GLADIATOR - SIGNATURE SELECTION (DreamWorks/Universal)

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

More attempts by The Terrible Idiot to do nothing else with his time but attempt to convince others that I did not hear what I indeed heard; remember people: I do not NEED proof, fact, or otherwise to make observations about a soundtrack's characteristics when just going in for a listen and analysis-----it is PERFECTLY fine to call something "short on LFE" or "possesses tons of treble here...." without having scientific measurements to back it up-----we do it ALL THE TIME at Home Theater and DVD ETC during these "Best of" DVD voting lists, in which we write down characteristics we are experiencing when watching these DVDs and pass those along to Maureen------THEY dont ask us for "technical prowess" when reviewing these discs, so regardless of what I am being attacked, ridiculed and accused of in here it simply DOES NOT MATTER: the bottom line is that there IS a DISTINCT lack of LFE in these scenes, whether INTENTIONAL OR NOT, and THAT is what I was pointing out. Scientific backup for that? Yeah, right, okay.

Remember Shok: these are fruitless attempts to prove something that simply does not need proving; there is a lack of LFE thump in THOSE particular sequences when you play this DTS ES track back; play these certain scenes back through YOUR system with the subwoofer set where it would NORMALLY be calibrated and tell me what you find. If you would like, I will give you the exact chapter stops and times to run them.

.....and the BEST part about it all is that this moron actually THINKS I am lying about something here.....when it has nothing at all to do with lies.....yes, right, Shok----I am lying to you and Kesci about what I heard.....that's correct.....LMFAO....LMFAO......that's the BEST part of it all.......

Same old line. If the LFE is lacking, surely measurements would bear that out. I have never read a DVD review in Hometheater Mag. that made any references to the lack of LFE in a movie. I am a subscriber, and have been one for the last four years. That is why I know you are lying. Secondly if your word goes against the tide of what everyone else is saying, then you DO have to come up with physical proof. Hometheater Magazine has extensive testing equipment that could easily measure the spectral content of any soundtrack. And third, why do you review movies that have been released for ages, reviewed by every reviewer in the business, and some re-released twice? Once again, reviewers get their press kits before the DVD hit the shelves. Why are you not reviewing movies like Toy Story 10th anniversary edition, or Sahara? A simple answer will do!

[Lexmark3200]

"In keeping with a Ridley Scott conversation I was having with a member of another site which I am senior disc reviewer for and which developed after my Black Hawk Down Superbit review in which I promised to watch his Gladiator this past weekend while he was supposed to go and watch Alien or Blade Runner as well as recognizing the fact that DreamWorks has just released an extended edition version of this title with added footage and even more behind the scenes extras, I thought this was as good a time as ever to review what I feel --- if from only an audio soundtrack standpoint alone --- is the definitive version of this film on DVD, the two disc Signature Selection"

[JSE]

"In keeping with a Ridley Scott conversation I was having with a member of another site which I am senior disc reviewer for and which developed after my Black Hawk Down Superbit review in which I promised to watch his Gladiator this past weekend while he was supposed to go and watch Alien or Blade Runner as well as recognizing the fact that DreamWorks has just released an extended edition version of this title with added footage and even more behind the scenes extras, I thought this was as good a time as ever to review what I feel --- if from only an audio soundtrack standpoint alone --- is the definitive version of this film on DVD, the two disc Signature Selection"

Another comment from the peanut gallery.

OK, I am lost now with the above post. Lex, can you please give us some insight on the meaning and reason you posted this expert from another thread.

Come on people, let's keep this understandable.

JSE

[Woochifer]

"In keeping with a Ridley Scott conversation I was having with a member of another site which I am senior disc reviewer for and which developed after my Black Hawk Down Superbit review in which I promised to watch his Gladiator this past weekend while he was supposed to go and watch Alien or Blade Runner as well as recognizing the fact that DreamWorks has just released an extended edition version of this title with added footage and even more behind the scenes extras, I thought this was as good a time as ever to review what I feel --- if from only an audio soundtrack standpoint alone --- is the definitive version of this film on DVD, the two disc Signature Selection"

For which website are you a "senior disc reviewer"? It's certainly not the one in which you actually had this "conversation" with another member.

http://hometheatertalk.com/httalk/viewtopic.php?t=14855

[RGA]

I don't get it. If Lexmark3200 or whatever printer he likes says he is senior disc editor for some major website or magazine then simply tell us which magazine which website and what your name is and then you have proven who you are and what you claim.

