We just purchased a PS3, so we're looking to start buying Blu-Ray movies. I understand that the PS3 upconverts standard DVDs, so there's no need to rebuy titles we already have in most cases. But for purchases of titles we don't already have, is there a site that tells the difference between standard and Blu-Ray, so I'll know when it's worth it to shell out the extra $$ for a Blu-Ray version as opposed to just buying the standard? Thanks in advance.

Simple... If you just want to watch the movie, and you have never noticed that things can be blurry or have artifacts on/in them while watching DVDs, continue to buy DVDs. You will be perfectly happy and save a good chunk of money.

If you want to see the detail like it is in the movie theater, get the Blu-Ray.

Try renting a few and see if you notice the difference.

W

please make sure you have a HDTV, or it wont matter.

Yes, we have the Samsung LNT4661F 46" 1080p LCD HDTV, found here:

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LNT4661F-1080p-LCD-HDTV/dp/B000N50S5Y/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1200365402&sr=8-1

Anyone else have site suggestions? I realize that Blu-Ray is obviously more expensive, but w/ the current and recent BOGO deals, the prices are w/i $5-$10 of eachother. It's those instances that I'd like to know if there's a noticeable difference.

you could sign up for netflix and use their service to get bluray movies....this way you can see how they look in bluray before buying. they have plans as low as $4.99/month for 2 movies per month, and then if you liked the movie in bluray you could buy...

Yes, we have the Samsung LNT4661F 46" 1080p LCD HDTV, found here:

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LNT4661F-1080p-LCD-HDTV/dp/B000N50S5Y/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1200365402&sr=8-1

Anyone else have site suggestions? I realize that Blu-Ray is obviously more expensive, but w/ the current and recent BOGO deals, the prices are w/i $5-$10 of eachother. It's those instances that I'd like to know if there's a noticeable difference.
Spiderman DVD vs Blu Ray (http://www.mbmg.de/hd-discs/spider-man-trilogy_dvd_vs_bd/01_spider-man.html)

Here are a couple links to some threads on avsforums.com

Blu Ray HD movie screenshots (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=778604)

Blu Ray PQ Tier thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=858316)

as an analogy: i watch movies on my 20 inch PC monitor all the time - i doubt that getting blueray movies will make much of a difference unless i go 100% crop to find out if spiderman's costume had a piece of thread sticking out at 32:25

I'm replacing just my favorite movies as I have over 800.....you'll definetly notice a difference

The picture quality for Spiderman 1 on Blu-ray wasn't very good- SM2 and SM3 were much better.

Some of my favorites (hold your mouse over the picture to see the Blu-ray version):

http://www.mbmg.de/hd-discs/spider-man-trilogy_dvd_vs_bd/01_spider-man2.html

http://www.mbmg.de/hd-discs/spider-man-trilogy_dvd_vs_bd/05_spider-man2.html

http://www.mbmg.de/hd-discs/spider-man-trilogy_dvd_vs_bd/01_spider-man3.html

I hope you all realize there's alot more to it than seeing strands of hair and facial pores...


High-Def-Digest is where you can find details about special features. (http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/reviews.html)

None of these comparisons do it justice, at all. It's a stretch, but if you want to see the difference between Blu-Ray and DVD then do this

Use your computer at 640 x 480 resolution and view a picture

Then switch over to 1024x768 and view the same exact picture

Likewise, switch between DVD and VHS..or plain old antenna [non HD] versus cable...

It's a huge difference..and that's just talking image...bring sound to it and you have an even more important difference.

As for buying DVD or Blu? With new releases you really aren't saving much, take Rush Hour 3 for example..the DVD is $19.99 at Target, the Blu-Ray is $24.99 at Wal-Mart...or like wise, Spiderman 3...the 2 disc Blu-Ray is $29.99 and the 2 disc DVD is $19.99..if you're already spending $20 on a movie, might as well spend $10 more and get the best...a family of four would spend more at a movie theatre.

None of these comparisons do it justice, at all. It's a stretch, but if you want to see the difference between Blu-Ray and DVD then do this

Use your computer at 640 x 480 resolution and view a picture

Then switch over to 1024x768 and view the same exact pictureThe comparisons I linked to do Blu-ray justice. Your idea of switching computer resolutions is unnecessary. People want real examples of movie screenshots, and that's what I gave them.

