Doug Bull
Advanced Member
SOUTH PACIFIC, CAROUSEL and THE KING AND I have just been released in Australia on Pal region 4.
They were on special straight away at Target Stores here, so needless to say I rushed to the local shopping mall and grabbed all 3.
Those thinking of getting the UK region 2 versions should do a price check and see if the region 4 discs are any cheaper.
After a quick look all I can say is there is going to be a LOT OF HEATED DISCUSSION here at HTF once the Region 1 versions get released.
I agree with Ted in that the Extended Roadshow version of SOUTH PACIFIC looks slightly better than the general release version.
Both however look terrific and are clearly the pick of the bunch.
For some reason the general release version here has the TODD-AO credits and is framed at about 2.20:1.
I would have thought that the general release version would have been Cinemascope.
One of the earlier Laserdisc versions never had the Todd-AO credits.
And why does it have the Overture and Intermission Music?
THE KING AND I looks great, although it isn't anywhere as good as a recent HIGH DEFINITION version shown here on TV recently.
We could be in for a real treat once it finds it's way onto Blu-Ray or HD DVD.
Still the colours and detail on offer here are still very impressive, but the aspect ratio could be a problem.
It has the Cinemascope 55 title and the jacket says the ratio is 2.55:1 but to my eye it looks more like 2.35:1 ( but I'm only guessing)
There is a terrific short Doco on restoring Cinemascope 55 included.
CAROUSEL is certainly the weakest of the bunch.
It is quite soft and although the color in some of the scenes has been improved over the previous awful looking DVD, it still remains a dissapointing transfer.
They have used the Cinemascope version and for some reason not the Cinemascope 55 one.
Still if I remember, CAROUSEL never really looked all that good back in it's original Theatrical days.
Curiously the second disc of Carousel contains very little in the way of extras, making one wonder if the intended LILLIOM might yet find it's way to the future region 1 edition.
Having said that, all three are fabulous and certainly welcome improvements over all previous Laserdiscs and DVDs.
The sound on all three is truly excellent, with noticed improvement on Carousel over the previous distorted DVD.
Strangely the Overture on South Pacific seems dull and lifeless compared to the rest of the movie and with all previous laser and DVD releases.
Carousel and The King and I have wonderful isolated Music Tracks and to somebody like me who loves Music underscoring, they are worth the price alone.
These are real Gems and should be in everybody's collection.
Those with patience will have to wait for the Fox region 1 announcement.
They were on special straight away at Target Stores here, so needless to say I rushed to the local shopping mall and grabbed all 3.
Those thinking of getting the UK region 2 versions should do a price check and see if the region 4 discs are any cheaper.
After a quick look all I can say is there is going to be a LOT OF HEATED DISCUSSION here at HTF once the Region 1 versions get released.
I agree with Ted in that the Extended Roadshow version of SOUTH PACIFIC looks slightly better than the general release version.
Both however look terrific and are clearly the pick of the bunch.
For some reason the general release version here has the TODD-AO credits and is framed at about 2.20:1.
I would have thought that the general release version would have been Cinemascope.
One of the earlier Laserdisc versions never had the Todd-AO credits.
And why does it have the Overture and Intermission Music?
THE KING AND I looks great, although it isn't anywhere as good as a recent HIGH DEFINITION version shown here on TV recently.
We could be in for a real treat once it finds it's way onto Blu-Ray or HD DVD.
Still the colours and detail on offer here are still very impressive, but the aspect ratio could be a problem.
It has the Cinemascope 55 title and the jacket says the ratio is 2.55:1 but to my eye it looks more like 2.35:1 ( but I'm only guessing)
There is a terrific short Doco on restoring Cinemascope 55 included.
CAROUSEL is certainly the weakest of the bunch.
It is quite soft and although the color in some of the scenes has been improved over the previous awful looking DVD, it still remains a dissapointing transfer.
They have used the Cinemascope version and for some reason not the Cinemascope 55 one.
Still if I remember, CAROUSEL never really looked all that good back in it's original Theatrical days.
Curiously the second disc of Carousel contains very little in the way of extras, making one wonder if the intended LILLIOM might yet find it's way to the future region 1 edition.
Having said that, all three are fabulous and certainly welcome improvements over all previous Laserdiscs and DVDs.
The sound on all three is truly excellent, with noticed improvement on Carousel over the previous distorted DVD.
Strangely the Overture on South Pacific seems dull and lifeless compared to the rest of the movie and with all previous laser and DVD releases.
Carousel and The King and I have wonderful isolated Music Tracks and to somebody like me who loves Music underscoring, they are worth the price alone.
These are real Gems and should be in everybody's collection.
Those with patience will have to wait for the Fox region 1 announcement.