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The MGM "please re-issue these DVDs" thread. Post your lists!

post #1 of 137
Thread Starter 
Apologies if this kind of thread has been started previously.

I thought it'd be interesting if we'd all list our choices of MGM DVDs we'd like to see re-issued. This of course applies to bare bones discs and full frame only discs that we'd like to see as "special editions" or at the very least, new OAR/widescreen versions. Since somebody from MGM may be reading this, please try to give them your reasons as to why they should release new versions.

I'll start;

1) "The Return of the Living Dead" – Probably one of the greatest cult horror films of all time. When it first hit DVD in August of 2002, *many* people complained that they either couldn't find a copy at stores or some stores only had 2-3 copies and they sold out quickly. Not to mention the fact that there was zero promotion for the DVD.

Having spoken with most of the cast/crew members, ALL of them have told me they'd be willing to participate – interviews for a more robust documentary, etc. There are also deleted scenes that could be included. Let's not forget that director Dan O'Bannon would LOVE to do a "director's cut." "The Return of the Living Dead" is a highly regarded film in the horror community, it not only got better reviews than George Romero's "Day of the Dead" (which was released the same year) but had a higher box office gross.

2) "A Fish Called Wanda" – A worldwide smash hit featuring one of the best comedic casts in the past few decades. Kevin Kline won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Also starring Monty Python alum Michael Palin and John Cleese plus the wonderful Jamie Lee Curtis. Why do some hit films that remain so popular after several years get no respect on home video?

3) "Get Shorty" – Yet another hit comedy with yet *another* stellar cast...John Travolta, Danny DeVito, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, James Gandolfini, etc. Yet another bare bones DVD. What gives? Don't make me call Momo MGM!

4) "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins" – Ok, granted this was certainly NOT a box office hit. However movies *do* gain a decent audience on home video and multiple TV airings (look at "Roadhouse", a cheesy B-movie that debuted in the top 10 DVD sales chart!) Clearly "Remo.." is one of those films. While one could understand a bare bones DVD for this flick, one can *never* understand not giving fans an OAR version.

5) "The Dark Half" – When I first got into DVD a few years ago, this was one of the initial titles I was intending to purchase...until I saw it was full frame only. Directed by George Romero and based on a story by Stephen King, "The Dark Half" is a woefully underappreciated horror film that, at the very least, deserves a widescreen edition (though I wouldn't mind a Romero commentary.)

6) "The Birdcage" – Didn't this one gross $100 million at the box office? This remake featured another all-star cast (Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, etc) that has a lowly bare bones DVD to represent it in people's homes. I'm seeing a trend here...big hit, star cast, great reviews...bare bones DVD. Strange innit? MGM, with all due respect, doesn't exactly crank out major hits at the box office on a regular basis so perhaps they need to squeeze as much as they can out of the hits they *do* have?

7) "Misery" – Kathy Bates won an Oscar for Best Actress in this Stephen King horror-fest. We shouldn't forget James Caan either....and ho-hum...box office hit, great reviews, cast....blah blah. Talk about movies just screaming for a special edition DVD.

8) "Needful Things" – Here's another Stephen King adaptation that unfortunately went unnoticed at the box office. As anyone who has seen it on TV, there is a wealth of deleted footage that could be included on a future re-issue.

Ok, that's a start. Please list your choices guys and gals.
post #2 of 137
Good list, Michael. Can't argue with any of those.

Irritatingly enough, Wanda has been available as a loaded Region 2 SE for quite a few months now. I find it hard to believe MGM hasn't ported this over for R1 yet.

Moonstruck - The present release is full-frame only. Yuck. This is a great, great movie and Cher's crown jewel of her film career. A proper 16x9 version is definitely in order.

Child's Play - The original Chucky flick. Needs a widescreen/16x9 release. Throw in a Brad Dourif commentary.

