The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma - Page 2

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

I just hope that they put that license to work soon--by re-releasing both series in a way that honors them (as opposed to Rhino's sets, which were badly lacking in qality-control and historical accuracy).

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

I just hope that they put that license to work soon--by re-releasing both series in a way that honors them (as opposed to Rhino's sets, which were badly lacking in quality-control and historical accuracy).

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

Well, I dragged out the Rhino Transformers season set DVDs recently and skimmed through them for the first time in a while.

On my relatively new widescreen/high-def tv, they look really bad. The "Rhino-fixes" stick out like cybertronic bole-bats.

And it was really "fun" to go through the numerous confusing/pointless/worthless extra features in the G1 season 1 set.

UGH.

I really, really hope that Sony BMG re-releases the series on DVD (along with G.I. JOE), and that the production team knows what "quality control" means. Mayb if the upcoming TFTM Special Edition sells well, that'll kick off such a release.

Question is, how should it be done? should they use the incomplete 35 mm film masters, as Rhino did, while replacing and substituting certain shots with the 1" broadcast master footage (which resulted in patchwork episodes that didn't even correct all of the 35 mm errors)? Or should they go with the 1" broadcast masters, despite their washed-out colors and such?

Although the 35 mm masters look great in terms of color and detail (aside from grain and film scratches), the incomplete and missing animation, as well as the fact that it looks almost TOO good (the colors are too pumped-up), and don't really represent the overall "look" of G1 and JOE as they originally aired.

All in all, I think the best way to go would be to use the 1" broadcast masters (with the CORRECT main/end titles for every episode), and to have the original commercial bumpers included (as with the Rhino discs), but with the key addition of a "watch without bumpers" option (via seamless branching), which will end complaints about the bumpers (but which will retain historical accuracy for those who want the bumpers included).

The episodes should also be in proper order. "The Gambler" comes after "Child's Play', but "Dark Awakening" (with an option to see the episode without the promo narration at the end for "The Return of Optimus Prime") is still early in the third season, etc.


The original scripts to all 98 episodes should be included (as with the Region 2 Metrodome sets). Here's a teaser from alt.toys.transformers, entitled "Secrets of the original scripts":


http://groups.google.com/group/alt.t...9dbdc3058fc05?

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.t...1e7f39c97a2f4?

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.t...354fa0dc6cb30?

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.t...095b193c37d6c?

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.t...68e075a3a3d77?

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.t...faf5a4ef671c3?

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.t...8dc428dc5339e?

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.t...fd218abaf2486?

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.t...58ddf3993e5ac?

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

Nope.

There are two possibilities:

1. Sony is re-releasing TFTM in the fall as a quickie promotional move for the 2007 live-action movie, and that's it (in other words, no plans to re-release the tv series).

2. The TFTM SE is a precursor to a re-release of the entire tv series in 2007 (which would doubtless sell better due to the hype about the live-action movie).

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

When Rhino got the license and started releasing episodes in a piecemeal fashion on video (based on the 1" broadcast masters) in the late 90s, I thought it was a good thing. Many of these episodes I hadn't even seen during the original run.

But, even then, there were problems.

1. Some episodes had the wrong opening titles, and were missing the white-lettered episode titles/writer credits/end titles.

2. There were numerous little errors on the packaging, like the statwement that Unicron forms a team called "the Unicrons" in the Movie.

3. At first, in Region 1, we got the international version of The Transformers: The Movie on video, with the opening credits replaced by Star Wars-style scrolling text narrated by Victor Caroli, and additional narration at the end of the film. It wasn't until after the Rhino TFTM DVD came out that the uncut US version was released on VHS.

4. The "Heroes" disc (which was originally supposed to contain "The Rebirth") was initially mispressed, and contained the "Villains" disc's content ("The Ultimate Doom") instead.



But even with these gaffes, I was very, very excited to hear that the series would be coming out on DVD. I eagerly bought the Rhino season 1 set, and sat down to enjoy. I remember that night well.

