When are We going to see a Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea DVD Release?!!!!! - Page 6

To the DVD consumer out there who isn't familiar with either of these two Irwin Allen 1960s SF tv series the packaging design is going to make all the difference in the world!

I (emphatically) disagree with the positive evaluation of the box art for THE TIME TUNNEL, VOLUME ONE 4-disc set...it sucks to High Heaven!

You must be the only one whom I've heard that actually likes it! It betrays that no effort was done in its drafting (and next to nothing was actually spent on it for that matter).

While the graphics for the VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA - FIRST SEASON, VOLUME ONE 4-disc set aren't nearly as good as say that for the upcoming THE RAT PATROL - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON 5-disc box set they're still far better than what was done for THE TIME TUNNEL (ABC 1966-67). But one can only expect just so much when it comes to the DVD packaging. Some show more effort and imagination than others.

Speaking for myself it would have been great if Richard Basehart and David Hedison were also included on the packaging design as Mr. Basehart's casting in particular should be a key point in attracting interest in this DVD collection.

Perhaps there is a problem with some of these actors trying to claim royalties for the use of their likenesses on any such tv premiums.

But the design for the VOYAGE packaging illustrates what I've been saying about these 1960s SF tv series all along that they have definite appeal (and relevency) for the 21st Century tv viewer far more so than most tv titles that are being addressed here...and that includes THE INVADERS (ABC 1967-68) starring Roy Thinnes.

People threw in my face stuff like THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW and DYNASTY which I saw both in the 20 dollar DVD discount bin at Wal Mart over the holidays and this particular retail store couldn't give them away!

As for the current Amazon.com sales rank (since you went to the trouble to verify it) you've already gone on record as stating that THE TIME TUNNEL is your favourite SF tv series of the Irwin Allen quartet (nothing wrong with that) but you just can't compare a (mere) 30 episodes to VOYAGE's infinitely more impressive catalogue of 110 presentations.

Besides the day is still young yet and things could change dramatically.

Jeff T.

http://www.cloudster.com/Sets&Vehicl...teskey007a.jpg

Well if THE TIME TUNNEL - VOLUME ONE 4-disc set doesn't perform well it will be (entirely) due to its lousy packaging design...but I don't want to go over all that again!

It's done. It was a big mistake not to come up with box art that (more) accurately reflected this classic Irwin Allen 1960s SF tv series and fans of THE TIME TUNNEL may just suffer from this blunder.

If the DVD release succeeds it will be solely on the strength the show's reputation...if it has one with the mass consumer out there.

Consider yourself fortunate that THE TIME TUNNEL (ABC 1966-67) only lasted a single season which should guarantee that the entire series will be marketed in two volumes.

I concur with my two colleagues that VOYAGE has received infinite more exposure in tv syndication (just like LOST IN SPACE) and you just can't expect THE TIME TUNNEL (or LAND OF THE GIANTS for that matter) to compete with it.

Reflecting on the VOYAGE packaging design I'm really pleased with it and I (personally) think that the DVD release will do very well indeed! Looking at the Flying Sub there is a definite majestic poetry and grandeur of undersea exploration that is impressively reflected. Yes I think most everybody will be eagerly snatching this DVD set off the retail store shelves.

I know that I will be!

If the VOYAGE collection lives up to all our expectations in (actual) quality then this discussion thread is going to go on for a good long time to come!

Jeff T.

Pertaining to the (fine) VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA - FIRST SEASON, VOLUME ONE box art which is a definite improvement and (far) more true to its source I can (well) understand and support 20th Century-Fox Home Entertainment's intention to get this particular DVD series off to a strong start.

Whether it's the first season (1964-65) or the fourth season (1967-68) the Flying Sub is still a valid part of the VOYAGE mythos. In other words it is (generically) representative of the entire series rather than a single season.

Unlike apparently DYNASTY whose success (and main focal point of interest) seemingly solely depended upon the (auspicious) arrival of Joan Collins (or so it's been tiresomely stated here), VOYAGE did very well for an entire season without this particular piece of technical hardware and I think that this fact will be appreciated by those who purchase this (high demand) DVD from the very outset. It's inclusion on the packaging design was a good, sound tactical move! It demonstrates thought and interest in the show.

