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Paramount to re-do "Godfather" DVDs

#1
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11/8/03 at 6:54am
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This article appears in the Sunday Arts and Leisure section of the New York Times. It is not yet on the web site.

Robert Harris appears to be a major source for the article which, among other films, discusses Lawrence of Arabia and the Godfather.

An unnamed “archivist” criticizes Paramount for mishandling the elements for The Godfather and Godfather Two. Paramount says that new discs will be coming out, enhanced by Lowry Digital Images.

Included is a list of “good” and “bad” DVDs.
Link to NYT Article Edited to include link
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#2
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11/8/03 at 7:25am
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Man, If I have to buy th Godfather set again, I'm not going to be happy. Hope Paramount will do a disc exchange


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#3
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11/8/03 at 7:48am
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I'm glad I've held off on getting The Godfather, then.
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#4
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11/8/03 at 12:07pm
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I really don't have any problems with the current Godfather set - just watched some of it yesterday as a matter of fact.

I do remember some criticism from Mr. Harris at the time of the DVD release, not about the DVD, but about Paramount not restoring the film elements and making new prints - at least, I think I remember that.

The only way I'd replace the discs would be if Paramount was offering an exchange, and the new ones had the Coppola commentaries on them.
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#5
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11/8/03 at 2:30pm
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I had no idea there were any problems with The Godfather set until reading this article.

If Paramount were to set an exchange programme then I will all be for it.

What makes you say that there are no FFC Commentaries as I have all three with his commentaries ?

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#6
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11/8/03 at 2:52pm
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I think what Josh was saying is that the new ones should have the OLD commentaries on them, as well.

Matt

\"And I say I\'m dead, and I move\"....

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#7
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11/8/03 at 3:09pm
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okay I must have misread his comments then

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#8
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11/8/03 at 7:50pm
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I had no idea there were any problems with The Godfather set until reading this article.


A lot of people were ultimately disappointed with the quality of the first two when the discs came out.

from DVDfile.com (9/29/01):

While those seeking perfection might be disappointed here, as these transfers are not pristine, I believe this is a step up from the laserdisc and certainly the awful VHS releases.

Paramount and American Zoetrope have crafted a good, though not superior, release that's well put together if a bit lacking in the video department.

Well - There it is.
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#9
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11/8/03 at 10:33pm
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The article is now on the New York Times website, I don't remember the URL but it's worth a read, even if we're probably familiar with most of the details.
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#10
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11/8/03 at 11:23pm
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Here's the link to the New York Times story. I think you'll probably have to register (for free) to read it.
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#11
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11/9/03 at 1:27am
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Good to hear they will be releasing new mastered, separate versions of Godather next year. My boxset will surely be hitting Ebay by that time.
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#12
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11/9/03 at 8:19am
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Well, this might explain why the "Godfather" box set has had price drops recently. It looks like these discs are being upgraded:

Excerpt from NY Times arlticle:
In any case, according to a Paramount executive, who asked not to be named, the studio has hired an outsider, John Lowry, to re-do the "Godfather" discs. Mr. Lowry has worked on such brilliant DVD's as "North by Northwest," "Sunset Boulevard" and the new double-disc "Casablanca" — all of which were made from prints or negatives in dreadful condition. He holds patents on film noise-reduction techniques. Decades ago, he cleaned up moon photos for NASA's Apollo project. A few years ago, he devised a program that harnesses the computational power of 400 Macintosh G5 computers to clean up the damage that's been done to film by age, wear and handling. This program detects flaws like scratches or dirt, erases them, and — by comparing flawed frames with those in better shape — "draws" in a facsimile of what an unflawed version of the image should look like.


NY Times article (free registration required)

Here is the text of the article for those not wanting to register:

Copyrighted article removed - DO NOT REPOST

EDIT: Sorry, admins. I didn't realize I wasn't supposed to post the article. I apologize.
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#13
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11/9/03 at 8:22am
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Well, I guess I'm glad I held off on the original release (plus I didn't really want to be forced into buy GF3 as well, perhaps I won't with the new release).

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#14
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11/9/03 at 8:23am
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I wonder if I should sell mine now -- maybe get more for them on Ebay than waiting until next year.
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#15
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11/9/03 at 8:28am
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Good news...

