Blu-ray Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - Laurel & Hardy: Year Two -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Tony Bensley]

I'm in UK and usually get US discs from WOWHD or rarewaves but neither have it in yet.

That's weird. I distinctly recall seeing Laurel & Hardy: Year Two on WOWHD about a month ago, but I just checked and sure enough, Year Two is no longer listed there! This sucks!!

 

[Bart T]

Still waiting here. Next time I will be ordering from Flicker Alley directly. Amazon really sucks nowadays. First I have to wait ages for my dvd because of "severe weather", and now they decided my order is "undeliverable". It never even left the USA! Of course they won't send me a free replacement, so I have to order it again, even though the price went up $ 10 in the mean time. Also they keep postponing the date on which they will refund me, because they still haven't processed the returned item (returned by the shipping company, not by me!) in their returns center.

 

[ahollis]

Over the last couple of years I have moved away from Amazon to ordering direct from Flicker Alley, ClassicFlix, MovieZing and Kino. As with you, I was tired of delayed shipments and out right cancellation. It took me a little while to do that for I was ordering from Amazon due to HTF enjoying a small cut from the sale.

 

[Tony Bensley]

I am not sure how Year Two was authored; however, Year One broke up each short in various ways, so if you were going to rip it and watch it on your iPad, as I do sometimes when I’m traveling, it won’t all be together in order. I had not experienced this before

This also makes it a real bugger to view on a Blu-ray drive when using Leawo Blu-ray Player or some other non DRM (Barely to non functional Blu-ray Disc menu!) supported software. I have to sift through several titles to find the one that isn't broken up and/or screen flipped in some way!

That said, I'm looking forward to getting the Year Two Blu-ray set, which I suspect is my Christmas gift that has been stuck in the mail due to our near month long Canada Post strike. Now that it appears they're being legislated back to work as soon as early next week, hopefully I'll have it if not before Christmas, than perhaps early in the New Year? Better late than never, I guess.

CHEERS!

Merry Christmas, Fellow HTF'rs!!!

Unfortunately for me, my Laurel & Hardy: Year Two Blu-ray set our son gifted me is still listed as "Your item departed a transfer airport in Pearson International, Toronto, Canada" (As per USPS tracking. No Canada Post tracking as yet, though!) due to the recent month long Canada Post strike! He ordered directly from Flicker Alley around the beginning of November, too!!

CHEERS!

 

[rmw650]

Merry Christmas, Fellow HTF'rs!!!

Unfortunately for me, my Laurel & Hardy: Year Two Blu-ray set our son gifted me is still listed as "Your item departed a transfer airport in Pearson International, Toronto, Canada" (As per USPS tracking. No Canada Post tracking as yet, though!) due to the recent month long Canada Post strike! He ordered directly from Flicker Alley around the beginning of November, too!!

CHEERS!

Tony, is the Canada Post strike still going on in your country? Heard USPS won't be delivering any packages or letters to Canada until this thing gets finally settled.

 

[Tony Bensley]

Merry Christmas, Fellow HTF'rs!!!

Unfortunately for me, my Laurel & Hardy: Year Two Blu-ray set our son gifted me is still listed as "Your item departed a transfer airport in Pearson International, Toronto, Canada" (As per USPS tracking. No Canada Post tracking as yet, though!) due to the recent month long Canada Post strike! He ordered directly from Flicker Alley around the beginning of November, too!!

CHEERS!

Tony, is the Canada Post strike still going on in your country? Heard USPS won't be delivering any packages or letters to Canada until this thing gets finally settled.

The strike is over as of last week, but USPS has an alert on their website (Effective Dec. 23, 2024) indicating suspension of acceptance of mail and packages bound for Canada continues at this time. USPS anticipates reopening acceptance of Canada bound volume within the next two weeks. Whether or not my particular parcel cleared the Pearson Airport customs prior to the strike, or at least prior to USPS suspending Canada bound items effective November 29th, who knows?

Meanwhile, it appears highly likely I will not have the Year Two Blu-ray in time for a 96th Anniversary viewing of the original cinematic release of WE FAW DOWN (December 28, 1928), as the last possible mailing day for this week is Friday the 27th. I do have the Region 2 UK version, which I'll have to settle for if I decide to do an anniversary viewing. In addition, my Blu-ray of SONS OF THE DESERT (Released December 28, 1933) now freezes on my External Blu-ray drive! At least I have an mkv version of the latter that is playable!