As for the bass issue well having heard Polk systems it;s probably because of the system -- which and no offense to Onkyo and Polk is not what a typical reference system from a major review publication would use. People may argue the benefits but generally a reference just would not be stuff you buy a Best Buy.

Though Gladiator was a caca anyway and the worst film to win best picture that I can recall in the last 20 years.

He probably considers himself the senior disc reviewer of this major DVD review site.

[shokhead]

Lets not talk about Sahara,i just woke up from watching it this weekend.

[Lexmark3200]

For which website are you a "senior disc reviewer"? It's certainly not the one in which you actually had this "conversation" with another member.

http://hometheatertalk.com/httalk/viewtopic.php?t=14855

It most certainly is, my delicious, scrumptious Woochie! Wow....I'm impressed.....just as active at tracking me down across cyberspace, huh? This site is only the TIP of the iceburg regarding sites I online review for, whether you chose to believe that or not.

[Lexmark3200]

"I don't get it. If Lexmark3200 or whatever printer he likes says he is senior disc editor for some major website or magazine then simply tell us which magazine which website and what your name is and then you have proven who you are and what you claim."

Right. Whatever. I've said it a million times but do you think I'd actually give my REAL name as to what I write under with guys like this online who track people down? Not a chance in hell.

"As for the bass issue well having heard Polk systems it;s probably because of the system -- which and no offense to Onkyo and Polk is not what a typical reference system from a major review publication would use."

You are simply and completely wrong-----when I signed a FREELANCE contract with the two publications I freelance for, they were WELL AWARE of the system I was using and the speakers and had absolutely no problem with me using it; if you dont believe me, so be it. I KNOW the contract I signed. And what exactly is wrong with Polk speakers?

"People may argue the benefits but generally a reference just would not be stuff you buy a Best Buy."

Again, incorrect; when I signed on a freelance agreement with these publications, I also made it VERY clear that I purchased my gear at J&R Music World in downtown New York City, not Best Buy, and someone from the editorial team of Home Theater spoke with the salesman I purchased by TX-SR600 from and they both agreed that this store was a major cut above the Best Buy outfits of the world and again the magazine had NO problem with my writing or my system.

"Though Gladiator was a caca anyway and the worst film to win best picture that I can recall in the last 20 years."

Yeah, right. Your opinion again which really doesn't mean squat after some of the "comments" I have heard you make about films that were outstanding.

"He probably considers himself the senior disc reviewer of this major DVD review site."

This is a major DVD review site? I NEVER would have guessed, RGA! Thank you for the insight!

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

More attempts by The Terrible Idiot to do nothing else with his time but attempt to convince others that I did not hear what I indeed heard; remember people: I do not NEED proof, fact, or otherwise to make observations about a soundtrack's characteristics when just going in for a listen and analysis-----it is PERFECTLY fine to call something "short on LFE" or "possesses tons of treble here...." without having scientific measurements to back it up-----we do it ALL THE TIME at Home Theater and DVD ETC during these "Best of" DVD voting lists, in which we write down characteristics we are experiencing when watching these DVDs and pass those along to Maureen------THEY dont ask us for "technical prowess" when reviewing these discs, so regardless of what I am being attacked, ridiculed and accused of in here it simply DOES NOT MATTER: the bottom line is that there IS a DISTINCT lack of LFE in these scenes, whether INTENTIONAL OR NOT, and THAT is what I was pointing out. Scientific backup for that? Yeah, right, okay.

Remember Shok: these are fruitless attempts to prove something that simply does not need proving; there is a lack of LFE thump in THOSE particular sequences when you play this DTS ES track back; play these certain scenes back through YOUR system with the subwoofer set where it would NORMALLY be calibrated and tell me what you find. If you would like, I will give you the exact chapter stops and times to run them.

.....and the BEST part about it all is that this moron actually THINKS I am lying about something here.....when it has nothing at all to do with lies.....yes, right, Shok----I am lying to you and Kesci about what I heard.....that's correct.....LMFAO....LMFAO......that's the BEST part of it all.......

