on ebay I accidentally bid on an Anchor Bay release (I'm the only bidder) so I may have a copy soon. I shan't be sorry if I get outbid.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.15&return_msg=42559.9" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42559.15"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42559_16"></a><div class="message" id="message_42559_16"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2020 18:05</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: william (WILLIAMA) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2020 18:08"></span></span> <span class="message_count">16 of 29</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.16">42559.16</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.9#a42559_15" target="_self">42559.15</a></div> <div class="message_body"> "a sort of "smoothing" evident on flat surfaces like faces"<br /> <br /> I've only seen that sort of thing on big flat screens (such as my brother's 55"), I assumed it was 'up sampled' streaming 1080p content, whatever it looks creepy AF.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.16&return_msg=42559.9" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42559.16"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42559_17"></a><div class="message" id="message_42559_17"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: william (WILLIAMA)<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2020 18:34</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2020 18:57"></span></span> <span class="message_count">17 of 29</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.17">42559.17</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.9#a42559_16" target="_self">42559.16</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Some modern televisions upscale really well, others don't. All of them benefit from having the electronic image improvements turned off, with the possible exception of watching fast moving sport where various settings can reduce blur. For normal viewing, the worst culprit is motion interpolation which produces the "soap opera effect". It's designed to bring material with one refresh rate up to the native refresh rate of the TV to avoid blur and give you a "better" picture. If your film is 24 fps and your TV's native frequency is 60 Hz (and many are 120 Hz) then motion interpolation will buffer the film and calculate 'intermediate' frames which are interpolated. The effect is horrible. I watched <em>the Third Man</em> at my Brother's house (he's a chap who plugs things in, turns them on and that's it) and it was like watching a live video feed: really weird and unsettling. It's called different things depending on who makes the TV - trumotion, clearframe etc.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.17&return_msg=42559.9" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42559.17"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a42559_18"></a><div class="message" id="message_42559_18"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: CHYRON (DSMITHHFX)<span class="message_time">12 Mar 2020 19:17</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: william (WILLIAMA) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 12 Mar 2020 19:58"></span></span> <span class="message_count">18 of 29</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.18">42559.18</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=42559.9#a42559_17" target="_self">42559.17</a></div> <div class="message_body"> In hindsight, there was an odd disconnect between the 'eye-candy' photography (which I had assumed was a <em>cinéma du look</em> thing), and the noirish plot.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=42559.18&return_msg=42559.9" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="42559.18"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="message_page_footer"> <ul> <li class="right_col"><form accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" action="lmessages.php" target="_self"><input type="hidden" name="webtag" id="webtag" class="bhinputtext" value="DEFAULT" dir="ltr" /><input type="hidden" name="msg" id="msg" class="bhinputtext" value="42559.19" dir="ltr" /><input type="submit" name="submit" id="keep_reading" value="Keep reading…" class="button" /></form></li> </ul> </div> </div> </body>