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'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

post #1 of 27
11/21/07 at 1:52am
Thread Starter 
Sony have announced a 15th Anniversary edition of 'Groundhog Day' for release in February. As the present special edition seems technically pretty good and already includes a commentary and other extras, I'm just wondering what could possibly tempt me into a triple dip on this new edition.

In any case, issuing a 15th anniversary edition of anything smacks a bit of desperation. 10th, 20th and 25th anniversaries may be fair game, but 15th anniversaries??

Does anyone know whether Sony have actually remastered it?
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post #2 of 27
11/21/07 at 6:10am

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

There aren't too many titles that have me consider a triple-dip...but this would be one of them.

A quick peak at amazon.com shows that there is, indeed, a pre-order up for a new release. Amazon has a date of January 29, 2008, though.

No other specs are listed...except for the stars of the film: Carol Bivins, Rick Ducommun, Robin Duke, Chris Elliott, Willie Garson. And a price of $14.99.

Don't see any HD release around the same time.
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post #3 of 27
11/21/07 at 7:39am

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon

Don't see any HD release around the same time.

And that's when I'll be buying this again. The current DVD is pretty good.
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post #4 of 27
11/21/07 at 8:25pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Looks like there might be a few new extras. DVD Active is reporting that: "Extras will include an audio commentary with Director Harold Ramis, a Weight of Time Documentary, The Study of Groundhogs: A Real Life Look at Marmots featurette, A Different Day: An Interview with Harold Ramis, and deleted scenes."
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post #5 of 27
11/21/07 at 8:43pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
No other specs are listed...except for the stars of the film: Carol Bivins, Rick Ducommun, Robin Duke, Chris Elliott, Willie Garson.
Wooo! Rick Ducommun! I'm sure we all love 'The 'Burbs,' right?
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post #6 of 27
11/21/07 at 8:57pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

I..fool that I am...will definitely triple-dip for an audio commentary by Harold Ramis. The man could read the phone book and I would be laughing long after he stopped.

His facial reactions as the new recruits were all introducing themselves in Stripes gets me every time.
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post #7 of 27
11/21/07 at 11:37pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
I..fool that I am...will definitely triple-dip for an audio commentary by Harold Ramis. The man could read the phone book and I would be laughing long after he stopped.

His facial reactions as the new recruits were all introducing themselves in Stripes gets me every time.

No need to triple dip; the commentary is on the current SE.
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post #8 of 27
11/22/07 at 10:59am

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Quote:
Originally Posted by MTRodaba2468
No need to triple dip; the commentary is on the current SE.

That's funny. As soon as I pushed "Submit" on that post I actually stood up to go check on that very thing...because I thought it was there...but wasn't sure. I got distracted...and here we are!

Thanks. Matt!
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post #9 of 27
11/23/07 at 8:22pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

This is one of my favorite movies (like many I'm sure, I pop it in every February). But the new extras (groundhog documentary, deleted scenes) aren't enough for me to upgrade from the SE. I think I'll pass (at least until it eventually ends up in $5 sales).
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post #10 of 27
1/27/08 at 10:05pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

oh well no hd release yet i guess.
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post #11 of 27
1/30/08 at 10:58am

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

I picked this up yesterday -- I owned the SE but somehow lost it a few months ago. So I'm familiar with the SE but don't have it on hand for direct comparison.

The video is probably the same as the SE, or at least it doesn't look remastered to me. It starts out a little shaky/flickery in the beginning (the credits over the sky and clouds) but looks good for most of the movie. It's also a little dark but I think that's mostly just the look of the film.

The Harold Ramis commentary is recycled from the SE (he says of Willie Garson, "Now he's on that show, what is it called? 'Sex and the City,' I think"). It's a pretty good commentary though; Ramis is laid-back and leaves some dead spots, but there's a lot of good info.

Interview with Harold Ramis is new. It's short (9 minutes) but interesting; he talks more about the spiritual meaning people find in the film. Also discusses shooting with the groundhog ("Don't drive angry!") and how Tom Hanks (who was considered for the Phil Connors role) wouldn't have been as good as Bill Murray. Also: It's in anamorphic widescreen.

