The Matrix - regraded, v2.0

[ilovewaterslides]

The DVD really is VERY close to what the film looked like theatrically.

No.

[CSchmidlapp]

Is there much of a difference between the PAL and NTSC DVD transfers?
I had the U.K R2 originally and picked up the R1 later due to the U.K cuts. I remember thinking they looked different but put it down to the format variations! Never The Same Color

[spoRv]

TEST1 obviously looks much better to me, if not for the artifacts. Just look at Neo's lips, for example.

Here's a silly suggestion: What would happen if you were to use the luma regrade as in TEST1, but then, in an attempt to eliminate artifacts, do ANOTHER layer of color matching - from the BD to the result of the first matching, thus making two layers of matching, possibly eradicating some artifacts?

Not silly at all! I must admit I thought about this solutions months ago for another project (great minds think alike!), but, as usual, I forgot it...

Well, I'm encoding right now the regrade of the regrade; the few tests made on still frames were good, but you know, we should see the result in motion - but it's promising... about color accuracy, let's say that, if film is 100, TEST1 may be 95, TEST 2 may be 75%, this one (let's call it TEST3, the regrade of the regrade) would be around 92/93... really close to film, but I've introduced that slight green blanket that removes the residual magenta:


as you can see, now the paper sheet is white(ish!), and the room wall greenish - Neo's skirt is a little mint, but it could be due to the light, or because it's in the Matrix  :


now the artefacts seems gone:

Is there much of a difference between the PAL and NTSC DVD transfers?
I had the U.K R2 originally and picked up the R1 later due to the U.K cuts. I remember thinking they looked different but put it down to the format variations! Never The Same Color

There shouldn't be so much difference; curious to see some comparisons!

[OogieBoogie]

now these are different/better screenshots, the only one taht you lose there, imo, is the top set, the paper, the film copy does look better still, the other 2 and i think your test 3 is a better image overall, a halfway house between bd and film

[Doctor M]

Neo's skirt is a little mint

I know it's a type-o, but sue me for getting a laugh out of it.
I think you've just uncovered the plot for the Wachowski Brothers' Wachowskis' Matrix 4.

@CSchmidlapp - I love how PAL countries get with the "Never The Same Color" mantra while they listen to a redub by the cast of a Mickey Mouse cartoon.  NTSC color instability was nearly wiped out by DVD.  4% higher pitched audio is ear cancer.
Still, If you have the PAL disc, please post screenshots.









NTSC DVD screenies added for comparison... and it looks like neither the BD nor the "35mm".

[iguanaclerk]

NTSC DVD screenies added for comparison... and it looks like neither the BD nor the "35mm".

We've had this conversation a ton over the years, especially after the 35mm was transferred. You can make another thread if you want to compare them, because people end up having very strong options about what they saw in theaters. We've seen two different transfered prints and they don't look anything like the DVD.

spoRv, I don't think the added green tint works, as as it adds too much green to scenes that shouldn't be green, and not enough to the shots that should be more green. What you need to do is saturate the existing greens some more.

[deleted user]

We've seen two different transfered prints and they don't look anything like the DVD.

You've awoken my curiosity. What's the second transferred print? Or do you just mean the two versions that were released of the same scan?

[CSchmidlapp]

@CSchmidlapp - I love how PAL countries get with the "Never The Same Color" mantra while they listen to a redub by the cast of a Mickey Mouse cartoon.  NTSC color instability was nearly wiped out by DVD.  4% higher pitched audio is ear cancer.
Still, If you have the PAL disc, please post screenshots.

Hahahahaha True, very True.
The "Never The Same Color" mantra held truth though, it was certainly still a problem even in 2005.
I personally worked with alot of NTSC video material back then and to be honest it was a nightmare to work with colour wise.
PAL was certainly considered the better format in terms of picture information among my circle then. Is this complete bull?

EDIT: Sorry I don't have the original released PAL U.K DVD anymore. Sadly I got rid of it when the Boxset was released.

[iguanaclerk]

We've seen two different transfered prints and they don't look anything like the DVD.

You've awoken my curiosity. What's the second transferred print? Or do you just mean the two versions that were released of the same scan?

They were working on scanning an Italian print. It was never released, but they posted samples. It's a shame, as it had much less damage. It looked great.

[Doctor M]

Okay, okay, I recant.

As you can see, ripped from Apple's Quicktime trailer site. Encoded 1999.




That looks NOTHING like any home release.