Can't remember for the life of me if it was the DVD or 1998 LD that was missing something.
I ordered the new set with that deal to examine the new transfer for myself. I had never obtained the old MGM BD because of the DNR, so now need to sell off my AFOD/FAFDM BDs.
I'll post here once I get to examine the new transfer, and that mono track which despite a restoration credit will most likely be another downmix of the 5.1 bastard mix.
Wow, Once Upon a Time...The Revolution never gets a fair deal does it? I wonder if the Spanish is different from the Italian disc (probably not as the specs are the same) because what user reviews describe is NOT like the 35mm restored MGM version, though the clarity in the capsaholic grabs does resemble it. It it is indeed Region A it might be needed for a proper reconstruction once the US disc comes out if ever. And supposedly the audio is correct but poor quality and with some errors.
Thus for audio it could be pretty easy: the bulk could be the MGM restored LD PCM mono, with the end scene dialogue line coming from the Image LD mono PCM and the final flashback mono coming from the lossless BD. (As it is cut everywhere else.)
OUATIA was announced today, in a deluxe set with presumably the old 229 min BD (listed as 1984 theatrical though) but the entire longer restoration will be crammed onto one BD-50. WTF? Can there not be one Leone film that doesn't have problems?
For all films there seems to be a constant divide between the US look and Italian look. Some use the o-neg, some have input from original crew..but who is to say which is correct exactly? Prints varied from country to country, and then you have Tech IB vs. standard Eastman etc. I will say that for all the years I've researched these films here's my overall suggestions:
AFOD: US versions are always brighter due to coming from dupes. The Italian looks different coming from the o-neg. Either is acceptable, though MGM's isn't quite as natural. The best is the restored 35mm print, which is heartstoppingly gorgeous.
FAFDM: There's only the MGM which has inherent boosting and EE which is sad because they used the negative. I actually prefer the look of older versions to be honest, with the best being MGM's sole remaining archive print.
GBU: The film has never looked like the new 4K that I know of. Not even the color fluctuations in the 35mm extended US version are remotely like this. The Mondo was from a restoration approved by the Leone estate and seems to be the most balanced of all, especially compared to all the US versions which seem a bit muted. The original R1 DVD/LD is a perfect example of how the film looked-and so was that ebay print that showed up. The Mondo improves upon this with some of the color that didn't carry over to the States from Italy.
Damn. I really need that Mondo.
Why must we have more copies of Leone films than nearly any other? ;)