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- Review count26
- Helpfulness votes34
- First reviewNovember 18, 2019
- Last reviewDecember 13, 2022
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating5
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![Ong-Bak [Blu-ray] [2003]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/f3d5bb02-babb-4418-bf41-a48f4e4304d0.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
classic Tony jaa!
on July 18, 2021
Posted by: RALPH
Verified Purchase:Yes
"This new, digital transfer of Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior was created at Deluxe Postproduction Toronto from an original 35mm internegative of the film. Color correction, image stabilization, and digital cleaning were facilitated at Deluxe to restore the film and present it in high definition."
So says the "About the Feature Film Transfer" tab on the disc's bonus features menu, but this doesn't exactly explain why Ong Bak looks so terrible on Blu-ray, even considering the film's modest budget. I didn't read the above until after I had viewed the film, and I was actually surprised to find out that Ong Bak was, in fact, shot on 35mm. You'd never guess from the ultra-soft, extra-blurry, super-grainy image produced by this 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer, which looks poor even by 16mm standards. I'm not really sure what went wrong here in the transition from the original masters to the internegative to this digital transfer, but whatever it was, it left the picture in a smeary, indistinct mess. Fine detail is practically non-existent throughout, even in the tightest close-ups. Take the first scene—the tree fight—for example. The edges of the leaves and branches blur together almost like dampened lines in a watercolor painting. When we move into a closer shot of the fighters, there's hardly any definition in the mud caking their skin, a texture that would normally be quite distinct. Colors are equally weak, and seem sapped of intensity by an oppressive yellowish/brownish cast that covers all but the brightest daytime scenes. While black levels are deep, shadow detail is crushed regularly, and contrast is bland. You'll also notice some pixilation in the colors surrounding light sources, especially in the sky. The image looks bad in general, but certain shots look even worse, with intense grittiness, washed out colors, and a gauzy softness that makes the picture look like it was smeared with Vaseline. I never saw the film in theaters, so I can't comment on what it was like on the big screen, but it had to look better than this.
Length of ownership: 128
Mobile Submission: false
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![Raining in the Mountain [Blu-ray] [1979]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/304b2327-370a-41e7-956a-951dd4939472.png)
Customer Rating
5
classic!!
on July 18, 2021
Posted by: RALPH
Verified Purchase:Yes
remastered 1979 martial arts film by King Hu, Raining in the Mountain showcases beautiful natural scenery, the marvel of a Buddhist temple, and colorfully costumed characters opposite monastery monks in monochromatic attire. While there are a few well executed martial arts scenes, most of the movie involves political intrigue at the monastery where even the monks get involved.
During the Ming Dynasty, the reigning Abbot decides to find his replacement and invites several guests to the temple to advise him on choosing a successor: the district governor General Wang (Tien Fung), a businessman Esquire Wen (Sun Yueh), and a scholar Master Wu Wai (Wu Chia-Hsiang). Coincidentally, a convict arrives at the monastery to fulfill his penance by becoming a monk. General Wang is accompanied by Lieutenant Chang Cheng (Chen Hui-Lou), and, Wen is attended by a supposed concubine White Fox (Hsu Feng) and an assistant Gold Lock (Wu Ming-Tsai). It soon becomes apparent that General Wang and Esquire Wen have largely come to the temple in order to steal a valuable handwritten Tripitaka scroll. Much of the movie involves White Fox and Gold Lock trying to find and steal the scroll while evading or fighting off Lieutenant Cheng who also seeks to acquire the scroll for General Wang. There is a lot of running, hiding, jumping, and stealing back and forth.
Meanwhile, the Abbot is determined to find the best suited monk for the head position and finally decides to select an outsider to replace him; the Abbot chooses the previously convicted criminal and convert to the monastery. More scheming ensues as the monks are unhappy with the Abbot’s choice, but the new Abbot is able to smoothly handle each conflict. In the end, the culprit is captured and the Abbot meets out justice in a unique way. Bonus features include an essay by Samuel Jamier, Executive Director of the New York Asian Film Festival and audio commentary by critic and Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns. With great choreography, superb art design, unique sound, and interesting characters, this film is very entertaining, though a little long. Recommended.
