The Matrix Open Matte / Original Colour?

[spoRv]

According to Joshua Zyber (who is a laserdisc expert since a long time), the LD has different colors; maybe VHS is like DVD, or like LD but, unless you would capture it, the comparison "on the fly" would lead you in error - like what I did today with The X-files; TV and PC, switching inputs... "hey, they are really different" I thought... then, I recorded some minutes with my TC card, guess what? They are the same! So, maybe it is that VHS and DVD seems the same, but are actually not...

[ilovewaterslides]

Here you go: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparis.../picture:2

As you can see, DVD and LD are sourced from the same master. Totally different colours compared to the theatrical prints. The Matrix was one of the last movies that received a photochemical process and that's why the video releases have different colours. The negative was scanned in 2K then digitally timed.

[spoRv]

From http://www.mindspring.com/~laserdisc-forever/matrix.htm :

The DVD also has some color correction not found on the laserdisc transfer. Some of the daytime scenes were photographed using a process that de-emphasizes the color blue and leaves a greenish hue. The laserdisc presents these scenes approximately the same as I remember them in the theater, but the DVD has added additional green tinting

As the screenshot comparison linked in the previous post has five images, but all from the same scene, *maybe* some other scenes are different...

ilovewaterslides, if you have posted that comparsion, may you take a look at others to see if effectively there are differences? I'm becoming mad because I don't know who I should trust...

[Farstarbuck]

Trust me I've only had 3 glasses on wine so far today.

[ilovewaterslides]

My statement is clear. The film was photochemically processed so unless they took an interpositive or release print as source for the laserdisc itself, I don't see how the colours could look more or less like what they did in theatres. Plus if it was the case, that lobby scene would look completely different. These screenshots are enough of a proof that the LD indeed uses the same master as the DVD. These are not mine though so I can't make more unfortunately.

[spoRv]

Well, it was not that uncommon to use an interpositive as master for laserdisc - I'm pretty sure sometimes even release prints were used... so now, let's wait for someone who could capture the laserdisc (or send it to someone who is able to)!

[SilverWook]

Did someone here win that auction?

[Farstarbuck]

Not me but I did see the guy reduced the crazy postage cost from 25 pounds to 9.95.

[ilovewaterslides]

Well, it was not that uncommon to use an interpositive as master for laserdisc - I'm pretty sure sometimes even release prints were used... so now, let's wait for someone who could capture the laserdisc (or send it to someone who is able to)!

Well it's not for Warner. They often use the same masters for every release format. The DVD, VHS and Laserdisc came around the same time so I see no reason for them to use different masters.

Warner did even use the same 2K DI when they retimed the movie in 2004 so it matches the sequels color scheme. The only versions with different colours that were available in '99 are this HK LD / Bootleg VCD which are sourced from a workprint with a weird purple hue and no definitive color processing applied to it. There's also another bootleg VCD that uses a CAMrip and the colors are indeed the theatrical ones.

Reminds me as well of that urban legend on the audio. I'm pretty confident that the AC3 track on this LD is the same as the DVD one.

Anyway, if someone can find the US LD for a cheap price then yeah, just go for it. It would be silly to pay a huge amount of money for finally being disappointed though...

[spoRv]

So, maybe it's probable that he just made a "on the fly" (or, worst, by memory!) comparison... still, it will be nice to eventually discover that LD was actually different!