If we couldn't get the main cast members (Richard Basehart and David Hedison) included then at least Fox gave us the next best thing.

The 32 first year presentations of VOYAGE are so well done and esthetically satisfying (not to mention just how inexpensive this DVD set is in the first place) that I (really) don't think that anyone is going to be troubled (in the least) by its absense at all.



Jeff T.

In response to Michael's message post your suggestions are excellent and I see that you are both a knowledgable and devoted fan of this classic 1960s SF tv series. This is precisely the kind of participant that I want to attract here. If forum members are interested in other SF tv series than start your own discussion thread and freely talk about it. Who's stopping you?!

I not here to get too analytical in the conversation like I have to always justify my point-of-view. Absolute balderdash!

Read some of the early message posts in this thread. Many of the objections raised to a DVD release of VOYAGE voiced by others are now invalid.

Perhaps someone at 20th Century-Fox Home Enterainment is reading this discussion thread Michael and will apply (at least in your case) some of the suggestions in the future.

I concur they could have used the Minisub which is still (impressively) modern looking enough but unlike other SF tv series that are so over exposed on television maybe those responsible are just not that well informed about the show.

Fox gets much of its input on the Irwin Allen 1960s SF tv series from Kevin Burns (of Synthesis Entertainment) but all he seems to be really interested in is primarily LOST IN SPACE (CBS 1965-68) his pet television show and he may not really know all that much about VOYAGE himself. Obviously his participation hasn't really helped any in the determination of the packaging design.

And people (in general) are certainly not perfect so there's always the likeliness of mistakes being made particularly in the case of an older tv property.

But I'm mighty glad that Fox didn't risk using the likenesses of Richard Basehart and David Hedison and winding up with legal issues that could have conceivably held back the DVD release!

These DVD boxes are really quite small in size and there's a limitation on just what can be (effectively) featured. Most of them are really not that extraordinary anyway.

Jeff T.

Just when I was getting used to the preliminary design too!

This new information only confirms what I've said that the SSRN SEAVIEW and the FLYING SUB seen together are representive of the entire series and not just a single season per se.

It's obvious that 20th Century-Fox Home Entertainment has something truly extraordinary in store and recognizes VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (ABC 1964-68) which was a television sensation back in the 1960s launching Irwin Allen's tv series dynasty as one of his more important SF tv ventures.

It can only get better from here on and VOYAGE fans will certainly have something extra special to look forward to.



Bring on VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA - FIRST SEASON - VOLUME ONE in February 2006!



Jeff T.

So many people have raised issues over the preliminary packaging design that was previewed even to the point that it misrepresented the first season (1964-65) episodes...and not just here so that it's really getting on the absurd side.

While I'd like to see a worthy design graphics fittingly appropriate to the stellar first year shows utilized myself I'm probably much more concerned that it's definitely too late in the day to still be coming up with satisfactory box art when the intended release date of this DVD set is scheduled just a mere month and a half away.

I would have thought that this product had been already manufactured and ready to go by now! It's really being cut precariously close to the scheduled deadline of February 21st, 2006.

The big question is "Will it be ready on time?"

That's precisely why it was absurd to dare suggest that all three remaining Irwin Allen 1960s SF tv series be released in 2006 because 20th Century-Fox Home Entertainment obviously can't properly handle the two that will be.

Without an identifying packaging design it's very difficult for VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (ABC 1964-68) supporters or the casual SF fan buyer for that matter to really rally around this DVD release right now...and this can only have a detrimental effect on retail sales.

But I'll say this that VOYAGE fans had better not procrastinate and come out to support this particular DVD release. Let's see some genuinely outstanding retail sales numbers for Pete's sake!

I can promise that for all three remaining Irwin Allen 1960s SF tv franchises you will most definitely see some excellent rare bonus archival material included.

You can bank on it!

Jeff T.