The comparisons I linked to do Blu-ray justice. Your idea of switching computer resolutions is unnecessary. People want real examples of movie screenshots, and that's what I gave them.

And those screen shots, like all Blu-Ray screenshots [and HD ones too] are blurry, grainy, and don't look anything like the gorgeous image on any one of my HDTVs. Sure, you can see more detail, but it doesn't illustrate how flawless and pristine Blu-Ray appears on an HDTV set. Even comparing pictures from a VGA camera to a 3 megapixel Canon would be a better example.

And those screen shots, like all Blu-Ray screenshots [and HD ones too] are blurry, grainy, and don't look anything like the gorgeous image on any one of my HDTVs. Sure, you can see more detail, but it doesn't illustrate how flawless and pristine Blu-Ray appears on an HDTV set. Even comparing pictures from a VGA camera to a 3 megapixel Canon would be a better example.Well sorry if I've burned your eyeballs, but movies have grain. Here, I'll try to do Blu-ray justice, your worship...

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u98/adzez/At%20Worlds%20End/8036a36e.png

http://www.cif-forums.com/png/rata_7.png

http://www.mbmg.de/hd-discs/spider-man-trilogy_dvd_vs_bd/04_spider-man3_bd.png

Well sorry if I've burned your eyeballs, but movies have grain. Here, I'll try to do Blu-ray justice, your worship...

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u98/adzez/At%20Worlds%20End/8036a36e.png

http://www.cif-forums.com/png/rata_7.png

http://www.mbmg.de/hd-discs/spider-man-trilogy_dvd_vs_bd/04_spider-man3_bd.png

These look much more like the images I see on a daily basis.. I know movies have grain, but with Blu, lots of it disappears unless it's intentional like 300.

please make sure you have a HDTV, or it wont matter.

From what I understand even if you have an HDTV it won't matter.

If your HDTV has only DVI inputs you won't see all the details in the picture. You have to have HDMI input on your HDTV for you to see all the nice details in the picture.

you could sign up for netflix and use their service to get bluray movies....this way you can see how they look in bluray before buying. they have plans as low as $4.99/month for 2 movies per month, and then if you liked the movie in bluray you could buy...

I just converted my NetFlix subscription over to Blu-Ray. I have to say I'm disappointed as they only have maybe 25-30 titles available in Blu-Ray.

But as one posted said, the PS3 does a pretty good job of upconverting regular DVD movies to HD. We watched Office Space last night and the PS3 upconverted it to 1080p as my TV tells me the resolution it is receiving. I have a Sharp Aquos 46" D64 series.

I doubt I will be replacing any of my regular DVD's.

When DVD first came out, my wife thought it was no better than VHS. After a few months of DVD, I popped a tape into the VCR, and she couldn't stand it.

Of course, VHS quality was awful. You could easily see the Blu-Ray advantage on your computer, because computer screens are high-RES, their scalers aren't too good, and you sit very close to a computer screen.

We watch TV from many feet. Rent several Blu-Ray titles over time and decide for yourself if you can see a difference.

Be sure you connect the PS3 to the TV with HDMI cable, tho'

It's not just better picture quality to consider. I told myself I wasn't going to upgrade my DVD collection because of the upconversion factor, but after watching a few Blu Rays with uncompressed audio, I'm thinking otherwise now. For those audiophiles who have a great surround sound system, running uncompressed PCM is very noticeably better and now I'm finding myself waiting for another good blu ray sale to start replacing some of my DVDs.

I just converted my NetFlix subscription over to Blu-Ray. I have to say I'm disappointed as they only have maybe 25-30 titles available in Blu-Ray.

But as one posted said, the PS3 does a pretty good job of upconverting regular DVD movies to HD. We watched Office Space last night and the PS3 upconverted it to 1080p as my TV tells me the resolution it is receiving. I have a Sharp Aquos 46" D64 series.

I doubt I will be replacing any of my regular DVD's.

i must say, i 100% disagree with you - i just logged into netflix and clicked the category for blu-ray - there are 30 items on a page and 15 pages...they have TONS of movies in blu-ray...and as you said, if they dont have it in blu-ray....it will upconvert and still at least look a little better :-)

Yes, we have the Samsung LNT4661F 46" 1080p LCD HDTV, found here:

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-LNT4661F-1080p-LCD-HDTV/dp/B000N50S5Y/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1200365402&sr=8-1

Anyone else have site suggestions? I realize that Blu-Ray is obviously more expensive, but w/ the current and recent BOGO deals, the prices are w/i $5-$10 of eachother. It's those instances that I'd like to know if there's a noticeable difference.

