[Linksys 845c]

I caved and bought the GoodTimes version of Universal's NIGHTHAWKS online because it kept the restored Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar" and the other "I'm A Man" track that the widescreen second Universal disc didn't -- and those two tracks, as everyone knows, MAKES that film...

But I have to tell ya...my G-d, is this a HORRENDOUS pan and scan transfer...some scenes are so noisy and snowy, I can't make out what's happening onscreen...I have read that this may be a transfer direct from the VHS tape to DVD, but whatever the case may be, I've never seen such a horrendous video presentation except for, maybe, HBO/TriStar's THE HITCHER...and THAT was pretty bad, too...

NIGHTHAWK's Dolby Digital Mono track is advertised as 1.0 mono on the back of the GoodTimes release -- but it's actually 2.0 mono that collapses to the center channel if Pro Logic II is engaged; the audio is perhaps slightly better than the video, but it too is dated and harsh. What a pity Universal didn't give this little cult gem a full Special Edition treatment with 5.1 surround and a new digital transfer...

[Jon Hertzberg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Copeland

I caved and bought the GoodTimes version of Universal's NIGHTHAWKS online because it kept the restored Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar" and the other "I'm A Man" track that the widescreen second Universal disc didn't -- and those two tracks, as everyone knows, MAKES that film...

But I have to tell ya...my G-d, is this a HORRENDOUS pan and scan transfer...some scenes are so noisy and snowy, I can't make out what's happening onscreen...I have read that this may be a transfer direct from the VHS tape to DVD, but whatever the case may be, I've never seen such a horrendous video presentation except for, maybe, HBO/TriStar's THE HITCHER...and THAT was pretty bad, too...

NIGHTHAWK's Dolby Digital Mono track is advertised as 1.0 mono on the back of the GoodTimes release -- but it's actually 2.0 mono that collapses to the center channel if Pro Logic II is engaged; the audio is perhaps slightly better than the video, but it too is dated and harsh. What a pity Universal didn't give this little cult gem a full Special Edition treatment with 5.1 surround and a new digital transfer...

If it makes you feel any better, Bobby, there a few other tunes, in addition to "Brown Sugar" and "I'm a Man," on the Goodtimes release that were "rescored" on the Universal disc. You can do a comparison by scanning the end credits of each disc.

[Linksys 845c]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Hertzberg

If it makes you feel any better, Bobby, there a few other tunes, in addition to "Brown Sugar" and "I'm a Man," on the Goodtimes release that were "rescored" on the Universal disc. You can do a comparison by scanning the end credits of each disc.

Hey Jon!

Thanks for the info...and so there were even MORE tracks that were rescored on the Universal cut? My G-d...aside from the horrendous pan and scan transfer which is loaded with noise, snow and artifacts, it's amazing that there's even more missing from Universal's release; it's almost like we're forced to keep the Goodtimes disc...

Any word if Universal plans on re releasing this again on standard def or high def in the future?

[Jon Hertzberg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Copeland

Hey Jon!

Thanks for the info...and so there were even MORE tracks that were rescored on the Universal cut? My G-d...aside from the horrendous pan and scan transfer which is loaded with noise, snow and artifacts, it's amazing that there's even more missing from Universal's release; it's almost like we're forced to keep the Goodtimes disc...

Any word if Universal plans on re releasing this again on standard def or high def in the future?

Since this title was never a big performer for Uni despite the presence of Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer, I'm not sure we'll see an improved edition, at least as far as the music is concerned. Universal corrected many of the soundtrack issues plaguing its catalog in the last several years on DVD (see The Thing, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Slap Shot, Sixteen Candles, etc.). Even though the widescreen reissue of Nighthawks came right around this time, Universal did not make the same corrections. It seems as if that train has left the station. My guess is that the fee for the Rolling Stones song is quite prohibitive or that the band does not want to re-license it for use in the film. As for the other tunes, I can't imagine that they are all that expensive, but it's all just speculation.