Okay, based on your logic, the moon is blue, the earth is flat, and I can walk in space. Hey, no proof is needed, just because I say it, it is true. Oh, and by the way, a whole day is really 23.35 hours and not 24. I invented the internet, and the software you use to navigate it. I can walk on water, and under it without air. Ohhh, I can fly a plane, or a car. I built the Hoover dam, invented the interstate highway system, the traffic light, antibiotics, X-ray machines, built the Golden Gate Bridge singlehandedly, invented the auto, and the mass production lines. I own Capitol, Warners, Sony/BMG, and Universal music. I invented the atom bomb, the tank, the fart, the B-1 bomber, the Stealth aircraft, bread and cheese, and the grape.

The world could not exist if I wasn't born. Proof that I did this? No, I don't need it, just believe me that I am telling the truth. No one can tell me what I believe, because I believe it. Guys, I am not lying, I really did this all!!!!

This fully illustrates the rediculousness of believing someone with no proof. They can say anything, and we are supposed to buy it. Riiiiiight!!!!

[Lexmark3200]

Right------and are you THAT stupid that you do not recognize the fact that when you flip through DVD OVERVIEWS such as the roundups in these publications, MANY times all that's being said is "The Dolby Digital soundtrack was a bit on the weak side in terms of LFE...." or something like that? WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME FROM OUR WRITERS and our editors don't demand anything more-----just what we HEAR on the soundtrack without delving into printmaster differences or engineering problems --- again, I MUST be lying to everyone because YOU say I am.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight..........

[Lexmark3200]

OK, this is getting a bit deep for even you Lexmark3200. WHY IN THE WORLD would someone from the "editorial team of Home Theater" want to speak to the store you bought your system from? If the "editorial team" at Home Theater magazine does not know that the TX-SR600 is an outdated, discontinued lower end AV receiver, then they have not business publishing a magazine about HT.

Like T says, another vagary. Mythical people who came to the same conclusion as you. I before you say I am wrong, I have personally spoken to the senior editors at Home Theater magazine, DVD/HDTV ETC, Absolute Sound, Stereophile, and Soldier of Fortune and many others they have all told me they do not know you and you are not a member of their stafff. Except for Soldier of Fortune Anyway, they also said that TLADINY and Lexmark3200 are indeed one in the same. Oh, and myself and many other members on fanatical sites have discussed this at length and they all confirm what I am saying. So there, I have my proof and you CANNOT dispute it because I have provided just as much supporting documentation as you.

Good Day Sir!

JSE

LOL! LOL!!! Yeah Im SURE you talked to MAUREEN over at Home Theater Magazine who I know PERSONALLY for six years now and she told you she knows no "Lexmark3200" or To Live And Die in whatever-----like THOSE ARE MY WRITING NAMES I GO UNDER!!! LOL! LMFAO......what a joke.....what an absolute joke......I'm looking at a paycheck I JUST received for a freelance article I submitted on a DVD review recently ----- IM LOOKING RIGHT AT IT IN FRONT OF ME and yet you "have proof".....THATS FUNNY.....

Maureen is a great person and probably doesnt have ANY idea what you are talking about if you did in fact contact them; and I dont work for Stereophile or Audiophile but other DVD oriented books in the field.

[JSE]

and someone from the editorial team of Home Theater spoke with the salesman I purchased by TX-SR600 from......

OK, this is getting a bit deep for even you Lexmark3200. WHY IN THE WORLD would someone from the "editorial team of Home Theater" want to speak to the store you bought your system from? If the "editorial team" at Home Theater magazine does not know that the TX-SR600 is an outdated, discontinued lower end AV receiver, then they have not business publishing a magazine about HT.

Like T says, another vagary. Mythical people who came to the same conclusion as you. And before you say I am wrong, I have personally spoken to the senior editors at Home Theater magazine, DVD/HDTV ETC, Absolute Sound, Stereophile, and Soldier of Fortune and many others they have all told me they do not know you and you are not a member of their stafff. Except for Soldier of Fortune Anyway, they also said that TLADINY and Lexmark3200 are indeed one in the same. Oh, and myself and many other members on fanatical sites have discussed this at length and they all confirm what I am saying. So there, I have my proof and you CANNOT dispute it because I have provided just as much supporting documentation as you.