Hi-Did you know you can buy a new blu-ray a sony for $250..
They call it recondition. Now it doesnot mean it's been broken and they repaired it because they just came out with them. The package has been damage or something. You must go to sony. I work there. Talk to them they will take care of you. A lot of people don't know but do you know if you buy --lets say a movie cam. and have it serviced by sony just once --they will warrant. it for LIFE....... Good luck---

I watched BR Pirates at Costco and thought it was a soap opera remake. Additional resolution ruined the movie for me.

From what I understand even if you have an HDTV it won't matter.

If your HDTV has only DVI inputs you won't see all the details in the picture. You have to have HDMI input on your HDTV for you to see all the nice details in the picture.

I believe DVI and HDMI outputs the same data. HDMI is simply DVI + optical/coax, from what I've read. Even so, DVI is hardly noticable compared to VGA or component.

Make sure you have an HDMI cable.
And i definantely wouldnt replace your DVD collection with Blu-Ray.
What i do is buy my favorite movies on blu-ray even if i have them on DVD and all new movies i get will be Blu-Ray.
Cant wait till transformers and the kingdom come out blu!

I watched BR Pirates at Costco and thought it was a soap opera remake. Additional resolution ruined the movie for me.
Haha...interesting perception.

Sorry for the necrobump- I was googling my username and this thread popped up in the results and I read this post and thought, "Wow, what a silly misunderstanding. I should clear this up." I think the topic is still just as relevant today as it was a year ago, so I figured there was no harm.

I watched BR Pirates at Costco and thought it was a soap opera remake. Additional resolution ruined the movie for me.
Actually, what you're seeing is not a result of increased resolution, but a relatively new special feature on some TVs that, when enabled, smooths the motion, more than quadrupling the framerate of movies. Movies run at 24 frames per second, which gives them that cinematic, slightly choppy, rough look in motion that we've all gotten used to. Auto Motion Plus, or whatever the TV manufacturer wants to call their version of it, converts whatever you're watching into 120 frames per second, which will look like you're watching a soap opera, which is traditionally 60 frames per second. Sports, news programming, game shows, etc etc are also recorded at 60 frames per second. It's complicated to explain how the system draws frames out of thin air, but that's another topic altogether.

A lot of the more expensive HDTVs ($1,500+) have this motion feature and the store managers like to turn it on to impress people because to some it looks better. However, I personally am disgusted by it :D



In response to the OP:
CinemaSquid.com is a very good center for Blu-ray reviews. They collect reviews from many different sites. You can compare how different sites rate the same movie, etc.
(link (http://www.cinemasquid.com/MovieReviews.aspx))

Blu-ray.com provides 1080p screenshots for all their reviews. However, you have to register an account, go to your account settings, and tick the 1080p checkbox to see them.
(link (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/reviews.php?show=newreviews))

Roommate just bought a PS3 and we watched Eagle Eye on his 50" plasma. I wasn't really impressed (with the video, the movie was great). I'll stick with my DVDs until Blu-Ray drops in price. Definitely not worth what they are charging for it now.

From what I understand even if you have an HDTV it won't matter.

If your HDTV has only DVI inputs you won't see all the details in the picture. You have to have HDMI input on your HDTV for you to see all the nice details in the picture.


As gojitassj9 has stated, HDMI and DVI are the same quality(both are digital) - However, an HDMI cable includes audio whereas a DVI cable will not.

Otherwise, you still get the same picture.

I am growing my high-definition Blu-ray library slowly (taking advantage of Amazon deals), but I consciously quit buying obsolete low-definition DVDs over a year ago, even before I got a Blu-ray player.

Once you start using high-definition, you won't ever want to go back.

My next HDTV will have 120Hz refresh to eliminate the telecine judder problem with 1080/24p film. You don't need a faster refresh to show fast action: you need a television refresh rate that divides evenly into the 24 Hz frame rate at which the movie was filmed (5x24=120). This will let you view the movie as it was meant to be viewed in the theater without the ugliness caused by trying to match a 24 Hz source to a 60Hz display.