Buck Rogers in the 21st Century - Page 4

Actually, it's the opposite. This was filmed for TV and was shot in 4:3, so the theatrical presentation is presumably the same as Battlestar Galactica: they took the original 4:3 image and HARD matted it, masking off the top and/or bottom of the picture, so the theatrical version would have been MISSING picture information that was present in the TV version.

Despite literature, it wouldn't surprise me if what we get is the TV presentation rather than the feature, unless, of course, no one there knows one from the other.

I think we should've gotten the TV version with the "movie-only" scenes either re-inserted or added as supplements (along with the footage that was cut from both versions, most notably all of Joseph Wiseman's scenes as Draco, except for the brief one at the end of the theatrical version).

I believe, based on my vague memory of a TV Guide article, that they started filming Buck Rogers with the intention that it would be a tv special or miniseries.

Then before production was even done they decided to release it theatrically.

The film did well enough for them to decide to make a standard tv series. So they went back and recut the film a little bit to serve as a tv pilot...which wasn't too difficult since it had originally been planned as a tv special anyway. However they still needed to add some stuff to it to set up the series -- this is why the extra "tv footage" of Buck being given a tour of his spiffy new tv series apartment with sleep-o-matic bed is so jarringly out of place in the tv version of the miniseries - it was filmed months later, with a completely different "look."

The theatrical version is easily recognizable from the very start, as it most memorably has a different opening credit sequence a la James Bong, er, James Bond (good typo, there), with scantily clad futuristic women rolling around the giant illuminated letters of "B U C K R O G E R S" (you can tell they're futuristic women because they wear spandex). Too racy for tv. And the theme song had lyrics in the theatrical version. The lyric version of the song can be heard in the END credits of the tv version of the movie, but from that point forward the lyric version was replaced with instrumental only.

"Far beyond this world I know
Far beyond my time
what am I
who am I
where could I be
what am I doing and where
will I pee..."

or something like that. I actually had the soundtrack album.

Something like that.

It's scheduled for November 16.



http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/release...?ReleaseID=3842

I have an old Starlog article from the year Buck Rogers premiered, and it would appear that Universal decided ahead of shooting the pilot that they would try a theatrical release to test the water and follow it up as quickly as possible by premiering the series. It states in the interview that the cast only found out about the theatrical release plan when one of the camera operators mentioned they were framing the show "185 instead of the usual 175). I take this to mean the show was shot 4:3 but all the action kept within the 1.85:1 Title Safe zone. No hard matting was used so the film could be projected at 1.85:1 in theatres and show on tv at the standard 4:3.





R2 is getting just season one as a collection on the 22nd November. I'm getting that, but I'm not bothered with season two. I'd still like to see the theatrical cut again with the cool title sequence and Twiki muttering that he's freezing his ball bearings off.

Are there any reviews of this yet? I really hope that both versions of the pilot are included. Both have footage that didn't appear in the other version.

Brian,





My review copy won't be here until Monday for DVDTown.com, I'll give you first impressions right away! [img]images/smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Just read the fine review of this set that's up at thedigitalbits, and I have a question: Is the theatrical release included in addition to the TV pilot? The review seems to say that it is, but I admit I don't know for sure.

Sounds like a cool set, despite the lack of extras.

I probably will wait for a while to see if the price drops.


My problems are twofold. It is very pricey for a set with no extras plus paying for a second season that I loath. For


Universal, what else is new.





There were two problems with the second season that made me stop watching. The first was it was turned into a poor copy of Star Trek. Whereas Gil Gerard was perfectly cast for season 1, I thought he was miscast for season 2. I also hated the fact that they got rid of Ardala. Gil Gerard and Pamela Hensley had a chemistry. I loved the fact that she was a lot like Buck in that she did her own thing. Witness the dance scene in the pilot where everybody is looking at them like what they are doing is scandalous but they don't care. Yet she could be so petulant as in Flight of the War Witch where she declares that Princess' don't start engines.

$56 with STL was low enough for me.


i'm looking forward to having this

I had been leaning against purchasing the show up 'til now. I'd seen the reruns on Sci-Fi and was thinking that I wasn't sure the show was holding up for me. Now that the release is almost here, I'm starting to change my mind and might pick it up anyway. Sure would have been nice to have some extras on it, but I may pick it up anyway.

All I can say is, after seeing the pictures from the anniversary screening, Erin Gray has sure aged nicely...

Back to our normally scheduled thread...

Nice review Justin...but I am confused....which version of the pilot is included...the television version or the theatrical version?

I would say it's the Theatrical version, with the matting removed. That having been said, I'm not sure, since I've never seen the Theatrical version, only the TV version and that was years ago.

If anyone wants to preview before they buy Sci Fi will be running all the eps from Season 2 next tuesday between 8am and 4pm. I have my Tivo set.

So it is just one version of the pilot, then? I'm sure it's the theatrical version, since most advertising materials say it's included and uncut. Still, I had hoped that they would include the television edit as well. As I said earlier in the thread, the TV cut contained some footage that was not in the theatrical version, most notably an epilogue that set up the series a little better. Oh, well. Guess it's not really the complete Complete Series, but I'm still happy it's coming out. Looking forward to picking it up.

Thanks for the review, Justin.

