Home audio & video forum: The Blu Ray Ideal: Too Real?

The opening of Harry Potter was digitally remastered to IMAX using proprietary IMAX technology to achieve the 3D (MAX DMR). Apollo 13 was the fist movie to use this technology. Movies that originate in IMAX are shot using a special IMAX 70mm camera. Watching an IMAX-shot movie on a huge IMAX screen makes one want to fall out of their chairs, like almost being in the film.

Regarding the over detailed image of Blu-Ray, first you must realize that 99% of the displays setup in stores have no tweaking. They are pre-set to Vivid mode, Contrast and Brightness are set at 100, and other settings are just out of whack. I can see how a BR movie on a store display would look horrible. In Costco last week, they have Samsung and Panasonic sets running BR discs, and god they looked horrible. Color was way over-saturated and they were so brigt, my fillings almost popped out of my mouth. I agree that using a setup disc won't replace an ISF calibration, but it sure makes a TV look better. I have both a 55" and a 46" 1080p/24 TV, both connected to BR players, and to me the image is stunning. Yes, very detailed, but I feel like I'm right in the movie. I've been to movies where the image is very blurry when there is sideways movement. I am very happy with Blu-Ray. It's what TV should have been, could have been, and today, it is.