Pumpkinhead - Full frame.
post #3 of 137
Spaceballs! The current DVD has just terrible picture quality, not to mention non-anamorphic. Please re-issue!
post #4 of 137
Red Dawn Anamorphic with Milius commentary
The Dirty Dozen Anamorphic
Easy Money Anamorphic
Network or did this go to WB?
Raging Bull Special Edition w/ The Works
Rollerball Anamorphic w/ Caan commentary JON-A-THAN!
Thief Anamorphic w/ Caan/Mann comentary
The Thomas Crown Affair Anamorphic (original)
WarGames Anamorphic w/ The Works

All of The Pink Panther movies, boxset please

Not to mention newly restored Bonds
post #5 of 137
The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3.

This one is impossible to find.
post #6 of 137


1) Fargo. Oh, wait...

2) Rain Main. Oh, wait...

3) The Usual Suspects. Oh, wait...
post #7 of 137
All titles with original film text removed and replaced by player-generated text!
post #8 of 137
Thread Starter 
Ah! The "Pink Panther" movies! How could I forget those???? Certainly those deserve SEs.
post #9 of 137
OAR and anamorphic reissues of these titles please:

Moonstruck

Mr. Mom

Yours, Mine & Ours

Breakin

Breakin'2: Electric Boogaloo

Fluke
post #10 of 137

Anamorphic SEs:
Fistful of Dollars
For a Few Dollars More
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
post #11 of 137
I'd like to see Top Gun released with Anamorphic widescreen. Though I guess from a digital bits transcript, its due sometime in 2004.
post #12 of 137
Who'll Stop The Rain
Force 10 From Navarone
post #13 of 137
WHERE THE HELL IS "ICE PIRATES" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
post #14 of 137
WHERE THE HELL IS "ICE PIRATES" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Class of 1984

and more "Cult Classics " S**t if you guys pulled your heads out of your a**es you see what fans want !!! And not full frame !!!! Search the valuts I know there is a print of Remo Williams in there somewhere !!!!!!!!!!!!!
post #15 of 137
Yes, I want the whol Man With No Name Trilogy in SEs. preferrably with an Italian track.
post #16 of 137
I agree that Moonstruck deserves a rerelease in OAR at the least. It is a great little film. I would also like a rerelease of Miracle Mile.
post #17 of 137
Misery SE is out in R2.
Pink Panther Box set (excl. Return) is also out in R2.
post #18 of 137
I forgot about Back To School. That disc was horrid. Didn't they just slap black bars onto a pain&scam transfer?

Give Rodney some respect!

In light of the succesful remake, how about a SE redux of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2?
post #19 of 137
My Picks:

Night of the Hunter- With the new documentary made about the film (although I believe MGM was not involved and may not have the rights to it)

The Apartment- This deserves a special edition

The Big Country- This deserves a special edition (maybe with the laser disc extras) and the current transfer is lacking

Exodus- This deserves a special edition and the current transfer is lacking.

Moonstruck- Special Edition.

The Alamo- Special edition (The new film will be out next spring)

The Great Escape-Special Ed (already an R2 release)

The Pink Panther films are all disc now (and rumored for April release) Also Discontinued is a Fish called Wanda (already released in R2) and Theater of Blood so hopefully they are working on something there. Also I kind of feel there will be something new with It's a Mad,Mad,Mad,Mad World next year (the current special edition is disc) and The Good The Bad & The Ugly (restored).
post #20 of 137
MGM should give us anamorphic SEs of:

Jean de Florette
Manon of the Spring
Babette's Feast
post #21 of 137
R1 Anamorphic Special Edition reissues of these titles please:

TOP GUN *
TITANIC *
CRIMSON TIDE
ARMAGEDDON
DEEP IMPACT
ENEMY OF THE STATE
TRUE LIES
MRS. DOUBTFIRE
ROMANCING THE STONE
JEWEL OF THE NILE

* confirmed or rumored that these are in the works.