Good Day Sir!

JSE

[JSE]

LOL! LOL!!! Yeah Im SURE you talked to MAUREEN over at Home Theater Magazine who I know PERSONALLY for six years now and she told you she knows no "Lexmark3200" or To Live And Die in whatever-----like THOSE ARE MY WRITING NAMES I GO UNDER!!! LOL! LMFAO......what a joke.....what an absolute joke......I'm looking at a paycheck I JUST received for a freelance article I submitted on a DVD review recently ----- IM LOOKING RIGHT AT IT IN FRONT OF ME and yet you "have proof".....THATS FUNNY.....

Maureen is a great person and probably doesnt have ANY idea what you are talking about if you did in fact contact them; and I dont work for Stereophile or Audiophile but other DVD oriented books in the field.

Dude, Chris Lewis at Home Theater Magazine is a personal friend of mine and he has no idea of who you are and they don't have freelance DVD reviewers. So try again.

[Lexmark3200]

Yeah, riiiiiiiight------I only know their editor, Maureen, for more than six years now, so who's full of **** here? I contributed to that Top 100 DVDs list of all time feature a month or so back and my freelance contracts are with other publications, so perhaps you should try again dude.

By the way.....Chris has no idea who I am? Without a real name that would be pretty hard----I dont review DVDs for them or other books under Lexmark3200. You're a genius.

[Lexmark3200]

LMFAO......yeah riiiiiiiiight....wanna be's.......especially when I was at a barbecue at Maureen's staff party not more than a year ago.

Wanna-bes.....LMFAO.......

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Isn't this just incredible?? The lengths that wanna be's go through to maintain their fantasy. I declare........

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

LMFAO......yeah riiiiiiiiight....wanna be's.......especially when I was at a barbecue at Maureen's staff party not more than a year ago.

Wanna-bes.....LMFAO.......

And what proof do you have that you were there? A piece of barbeque chicken? A bowl of potato salad?. Anyone who reads the credits and acknowledgments in the front of a magazine can drop names. Your name dropping is no proof, and we are not convinced that ANYTHING you say is true. Now go back to begging Skok to beleive you!!

[JSE]

Yeah, riiiiiiiight------I only know their editor, Maureen, for more than six years now, so who's full of **** here? I contributed to that Top 100 DVDs list of all time feature a month or so back and my freelance contracts are with other publications, so perhaps you should try again dude.

By the way.....Chris has no idea who I am? Without a real name that would be pretty hard----I dont review DVDs for them or other books under Lexmark3200. You're a genius.

Well, I grew up with Chris in Houston, Tx so that's a tad more than 6 years. Of course now, you change your story and say your not a freelance writer for Home Theater specifically, but just the other publications you mention. Well, I have Chris on the phone as I type this and he states that none of the DVD reviewers at Home Theater live anywhere near Las Vegas or Henderson, Nevada or even New York. And who said I mentioned the name Lexmark3200 to Chris? I used your real name.

For futher proof, here is part of the email Chris sent me earlier and I quote, I took our names out for security and privacy reasons.

" Yo ****, I have no idea who this **** **** is. I personally know all the reviewers and none of them are from Nevada or New York. I logged on to Audio Review and looked at some of his reviews. To be honest, we would not allow any of those reviews to be published in our magazine.

Anyway, how's the wife and dog. I will see you guys at Christmas.

Chris"

JSE

[Kam]

Okay, based on your logic, the moon is blue, the earth is flat, and I can walk in space. Hey, no proof is needed, just because I say it, it is true. Oh, and by the way, a whole day is really 23.35 hours and not 24. I invented the internet, and the software you use to navigate it. I can walk on water, and under it without air. Ohhh, I can fly a plane, or a car. I built the Hoover dam, invented the interstate highway system, the traffic light, antibiotics, X-ray machines, built the Golden Gate Bridge singlehandedly, invented the auto, and the mass production lines. I own Capitol, Warners, Sony/BMG, and Universal music. I invented the atom bomb, the tank, the fart, the B-1 bomber, the Stealth aircraft, bread and cheese, and the grape.

