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DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

post #1 of 66
7/18/06 at 11:46am
Thread Starter 
Ghostbusters ('99 release)
Showgirls (non-anamorphic)
The Grifters (HBO edition)
Robocop (Criterion)
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post #2 of 66
7/18/06 at 12:19pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Annie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated)
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post #3 of 66
7/18/06 at 1:52pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

the older, redder, non-anamorphic CHARADE (criterion)
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post #4 of 66
7/18/06 at 1:54pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

OKLAHOMA! (Todd-AO version)
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post #5 of 66
7/18/06 at 1:54pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

good one Matt!
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post #6 of 66
7/18/06 at 1:56pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

The Big Lebowski. The newer Universal SE pales in comparison to the older Polygram version.
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post #7 of 66
7/18/06 at 2:28pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Kim
The Big Lebowski. The newer Universal SE pales in comparison to the older Polygram version.

Though they both have issues, this site http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/Reviews/bigl.htm hurts your argument more than helps it. Check out the gun-in-the-face shot; egads! to the Polygram version...
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post #8 of 66
7/18/06 at 2:31pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Robocop (Criterion)
The Teminator (Image)
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post #9 of 66
7/18/06 at 2:39pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Silence Of The Lambs (Criterion)
Ghostbusters (1999 release)
Rear Window (2001 release)
Halloween (1999 release)
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post #10 of 66
7/18/06 at 2:48pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

A Hard Day's Night (MPI)
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post #11 of 66
7/18/06 at 3:41pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

I'm sure many people prefer the older Reservoir Dogs. Hopefully they fix it with the upcoming rerelease. As several have already said, I definately prefer the old Ghostbusters. I never sold a DVD so quickly in my life.
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post #12 of 66
7/18/06 at 4:15pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Showgirls (non-anamorphic)
Interesting. Why is the older version preferred? (I've never seen the anamorphic disc.)

M.
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post #13 of 66
7/18/06 at 4:58pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

I second the Todd-AO Oklahoma and the previous Halloween. The new ones were major disappointments.
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post #14 of 66
7/18/06 at 5:19pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

The Black Hole (Anchor Bay..Non Anamorphic)

The Disney version is a horrible, blurry, grainy mess!
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post #15 of 66
7/18/06 at 5:52pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

This movie will only look SO good because of its budget, but I think I prefer the THX Evil Dead II Anchor Bay disc to the Divimax version. Something about the newer version just bugs me.
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post #16 of 66
7/18/06 at 6:08pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Two more votes for Ghostbusters and Robocop, PQ-wise. My ideal Robo is the image from Criterion, sound from MGM.
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post #17 of 66
7/18/06 at 6:44pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

1- Ben-Hur: Special Edition (Better colors IMHO than Collector's Edition)

2- Wizard Of Oz: Special Edition (Better colors IMHO than Collector's Edition)

3- Reservoir Dogs: Widescreen Edition (Better than 10th Anniversary Edition), still waiting for better edition (maybe 15th Anniversary on 10/24/2006?)

Regards,
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post #18 of 66
7/18/06 at 8:07pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Totally agree with the Robocop (Criterion). Just the fact that's its the director's approved 1.66.1 is enough for me.
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post #19 of 66
7/18/06 at 9:51pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

I echo the preference for the Criterion Silence of the Lambs. The MGM one is too bright. I also like the 1999 Patton more than the mushy, bland 2006 transfer...
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post #20 of 66
7/18/06 at 10:53pm

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Gladiator
Kingdom of Heaven

Strangely, the Extended Editions for both films are too bright and not as filmlike as the original transfers. They just don't look like the theatrical prints at all.
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post #21 of 66
7/18/06 at 11:18pm
Thread Starter 

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben
Interesting. Why is the older version preferred? (I've never seen the anamorphic disc.)