Length of ownership: 104
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Get a little retro during your next gaming session with the Street Fighter 30th anniversary collection for Nintendo Switch. Battle it out against other players online, and get in a few practice rounds against the CPU while you wait for each match. Featuring all 12 classic Street Fighter titles, the Street Fighter 30th anniversary collection gives you a chance to play through each game and watch the evolution of each character over time.
Customer Rating
5
GAMING
on February 17, 2020
Posted by: RALPH
Verified Purchase:Yes
. Online play is included as part of four titles in Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection - for Street Fighter 2 Hyper Fighting, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Street Fighter 3 Third Strike - but it's not quite perfect. In Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Akuma - a character considered so overpowered he's been banned from competitive play for some time - is available in Ranked play, effectively breaking the mode. Elsewhere, the relatively slim online mode offers private and public lobbies as well as ranked and casual play - though be warned that, if you're playing on Switch, the net code simply isn't up to scratch at launch. Since release, I've only played a couple of games I'd deem close to acceptable, with the majority bordering from uncomfortable to unplayable, an issue that's simply not present when playing on PlayStation 4. The Tournament Mode that's exclusive to the Switch is scant compensation, though the fact you can now play perfect portable ports of some of the 90s greatest games still makes it a worthwhile bet.
Length of ownership: 53
Mobile Submission: false
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Customer Rating
5
ANIME AT ITS BEST!
on February 17, 2020
Posted by: RALPH
Verified Purchase:Yes
There are two audio tracks presented on the disc. One is a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix in the native language of Japanese and the other is a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English dubbed mix. Whenever possible, I prefer the native language, so I chose the Japanese track for my primary listening experience. Similar to the quality of the video transfer, the audio experience presents difficulty in finding anything to complain about. Surround use is wonderfully dynamic with excellent spatial separation during the fight sequences. In one scene early in the film, an assassin fights with a whip that whooshes and cracks across the screen. The effects in that scene exhibit excellent clarity as they fly from speaker to speaker, giving the listener an immersive experience. Another fantastic sequence occurs in the closing minutes of the film, as a sword showdown occurs amidst the backdrop of a burning stronghold. During that scene, buildings fall with a boom that reminds us why we have a subwoofer, and the fine crackling of the burning cedar can be heard between the clanking of steel on steel. If I had one minor complaint about the mix, it would be several instances where the dialogue seemed a little too quiet. It's not a big concern (especially if you're listening to the native language track and watching subtitles), but it's worth pointing out. Overall, this is a superb audio mix that elevates the intensity of the on-screen action and matches the proficiency of the entire production.
Length of ownership: 49
Mobile Submission: false
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And what a team it is when hard-kicking Jean-Claude Van Damme join forces with NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman in this stunt-filled tale. When government anti-terrorist agent Jack Quinn's (Van Damme) family is targeted by mercenary leader Stavros (Mickey Rourke), he turns to off-the-wall weapons master Yaz (Rodman) for help in bringing down the bad guys. Paul Freeman, Natacha Lindinger co-star; directed by Hong Kong action master Tsui Hark. 93 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack English; Subtitles English (SDH). Includes retro VHS packaging.
Customer Rating
5
van damage!
on February 17, 2020
Posted by: RALPH
Verified Purchase:Yes
excellent movie , highly recommended !
directed by Tsui Hark (zu warriors) starring JCVD & Dennis Rodman
action packed ! I owned a copy I purchased from amazon.de
it was clearly an upscale , gladly this version is an original HD version with great sound quality . one of Van Damme's best !
directed by Tsui Hark (zu warriors) starring JCVD & Dennis Rodman
action packed ! I owned a copy I purchased from amazon.de
it was clearly an upscale , gladly this version is an original HD version with great sound quality . one of Van Damme's best !
Length of ownership: 31
Mobile Submission: false
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Customer Rating
5
007: George Lazenby [Blu-ray] [1969]
on November 18, 2019
Posted by: RALPH
Verified Purchase:Yes
At the time it was released, this was the best Bond film. The cinematography is so far ahead of the previous films that it is incomparable. The film does an excellent job balancing action, romance, drama, and intrigue. Despite having a slightly lower budget than the previous Bond film, "You Only Live Twice," nearly everything in the film is better done - and it is so drastically better than the films before "You Only Live Twice" that it is shocking they are from the same franchise.
