Thisis a solid reference disc, both in terms of audio and video quality.For video, you will soon see whether your display can handle all ofthe dark level detail that this disc demands. If it cannot, thenyou'll be looking at a lot of featureless black patches on manydifferent scenes. The audio track on this disc will treat your earsto ambiance that is lifelike and sound effects that will make yourheart sink down into your chest. BatmanBeginsis an adventure that comes through beautifully in HD DVD. I can seepeople actually buying players simply to be able to run this movie intheir home theaters in all of its glory.
I had no idea the older Batman dvds had the better audio. I did sort of wonder this when I was buying Batman on dvd as I remembered that some of my older dvds had better audio than the later releases. I think what stopped me buying the older dvd of Batman was seeing that the new edition had a DTS track. Unfortunately the DTS wasn't nearly as impressive as I was hoping.
What I don't understand is where the 4.0 track on the original R1 Pinocchio DVD from Buena Vista came from. The original was mono. If you're going to upmix the audio, why not make it 5.1, as was done later?
The audio is the original Dolby Stereo (70mm was the same mix in 4 channel discrete w/2 baby booms), and easily the best release for audio. I listen to this track regularly, as it destroys all the 5.1 remixes.
Indeed I'm quite keen to do Aliens next, using the theatrical audio from the 1995 laser. Which incidentally also has an AC-3 track, though I'm not certain what that is derived from - I've certainly seen no claims of it representing the 70mm mix, as was the case with the contemporaneous Alien release. This is rather academic anyway since I sadly have neither the means to listen to or capture laserdisc AC-3...
Man I was hoping for a 4 in video ?
Do you have your receiver mixed where the DTS track can bleed into the height channels?
Watched American Made on 4K last night and audio was amaze balls. I love the DTS-X tracks so much more than Atmos for some reason.
To coincide with the release of Batman Begins on DVD in 2005, Warner Brothers decided to give all four of the original Batman films new DVD treatments and special edition versions of all four films were created. The special edition DVDs feature newly restored audio and video, a re-mastered Dolby Digital audio track, a new DTS audio track and a second disc filled with bonus materials. Each title is available both individually and as part of a pack featuring the special editions of all four films in the franchise. The Region 2 DVD is missing the director's audio commentary although it is listed on the box as a special feature, and is also censored. Although it restores the nunchaku sequence which was cut from the original Region 2 release, the scene in which Catwoman places aerosol cans in the microwave remains cut. The DVD also suffers from a very noticeable audio glitch. Although, in the Swedish and Bulgarian Region 2 DVD, the directors commentary is included, as is the scene with the aerosol cans. The audio glitch is also missing.
Tech specs are likewise first-rate. Low bass here is some of the deepest I've heard -- the last 30 minutes or so of this film is a total gas when cranked up loud. The quality and depth of mid-range and high-end is mightily impressive, as despite all that is going on here -- dialogue, effects and the fine score by James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer -- nothing seems lost in the din. Balance is pitch perfect, and I never had to adjust my volume control to make out dialogue, which is quite a rarity on action-type soundtracks. I can find nothing to complain about with the audio for 'Batman Begins' -- it still met any expectations I had and, in spots, exceeded them.
I removed the audio track and tried to play it; Emby wouldn't. It still attempted a transcode though; "transcode1.txt". I also played Batman Begins with app settings changed to Downmix to Stereo: "transcode2.txt".
If you purchased the new 4K Ultra HD blu-ray of the movie you can help start a movement by emailing whv@wb.com and requesting a replacement disc including the original audio track with the classic sound effects.
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