Best of Route 66 - Page 13

Rod J · 02-27-2008, 09:21 AM

Gotta keep the free review copies coming in?

DVD Verdict review.

Unbelievable..

Bob Hug · 02-27-2008, 09:41 AM

While I actually enjoyed most of Christopher Kulik's review (it's very obvious that he enjoys the show's writing), he has completely ignored the cropping issue. He does make some passing reference to volume 1 being released in full frame and the second volume in widescreen and, in my opinion, as a reviewer that should have prompted him to ask the question: Why the difference? Unfortunately, he does not address the issue at all and, as a consequence, the effectiveness of an otherwise well-written review is diminished. And the verdict of "Roxbury & Infinity are hereby acquitted of all charges" . . . . . surely he jests!

Hank Dearborn · 02-27-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod J

Gotta keep the free review copies coming in?

DVD Verdict review.

Unbelievable..

That was a common theme on this forum a few years ago when nary a discouraging word was allowed to be uttered in criticism. Yes, that appears to be a common thread among reviewers. Keep the reviews positive so those free screeners keep rolling in.

Doug^Ch · 02-27-2008, 11:01 AM

As much as I don't like the cropping issue, I am enjoying this release so much more than the first one. It is like night and day. It looks beautiful, and since I've never seen the show before, and have no other means of acquiring it, I'm not sending it back. After the first release I was thinking about giving up on the series, but after viewing the second release, I am now really into the show. I am however hoping that Roxbury fixes the cropping on subsequent releases.

Bob Hug · 02-27-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug^Ch

I am however hoping that Roxbury fixes the cropping on subsequent releases.

Doug, let your voice be heard . . . . . you can send Roxbury's distributor, Infinity Entertainment, an E-mail. The more people who voice their opinion on this issue, the better.

Infinity Entertainment Group

Charles H · 02-27-2008, 12:23 PM

Frankly, I didn't have any problem with framing (context and information) until I got to "Welcome to Amity" and the scene in the cemetary in which guest stars Martha Scott and Susan Oliver had their jaws virtually decapitated by the "letterboxing." My wife didn't notice anything until I told her about the brouhaha on HTF.

That said, its an amazing series and the quality of the scripts and their execution "almost" trumps these technical aberrations: Where else can you see the real Rin Tin Tin (Producer Leonard produced the actual tv series) playing a seeing eye dog to mambo teacher Martha Hyer?

My all time favorite episode from either NAKED CITY or ROUTE 66 is "Eleven the Hard Way". I usually cringe when either of the shows attempt whimsey but this may be the first time on film that Walter Matthau "became" Walter Matthau and Edward Andrews is equally superb. There is even a Rin Tin Tin reference when Buzz says that he won Rin Tin Tin comic books as a kid. ("Effigy in Snow" has a Nelson Riddle reference in it.)

Let's just make sure that they never do this again!

Montytc · 02-27-2008, 01:20 PM

I enjoyed the first set despite the picture quality issues, and I was very much looking forward to the second volume until the letterboxing news came to light. Now I have ordered the first disc from Netflix so I can survey the damage for myself before I decide to buy.

Montytc · 02-27-2008, 01:32 PM

I enjoyed the first volume despite the picture quality, and was very much looking forward to volume 2. After the cropping issue came up I decided to Netflix the first disc to survey the damage for myself before I purchase this set.

Bob Hug · 03-07-2008, 03:10 PM

New (March 5, 2008) George Maharis interview here:

Television | George Maharis, "Route 66" and that Corvette are back — on DVD | Seattle Times Newspaper

Mention is made of the season 2, volume 1 release for May.

Hollywoodaholic · 03-07-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Hug

New (March 5, 2008) George Maharis interview here:

Television | George Maharis, "Route 66" and that Corvette are back — on DVD | Seattle Times Newspaper.

"Cool," as Buz would say. Thanks. Where do you find this stuff? This bodes well for a audio commentary on the next release since he seems to be of sound mind and talkative spirit.

I remember the hepatitis story about how he was written out of several episodes (they kept using the trick of Tod being on the phone to him), but there's definitely more to the story of why they finally replaced him with Glenn Corbett.

And his observation that Corbett was just a brunette Tod, personality-wise, was right on. He was supposed to be a Viet Nam vet, but there was no edge to him at all and no contrast to Tod. But, my mother loved 'Linc' and the blue eyes when she finally saw them in color. Also, remember his previous show, "It's a Man's World?" I doubt we'll ever see that on DVD.