"Weight of Time" making-of feature (24 minutes) is the same as the SE -- it's well-done but it's in 4x3; clips from the film are widescreen but matted into a 4x3 screen.

"The Study of Groundhogs: A Real-Life Look at Marmots" (6 minutes): The opening of this is so overly earnest and serious that I thought it was going to be a parody, but it's not; it's actually scientists talking about the lives of groundhogs, a.k.a. woodchucks. Maybe interesting for the Animal Planet crowd, but not for me. At least it's anamorphic.

Deleted Scenes: These are new but kind of disappointing. They're mostly just Phil showing off things he's learned from days of practice: bowling a 300 game, being an expert pool player, etc. They're repetitive and don't add much insight, and you can see why they were left on the cutting-room floor. Also, I know deleted scenes usually aren't cleaned up anyway, but some of these are in really bad shape; lots of dirt and scratches.

Overall a better disc than the SE, but if you have the SE, it's probably not worth a double (or triple) dip.
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post #12 of 27
1/30/08 at 12:59pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Casey: Thanks for the mini-review. It was the deleted scenes which were of particular interest to me. But...this would be a triple-dip...and I wonder how long I would have to wait for an HD version.

But still...it would be cool to see scenes from this film I haven't seen before... This one's a household favorite.
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post #13 of 27
4/27/08 at 11:04am

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

The ABC News website has a little feature today on "Best SNL Alum Films".
They have 19 movies listed.

They don't have this film...so, the list is rubbish.
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post #14 of 27
4/27/08 at 12:08pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

ABC News: From SNL to the Big Screensince henry forgot to put the link, there it is.

i agrree that GD should be a top movie from SNL alumn.

duece bigelo, lady's man and superstar are on that list.
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post #15 of 27
4/27/08 at 12:17pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

That is one screwed up list. In the text they even admit some of the films they include sucked.

Quote:
From SNL to the Big Screen
"Black Sheep" (1996) was the third and final time David Spade and the late Chris Farley teamed up for the big screen, following "Coneheads" (1993) and "Tommy Boy" (1995). Unfortunately the third was not charmed. "Black Sheep" was the first movie Gene Siskel walked out on in 25 years.
(SIPA)

The first several were legitimate...but the last several were really reaching. And why 19? And why no Bill Murray movies (outside Caddyshack)? Stripes needs to be on that list, too. And compared to some of the others, What About Bob? should be on there.
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post #16 of 27
4/30/08 at 8:11pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
The first several were legitimate...but the last several were really reaching. And why 19? And why no Bill Murray movies (outside Caddyshack)? Stripes needs to be on that list, too. And compared to some of the others, What About Bob? should be on there.

I assume they didn't want to have it be dominated by Murray. If we really wanted a top 19 "SNL" alumni flick, it'd have to include:

"Quick Change" - the BEST Murray movie!
"What About Bob?"
"Groundhog Day"
"Ghostbusters"
"Stripes"
"Caddyshack"
"Lost In Translation"
"Rushmore"

And probably some others I can't think of right now. (I can't stand "Meatballs" so it was intentionally omitted.)

Heck, "Ghostbusters II" is better than many of the flicks on that list. "Ladies Man"? "Black Sheep"? "Deuce Bigalow"? "HOUSEGUEST"???

And it's silly to count flicks like "When Harry Met Sally" or "Spinal Tap". Yes, "Tap" has three "SNL" castmembers - six, if you count Billy Crystal, Dana Carvey and Paul Shaffer - but NO ONE thinks of it as a movie from "SNL" people. When it came out, only Shearer had been prominent on the show at all, and he was only a castmember for a year pre-"Tap".

Billy Crystal was already famous when he joined "SNL" - none of his flicks should count.

But cripes, I'd nitpick less if the list wasn't so God-awful God-awful!
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post #17 of 27
4/30/08 at 8:11pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
The first several were legitimate...but the last several were really reaching. And why 19? And why no Bill Murray movies (outside Caddyshack)? Stripes needs to be on that list, too. And compared to some of the others, What About Bob? should be on there.