George Lazenby received a lot of criticism for his portrayal of Bond, but I did not dislike it. He provides us with the most human, the most vulnerable Bond. It is instantly more relatable than Connery's Bond, and Lazenby does an excellent job making Bond interesting without gadgets. Connery is more charming, of course, but I feel like too much of the criticism was simply because Lazenby's portrayal was so different from Connery's - it is not bad acting.
Length of ownership: 584
Mobile Submission: false
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![Zombie [Blu-ray] [1979]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8e2b3315-e3ed-44d9-a8e9-65bd4ced3f14.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Zombie [Blu-ray] [1979]
on November 18, 2019
Posted by: RALPH
Verified Purchase:Yes
In short, a MUST OWN movie! This edition is amazing and packed with special features! If you have never seen this film before, definitely watch it. HOWEVER, if you are unfamiliar with Italian horror movies and are expecting your typical zombie movie, be ready to have your world rocked. Watch Dawn of the Dead (78) then watch this and tell me which one had the better gore! Machete to the head in Dawn or grave marker cross to the head in this film?
The 4K restoration is divine, I'm seeing so much more detail in my favorite scenes. The whole movie looks and sounds great! The special features are wonderful and the box art and cover are glorious!
Length of ownership: 319
Mobile Submission: false
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Take on your favorite DC villains when you play Injustice 2. This massive fighting game offers a wide range of characters to choose from, and the customizable gear options let you build each villain or hero up for added strength and power. Featuring compelling storytelling and dynamic graphics, Injustice 2 puts you in the middle of the action.
Customer Rating
5
Injustice 2 Standard Edition - PlayStation 4
on November 18, 2019
Posted by: RALPH
Verified Purchase:Yes
Amazing Game. The only problem is I didn't get the god and demon shaders which i love but I love them so much that i dont have a prolem spending the 40 bucks on the ultimate pack to get them U get pretty much everything you need to have a great time with the game but just letting people know this doesn't come with the god and demon shaders
Length of ownership: 170
Mobile Submission: false
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Play new games with classic controllers using this Nyko retro controller hub for Nintendo Switch. Four ports let you connect up to four GameCube controllers for retro action that keeps the fun feeling like new. This Nyko retro controller hub connects to the Nintendo Switch and draws power via USB for AC-adapter-free operation.
Customer Rating
5
Nyko - Retro Controller Hub for Nintendo Switch -
on November 18, 2019
Posted by: RALPH
Verified Purchase:Yes
Original one is pretty rare to see on stock and scalpers are overpricing it in the market, that's why I tried the Nyko Retro Hub and my experience has been pretty good.
Build quality is great, the ports are not tight as I have read in some reviews and it works just as the original. I have not experienced lag on Smash Bros. Ultimate and it works with some many other games like Super Mario Odyssey
Length of ownership: 170
Mobile Submission: false
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
5
Value
5
Ease of Use
5
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![The Grand Duel [Blu-ray] [1972]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/36ddbd12-dad1-4b2c-b06d-c7b3b668f29d.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
The Grand Duel [Blu-ray] [1972]
on November 18, 2019
Posted by: RALPH
Verified Purchase:Yes
The Grand Duel features English and Italian language tracks in LPCM Mono. This is one of the rare instances (in my experience, anyway) where there are some clear differentiations in the sound quality between the two. To my ears, dialogue especially sounds hotter on the Italian track, but the music is considerably more muffled and boxy sounding (listen, for example to the closing "honky tonk" number that plays under the final credits, and toggle between the English and Italian language tracks to hear what I'm talking about). The English language track has a more full bodied accounting of the music, but dialogue doesn't seem to be quite as far forward in the mix to my ears. Fidelity is fine on both tracks, and, as per Arrow's verbiage above, synch is almost comically loose in both languages.
Length of ownership: 193
Mobile Submission: false
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