The world could not exist if I wasn't born. Proof that I did this? No, I don't need it, just believe me that I am telling the truth. No one can tell me what I believe, because I believe it. Guys, I am not lying, I really did this all!!!!

This fully illustrates the rediculousness of believing someone with no proof. They can say anything, and we are supposed to buy it. Riiiiiight!!!!

you INVENTED the fart?? i KNEW it. i just knew IT. i had asked a bunch of other INVENTORS who they THOUGHT invented the fart and THEY all said it was Edward Shnitz over IN oklahoma. i ASKED several times, and ADMITTINGLY i was skeptical, but NOW i know. i will absolutely shove it in their faces. HA. what KIND of inventing do they do anyway in their mama's BASEMENT?? i can ONE-up them BIG time on THIS debate. and THANKS for sending ME the certificate of authenticity. the paper it's PRINTED on is really authentic LOOKING. i'm looking at the certificate you sent me T3, LOOKING at it!! so i CAN shove this in THEIR faces! And do you know what I say? Ha ha! Do you hear me? Ha ha ha!

and by the way, kudos on that antibiotics invention. well done.

[JSE]

you INVENTED the fart?? i KNEW it. i just knew IT. i had asked a bunch of other INVENTORS who they THOUGHT invented the fart and THEY all said it was Edward Shnitz over IN oklahoma. i ASKED several times, and ADMITTINGLY i was skeptical, but NOW i know. i will absolutely shove it in their faces. HA. what KIND of inventing do they do anyway in their mama's BASEMENT?? i can ONE-up them BIG time on THIS debate. and THANKS for sending ME the certificate of authenticity. the paper it's PRINTED on is really authentic LOOKING. i'm looking at the certificate you sent me T3, LOOKING at it!! so i CAN shove this in THEIR faces! And do you know what I say? Ha ha! Do you hear me? Ha ha ha!

and by the way, kudos on that antibiotics invention. well done.

Yeah, but I invented the "silent but deadly"!

JSE

[Lexmark3200]

And what proof do you have that you were there? A piece of barbeque chicken? A bowl of potato salad?. Anyone who reads the credits and acknowledgments in the front of a magazine can drop names. Your name dropping is no proof, and we are not convinced that ANYTHING you say is true. Now go back to begging Skok to beleive you!!

YOU dont have to believe me and personally I DONT CARE if you do or not.....I KNOW I was there, and thats the bottom line. And I dont have to beg Shok (you got his name wrong once again in a futile attempt to discourage me in your enragement which I think is HYSTERICAL) to believe me......he KNOWS the track was missing some bass. He acknowledged it. He understands that. No begging required here.

Maureen DOES make some kick ass barbeque though......

[Lexmark3200]

Well, I grew up with Chris in Houston, Tx so that's a tad more than 6 years. Of course now, you change your story and say your not a freelance writer for Home Theater specifically, but just the other publications you mention. Well, I have Chris on the phone as I type this and he states that none of the DVD reviewers at Home Theater live anywhere near Las Vegas or Henderson, Nevada or even New York. And who said I mentioned the name Lexmark3200 to Chris? I used your real name.

For futher proof, here is part of the email Chris sent me earlier and I quote, I took our names out for security and privacy reasons.

" Yo ****, I have no idea who this **** **** is. I personally know all the reviewers and none of them are from Nevada or New York. I logged on to Audio Review and looked at some of his reviews. To be honest, we would not allow any of those reviews to be published in our magazine.

Anyway, how's the wife and dog. I will see you guys at Christmas.

Chris"

JSE

Yeah, right.....IM SURE those were his words......and you dont KNOW my real name or where I live RIGHT NOW as I keep that all secret, whether you THINK YOU DO or not-----that is NOT the real name I go under when I write articles and I DO know Maureen personally and it doesnt matter that you know THIS guy more years than I know Maureen their editor; I KNOW my material has been submitted to this book along with others so it doesnt matter what you try and say-----you DONT know my real name, never will and will never prove ANYTHING. I have moved alot since these articles have been printed, hence the freelancing tone of my work.

Again, I am looking at a paycheck RIGHT NOW that I received for freelance work in a DVD review publication. I dont think your "friend" is a real friend or person at all, if you ask me......you can make up words just as quickly as you accuse me of (falsely, by the way). So you dont prove anything.

At any rate, Gladiator's DTS ES mix was indeed active, hot and aggressive-----there were moments of some missing LFE, whether intentional or not, and I can recommend it, folks, over the Dolby Digital variants that are out there unless you MUST have the extras on the new extended version.

[Lexmark3200]

Yeah, pathetic made up life.....riiiiiiiight.......whatever you say, buddy......it doesnt really matter because I see the money right in front of me for the work I do, so who's having the last laugh? That would be me....not you and your pathetically geeky friends online who think they're the big, bad "machine" who control the universe and harass other people via cyberspace......BELIEVE ME, Im laughing back just as hard at you every time I see my paychecks.

[JSE]

Yeah, right.....IM SURE those were his words......and you dont KNOW my real name or where I live RIGHT NOW as I keep that all secret, whether you THINK YOU DO or not-----that is NOT the real name I go under when I write articles and I DO know Maureen personally and it doesnt matter that you know THIS guy more years than I know Maureen their editor; I KNOW my material has been submitted to this book along with others so it doesnt matter what you try and say-----you DONT know my real name, never will and will never prove ANYTHING. I have moved alot since these articles have been printed, hence the freelancing tone of my work.

Again, I am looking at a paycheck RIGHT NOW that I received for freelance work in a DVD review publication. I dont think your "friend" is a real friend or person at all, if you ask me......you can make up words just as quickly as you accuse me of (falsely, by the way). So you dont prove anything.

At any rate, Gladiator's DTS ES mix was indeed active, hot and aggressive-----there were moments of some missing LFE, whether intentional or not, and I can recommend it, folks, over the Dolby Digital variants that are out there unless you MUST have the extras on the new extended version.

Do you remember the movie, The Super with Joe Pesci? Remember when he went out and found his stripped car and his alarm went off and everyone laughed at him?

Well, your alarm just went off on your pathetic made up life and we are all laughing our arses off at you!

Have a good one!

JSE

[kelsci]

Hi Lex; I am not going to get involved in this "fight" going on here. What I did do was pull GLADIATOR out of my brother's pile of DVDs and listened to it this afternoon A/B-ing the D.D.-DTS tracks on certain scenes and listening to the bass content as you suggested. My two subs are passive and are powered by the power amplifier section of a NAD integrated amplifier. This method seems to render a "different" result in comparison to what I have heard from a self-contained powered sub on other systems. I have never had the opportunity to hook up a powered sub to my system to see what "difference" might be heard soundwise. Anyway, usually when I use my current sub system, I find that the bass does not attract my attention to the sub, but seems to localize itself among my satellites usually with the D.D. track. When I have listened to DTS tracks, I felt the bass became localized to the sub, rather than the satellites which in my opinion is not the way a system should sound. This was not the case with GLADIATOR. The bass response localized itself very well with the satellites on this disc. It is possible that the phasing of the bass on the DTS track is making it seem like it is a little weak when it is probably working the way it should. Now remember this is my opinion and this opinion may not really be the true fact. The overall sound of the DTS track has more detail and can get louder than its D.D. counterpart and does so on this disc as well as JP111. In listening back and forth, at times I was pleased with either soundtrack because each had its own "nuances" coming out which is not quite easy for me to describe.

There was something that Sir T.T. said that got me thinking. I would think that there would be an original digital descrete sound master of a movie of a higher level than D.D. or DTS. That master would than be run through a respective D.D. and DTS encoder for reproduction for movie theaters and DVDs. Sir T.T. indicated that the D.D. tract for the DVD came from the same D.D. track used for the theaters while the DTS track was completely made new for the DVD. Even if this is so,I would think that the original master was still involved in the making of the D.D. track and then used for DTS-DVD encoding. I am defintely not familar with the use of any encoding machine because I am not in the audio end of the motion picture business. I would think that there must be settings on these devices that might effect the outcome of the encoded sound from the master such as LFE effects as an example. In a sense, I think we have to look at D.D. and DTS as a imperfect duplicate of the master but nevertheless quite listenable. Perhaps someday, there will be codecs that can be used to reproduce the master more perfectly-perhaps DTS 96/24 is one such codec and there are perhaps others.