Quote:
A few years ago, he devised a program that harnesses the computational power of 400 Macintosh G5 computers to clean up the damage that's been done to film by age, wear and handling.


Bit of a techno-error here. The G5 has only been available for a few months... not years. I imagine the article meant "G4."

-Scott
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#16
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11/9/03 at 8:37am
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I wonder what a shitstorm Paramount is going to have to endure getting out of this one.

Was the trilogy a big seller for them? I would assume it was.
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#17
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11/9/03 at 8:40am
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For the record... I'm not one of the individuals with major problems in regard to the Godfather DVDs. And I'm unaware of any problems with the Oneg on Godfather 2.

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#18
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11/9/03 at 8:55am
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I'm very glad they are upgrading these...they need it.

Hopefully they include the original mono soundtrack.
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#19
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11/9/03 at 9:15am
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RAH,

I didn’t mean to imply that you had commented negatively on the Godfather elements. It must have been a case of me “over-reading.”

In the event, I do remember you having commented in the past on the (wretched) manner in which the oneg for the original Godfather was treated.

Sorry for the confusion,
Andy
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#20
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11/9/03 at 9:35am
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I'll rebuy, but how much of an improvement in picture quality are they talking about?
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#21
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11/9/03 at 9:41am
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I'm not at home right now, but can anyone tell me if the box is tall enough to hold a keepcase? The box is too slick to give up.

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#22
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11/9/03 at 9:57am
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I wonder, if Lowry's going to remove the much discussed "ghost face" from the funeral scene. My guess is yes.

Chris
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#23
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11/9/03 at 10:00am
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This really angers me. I shelled out alot of money for the boxset only to have them "do it right" 2 years later.


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#24
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11/9/03 at 10:07am
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On one hand I do agree that the picture is not great on the dvds, so I am glad they are being reodone. But then againg, I did buy the boxset and the exstras are nice.
I'll wait and see the reviews.

Kris

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#25
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11/9/03 at 10:09am
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I'm not happy about this either. Hopefully they will offer some rebate or other incentive to encourage me to upgrade.

Ed, the box will accomodate two standard DVD cases, but you kind of have to push them in and it isn't nice looking.
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#26
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11/9/03 at 10:18am
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http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...ight=Godfather

After reading this, I see no reason to upgrade. They'll probably just clean them up some more, but hopefully don't take away from the look of the film. The Godfather isn't supposed to be a bright, razor sharp movie anyway. The current dvd's look very appropriate on my setup.
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#27
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11/9/03 at 10:26am
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I wasn't making any direct reference to HTF comments.

The problems with articles of this type is that there are attributed and unattributed quotes.

My comments are always attributed. But there have been instances in the past where unattributed quotes are assumed to have come from me, when they have not.

If people are going to be questioned, they should live with their comments and not hide behind "archivist."

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did."  T.E. Lawrence

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#28
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11/9/03 at 10:53am
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This is very unexpected. I think the current transfers are excellent. I didn't expect new transfer until HD-DVD.

Paramount really ought to be sinking their money into restoring the actual film elements of Godfather I & 2, which are in bad shape... unless the video clean-up is being done at 3000k or 4000k with the files output to 35mm?

Sunset Boulevard was done at 2000k with addional output to 35mm. What were those prints like?

I can't see me double-dipping on this, even though I love the films.


Gordy
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#29
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11/9/03 at 10:58am
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The current DVD's are not perfect, but it's a waste of time for them to do a re-release at this point.

I'd rather see them put the money forward to have LDI refurbish the first two films ON FILM (at 4K).

Tell The Weinstein Company to release Richard Williams' animated masterpiece The Thief and the Cobbler on DVD in Panavision widescreen and uncut! See and hear what you're missing from their Bitsy Award winner of Worst Standard Edition DVD of 2006 on YouTube!
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#30
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11/9/03 at 11:00am
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Patrick Sun, you and me both. The moment I first read that the current transfers were subpar (in The Perfect Vision magazine), I passed up this boxset — also on the basis I didn't care to purchase Part III.

I just knew Paramount might end up redoing the films. My hunch proved prescient, and I am content to wait until next year to see these great films in a home theater.
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