It says on the bottom of the back of the package:

"Series pilot included is theatrical version rather than televised version"

so that should settle that.

so, essentially, were getting the 'cut' version of the pilot, but without the matting and anamorphic enhancement that would make the cut 'theatrical' verison special.

man...and people were bitching to high heaven about the Night Gallery set...

well, i'm still happy to have the show on a compact medium, and i won't complain about the price i paid for the set, especially when i have a pre-recorded copy of Space Vampire that cost me $10 alone and is on a far inferior medium- but the effort put into it is kind of disappointing.

Well, kind of. Like I said, both the theatrical and the TV version had footage that was not in the other one, so if we had just gotten the TV version, it would have been "cut" as well. I think the best thing to do would have either been to put the TV version in the box set and release the theatrical version as a standalone disc, like they did with Battlestar Galactica. However, looking at the spacing on the 4th disc, it seems like they would have had room to include both versions of the pilot.

Well, it is a little disappointing, as I would prefer to have both, but if I have to pick, I'll take the theatrical version.

even if they had just had a little 15 minute featurette that explained the differences between the two versions and had all the scenes that weren't in whichever version is represented.
that would have been a nice little 'no budget' extra- just have a couple of text screens and the deleted scenes.

and barring that, if there were going to use the theatrical version, could we at least have it in the theatrical aspect ratio?

that chaffes a little.

I'm sorry, but NO SALE. I don't have much money and I made the decision to get this, despite the omission of Gil Gerard and Erin Gray commentaries. But to not have the first episode, as aired, was a huge goof on the part of Universal. This set is too expensive for any goofs.

Since the pilot was released to theatres months before being aired on TV in edited form (with a new tag, I know) I've always considered it the "real" version. It is what I saw in theatres in 1979 and I'm glad the theatrical cut is on the set. Yes, they could have added the tag on a bonus and had some extras, but this is the entire series in one box, and it looks amazing.

It's not like Universal pulled an ALF or TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT goof here.

I actually think the BUCK ROGERS set was a great deal; despite the frustrating lack of extras, we got 2 seasons-worth of episodes for around $70 (Best Buy/Wal-Mart prices, although Costco had it for $60). I paid $40 on sale for the A-Team and Magnum PI the weeks they came out, and those are Universal shows, too. Thus, 2 seasons of those shows would cost $80 on sale.
Not that I'm letting Universal off the hook completely. I think they should have released the theatrical version seperately, with the TV pilot on the set. And again, the lack of extras are frustrating. I am happy to have all of the episodes in one set, which is far better than nothing at all!

Is the pilot movie on disc one? If so, what is the title of the episode that follows it?

Scott--

The pilot movie "Awakening" is on disc one, side one, and it's followed by the double-length "Planet of the Slave Girls." I have to say, despite the lack of extras and the omission of the TV version of the pilot, if you're a fan, the set is not a bad deal if you can find it at a discounted price. All of the regular episodes seem to be uncut, and they look and sound pretty impressive, all things considered.

Been looking at some of the episodes; boy, this show was campy but I love it.

Well, if there was only one choice, I'm glad the theatrical cut of this was chosen. The opening sequence is great and the "shit" exclamation when Tigerman tries to take Buck out lol. Much rather have this than the tv version if it was one or the other.

I'm very greatful that they put both seasons in one set like they did...I'm loving it ;o). My only gripe is the packaging...I would have preferred slim cases like Fox used for Lost in Space.

Yeah, its sad that there was no input from Gil or Erin, but I'm pysched that I now have all the shows together in one set on my favorite format. Thanks Universal!.

Even if the theatrical cut hadn't been included, I would have still bought the damn thing because all of the episodes are here. If you want the tv version, tivo it off the Sci Fi channel and burn it to a DVD-R. That's what I did ;op.

One thing no one has addressed yet: Are the "movie length" episodes presented in their original double-length format, or are they chopped into two parts (as per syndication)?

The movie-length episodes (besides the pilot) are:
Planet of the Slave Girls
Flight of the War Witch
Time of the Hawk
Journey to Oasis

If these are presented as 2-parters, then they are likely less-complete than the original versions, as "on last week's show" recaps would've undoubtedly been added.


I don't really see removing the widescreen matte as a problem. This was originally shot for a TV ratio. Production was already underway before they decided to also shoot this "widescreen safe." That in and of itself was probably done (originally) as a "just in case", since they screwed up Galactica by matting it for widescreen when it wasn't shot "widescreen safe" (and pissing off Dykstra in the process).

Of course, we all know it did make it to theatres first, but as this was a "for-TV" production to start with, I'm not bothered that it's in 4:3. They didn't pull a "Kung Fu" and chop out any of the original image...

As someone else said, it's too bad the footage unique to the TV version wasn't at least included in an "extra scenes" package, or perhaps better still, added into the theatrical cut to give us an "extended" version.

Of course, I'm also disappointed we didn't get any cut scenes (like all of the unused Draco stuff). I guess the Galactica release spoiled me.

I'm also glad it is the theatrical version, because I remember even as a child that the added scene of Buck visiting his new apartment didn't "fit" the feel of the rest of the show.

Confession: When I went on Universal Studios tour back in the day, I was super excited to see Buck's space shuttle parked out in the Old West area of the lot.