The Truman Show: Special Collector's Edition - 8/23 (1 Viewer)

[Bryan Tuck]

I can't say for sure, but I imagine that, like most "flat" films, it was projected at approximiately 1.85:1 in the U.S. and at 1.66:1 in the UK. Not sure about anywhere else.

I definitely am looking forward to this release, though; I caught part of this on TBS the other night, and I was reminded by how prophetic the movie turned out to be (what with the current reality show craze). Fascinating film with a brilliant script.

I'm so glad that Carrey chose an honestly good film to be his first major foray into drama. It was really a wise decision.

 

[Ruslan]

Wasn't there a TV special that used deleted footage? We never got it in the UK but I remember reading about it - doesn't look like it's on the disc. I'd also have loved to see the test footage they made with Gary Oldman as Truman - hopefully that will show up in the documentary.

Looking forward to picking this one up!

 

[Jonathan_Clarke]

I liked this movie and bought the first dvd. But then I never watched it again.

Experience is teaching me not to buy this again.

 

[Citizen87645]

I like the artwork, but only at the appropriate size!!! That design was made for a poster, because those blocks are individual images. I don't see how this will work effectively at a DVD cover size. I'm sure the artist is mad as hell.

Other than that, it's about time this came out!

 

[Sev Bragg]

I believe EDTV came out the same year, and was also very prophetic of reality shows.

 

[James Luckard]

There was indeed a 1/2 hr TV special with deleted footage. It was a phony documentary, hosted by Harry Shearer, playing a journalist, investigating the world of the film, with all the actors in character as well. It was assembled from footage shot for an abandoned concept of a documentary within the film. I can't remember the title of the documentary for the life of me, and couldn't find any mention of it by Goggling. I have it on video somewhere at home, haven't seen it since it aired.

There were also numerous subplots shot and then deleted, the film was in post-production for something like two years, I think. I remember a friend of mine saw it nearly a year before it came out at a test screening.

 

[Mike Heenan]

To those complaining about the artwork, not to be an ass or anything, but do you buy the movies for the movie/extras themselves or the artwork? I mean, the box sits on your shelf and you only see it when you take it out to watch the movie. The only reason I could see for replacing covers is for the old style WB snap cases vs the regular ones.

 

[Citizen87645]

Complainers about artwork usually are "big picture," "whole package" types. They see a release as more than the feature on the disc. Rarely is a complaint strong enough to prevent a purchase, but from a creative standpoint why would one choose to wrap a project representing thousands of hours of work in something sub-par?

And my complaint was based on the presentation of the artwork not doing justice to the work itself.

 

[Mark Lucas]

It's about time for a proper special edition of Truman Show with the deleted scenes I've read so much about. I really hope there's a commmentary.

The artwork collage is from a theatrical poster and works well. Of course it would look better on a laserdisc jacket than on a pitiful dvd box but oh well.

 

[Jerry R Colvin]

If artwork doesn't matter, then why would snap case vs. regular case matter?

 

[MikeEckman]

I'll step here on this one. The biggest complaint about snappers vs keep cases is how they fit on the shelf. For those of us who alphabetize their collection on a shelf where snappers are side by side against keep cases, they aren't the same size. Snappers look ugly when mixed in a row of keep cases. Further more, when on a shelf, sometimes, snappers can get caught on another case when trying to pull out of its spot.

Having all snappers in a row doesnt look too bad, having all keepcases in a row looks even better, but having them mixed and matched looks terrible.

This is one of the biggest complaints against snappers.

 

[Jerry R Colvin]

Ugly artwork looks ugly too.

 

[David Galindo]

Heres a review:

http://www.dvdfanatic.com/news.php?id=0508183

 

[Mark Lucas]

What a lousy review. No comparison to the previous release's sound and video quality. Just: What the hell is that? lol

No commentary... bummer. :-(

 

[David Galindo]

I was thinking the same thing. The DVD had a weird ratio, likely fixed and cleaned for the new released.

Ah, any other reviews?

 

[Scott Kimball]

I'll be posting my review tonight.

Unfortunately, if you're looking for a side-by-side from me, you'll be disappointed. I've never seen the prior release. I will, however, have at least a couple of paragraphs on the audio/video quality of the new SCE.

Remember, DVD reviewers are volunteers, and often don't have easy access to prior releases for direct comparisons. That said, I think reviews deserve more than a couple of sentences on the technical merits of the transfer.

I was pleased with The Truman Show... and certainly the bump up to anamorphic had to make it an improvement.

-Scott

 

[Mark Lucas]

The Truman Show is a 1.66:1 film. I guess it's been cropped to 1.78:1 or 1.85:1?

 

[Jason Hughes]

I don't think Peter Weir has ever done a commentary track...too bad as I think he would have quite a few interesting things to say...

 

[Keith I]

DVD Talk has a review up with comparison shots of old and new versions but what's interesting to me is that the old shots look a little clearer than the new shots (unless the reviewer mixed up the versions). The new shots look more colorful but not as clear.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=17233

 

[Ray H]

I remember hearing he was on a commentary for the R4 edition of The Dead Poets Society. Or was that one of those commentaries compiled from interviews?