The Reference List
The Reference List is based on the transfer of the film to blu ray and how it replicates the intended look.
Film is a beautiful medium and should be treated with respect. this means being faithful to the director or cinematographers intent on blu ray. For the first time ever we are able to replicate the cinema experience in our homes and this thread is dedicated to this hobby and to the enjoyment we all get from collecting our favorite films. Titles on the reference list will have a film like look with very little issues. There may be extremely small issues lasting several seconds but this would not disqualify the film from the list. The list is always evolving and new titles will be added after they are reviewed.
The Reference List – Highly Recommended Blu Ray Releases
These films are considered to closely reproduce the look of the original film
Alien
*New transfer supervised by Ridley Scott
*Beautiful looking image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click for blu ray screencaps of Alien
Aliens
*Has never looked better
*James Cameron personally supervised the release
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click for blu ray screencaps of Aliens
Any Given Sunday
*Film like image
*Visible grain structure intact
Armageddon
*Film like and detailed image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click for Armageddon screencaps here
Avatar
*Excellent detailed image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click for Avatar blu ray review
Black Narcissus
*Grain structure intact
*Fabulous color photography
*Detailed and film like presentation
*Fabulous color photography
*Detailed and film like presentation
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3/5
Braveheart
*Very film like and extremely detailed image
*One of the best releases on the Blu Ray format
*Grain structure intact
*One of the best releases on the Blu Ray format
*Grain structure intact
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
Casino Royale
*Director approved release with moderate grain structure
*Detailed and pleasing film like image
*Director approved release with moderate grain structure
*Detailed and pleasing film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
Changeling
*Film like Image
*Film like Image
*Transfer Quality Rating 9/10
*Sound Quality Rating 7.5/10
Charade
*Film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Quality 3/5
*Click here for screencaps of Charade
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
*Grain structure is intact
*Pleasing film like presentation
*Grain structure is intact
*Pleasing film like presentation
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
Dead And Buried
*Heavy film grain due to night photography and film stock used
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
Death Proof
*Intentional worn film print look during the first half of the film
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
Defiance
*Good detailed film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Region Coded B
Eagle Eye
*Light grain structure
*Mostly film like
*Mild edge enhancement visible in several scenes
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Light grain structure
*Mostly film like
*Mild edge enhancement visible in several scenes
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
Get Smart
*Good detail levels for this digitally shot film
*Lossy Dolby Digital 640kbp/s instead of lossless audio
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
Ghost
*Light grain structure intact
*Film like appearance
*Highly recommended catalog release
*Light grain structure intact
*Film like appearance
*Highly recommended catalog release
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click here for screencaps
G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra
*Highly detailed image
*Looks very good
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
Godzilla
*Light grain structure intact
*Pleasing film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click here for screencaps
Gone With The Wind
Gone With The Wind
*Fabulous restoration by Warner Bros
*Pleasing film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click for some blu ray screencaps of Gone With The Wind
*Click for a blu ray movie review of Gone With The Wind
Gran Torino
*Barely visible light grain
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3/5
*Click for blu ray screencaps of Gran Torino
Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince
*Very good transfer of an intentionally dark movie
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
Hellboy – Directors Cut
*Light grain structure intact
*Highly detailed film like image
*Fabulous colors and contrast range
*Highly detailed film like image
*Fabulous colors and contrast range
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
Hellboy II – The Golden Army
*Light grain structure intact
*Detailed film like image
*Light grain structure intact
*Detailed film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
How The West Was Won
*Shot in 70mm Cinerama format
*Highly detailed image with great depth of field
*Just a tiny hint of edge enhancement in the Cinerama version
*Colors are strong and bold
*Highly detailed image with great depth of field
*Just a tiny hint of edge enhancement in the Cinerama version
*Colors are strong and bold
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
Iron Man
*Film grain intact and a highly detailed image
*Film grain intact and a highly detailed image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click here for my review of the film
*You can view screencaps by clicking here
Jason And The Argonauts
*Looks film like and mostly detailed
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click for a Jason and the Argonauts blu ray film review
Kingdom Of Heaven
*Grain structure intact
*Pleasing film like image
*Gorgeous cinematography
*Grain structure intact
*Pleasing film like image
*Gorgeous cinematography
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
L.A. Confidential
*Looked film like and i felt the image was true to the source material
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
Law Abiding Citizen
*Detailed film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click for blu ray screencaps of Law Abiding Citizen
Lost – Season 6
*Excellent picture with high levels of detail
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click for blu ray screencaps of Lost – The Final Season
Manhunter – UK Edition
*Natural grain structure intact
*Great looking eighties film
*Retains the film look
*Great looking eighties film
*Retains the film look
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3/5
National Treasure: Book Of Secrets
*Pleasing film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
North By Northwest
*Deliberate softness in some scenes
*Fine layer of grain in most scenes
*Mostly a great restoration let down by some very minor DNR
*Fine layer of grain in most scenes
*Mostly a great restoration let down by some very minor DNR
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click for a blu ray review of North By Northwest here.