CHEERS!

 

[rmw650]

The strike is over as of last week, but USPS has an alert on their website (Effective Dec. 23, 2024) indicating suspension of acceptance of mail and packages bound for Canada continues at this time. USPS anticipates reopening acceptance of Canada bound volume within the next two weeks. Whether or not my particular parcel cleared the Pearson Airport customs prior to the strike, or at least prior to USPS suspending Canada bound items effective November 29th, who knows?

Meanwhile, it appears highly likely I will not have the Year Two Blu-ray in time for a 96th Anniversary viewing of the original cinematic release of WE FAW DOWN (December 28, 1928), as the last possible mailing day for this week is Friday the 27th. I do have the Region 2 UK version, which I'll have to settle for if I decide to do an anniversary viewing. In addition, my Blu-ray of SONS OF THE DESERT (Released December 28, 1933) now freezes on my External Blu-ray drive! At least I have an mkv version of the latter that is playable!

CHEERS!

Thanks for the heads-up on the strike situation, Tony. Truly appreciate it and at least they finally came to an agreement as I suspect the USPS will await until the holidays come to a conclusion BEFORE resuming service back to Canada once again.

 

[moviepas]

Merry Christmas, Fellow HTF'rs!!!

Unfortunately for me, my Laurel & Hardy: Year Two Blu-ray set our son gifted me is still listed as "Your item departed a transfer airport in Pearson International, Toronto, Canada" (As per USPS tracking. No Canada Post tracking as yet, though!) due to the recent month long Canada Post strike! He ordered directly from Flicker Alley around the beginning of November, too!!

CHEERS!

I got mine in Australia more than a week ago from CC. Because of local sales tax I can no longer use the HTF links. Has to be Amazon Australia and I get Prime free delivery that way too.

 

[Tony Bensley]

The strike is over as of last week, but USPS has an alert on their website (Effective Dec. 23, 2024) indicating suspension of acceptance of mail and packages bound for Canada continues at this time. USPS anticipates reopening acceptance of Canada bound volume within the next two weeks. Whether or not my particular parcel cleared the Pearson Airport customs prior to the strike, or at least prior to USPS suspending Canada bound items effective November 29th, who knows?

Meanwhile, it appears highly likely I will not have the Year Two Blu-ray in time for a 96th Anniversary viewing of the original cinematic release of WE FAW DOWN (December 28, 1928), as the last possible mailing day for this week is Friday the 27th. I do have the Region 2 UK version, which I'll have to settle for if I decide to do an anniversary viewing. In addition, my Blu-ray of SONS OF THE DESERT (Released December 28, 1933) now freezes on my External Blu-ray drive! At least I have an mkv version of the latter that is playable!

CHEERS!

Sadly, my Laurel & Hardy: Year Two Blu-ray set didn't arrive in time for my December 29th (Not 28th!) anniversary viewings, so I ended up playing WE FAW DOWN (1928) from my UK Universal Region 2 DVD, instead.

On a more positive note, USPS posted on their website this morning that their suspension for mail entering Canada will be lifted effective Monday, January 6th. Hopefully, my long awaited set will arrive in the near future!

HAPPY NEW YEAR & CHEERS!!!!

 

[Bart T]

My only beef with these fantastic restorations is the marring of the title card with the new copyright text. It's not as egregious as the old days of watermarks in the corner of the entire video for dvd releases (never stopped anyone from copying anything), but it is still, in my opinion, an unnecessary addition as the opening logo and restoration text is fully adequate to show who did what and who is responsible for the visual feast we are to behold.

For the quality of the work done on these films, credit where credit is due, but maybe not on the original titles? Bob Furmanek restored Africa Screams but didn't superimpose his name in the film proper.

Just imagine if Warner had done the same thing with their restored Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies-- restore the opening titles, some possibly not seen in decades, but add on new text with:

(c) 2024 Warner Bros
warnerbros.com

I guarantee that pitchforks and torches would be brandished, and a recall demanded.