M.
The V.I.P. edition transfer presents a Red Push on skin tones. The 2.35 framing has additional matting over DP Jost Vacano's supervised original 2.10 framing.
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post #22 of 66
7/19/06 at 4:54am

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

All of the Image releases of Chaplin films. I have the mk2 ones but I only keep them for the extras.
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post #23 of 66
7/19/06 at 5:39am

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Colin Jacobson
I echo the preference for the Criterion Silence of the Lambs. The MGM one is too bright...
I echo your echo. The MGM seems to have a steely blue cast to the colors, which is not how I remember it looking in theaters. The pro-logic sound on the Criterion is also better than the new 5.1 remix. I wish the compression was a little better on the Criterion, though.

Regards,
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post #24 of 66
7/19/06 at 6:06am

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Will Krupp
the older, redder, non-anamorphic CHARADE (criterion)

Interesting...I've only seen the anamorphic version, and thought it looked wonderful, color-wise (on my old 32" CRT). Ignorance is (or was) bliss, in my case.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Black
Rear Window (2001 release)

Do you mean compared to the Masterpiece Collection? That reminds me - that's the only disc out of the collection I haven't seen yet. I already sold the 2001 edition. Oh, well. See above about "ignorance," "bliss," and "me..."

Doug
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post #25 of 66
7/19/06 at 6:48am

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
All of the Image releases of Chaplin films. I have the mk2 ones but I only keep them for the extras.

I second that. The slowed-down versions of the First National shorts are unwatchable (don't know what Chaplin was thinkiong on some of those). Reminds me of the old Magnetic Video releases on VHS. Thanks goodness I'd gotten most of the Image releases. I never did get The Kid, but I even prefer my laserdisc version to the newer one.

The only one I like of the newer set(s) is The Gold Rush with the piano score. I've never liked the narrated version of that film.
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post #26 of 66
7/19/06 at 8:03am

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned GUYS AND DOLLS (though I do admit to preferring the newer version. Far less aliasing even if the color is flatter and the image cropped a bit.)
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post #27 of 66
7/19/06 at 8:35am

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sergio
Wizard Of Oz: Special Edition (Better colors IMHO than Collector's Edition)2e

And I thought I was the only one who felt that way. Good to know.
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post #28 of 66
7/19/06 at 8:57am

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

The Exorcist (very first DVD release) - only one with original WB logo
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post #29 of 66
7/19/06 at 9:05am

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

I'm not sure yet, but the new version of 'The Searchers' is somewhat jarring to look at. The differences in colors between the old-and-the-new DVD releases are somewhat unsettling. I have only watched the first 30 minutes of the latest Ultimate edition, so I don't want to say this will be my final answer...I could come around to everyone's point of view.
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post #30 of 66
7/19/06 at 11:24am

Re: DVD releases where you prefer the older transfer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jim_falconer
I'm not sure yet, but the new version of 'The Searchers' is somewhat jarring to look at. The differences in colors between the old-and-the-new DVD releases are somewhat unsettling. I have only watched the first 30 minutes of the latest Ultimate edition, so I don't want to say this will be my final answer...I could come around to everyone's point of view.

I'm waiting to see what a corrected edition looks like, but the old DVD looks horrible. The colors are poorly handled (it's like they just turned up the saturation knob to get it more "colorful") and it has too much of a pink tint to skies and sand (a la the Lawrence of Arabia LE). The image is so shockingly cropped and soft, too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sammy-G
All of the Image releases of Chaplin films. I have the mk2 ones but I only keep them for the extras.

City Lights is the best example of this. The old DVD used a 1992 transfer, but it's still quite impressive. I usually watch it with contrast adjusted a bit to fix the greyish contrast, but it's sharper and better framed than the MK2. Not to mention it has the PCM stereo score.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sergio
1- Ben-Hur: Special Edition (Better colors IMHO than Collector's Edition)

2- Wizard Of Oz: Special Edition (Better colors IMHO than Collector's Edition)

I don't know... the old DVDs had really flat contrast. I love how black levels are finally deep enough to make the witch's cloak pure black instead of dark grey as seen on the old DVD. The other problem is that there's a lot of compression artifacting blurring fine detail. The new DVD looks identical to the dye-transfer print I saw, too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Black
Rear Window (2001 release)

How so? The Masterpiece Collection is vastly sharper. In the shot with Jeffries writing the letter, you can see that the stripes on his shirt are razor sharp. They're blurry on the old DVD.
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