Oops, didn't realize this was MGM. Anyway, not certain of which of these may or may not be MGM, but they all need the treatment!
post #22 of 137
JEAN DE FLORETTE
MANON DE SOURCE
THE APARTMENT
BIG COUNTRY
EXODUS

All deplorable transfers. Thanks, MGM, for the good ones, though!
post #23 of 137
Summer Lovers in 16:9 encoded widescreen. The film was shot in 1.85:1 and the current P&S DVD is horrid.
post #24 of 137
All need to be done in proper wide screen aspect ratios and must be enhanced for 16:9 displays:
PIT AND THE PENULUM
MOONSTRUCK
A FISH CALLED WANDA
WARGAMES
BACK TO SCHOOL
post #25 of 137
Even though they are anamorphic the current transfer of ROB ROY and RANCHO DELUXE are horrible. They should be redone.

Would also like to see BOUND FOR GLORY and HEAVEN'S GATE redone in anamorphic transfers.
post #26 of 137
I'm really most interested in seeing every film that had optical subtitles (burned in to the film print) replaced for player generatered subtitles to be replaced with the proper "burned in" subtitles.

The player generated subtitles are often of a completely different look than the film itself and thus a distraction, and sometimes the subtitles the player throws up can be so small as unrecognizable, or improperly encoded, which results in information being displayed improperly or omitted. Or sometimes just the subtitles have been mis-typed or just plain forgotten.

As such, I think MGM definitely needs to re-do Annie Hall with the original subtitles that made the balcony scene where Woody Allen asks Diane Keaton out on a date so funny in the first place.

Also, English captions or subtitles for all releases that don't have them currently would be appreciated.
post #27 of 137
My re-release wishlist echoes many who have posted before me...

Child's Play
Pumpkinhead
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part II
Spaceballs
A Fish Called Wanda
post #28 of 137
All films intended for viewing at 1.66:1 or wider should be released or reissued, as the case may be, in 16x9 formatted widescreen. Reissues would include House of Games (currently 4x3 formatted widescreen, to my understanding), Henry V (Branagh; 16x9 formatted, but overmatted from its intended 1.66:1), Sweet Smell of Success, The Misfits, Some Like It Hot, the upcoming release of Cyrano de Bergerac, a great film reportedly presented in 4x3 formatted widescreen ... and countless others. If it's 1.66:1 or wider, it benefits from 16x9 formatting: the pixels don't lie. And overmatting a film, just as removing mattes for an "open matte" 1.33:1 presentation, compromises intended screen composition.

I'm thrilled with many of M-G-M's films on disc, and they were one of the first studios to embrace an aggressively low pricing structure , but in the above there is room for improvement.

While I wouldn't necessarily advocate reissues (perhaps a few, such as Dances With Wolves and Die Another Day, though they are otherwise excellent), M-G-M's chronic application of artificial edge enhancement to telecines, creating halos and/or hard lines around (and particularly to screen right) of objects set against bright backgrounds or featuring specific contrast variances, is another area in which I'd very much like to see improvement (i.e. the elimination of edge enhancement altogether -- it's an analogue technology at odds with the clarity of a digital format). So many of their releases are outstanding ... right up to the edge enhancement parameter, and then they fall apart in an effort to accurately recreate (in DVD resolution) an image as seen on film.

If the studio would eliminate EE from releases (perhaps with a few reissues), and 16x9 format all product 1.66:1 and wider (necessitating a great many reissues), they'd easily rise to the very top of the DVD quality game. They're up there already, particulary with their Midnight Madness and other budget lines (where price to content value is often exemplary), but a few unnecessary, easily-remedied snags keep their product below the overall quality of product from a few other studios. They're certainly in the top tier, besting some of their competitors, but they could be higher still with the above corrections.
post #29 of 137
Thread Starter 
Quote:
TOP GUN *
TITANIC *
CRIMSON TIDE
ARMAGEDDON
DEEP IMPACT
ENEMY OF THE STATE
TRUE LIES
MRS. DOUBTFIRE
ROMANCING THE STONE
JEWEL OF THE NILE

None of those are MGM.
post #30 of 137
SUMMER LOVERS in its OAR and 16x9 enhanced. And, please include the 1982 documentary "The Making of Summer Lovers."

Jon
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