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DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

#1
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7/18/06 at 11:46am
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Ghostbusters ('99 release)
Showgirls (non-anamorphic)
The Grifters (HBO edition)
Robocop (Criterion)
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#2
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7/18/06 at 12:19pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Annie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated)
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#3
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7/18/06 at 1:52pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

the older, redder, non-anamorphic CHARADE (criterion)
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#4
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7/18/06 at 1:54pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

OKLAHOMA! (Todd-AO version)
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#5
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7/18/06 at 1:54pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

good one Matt!
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#6
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7/18/06 at 1:56pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

The Big Lebowski. The newer Universal SE pales in comparison to the older Polygram version.
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#7
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7/18/06 at 2:28pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Kim
The Big Lebowski. The newer Universal SE pales in comparison to the older Polygram version.

Though they both have issues, this site http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/Reviews/bigl.htm hurts your argument more than helps it. Check out the gun-in-the-face shot; egads! to the Polygram version...
Ernest Hemingway once wrote, \"The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.\" I agree with the second part...
--Det. William Somerset, SE7EN

http://www.dvdanthology.com/Filmmaker-movielist.html), http://LDDb.com/collection.php?actio...user=Filmmaker
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#8
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7/18/06 at 2:31pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Robocop (Criterion)
The Teminator (Image)
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#9
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7/18/06 at 2:39pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Silence Of The Lambs (Criterion)
Ghostbusters (1999 release)
Rear Window (2001 release)
Halloween (1999 release)
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#10
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7/18/06 at 2:48pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

A Hard Day's Night (MPI)
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#11
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7/18/06 at 3:41pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

I'm sure many people prefer the older Reservoir Dogs. Hopefully they fix it with the upcoming rerelease. As several have already said, I definately prefer the old Ghostbusters. I never sold a DVD so quickly in my life.
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#12
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7/18/06 at 4:15pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Showgirls (non-anamorphic)
Interesting. Why is the older version preferred? (I've never seen the anamorphic disc.)

M.
Zoloft and Paxil and Buspar and Xanax, Depakote, Klonopin, Ambien, Prozac,
Ativan calms me when I see the bills.
These are a few of my favorite pills.
(Next to Normal)              HTF Rules & Regs   2009 Film List   2010 Film List
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#13
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7/18/06 at 4:58pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

I second the Todd-AO Oklahoma and the previous Halloween. The new ones were major disappointments.
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#14
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7/18/06 at 5:19pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

The Black Hole (Anchor Bay..Non Anamorphic)

The Disney version is a horrible, blurry, grainy mess!
Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus.
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#15
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7/18/06 at 5:52pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

This movie will only look SO good because of its budget, but I think I prefer the THX Evil Dead II Anchor Bay disc to the Divimax version. Something about the newer version just bugs me.
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#16
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7/18/06 at 6:08pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Two more votes for Ghostbusters and Robocop, PQ-wise. My ideal Robo is the image from Criterion, sound from MGM.
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#17
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7/18/06 at 6:44pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

1- Ben-Hur: Special Edition (Better colors IMHO than Collector's Edition)

2- Wizard Of Oz: Special Edition (Better colors IMHO than Collector's Edition)

3- Reservoir Dogs: Widescreen Edition (Better than 10th Anniversary Edition), still waiting for better edition (maybe 15th Anniversary on 10/24/2006?)

Regards,

Sergio Carlos Perez-More

"Long Live Dolby Digital TrueHD & DTS HD"

My Blu-ray, HD DVD & DVD Collection

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#18
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7/18/06 at 8:07pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Totally agree with the Robocop (Criterion). Just the fact that's its the director's approved 1.66.1 is enough for me.

(

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#19
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7/18/06 at 9:51pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

I echo the preference for the Criterion Silence of the Lambs. The MGM one is too bright. I also like the 1999 Patton more than the mushy, bland 2006 transfer...

Colin Jacobson
http://www.DVDMG.com

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#20
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7/18/06 at 10:53pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Gladiator
Kingdom of Heaven

Strangely, the Extended Editions for both films are too bright and not as filmlike as the original transfers. They just don't look like the theatrical prints at all.
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#21
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7/18/06 at 11:18pm
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben
Interesting. Why is the older version preferred? (I've never seen the anamorphic disc.)

M.
The V.I.P. edition transfer presents a Red Push on skin tones. The 2.35 framing has additional matting over DP Jost Vacano's supervised original 2.10 framing.
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#22
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7/19/06 at 4:54am
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

All of the Image releases of Chaplin films. I have the mk2 ones but I only keep them for the extras.

