Picked this one up on the way home and just finished watching it earlier this evening.
My first impressions are that it isn't quite up to pristine reference quality standards. The image looks a tad on the soft side, and I didn't really spot too much fine detail that a really good BD transfer is capable of - still a step up from the DVD (which I was never impressed with).
What I found most noticeable was how dark the night and indoor scenes are. There are certain shots where you can barely make out what's happening on screen: for the first-time viewer, one or two of the non-spoken exchanges between Uncas and Alice may not be immediately apparent, for example (this wonderfully understated part of the film I feel is one of its most powerful elements). I eventually concluded that the entire movie is basically an excercise in natural minimalist lighting. Sometimes this works very well in terms of setting the mood, but other times I still felt it was a little too dark to follow the action.
The audio was ok - nothing spectacular. The surrounds weren't particularly active. Highlights being the siege of the fort, and I also liked how the LFE was handled through the entire chase through the rapids and waterfall scene.
The additions/changes to this 'Definitive cut' will be apparent to those familiar with the film, but it doesn't really change the story in any significant way.
So after the first viewing, I'd give both PQ/AQ 3/5.
The movie itself, 5/5 of course
My first impressions are that it isn't quite up to pristine reference quality standards. The image looks a tad on the soft side, and I didn't really spot too much fine detail that a really good BD transfer is capable of - still a step up from the DVD (which I was never impressed with).
What I found most noticeable was how dark the night and indoor scenes are. There are certain shots where you can barely make out what's happening on screen: for the first-time viewer, one or two of the non-spoken exchanges between Uncas and Alice may not be immediately apparent, for example (this wonderfully understated part of the film I feel is one of its most powerful elements). I eventually concluded that the entire movie is basically an excercise in natural minimalist lighting. Sometimes this works very well in terms of setting the mood, but other times I still felt it was a little too dark to follow the action.
The audio was ok - nothing spectacular. The surrounds weren't particularly active. Highlights being the siege of the fort, and I also liked how the LFE was handled through the entire chase through the rapids and waterfall scene.
The additions/changes to this 'Definitive cut' will be apparent to those familiar with the film, but it doesn't really change the story in any significant way.
So after the first viewing, I'd give both PQ/AQ 3/5.
The movie itself, 5/5 of course