Outlander
*Detailed image
*Light grain structure intact
*Detailed image
*Light grain structure intact
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Region B edition
Pan's Labyrinth – UK Release
*Detailed film like image
*Grain structure intact
*Detailed film like image
*Grain structure intact
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*UK sound is not lossless and just plain Dolby 5.1 but still sounds great – A new edition which is part of a boxset is now out and is lossless dts hd master audio
Pirates Of The Caribbean – Dead Man's Chest
*Very light grain structure is intact
*Highly detailed film like image
*Very light grain structure is intact
*Highly detailed film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
Pirates Of The Caribbean – At World's End
*Very light grain structure is intact
*Highly detailed film like image
*Very light grain structure is intact
*Highly detailed film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
Poltergeist
*Grain structure intact
*Detailed and film like look
*Detailed and film like look
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click here for a review of the film
Push
*Good detail in the image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
Quantum Of Solace
*Grain structure intact
*Good looking film
*Grain structure intact
*Good looking film
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
Rambo
*Grain structure is intact
*Film like image with bold contrast range
*Grain structure is intact
*Film like image with bold contrast range
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
Resident Evil – Extinction
*Fine light grain structure intact
*High quality film like image
*Fine light grain structure intact
*High quality film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
Requiem For A Dream – Lionsgate 2009 Release Only
*Film grain intact
*Faithful transfer with very pleasing film like image quality
*Film grain intact
*Faithful transfer with very pleasing film like image quality
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves
*Film like image
*Grain structure intact
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click here for screencaps
Romancing The Stone
*Grain structure intact
*Pleasing film like image
*One of the better looking catalog titles from the eighties
*Grain structure intact
*Pleasing film like image
*One of the better looking catalog titles from the eighties
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click here for screencaps
Saving Private Ryan
*Film grain intact and image detail levels are high
*Looks and sounds fantastic
*Transfer Quality 9.4/10
*Sound Mix 9.5/10
*Click for blu ray screencaps of Saving Private Ryan
Serenity
*Grain structure intact
*Gorgeous looking film with high levels of detail present in the image
*Grain structure intact
*Gorgeous looking film with high levels of detail present in the image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
Shoot 'Em Up
*Grain structure intact
*Stylistic cinematography choices look great but may not please everyone
*Highly detailed image
*Stylistic cinematography choices look great but may not please everyone
*Highly detailed image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click for blu ray screencaps of Shoot Em' Up
Silent Hill – ( French Edition )
*Detailed film like image
*Detailed film like image
*Improved contrast levels and shadow detail
*Fine film grain intact
*Fine film grain intact
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click here for a comparison between the German and French blu ray releases
South Pacific
*Film grain structure beautifully preserved
*Detailed image with original color tint intact
*Film grain structure beautifully preserved
*Detailed image with original color tint intact
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
Star Trek ( 2009 )
*Light grain structure intact
*Detailed image
*Light grain structure intact
*Detailed image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
Click here for my review of the film
View some screencaps from the film here.