I assume they didn't want to have it be dominated by Murray. If we really wanted a top 19 "SNL" alumni flick, it'd have to include:

"Quick Change" - the BEST Murray movie!
"What About Bob?"
"Groundhog Day"
"Ghostbusters"
"Stripes"
"Caddyshack"
"Lost In Translation"
"Rushmore"

And probably some others I can't think of right now. (I can't stand "Meatballs" so it was intentionally omitted.)

Heck, "Ghostbusters II" is better than many of the flicks on that list. "Ladies Man"? "Black Sheep"? "Deuce Bigalow"? "HOUSEGUEST"???

And it's silly to count flicks like "When Harry Met Sally" or "Spinal Tap". Yes, "Tap" has three "SNL" castmembers - six, if you count Billy Crystal, Dana Carvey and Paul Shaffer - but NO ONE thinks of it as a movie from "SNL" people. When it came out, only Shearer had been prominent on the show at all, and he was only a castmember for a year pre-"Tap".

Billy Crystal was already famous when he joined "SNL" - none of his flicks should count.

But cripes, I'd nitpick less if the list wasn't so God-awful God-awful!
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post #18 of 27
4/30/08 at 8:35pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Colin Jacobson
But cripes, I'd nitpick less if the list wasn't so God-awful God-awful!

Amen, brother!

I'd forgotten about Rushmore. I don't even know Quick Change.

I was the guy who actually liked Murray's remake of The Razor's Edge. Saw it in the theaters and loved it. I do NOT own the DVD. Should change that.
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post #19 of 27
4/30/08 at 9:13pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

seriously you need to go rent, shoot buy quick change tomorrow.

Amazon.com: Quick Change:
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post #20 of 27
5/1/08 at 6:57am

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Thanks for the link, Tony. It's like the movie never happened...as far as I'm concerned. Never heard of it...even after reading the description, nothing rings a bell.

The amazon listing is $12.99 (widescreen). Deep Discount has it for $8.63...but it says "fullscreen." D'ya happen to know if they released two different versions (ARs)?
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post #21 of 27
5/1/08 at 8:10am

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
Thanks for the link, Tony. It's like the movie never happened...as far as I'm concerned. Never heard of it...even after reading the description, nothing rings a bell.

The amazon listing is $12.99 (widescreen). Deep Discount has it for $8.63...but it says "fullscreen." D'ya happen to know if they released two different versions (ARs)?

That's a mistake - there's no FS version of Quick Change.

My review:

Quick Change (1990)

BTW, this one DEFINITELY shoulda been on the "SNL" list - Phil Hartman and Randy Quaid are in it too!
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post #22 of 27
5/1/08 at 11:26am

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Colin:

Excellent review! Thanks for sharing. Your affection for the film is clear. I WILL, without a doubt, check it out.

Let's see...what ELSE should I order from DD?
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post #23 of 27
5/3/08 at 4:44pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
Colin:

Excellent review! Thanks for sharing. Your affection for the film is clear.

Thanks for the nice comments! I did an interview with Kurtwood Smith a while back, and he quickly figured out how much I loved the flick since it was ALL I wanted to talk about!
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post #24 of 27
5/3/08 at 5:25pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Mike,

If you go to Deep Discount's page proper of Quick Change, it says "Widescreen" alright.


Cees
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post #25 of 27
5/3/08 at 5:47pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Thanks, Cees.
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post #26 of 27
5/3/08 at 5:57pm

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

*EDIT: Unfortunately, placing it on my wish list also shows me it is out-of-stock.
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post #27 of 27
5/5/08 at 1:55am

Re: 'Groundhog Day' - will the new AE be worth a triple-dip?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Henry Gale
The ABC News website has a little feature today on "Best SNL Alum Films".
They have 19 movies listed.

They don't have this film...so, the list is rubbish.

That list is absolutely terrible. They leave off Groundhog Day (along with other worthy movies such as Ghostbusters), yet they add the following:

Fever Pitch
Black Sheep (I'm not a Tommy Boy fan, but they should have gone with that if they wanted to list Farley/Spade movie)
Blades Of Glory
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo

Hell, they even put ****ing HOUSEGUEST on the damn list!
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