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| New Help Dvd A Technical Comparison (Page 1 of 3) | | Dave Haber on 11/9/07 8:25 AM |
These comments pertain to this FAQ:New Help DVD: A Technical Comparison
| | [Posted by Wogew on 11/9/07 8:25 AM] According to Paul Rutan, who was in charge of the restoration of the physical film, "the new DVD was intended to be formatted in the original 1.66 aspect ratio but someone fouled up and formatted it for 16x9".
| | [Posted by Dave Haber on 11/9/07 9:18 AM] Interesting. According to Wikipedia, 1.66:1 was the European standard, 16:9, the HDTV standard, is really 1.78:1, which is a compromise between the American widescreen format of 1.85:1 and Europe's 1.66:1.
Anyway, 1.78:1 is much closer to viewing the director's original vision of 1.66:1 than any presentation in 4:3 (which is 1.33:1).
| | [Posted by Tom on 11/9/07 1:18 PM] Wogew, the ratio actually IS 1.66:1, the dvd has little black bars on the left and right side for the correct 1.66:1.
| | [Posted by Dave Haber on 11/9/07 1:40 PM] Again, interesting. I don't see those on my 4:3 set, Tom. Perhaps you only see the 1.66:1 pillarboxing on a 16:9 screen...
| | [Posted by Eric Manchester on 11/9/07 2:37 PM] It's very complicated. The theatrical release would probably have been 1.85:1. If you do the math, 16 divided by 9 gives you a ratio of 1.77:1. That means they are showing a little more top and bottom than was intended.
However, a reasonable argument could be made that the movie was intended theatrically to be 1.66:1 or even 1.75:1. I've seen American prints of "A Hard Day's Night" and the head leader indicated 1.75:1 as the preferred ratio for that movie. Unfortunately, a print of "Help!" that I had the opportunity to inspect did not indicate a preferred projection ratio.
We might only know what the intended ratio is by asking both the director and the cinematographer. I wouldn't trust the memory of only one person. (Especially since Mr. Lester indicates in the DVD extras that a lot of pot smoking was going on at the time...)
| | [Posted by Leo McMichael on 11/9/07 11:19 PM] Well, since Mr. Lester is from Philadelphia, PA it might be correct to think the ratio would be the standard American version of 1.78:1? Or. they chose the 16x9 standard because TVs of the future (which are also here now) will use that standard. Considering they didn't release a HDTV version on either BluRay or HDDVD, it's safe to assume they will AGAIN make another money grab when those discs are issued. Then again, they may also save a few of us money by waiting to see which format is the better release format and release just one Hi-Def DVD formatted disc. In the end, HD DVD players like those from Samsung have Hi-Def DVD players which will play back both HD formats.
Another point to consider is that since it was filmed on actual FILM and not any video format, it's possible to transfer high definition sections from anywhere on the film and reformat it in a circle if they wish. What will be hard to transfer and have it look excellent will be TV appearances which were videotaped like Ed Sullivan Shows. Their "filmed" appearances can always get a high defintion face lift, but videos like Revolution and Hey Jude will have to be upconverted and thus lose a little bit in the process of doubling the lines for HDTV conversion.
So, like all Disney movies, this won't be the last time we see a Beatles film released onto a new format. It won't be the last time they claim a full "digital" restoration. And it won't be the last time someone claims to know what the director's intent was when they made the movie.
Dave Haber was correct though in mentioning the biggest advance this release of this feature is the new improved soundtrack. That we can all agree is NOT how the director intended it to be, yet, as sometimes is the case, it improves the experience. He may have envisioned stereo for some theaters, but most were never stereo when Help! was released theatrtically.
Dolby Surround Sound (not to be confused with Dolby Digital Surround) was not out until STAR WARS in 1977 (the first Dolby Surround feature film). DTS came out in theaters with Jurassic Park in 1993 as the first DIGITAL theater surround sound of discreet separate assigned channels of audio. Briefly the audio was on a DVD with just the soundtrack and it was synchronized to the frames of the film with timecode. It had a Dolby optical soundtrack as the back up default until the sync was made during reel changes etc...
So, the best improvement was the audio which the director had no hand in when they made the movie in 1965. The Beatles didn't remix the audio tracks which are now in 5.1 surround. So, I guess sometimes making things exactly as they were isn't always the best thing, is it?
When they make the 3-D version, I'll buy that too I suppose. Maybe that will be a big improvement? But I doubt it. Most movies are fine in 2-D.
I am too young to have seen this in the movie theater. The first time I remember seeing it from beginning to end was in 1980 and I was able to videotape it off WOR-TV Channel 9 in NY City as we used to get that channel on cable. Want something cool to think about? A blank videotape price in 1980 was 25 dollars! Now they are 1-2 dollars a piece? You couldn't buy movies back then on video for under 100 dollars. The rental market was just starting out at 6-7 bucks a movie rental, cheaper than going to a movie. WalMart sells movies for 5 bucks today.
One last note:
Whenever a copyright changes hands expect a new release. Renewals also foster upgrades to the catalogue. New formats of course do as well. A Hard Days Night was released a couple times now and if Apple gets the rights to ditribute that back, we'll see yet another re-release. Then maybe we'll get a commentary track from Paul or Ringo or even something pieced together commentary from all 4 of them from Anthology?
Now I can't wait for the restoration of Magical Mystery Tour and the soundtrack for that in 5.1 surround! Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream! LOL The colors should POP off the screen if they do it right and the music was recorded in 4 tracks and should make a fine decreet surround.
Should we hold out for Let It Be? I doubt I'll see that restored. I would like a collection of their promotional videos on one collection instead of clips shown in Anthology.
| | [Posted by Dave on 11/9/07 11:44 PM] No amount of re-touching is going to disguise the fact that Help! is a BAD movie. I didn't like it when I first saw it, and I don't like it any better now. The plot is weak, the actors are silly, and indeed, as John Lennon said, the Beatles are truly "extras" in their own movie. "Help!" is about as good as any of the silly Elvis movies of the '60s. The music is great (The Beatles' own, original music) but the film is pure dreck. No wonder Macca or Ringo didn't appear in the "special" section; and no wonder "Help!" went unreleased on DVD for so long. I love the Beatles, but really do despise this movie.
| | [Posted by Rick Tindall on 11/10/07 4:36 AM] I wonder if Sir Paul and Ringo were approached to offer a commentary sound track for the new Help! DVD? I would've paid extra for that!
| | [Posted by Bob on 11/12/07 2:03 AM] Well! Dave, you DESPISE this movie? It is a silly movie, granted. But it is the BEATLES for cryin' out loud. I think its fun, light hearted entertainment. If you want a Beatles movie that isn't so cartoonish you can always watch Let it be which is pretty bad as well. And now come to think of it so is MMT. That leaves AHDN. I think the beatles are great wherever we find them in my humble opinion.
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