As "More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1" started, my heart sank. I couldn't be hearing what I thought I was hearing, could I? There was a whole bundle of obtrusive sound effects that had been added to the episode! And then I noticed that the first scene bumper in the episode moved and flipped too fast (as opposed to the more staccato motion of the bumpers from MTMTE). It was as if they'd taken the flipping Autobot/Decepticon symbol and replaced it with one of the faster-moving variations from a later episode! And then I began to notice other such errors and "Rhino-fixes", one after another after another.

I was somewhat relieved when I toggled my "audio" button and could hear the original soundtrack, though. But as I made my way through the DVD set, I noticed that some episodes had the new sound mix on both 5.1 and 2.0 audio tracks. And then I saw the abomination that was "Heavy Metal War"-by-way-of-Rhino. Bleeeeccchhhh! On eof my favorite episodes---utterly ruined and unwatchable!

After finishing with the episodes, I then delved into the extras and the insert booklet, which were confusing, useless, and full of factual and spelling errors in many cases.

UGH.

And it proceeded from there. The purchase of each season set for both Transformers and G.I. JOE was not "Oh, boy! I can't wait to see all these classic episodes again, and on DVD, to boot!", it was "Ohhhh, boy. I just can't wait to see what horrors Rhino has given us this time!"



I really, really hope that Sony (or Metrodome in the UK) can rectify this situation. With the live-action movie coming next year, there will never be a better time.

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

There's a feedback page at the newly-revised www.transformersthemoviedvd.com website from Sony. I suggest we all use it to try to convince Sony to re-release the original series PROPERLY. After all, if they remaster it and do it right, it'll probably trickle down to other Regions, as well (since the Rhino versions have made their way overseas, too).

http://www.sonymusic.com/about/feedback.cgi

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

That's possible. But, there seems to be a huge amount of exicitement for the TFTM DVD.

And, since the Rhino sets are out of print, and Transformers-mania is winding up for an explosion next year, it seems very logical that a re-release of some sort (hopefully one that addresses the problems we've discussed here) is at least in the discussion stage at Sony.

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

That looks very neat.


But, from what I've read, this is just a repackaging of the previous Metrodome DVDs, which were based on the flawed Region 1 Rhino film masters (the Metrodome production team didn't know about all of the problems with the Rhino sets until a few weeks before release, and they weren't happy about it).

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

That's hard to believe!

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

Episodes of the original GI JOE series have been airing as part of the G4 channel's "Action Blast" program. The episodes appear to be based on the 1" broadcast masters, as opposed to the Rhino DVD versions. Hmmm.

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

Well, as many of you know, The Transformers: The Movie SE will be coming out soon.

Here's an early review:

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=113492



This bit listed among the Special Features caught my attention:


"Trailer announcing the release of G1 on DVD by Sony in 2007"


WOO-HOO!


Let's hope and pray Sony gets this right!

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

The Costco version of Sony's TFTM DVD came with a bonus disc containing the original 3-part pilot, "More Than Meets the Eye:. However, it has been reported that the versions of the episodes on the disc were exactly the same as the Rhino release, which is *NOT* good.


With the live-action Transformers film coming up soon, there will almost certainly be news on Sony's G1 series re-release. Any updates so far?

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

That is correct, but the trailer just reused clips from the episodes as they appear on the Rhino DVDs. No other info (like Special Features, etc.) was included.

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

This is not good.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7039


It appears that the release of G1 by Sony BMG has been stalled (or delayed).

We can only hope that things will be sorted out. After all, it would be foolish not to take advantage of the hype surrounding the live-action movie with a DVD release of the original series.


By the way, here are some video clips (more are forthcoming from the videos' poster) that compare the original broadcast versions to the flawed Rhino DVDs, which help to illustrate why a new G1 DVD release is sorely needed.


"War of the Dinobots":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtCQaRAfIgc


"Heavy Metal War":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IiWe-pUzkk

Re: The Transformers/GI JOE Dilemma

True. Sad, but true.