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07-28-2004, 12:50 AM
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#2 of 35 
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Member
Location: Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2004
Local Time: 04:45 AM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 413
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I picked mine up today, too...
Having just recently re-watched both mini-series during the past few weeks, the quality drop is evident in both the ongoing series (acting, recycled effects, acting, plots, acting, story continuity) and the DVD set itself (no widescreen, audio commentaries, interviews, etc.). Compare this to the "Sledge Hammer" set that came out today, another 80's cult favorite, that had nearly all of the above features lacking from this 'V' set.
However, that said, I still love having these shows for simple nostalgia value. I accepted long ago the hamminess of this enterprise, and found many things to enjoy about it, especially Michael Ironside's character, and the musical score by Dennis McCarthy, not to mention the cheesy catfighting between Diana and Lydia. The show took a turn for the worse, though, when it jettisoned half the cast 2/3 of the way through the season. It then limped along to cancellation, and the dustbin of 80s relics. I'm glad Warners dusted it off for us fans, though, who want to have the complete saga on DVD. Now if they can just make their supposedly upcoming "V: the Second Generation" mini-series worthy of the original mini-series, then I'll be an even happier camper...
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07-28-2004, 01:02 AM
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#3 of 35
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Local Time: 06:45 AM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 1,102
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Isn't the OAR 4:3?
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07-28-2004, 07:33 AM
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#4 of 35
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Local Time: 06:45 AM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 833
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Quote:
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the quality drop is evident in ... the DVD set itself (no widescreen, audio commentaries, interviews, etc.
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The series (and both mini-series) were shot in 4:3 TV ratio, so the lack of widescreen is an improvement in quality, not a drop.
The two mini-series DVDs are not OAR. The TV series is. We can at least be grateful for that.
Still, you'd think they could have tried a little harder. There are all kinds of things they could've used for extras: cast appearances on the talk shows (Jane Badler made a memorable appearance on Letterman while the series was in production, and she appeard on Carson during the mini), a photo gallery of the merchandise, a photo or text version of the script for the unmade second season opener: The Attack (which tied up all the loose ends of the cliffhanger final episode), bloopers (I know at least a few exist, as they were on Dick Clark's bloopers show), interviews (if not a commentary). An interview might've shed some light, for example, on who exactly was responsible for the cast change mid-season (I'd heard Brandon Tartikoff ordered the cast cut in half, but I don't remember where), especially the ditching of Michael Ironside.
Still, a bare-bones set is better than none. |
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07-28-2004, 10:26 AM
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#6 of 35
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Cees Alons
Administrator
Location: Amsterdam, Holland
Join Date: Aug 1997
Local Time: 12:45 PM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 18,046
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Just got mine in the mail. Haven't watched it yet, but I agree that "Standard version presented in a format preserving the aspect of its original television exhibition" is correct.
Excellent, Warner!
Cees
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07-28-2004, 12:26 PM
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#7 of 35
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Local Time: 05:45 AM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 1,363
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Quote:
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Does "The Complete Series" have some of the matching episodes within these two?
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No. The Complete Series is a self-contained weekly TV series that ran (and takes place) after the two miniseries. You have the sets of the two miniseries. By buying the Complete Series, you'd have everything that "V" spawned from its TV heyday with no duplication.
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07-28-2004, 03:14 PM
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#8 of 35
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Local Time: 11:45 AM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 513
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I haven't gotten mine yet - but DVDTalk has a review up which says that 'Breakout' is the third episode and not an extra on the last disc as earlier reported.
And yes - the series starts bad and only gets worse from there, but I was such a big fan of the show as a kid that nothing could keep me from buying it.
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07-28-2004, 03:22 PM
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#9 of 35
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Local Time: 06:45 AM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 169
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Mines on the way 
No way I could NOT buy this
thanks for reminding me it just came out
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07-28-2004, 05:25 PM
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#10 of 35
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Member
Join Date: Jun 1999
Local Time: 06:45 AM
Local Date: 09-05-2008
Posts: 4,596
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I was thrilled to pick this up yesterday.
I am unfortunately having a problem with episode 3. The disc locks up if I choose it, or if I make it to episode 3 in the play all. The only way I've been able to watch it is to select chapter 16 on play all.
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