Harry-N
Senior HTF Member
As I think back to last year, I have to note a number of releases that many fans thought they'd never see on DVD. The years since the format's inception came and went and for most of these, there wasn't a hint that they'd ever see the light of day. But 2007 brought them into the light. I'd like to list what I think are the remarkable releases - not for the way they they were done - but the fact that they were done at all.
Night Of The Comet - An '80s flick that initially went nowhere and became kind of a cult film on cable TV and home video. It was forever listed among people's wished-for movies. MGM released a decent version of it in the late winter.
The Silent Partner - One of those little Canadian movies that a lot of folks grabbed onto. It too became a bit of a cult favorite. It was a title I never thought I'd see on DVD, let alone an anamorphic widescreen version, but the early spring of 2007 saw its release. The box art was pretty strange, but it's the movie that counts, right?
I Love Lucy Seasons 7, 8, & 9 - The Lucy Desi Comedy Hours finally saw DVD release in this all-inclusive set. After the season releases of I Love Lucy, it seemed like these SHOULD have happened, but as it turned out, this was a release that almost didn't happen. Thanks to those who saved it and got it through.
The Fugitive, Season One, Volume One - Many consider it the finest dramatic TV series ever, yet it remained conspicuously absent from DVD shelves for all these years. We only got half of the first season, but there's more on the horizon. It's a most-welcomed addition on many shelves, and there are new people discovering its wonders all the time.
Land Of The Giants - The only Irwin Allen series this far to get a full-series treatment in one release. They pulled out all the stops on this one, with a fancy cage-box to house the goodies, which included patches, cards, mini-comics - and of course all 52 episodes of the series, all meticulously remastered to look fresher than ever. The show is not exactly rocket-science, but it can be fun if you're in the right mood.
Count Dracula - The BBC version that ran in the US on PBS as part of the Great Performances series. Basically buried for years, this handsome production was unearthed for US viewing audiences on DVD for the first time. The UK had been graced with an earlier DVD that was region-coded and in PAL format. This one was nicely transferred to NTSC and looks better than ever. Boasting a top-notch Dracula character by Louis Jordan, this one gets raves by many of the genre's fans.
Twilight Zone: The Movie - Long the missing piece in the Twilight Zone puzzle, the motion picture version finally takes its place on the shelves of fans after a long dearth of no news at all. A bare-bones release - but way better than the previous none-at-all.
Robinson Crusoe On Mars - For years the LaserDisc of this title brought commanding prices in the used market, but 2007 finally brought the full Criterion treatment of this title to DVD - commentaries and all. Though the title always sounds stupid to the non-initiated, the movie is a thoughtful treatment of the subject of man battling the known scence and the unknown dangers on an alien planet.
Mercy Mission - One of those little made-for-TV movies that touched a lot of people when originally broadcast, this Scott Bakula/Robert Loggia vehicle quietly appeared on DVD in one of those budget two-fers. It's a welcome addition to my library all by itself.
A Christmas Carol: Ultimate Edition - The Alastair Sim version of the film is beloved by many. Though this is probably the best the film has ever looked, it still looks like there's work to be done for that someday Super Ultimate Edition!
Three Stooges Collection: 1934-1936 - The boys short film have been languishing for years in untold numbers of budget releases with no rhyme nor reason to them. Finally in 2007, we've gotten the first of hopefully many releases of the films in chronological order and meticulously restored for DVD.
Blade Runner - What more can be said for the likely release of the year? This long awaited title brings ALL major versions of the film to the fans who've been clamoring for them for years. Available in two-disc, four-disc, and five-disc versions, the release squeaked in for the Christmas season by only a few days. Some are still awaiting delivery of their own at this date in early 2008.
Thanks to all involved for bringing these titles out and making 2007 a remarkable year for the Digital Versatile Disc.
Harry
Night Of The Comet - An '80s flick that initially went nowhere and became kind of a cult film on cable TV and home video. It was forever listed among people's wished-for movies. MGM released a decent version of it in the late winter.
The Silent Partner - One of those little Canadian movies that a lot of folks grabbed onto. It too became a bit of a cult favorite. It was a title I never thought I'd see on DVD, let alone an anamorphic widescreen version, but the early spring of 2007 saw its release. The box art was pretty strange, but it's the movie that counts, right?
I Love Lucy Seasons 7, 8, & 9 - The Lucy Desi Comedy Hours finally saw DVD release in this all-inclusive set. After the season releases of I Love Lucy, it seemed like these SHOULD have happened, but as it turned out, this was a release that almost didn't happen. Thanks to those who saved it and got it through.
The Fugitive, Season One, Volume One - Many consider it the finest dramatic TV series ever, yet it remained conspicuously absent from DVD shelves for all these years. We only got half of the first season, but there's more on the horizon. It's a most-welcomed addition on many shelves, and there are new people discovering its wonders all the time.
Land Of The Giants - The only Irwin Allen series this far to get a full-series treatment in one release. They pulled out all the stops on this one, with a fancy cage-box to house the goodies, which included patches, cards, mini-comics - and of course all 52 episodes of the series, all meticulously remastered to look fresher than ever. The show is not exactly rocket-science, but it can be fun if you're in the right mood.
Count Dracula - The BBC version that ran in the US on PBS as part of the Great Performances series. Basically buried for years, this handsome production was unearthed for US viewing audiences on DVD for the first time. The UK had been graced with an earlier DVD that was region-coded and in PAL format. This one was nicely transferred to NTSC and looks better than ever. Boasting a top-notch Dracula character by Louis Jordan, this one gets raves by many of the genre's fans.
Twilight Zone: The Movie - Long the missing piece in the Twilight Zone puzzle, the motion picture version finally takes its place on the shelves of fans after a long dearth of no news at all. A bare-bones release - but way better than the previous none-at-all.
Robinson Crusoe On Mars - For years the LaserDisc of this title brought commanding prices in the used market, but 2007 finally brought the full Criterion treatment of this title to DVD - commentaries and all. Though the title always sounds stupid to the non-initiated, the movie is a thoughtful treatment of the subject of man battling the known scence and the unknown dangers on an alien planet.
Mercy Mission - One of those little made-for-TV movies that touched a lot of people when originally broadcast, this Scott Bakula/Robert Loggia vehicle quietly appeared on DVD in one of those budget two-fers. It's a welcome addition to my library all by itself.
A Christmas Carol: Ultimate Edition - The Alastair Sim version of the film is beloved by many. Though this is probably the best the film has ever looked, it still looks like there's work to be done for that someday Super Ultimate Edition!
Three Stooges Collection: 1934-1936 - The boys short film have been languishing for years in untold numbers of budget releases with no rhyme nor reason to them. Finally in 2007, we've gotten the first of hopefully many releases of the films in chronological order and meticulously restored for DVD.
Blade Runner - What more can be said for the likely release of the year? This long awaited title brings ALL major versions of the film to the fans who've been clamoring for them for years. Available in two-disc, four-disc, and five-disc versions, the release squeaked in for the Christmas season by only a few days. Some are still awaiting delivery of their own at this date in early 2008.
Thanks to all involved for bringing these titles out and making 2007 a remarkable year for the Digital Versatile Disc.
Harry