That said, I could just go for a Year Three right about now.

I could also have lived without the copyright text on the opening titles. Plus, during each movie there's also a logo visible (BF) for a short while (not during the entire film, thank goodness). So far I only spotted the BF logo on some intertitles, but I just watched Early to Bed and on this title the BF logo even shows up in the actual image (so not on a title card) during the last scene. It's only there very briefly, blink and you miss it, but still, I think this is not a good development. It's a shame, because apart from this nuisance it's a terrific release. The silents have never looked better, every title has optional commentary tracks, and several have even more than one music soundtrack.

 

[Robert Harris]

I could also have lived without the copyright text on the opening titles. Plus, during each movie there's also a logo visible (BF) for a short while (not during the entire film, thank goodness). So far I only spotted the BF logo on some intertitles, but I just watched Early to Bed and on this title the BF logo even shows up in the actual image (so not on a title card) during the last scene. It's only there very briefly, blink and you miss it, but still, I think this is not a good development. It's a shame, because apart from this nuisance it's a terrific release. The silents have never looked better, every title has optional commentary tracks, and several have even more than one music soundtrack.

For the record, we (those who restore films) add a date or markings to inter-titles NOT original to the films as archival practice.

 

[Robbie^Blackmon]

I could also have lived without the copyright text on the opening titles. Plus, during each movie there's also a logo visible (BF) for a short while (not during the entire film, thank goodness). So far I only spotted the BF logo on some intertitles, but I just watched Early to Bed and on this title the BF logo even shows up in the actual image (so not on a title card) during the last scene. It's only there very briefly, blink and you miss it, but still, I think this is not a good development. It's a shame, because apart from this nuisance it's a terrific release. The silents have never looked better, every title has optional commentary tracks, and several have even more than one music soundtrack.

I know we can't be in the minority for not liking this destructive process. Though I must confess I didn't catch the watermarking in the content beyond the credits (or, I was distracted otherwise when those happened?). But yep, there it is!

Ridiculous!

Still a big no-no for me and, as such, I just can't support these releases anymore as watermarking is, to me, just as destructive as the blurring and noise-reducing of the talkies a couple years ago. Even worse, as it is visually damaging the "restored" image for vanity purposes. It is similar to those who grace us with their own wonderful copies of vintage and rare footage, but slap fake time codes on them to mar the picture to render it unusable and, largely, unviewable due to the distraction.

Worse still, might be the antics of Andreas Baum and Michael Ehret who, in their latest picture book titled "Laurel and Hardy: A True Love Story, Volume 1" have obviously employed AI with dubious quality results to absolutely destroy images rather than actually try to restore or just present them as cleanly as possible, even if that means a few scratches. Not to mention the fact that every book they hawk is teased with juuuuust a lil' more "rare" footage that is totally unrestored, only doled out in small quantities for very large support funds, edited AND egregiously watermarked from start to finish despite having new copyright claims at the head and tail. Take a look at this mostly computer enhanced pic from the book-- like, really zoom in, eh?:

Who's a good computer cartoon, then?

And this one from the dvd that came with the book, edited and watermarked like every other video/audio presentation they've ever produced (The authors posted all the video files on Vimeo with a widely shared password. No big secret).

Disgraceful. This is like going back to 1999 DigiView public domain dvd releases with all the cheesy superimposed graphics and titles all the way through. Look at all that screen clutter! They might as well have slapped a SabuCat-style, fake, chunky timecode right in the middle with NOT FOR BROADCAST thrown in over the faces, too! What are they protecting here? Blurry, generational dubs of no financial use to anyone.

I have decided to not support this type of destructive "restoration" again in any form. If you feel that strong of a need as the content producer that your work is so valuable that you have to add destructive elements to prove it, maybe you shouldn't even share it with the public? Just keep it to yourselves.

I've foolishly and blindly supported these releases thinking we would get the best quality versions available and that they would be truly restored films. They are, but they are also altered. They are versions. Versions I do not need.

Those of you who love them? Treasure them.

These releases are where we part ways until someone does it right.

 

[Tony Bensley]

I know we can't be in the minority for not liking this destructive process. Though I must confess I didn't catch the watermarking in the content beyond the credits (or, I was distracted otherwise when those happened?). But yep, there it is!

