Forum for Geeks

I have A LOT of movies on DVD, many of them older movies. My Blu-Ray player does a good job of upgrading the picture a little so I don't think I need to replace the DVDs but, for a few select favorites, I might double dip and upgrade. But I'm hesitant about older movies on Blu-Ray because they were not made in high def. Sure, my new movies like IRON MAN & STAR TREK look great. But what older movies are worth it?

Talking with Bob Bretail, who bought the 80s Star Trek movies, it doesn't sound like these are worth it. I have purchased some of the Bond Blu-Rays and the older ones that they cleaned up like GOLDFINGER and DR. NO just shine. With MGM's financial troubles, we might not get any Bond Blu-Rays for awhile now though.

Has anyone checked out the Blu-Ray for DR. ZHIVAGO? Is it worth it? I could really go for some nice remastered for Blu-Ray David Lean movies.

Here's the thing about older movies. Digital HD is shot at 1080x1920p, 35mm film is 2000x3840p so older movies nativly are more high def than blu Ray can even represent. It all depends on how they handle the transfer. Bluray.com is an excellent site that Johnny m and I frequent that has some straight forward reviews with screen shots as well as a huge forum that should help you in your decision making. Some old movies can look like crap on blu Ray, but I'll put my copy of the godfather and Dr. Strangelove up against Star Trek and Watchmen any day.

Good info. Thanks. So it sounds like the ones that go back to the original, like the Bond films, do well but the ones that get a bad transfer (maybe from the regular DVD?) are not going to cut it.

I've purchased BLADERUNNER so many times, I don't think I can crack down for the Blu-Ray.