Die Hard R1 picture and sound queries

[SithLordSi]

Having re-watched Die Hard 5-Star edition, I wanted to raise a couple of points:

1) Has anyone else noticed the really ropey looking bit where Bruce is talking to that dude on the plane right at the beginning? A couple of the close-up shots look like video to me, not film, almost as if they've been slowed down a touch and the frames interpolated. It just looks odd, not in keeping with the look of the rest of the film at all.

2) The sound in general was not that great, even considering it's a pretty old movie. On the dts track, at least, much of the action seemed to be coming from the centre channel only, with little or no surround action (including the front speakers). At other times, the sound was harsh on the ears.

3) Finally, the picture overall looked a little washed out and lacked really fine detail.

OK, so not huge worries considering the age of the thing. But DVDFile gave it a whopping 4.5 stars for picture AND sound, if I'm not mistaken, and everyone talks about the transfer as if it' the mutt's nuts or something. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Si

[john316]

I was very impressed with the pic considering it was 13 years old when it came out last year. Beat recent releases like Tomb Raider which should NOT happen. The DTS track also was excellent again considering its age - what setup do you have?

[Xenole]

There wasn't enough bass on the bit where he throws the chair and C4 down the lift shaft to be honest......was expecting the whole house to shake, but it never happened. There was another explosive scene that did this far better though when it was less intense.

[SithLordSi]

I realise it's an old film, but older films I own sound better. My setup is fine (mission 772 mains, mission 77c1 center, mission 700 rears, Yamaha DSP-A592 amp, gold plated interconnects, QED speaker cable), and although lacking in bass, this does not account for overall roughness in the audio.

However, no-one has yet answered my query about the picture problem in the plane sequence. All you have to do is watch it, wait for the close-up reaction shot of Bruce before he stands up (I think it's just before or just after the bit about removing the socks after flying), then tell me if I'm mad or not. It just doesn't look like film - it looks like FOX have messed with it somehow.

Si

[Lik Mearse]

Originally posted by SithLordSi
I realise it's an old film...
Fellow Ancients,

so "Die Hard" is an "old" film.

:p :p :p :p :p :p :p :rolleyes:


Yours Decomposingly,
Lik.

[Twigster]

Personally, I thought the DTS mix on Die Hard 1 was great.

However, I was totally under-whelmed at the audio on Die Hard 2 - I didn't feel that there was much surround action at all.

Not got round to watching the third film yet (come on, I've only had it since September).

[SithLordSi]

OK, OK, not old....just old by today's digital standards, and by Dolby Digital and dts, and by.....


Oh sod it. I know when I've been made a fool of. :nuts: