HDTV soap opera effect

[mego73]

Every so often I see somebody bring this up. How movies on HDTV look "weird" or like a soap opera. And many people live with it, not knowing it can usually be turned off.

It's because of the TV's motion interpolation settings on 120hz or higher sets that the effect happens. TV's are seen on the showroom this way and are factory set this way because it benefits the look of HDTV sports. Interpolation generates additional frames to give smoother motion. Sports look smoother and clearer than ever.

But then, you pop in Wizard Of Oz and it all of the sudden looks like it was video recorded like a Sid and Marty Kroft show.

But all of this can be turned off. The irony is that TV manufactuers usually give motion interpolation a name that indicates it improves the look of movies, like "Motion Picture Pro" or something like that.

So, my blu ray player is set to 24p (output in 24 frame progressive) and motion interpolation is turned totally off. And I get that beautiful, film like flicker that would probably drive gamers crazy.

On HDTV films coming off of the cable they are 60hz and have a 3:2 pulldown that films on standard video have. They don't look as filmlike as 24p blu ray but don't look like video either.

But that 24 frame flicker has become the cherry on top for a great blu ray movie for me. It's a subtle effect but I like it. Oh, if you have 24p engaged and motion interpolation on full, it will still look like video.

[cjefferys]

Yep, you gotta turn that crap off when you are watching movies.

[sprytel]

Yep, I heard that Peter Jackson is filming the new Hobbit with a higher frame rate, and that people think it looks "weird"... same kind of deal.

[Zemo]

Yea, that motion should really only be on during sports.