Most-wanted R1s: The Patsy (1927); Personal Property (1937); Ever Since Eve (1937); Hold Back the Dawn (1941); Two-Faced Woman (1941); Kitty (1945); Yolanda and the Thief (1945); Black Magic (1949); Rapture (1965)

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#23
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7/19/06 at 5:39am
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Colin Jacobson
I echo the preference for the Criterion Silence of the Lambs. The MGM one is too bright...
I echo your echo. The MGM seems to have a steely blue cast to the colors, which is not how I remember it looking in theaters. The pro-logic sound on the Criterion is also better than the new 5.1 remix. I wish the compression was a little better on the Criterion, though.

Regards,

Ken McAlinden
Livonia, MI USA

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#24
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7/19/06 at 6:06am
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Will Krupp
the older, redder, non-anamorphic CHARADE (criterion)

Interesting...I've only seen the anamorphic version, and thought it looked wonderful, color-wise (on my old 32" CRT). Ignorance is (or was) bliss, in my case.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Black
Rear Window (2001 release)

Do you mean compared to the Masterpiece Collection? That reminds me - that's the only disc out of the collection I haven't seen yet. I already sold the 2001 edition. Oh, well. See above about "ignorance," "bliss," and "me..."

Doug
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#25
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7/19/06 at 6:48am
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
All of the Image releases of Chaplin films. I have the mk2 ones but I only keep them for the extras.

I second that. The slowed-down versions of the First National shorts are unwatchable (don't know what Chaplin was thinkiong on some of those). Reminds me of the old Magnetic Video releases on VHS. Thanks goodness I'd gotten most of the Image releases. I never did get The Kid, but I even prefer my laserdisc version to the newer one.

The only one I like of the newer set(s) is The Gold Rush with the piano score. I've never liked the narrated version of that film.
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#26
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7/19/06 at 8:03am
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned GUYS AND DOLLS (though I do admit to preferring the newer version. Far less aliasing even if the color is flatter and the image cropped a bit.)
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#27
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7/19/06 at 8:35am
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sergio
Wizard Of Oz: Special Edition (Better colors IMHO than Collector's Edition)2e

And I thought I was the only one who felt that way. Good to know.
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#28
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7/19/06 at 8:57am
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

The Exorcist (very first DVD release) - only one with original WB logo

\"It is the unique power of cinema to allow a great many people to dream the same dream together and to present illusion to us as if it were strict reality. It is, in short, an admirable vehicle for poetry.\"

-Jean Cocteau, The Testament of Orpheus

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#29
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7/19/06 at 9:05am
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

I'm not sure yet, but the new version of 'The Searchers' is somewhat jarring to look at. The differences in colors between the old-and-the-new DVD releases are somewhat unsettling. I have only watched the first 30 minutes of the latest Ultimate edition, so I don't want to say this will be my final answer...I could come around to everyone's point of view.
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#30
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7/19/06 at 11:24am
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Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jim_falconer
I'm not sure yet, but the new version of 'The Searchers' is somewhat jarring to look at. The differences in colors between the old-and-the-new DVD releases are somewhat unsettling. I have only watched the first 30 minutes of the latest Ultimate edition, so I don't want to say this will be my final answer...I could come around to everyone's point of view.

I'm waiting to see what a corrected edition looks like, but the old DVD looks horrible. The colors are poorly handled (it's like they just turned up the saturation knob to get it more "colorful") and it has too much of a pink tint to skies and sand (a la the Lawrence of Arabia LE). The image is so shockingly cropped and soft, too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sammy-G
All of the Image releases of Chaplin films. I have the mk2 ones but I only keep them for the extras.

City Lights is the best example of this. The old DVD used a 1992 transfer, but it's still quite impressive. I usually watch it with contrast adjusted a bit to fix the greyish contrast, but it's sharper and better framed than the MK2. Not to mention it has the PCM stereo score.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sergio
1- Ben-Hur: Special Edition (Better colors IMHO than Collector's Edition)

2- Wizard Of Oz: Special Edition (Better colors IMHO than Collector's Edition)

I don't know... the old DVDs had really flat contrast. I love how black levels are finally deep enough to make the witch's cloak pure black instead of dark grey as seen on the old DVD. The other problem is that there's a lot of compression artifacting blurring fine detail. The new DVD looks identical to the dye-transfer print I saw, too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Black
Rear Window (2001 release)

How so? The Masterpiece Collection is vastly sharper. In the shot with Jeffries writing the letter, you can see that the stripes on his shirt are razor sharp. They're blurry on the old DVD.

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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