Ridiculous!

Still a big no-no for me and, as such, I just can't support these releases anymore as watermarking is, to me, just as destructive as the blurring and noise-reducing of the talkies a couple years ago. Even worse, as it is visually damaging the "restored" image for vanity purposes. It is similar to those who grace us with their own wonderful copies of vintage and rare footage, but slap fake time codes on them to mar the picture to render it unusable and, largely, unviewable due to the distraction.

Worse still, might be the antics of Andreas Baum and Michael Ehret who, in their latest picture book titled "Laurel and Hardy: A True Love Story, Volume 1" have obviously employed AI with dubious quality results to absolutely destroy images rather than actually try to restore or just present them as cleanly as possible, even if that means a few scratches. Not to mention the fact that every book they hawk is teased with juuuuust a lil' more "rare" footage that is totally unrestored, only doled out in small quantities for very large support funds, edited AND egregiously watermarked from start to finish despite having new copyright claims at the head and tail. Take a look at this mostly computer enhanced pic from the book-- like, really zoom in, eh?:

Who's a good computer cartoon, then?

And this one from the dvd that came with the book, edited and watermarked like every other video/audio presentation they've ever produced (The authors posted all the video files on Vimeo with a widely shared password. No big secret).

Disgraceful. This is like going back to 1999 DigiView public domain dvd releases with all the cheesy superimposed graphics and titles all the way through. Look at all that screen clutter! They might as well have slapped a SabuCat-style, fake, chunky timecode right in the middle with NOT FOR BROADCAST thrown in over the faces, too! What are they protecting here? Blurry, generational dubs of no financial use to anyone.

I have decided to not support this type of destructive "restoration" again in any form. If you feel that strong of a need as the content producer that your work is so valuable that you have to add destructive elements to prove it, maybe you shouldn't even share it with the public? Just keep it to yourselves.

I've foolishly and blindly supported these releases thinking we would get the best quality versions available and that they would be truly restored films. They are, but they are also altered. They are versions. Versions I do not need.

Those of you who love them? Treasure them.

These releases are where we part ways until someone does it right.

That photo redux from the book looks absolutely garish, UGH!!!!

 

[Tony Bensley]

Sadly, my Laurel & Hardy: Year Two Blu-ray set didn't arrive in time for my December 29th (Not 28th!) anniversary viewings, so I ended up playing WE FAW DOWN (1928) from my UK Universal Region 2 DVD, instead.

On a more positive note, USPS posted on their website this morning that their suspension for mail entering Canada will be lifted effective Monday, January 6th. Hopefully, my long awaited set will arrive in the near future!

HAPPY NEW YEAR & CHEERS!!!!

My Laurel & Hardy Year Two Blu-ray set just FINALLY cleared customs at 6:30 tonight!!! Expected Delivery is for Tuesday!!!!

CHEERS!

 

[Tony Bensley]

My Laurel & Hardy Year Two Blu-ray set just FINALLY cleared customs at 6:30 tonight!!! Expected Delivery is for Tuesday!!!!

CHEERS!

Look what FINALLY arrived in the mail this afternoon!!!!

CHEERS!

 

[Traveling Matt]

Look what FINALLY arrived in the mail this afternoon!!!!
View attachment 242613

CHEERS!

"Where have you been?"

 

[rmw650]

Look what FINALLY arrived in the mail this afternoon!!!!
View attachment 242613

CHEERS!

So happy to hear it FINALLY arrived, Tony. Let me know what you think of that set. CHEERS!

 

[verneaux]

Just realized that while I love these L & H sets, they'll be limited as time goes on, as the extraordinary duo moved into features by 1931. They appeared in The Rogue Song (1930), but chances of that being release are slim to none.

I understood that The Rogue Song is a lost film except for a brief clip of L & H with a bear. Has it been found?

 

[dana martin]

Look what FINALLY arrived in the mail this afternoon!!!!
View attachment 242613

CHEERS!

Love the T-shirt

 

[Peter Neski]

Yeah, not sure what (or why they did it) ripping this set so you can remove each short is impossible, I noticed an improvement ,but nothing eye popping