[Linksys 845c]

Since this title was never a big performer for Uni despite the presence of Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer, I'm not sure we'll see an improved edition, at least as far as the music is concerned.

This should be one of those titles they consider for a reminting to give the legion of fans this film has the right score, video transfer and audio...

Universal corrected many of the soundtrack issues plaguing its catalog in the last several years on DVD (see The Thing, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Slap Shot, Sixteen Candles, etc.).

That's interesting....I didn't know Carpenter's The Thing had soundtrack issues....I have the original release of the Collector's Edition DVD; what soundtrack problems were there on that title?

Even though the widescreen reissue of Nighthawks came right around this time, Universal did not make the same corrections. It seems as if that train has left the station. My guess is that the fee for the Rolling Stones song is quite prohibitive or that the band does not want to re-license it for use in the film. As for the other tunes, I can't imagine that they are all that expensive, but it's all just speculation.

Interesting and logical...this would definitely be a title I would pine for in terms of a rerelease and reminting...

But I really just wanted to share my thoughts on the horrendous video quality of the Goodtimes full screen disc (not to mention the mono soundtrack) and see if anyone else who may own this disc finds the same thing in terms of a "snowy" video noise, grain and an unstable, unwatchable picture for most of the running time...made even worse upscaled to "1080p" from my Blu ray player...

[WillG]

Quote:

That's interesting....I didn't know Carpenter's The Thing had soundtrack issues....I have the original release of the Collector's Edition DVD; what soundtrack problems were there on that title?

I believe that Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" was replaced on pre-DVD home video releases of the film. I forget what replaced it though.

[Linksys 845c]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillG

I believe that Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" was replaced on pre-DVD home video releases of the film. I forget what replaced it though.

Oh, right -- the part when Bennings screams to Nauls to turn his radio down because he was "shot today" -- I remember the Stevie Wonder track playing from his boom box...thanks, Will!

[Ted Kontos]

I have the Goodtimes version, and while it's a typical non-restored transfer of that time period, I could never call it "unwatchable". In fact, I just watched it recently upconverted on my Oppo 983 (an amazing machine, BTW), zoomed to "Full" and was surprised at how decent it looked. Since it's open matte (NOT Pan & Scanned), the zoomed composition looked just fine at 1:78. As for the mono soundtrack, I believe that's the way it was originally released. And the movie never looked that great in the theaters, either. I'm happy with my copy!

[Linksys 845c]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted Kontos

I have the Goodtimes version, and while it's a typical non-restored transfer of that time period, I could never call it "unwatchable". In fact, I just watched it recently upconverted on my Oppo 983 (an amazing machine, BTW), zoomed to "Full" and was surprised at how decent it looked. Since it's open matte (NOT Pan & Scanned), the zoomed composition looked just fine at 1:78. As for the mono soundtrack, I believe that's the way it was originally released. And the movie never looked that great in the theaters, either. I'm happy with my copy!

Wow...I found the exact opposite with the Goodtimes release of this title...from the very opening credits the letters appear to be blotchy and bleeding in the red characters...from there, the opening shot on my display, with Stallone in the streets undercover as the nurse, the image is snowy, grainy, dirty and indeed borders on unwatchable -- moving on from that part, the part where Williams and Stallone are raiding the drug apartment exhibits a horrible "fuzzyness" and noise that really riddles the screen...I was about to ask you why anyone would zoom a pan and scan transfer when you said it was open matte -- the rear of my copy says it's a full screen presentation.

At any rate, the version I am watching indeed looks horrendous; yes, the mono track is what was originally released alongside this title theatrically if I'm not mistaken, but Universal can still give the cult following of this gem a little special edition package with remixed 5.1 surround and a digital new transfer, if not on high def (who knows now what is going to happen with Universal now that HD DVD is dead and they were an HD DVD only commodity)...

Do you play your mono tracks out of only your center channel?