creating a good-looking HDV 24p > SD DVD?

I'm trying to create a smooth-looking SD version of a piece I produced with the Sony HDV 24p (in Adanced mode). I used Cinema Tools to remove the pulldown before cutting in FCP, on Apple's Intermediate Codec. It looks fantastic in FCP.

I brought the Quicktime of the AIC timeline into DVDSP, trying to make an SD version of the piece and instead it looks really smeary, plus the lumenance looks like it bumped up a tad.

Any advices on how to bring this baby to sweetness would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Unamalatesta