Star Trek II – The Wrath Of Khan
*Grain structure mostly intact
*Detail levels high
*Blue tint to some scenes may upset purists of original DVD release
*Grain structure mostly intact
*Detail levels high
*Blue tint to some scenes may upset purists of original DVD release
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones
*Good detail levels
*Excellent sound mix
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click here for my blu ray film review
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith
*Very good image quality
*Sound mix is unusually lacking in bass
*Transfer Quality 4.7/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click here for a blu ray film review
Sunshine
*Fine grain structure
*Detailed and beautiful image quality
*Fine grain structure
*Detailed and beautiful image quality
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
Terminator: Salvation
*Good detail levels and nice film look
*Tranfser Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
The Bird With The Crystal Plumage
*Grain structure fully intact
*Fabulous looking Argento classic
*Grain structure fully intact
*Fabulous looking Argento classic
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3/5
The Chronicles Of Narnia – Prince Caspian
*Film like and detailed image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
The Descent - AVC American and Australian editions only
*Retains grain structure
*Some chroma errors reported during opening title sequence
*Film like and detailed image
*An MPEG 2 edition exists which has been degrained – Avoid this one
*An Australian edition available without chroma errors but different contrast levels – This is the best edition to date
*Some chroma errors reported during opening title sequence
*Film like and detailed image
*An MPEG 2 edition exists which has been degrained – Avoid this one
*An Australian edition available without chroma errors but different contrast levels – This is the best edition to date
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
The Evil Dead
*Fabulous transfer, highly detailed release
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
*Click here for a blu ray film review of The Evil Dead
The Godfather
*Grain structure intact
*Film like presentation
*Grain structure intact
*Film like presentation
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 2.5/5
The Godfather Part II
*Grain structure intact
*Film like presentation
*Grain structure intact
*Film like presentation
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
Sound Mix 2.5/5
The Godfather Part III
*Lighter grain structure than first two movies but grain structure intact
*Film like presentation
*Lighter grain structure than first two movies but grain structure intact
*Film like presentation
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3/5
The Hunt For Red October
*Grain structure intact
*Detailed film like image
*Grain structure intact
*Detailed film like image
Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3.5/5
The Hurt Locker
*Detailed cinematic image quality
*Grainy look of the movie might not appeal to all
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
The International
*Outstanding fine detail
*Grain structure intact
*Superb and pleasing image
*Outstanding fine detail
*Grain structure intact
*Superb and pleasing image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
The Lion King
*Excellent release that looks great on blu ray
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
Click here for a blu ray film review of The Lion King
Thelma And Louise
*Very good transfer which is detailed and film like
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor
*Film like image which is highly detailed
*Light grain structure mostly invisible to the eye
*Film like image which is highly detailed
*Light grain structure mostly invisible to the eye
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
The Sand Pebbles
*Grain structure intact
*Pleasing film like image
*Grain structure intact
*Pleasing film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 3/5
The Searchers
*Film like image
*Film like image
*Optically induced ringing in some scenes
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 2.5/5
*Click here for screencaps
The Seventh Seal
*Film grain structure intact
*Absolutely stunning classic B&W film
*Film grain structure intact
*Absolutely stunning classic B&W film
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 2.5/5
The Sound Of Music
The Sound Of Music
*Stunning restoration, image is detailed and film like
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click here for blu ray screencaps from the film
The Spirit
*Very detailed image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5 – Quality of sound refers only to UK Rental disc with 640kbp/s Dolby Digital track
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – USA Edition ( 1974 original )
*Grain structure intact
*Film like presentation shot using 16mm film stock
*Grain structure intact
*Film like presentation shot using 16mm film stock
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 2.5/5
The Third Man - Criterion Edition
*B/W film with grain structure intact
*Beautiful film like image
*B/W film with grain structure intact
*Beautiful film like image
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 2.5/5
The Wizard Of Oz
*Fantastic classic film now breathtakingly restored for Blu Ray
*Grain structure intact
*Film like presentation
*Grain structure intact
*Film like presentation
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
The X Files: I Want To Believe
*Film like image which looks good
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
Tropic Thunder
*Nice film like image
*Grain structure intact
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
Valkyrie
*Detailed image
*Film like presentation
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click here for screencaps
Vera Cruz
*Heavy grain structure
*Some issues – refer to the review
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 2/5
*Click here for a blu ray film review
Wanted
*Light grain structure is intact
*Detailed and film like image with striking cinematography choices
*Mostly shot using 35mm film but some scenes shot digital with new 4K Red camera
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5
*Click here for screencaps
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
*Looks very filmlike
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click here for a blu ray film review of Wolverine
Zodiac
*Excellent high definition detail
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
30 Days Of Night
*Looks film like and detailed
*Looks film like and detailed
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4/5
*Click here for screencaps from the film
300
*Heavy film grain structure which was added post production
*Highly stylistic look which will not please everyone
*Detailed image with fabulous cinematography
*Heavy film grain structure which was added post production
*Highly stylistic look which will not please everyone
*Detailed image with fabulous cinematography
*Transfer Quality 4.5/5
*Sound Mix 4.5/5