New Apollo 13 DVD (1 Viewer)

[Tony Scello]

As others have stated, this appears to be a pointless new release for anyone who already has the previous CE. I wish Universal would focus some time/effort/resources on re-releases of films that truely need attention...The Sting comes to mind:frowning:

 

[Ryan Belfast]

Is the DTS track on the imax version only? Or is it on the theatrical version.

Again, I cant understand why anyone in their right mind would want to watch a butcherd version of this wonderful film in fullscreen or whatever it is.

 

[MikeEckman]

Sadly, I think that within the next year, there are going to be more and more "re-packaging" of existing DVDs where there is little, if any, improvements to the original releases. Universal, and Columbia seem to be the worst offenders of this thus far with releases like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, all the unrated versions that are coming out, this new Apollo 13, etc.

My prediction is these studios are going to try to push as much existing product on us before they release geuniune upgrades for HD-DVD or Blu-Ray (whichever that studio chooses).

I predict that some supplements are already being held back for an eventual HD release. A couple examples would be The Bourne Supremacy, and the Star Wars trilogy. I can just see in a few short years, a "Penultimate Edition" of movies coming out with even more supplements, DTS-ES, and HD.

Its sad, but its all part of their sick little game.

 

[David Von Pein]

The very odd "My Apollo 13 DVD doesn't play either!" posts here @ HTF are most disturbing indeed. Mine played just fine (last I checked). Bought it in Summer 2001.

I guess Universal must be relying on the fact that the "Disc Ruined!" chip embedded within the old Apollo 13 discs will start to kick in, forcing people to re-buy the new 2-Disc version of the flick.

j/k, Univ. (maybe). The "Disc Ruined" device is only to be used in extreme emergencies.

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

I had my RPTV calibrated by an ISF technician who works for a local high-end home theater shop several years ago. He popped my Apollo 13 disc in to demo the calibration and picked the launch scene to show me. After it was over he double-checked the case and commented that the DD on my set-up (which was not insanely expensive) sounded better than the DTS copy they were using in one of their demo theaters back at the shop.

Regards,

Joe

 

[greg_t]

I think the DTS DVD sounds better than the DD. I think it creates a more spacial soundfield. Then I also have the DTS LD, and it beats both. The launch scene on the DTS laser is just fantastic. Image quality is pretty darn good too.

 

[Jonny_L]

I don't know if you've ever been to an IMAX screening, but the actual screen that gets projected on is almost 4:3 in shape. Its just waaaaaaaay big. At my local theater its about 4 stories tall. Apollo 13 was shot in Super 35 (except for the special FX and CGI) so I would guess Ron Howard simply recomposed the image to fill in the entire IMAX frame, instead of doing what was done for The Matrix movies and a few others, and letterbox the movie on the giant IMAX screen.

Still, I'm not sure I could have taken the movie in IMAX. I saw it in the regular theater with DTS. The sound blew me away, but what I didnt realize is that all that zero-g stuff was making me motion sick, so when the movie was over and I left the theater I had no equilibrium and proceeded to ralph outside...hehehe

 

[WillG]

Guess what the absolute stupidest thing about this release is going to be. Apparently there is also going to be a "Full Screen" version.

So, on one hand you like Widescreen and you get the 1.66:1 IMAX version without the benefit of an IMAX presentation that is missing about 20+ minutes. Of no use.

On the other hand, there is a full screen edition with an almost full screen IMAX version that no one who buys the full screen version is going to watch anyway.

If Universal wants to make a new edition with an "IMAX" version, I suppose that is fine, especially with the fact that many of the discs out there now are rotting, but I can't help but think that if they wanted to go all out, they could have gotten more creative, although the CE is hard to top as it is, barring a new transfer.

How about a CE of "Casino" instead? instead of a near pointless re-release.

 

[andrew markworthy]

I think the DTS v DD issue depends on individual systems. My own Sony system seems geared up to DTS, so everything is bigger, bassier and louder than on DD. Having said that, I on occasions prefer the DD version because the spatial information seems to be better. This particularly seems to apply to R3 discs for some reason. I'm pretty certain this is just my system's quirkiness, however, as I've not noticed this on friends' systems.

Back on topic - I think I'll pass on this re-release. The term IMAX automatically conjures up images of a vast screen, but of course when all said and done, on a domestic set-up this is full screen, plain and simple. In fact, unless there are useful extras (as on e.g. the forthcoming Heathers re-release) I'm avoiding buying any so-called 'upgrades' because hi-def is just round the corner.

 

[Rob Gillespie]

The DD vs DTS for Apollo 13 were very similar, but a Greg said above, the LD blew them both away. As it did for many titles.

Oh for the good old days...

 

[Michael Qualen]

I just put my apollo 13 DTS in the player...luckily it plays fine *phew*

 

[Nelson Au]

Any reviews? It's out next week. Did a search and didn't see one unless the Gremlins blinded me from them. Thx.

 

[Ryan L. Bisasky]

there's one for dvdmg.com but the reviewer refuseded to watch the imax version.

 

[Bill Hunt]

We've got one at The Bits:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/review...32305.html#a13

Good new transfer quality (a bit better on the IMAX version, which is of course shorter). DTS ONLY on the IMAX version sadly. Otherwise, everything is the same as on the original collector's edition with the exception of an added (new) documentary and featurette on Disc Two.

 

[Ryan L. Bisasky]

Bill, is the IMAX version cropped or was the movie originally shot Super 35?

 

[WillG]

The film was shot Super 35 so it is probably, for the most part, opened up for the 1.66:1 IMAX AR.

 

[Colin Jacobson]

The reviewer didn't see the point. The reviewer has no interest in edited, non-OAR movies, at least not when he can watch the full-length OAR version. Yes, the reviewer understands that technically, the 1.66:1 of the IMAX version IS OAR since that's the AR of the IMAX edition, but it's not the way the film was originally composed.

This site's all about OAR and original versions of things, but now I get some grief because I AVOIDED an edited, MAR flick? :rolleyes

 

[WillG]

Neither do I. I'm not complaining that Universal threw it in there for those who would watch it (although calling it IMAX insults my intelligence a bit), but I agree it's a very redundant feature. I might pop it in to check out the DTS track, but that's about it.

 

[Paul_Stachniak]

^According to the review at the Digital Bits the DTS track is only on the IMAX version (which is shorter then the original). Apprently the IMAX version pushed all the content to Disc 1 so there was no room for a DTS track.

How dumb is this? What the hell is the point of the IMAX track version if all its gonna do is take away from the regular version! Another fine mess by Universal.

 

[Ryan L. Bisasky]

Colin, sorry about that. While it is indeed shorter, I personally thought that the original was too long, and was semi interested in the imax version.