So, and I might have to turn over some of my established nerd cred here, I've never seen Superman The Movie. At least, not in its entirety. To rectify this, I've been trying to find it. And despite all of the price gouging fye frequently indulges in, I was able to find the 4-disc DVD of the first film for a whopping $4.99. I thought it was too good to be true. And, lately, any time I buy a movie, I wonder if it is. I always like to do my research first to make sure there's not some newer, better release. And more often than not, I try to find out if the so-called "newer, better" release isn't some sham with terrible color correction, extended scenes, and all the crap I don't want. But at $4.99, I felt I didn't have the kind of time to go and find out for sure. So I got it.
And then I went home and did my research. And I found out that, when this set was released, there was an audio problem. Namely, that an unpopular remixed audio track for the extended cut was put on both the 5.1 and 2.0 tracks when the original mix was supposed to be on the 2.0. Now apparently Warner set up an 800 number to call to get the discs replaced with fixed ones. And I assume all subsequent shipments had the corrected disc. Since it's so late at night, I wasn't able to find out if the 800 number was still active (it's been four years after all).
So chances are I don't have a release-date version of this set, and I should have no problem. But, as I've said, I've never even seen this movie before. So, just in case what should I be listening for? How can I tell if this has the wrong audio?
There is no lingerie in space…
C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.
There are countless sound continuity issues with missing Foley sound effects and worse the same new sound effects placed on the so called original theatrical (1978) Warner has shown no real pride in overseeing the films soundtrack that was demo like release with its stereo surround (SS) for Dolby 70mm mag.
So I think its near to impossible to get the original Dolby release on DVD or bluray LOL, you might try looking for a laserdisc player on fleabay and then look for the laserdisc, okay so what if its Dolby 4.2.4 matrix, its better than getting milked at every corner with Warner Bros.
Well compare the laserdisc most of the Foley effects are intact!
When Perry White tugs on newspaper of the Daily Planet the sound is, not on the English track language! However it is on the French language track? Plus there many other Foley effect missing from the English language Dolby 5.1 mix.
I noticed all this within seconds years ago when it was released on DVD. Then I started to listen to the other language tracks and was mildly shocked at how this, could happen? Careless is what it comes down to.
There are dozen rotten DVD bluray that I can list to avoid at all costs! Seriously buy a laserdisc player! I’d sooner change sides with side breaks than put up with half lousy cheap bluray’s that belong in the rubbish bin!
Escape from New York (1981) has missing Foley effects as well as a right dialogue pan. Listen to the audio commentary track and you’ll hear the crew members listening to different version to the one you’re watching!
Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.
Gaffer Tape said:
So, and I might have to turn over some of my established nerd cred here, I've never seen Superman The Movie. At least, not in its entirety.
*is shocked and faints, wakes up, reads quote again, is shocked and faints . . . . *
Superman the movie £5.99 on fleabay Wow just brought the laserdisc a few moments ago. I saw the price and it was too tempting to pass on.
PCM Dolby stereo 4.2.4 the cover looked in good nick as well. Gate-fold with easy to read text!
You're luck tonight love! I'd buy this one being sold in the US now! I just brought the one same one only the seller is in the UK so it should be flying to my letterbox within the next few days...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Superman-Movie-1978-12030-A-B-LASERDISC-/170518485475?pt=US_Laserdisc&hash=item27b3b199e3#ht_650wt_825
Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.
Well, according to the Superman Wiki, the corrected 2.0 audio is from the laserdisc:
This caused a minor controversy in the DVD community as none of the original soundtrack mixes were made available until the 2006 4-disc DVD release (which utilized a 2.0 stereo mix from an older laserdisc release).
There is no lingerie in space…
C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.
I bet there might be slightly faded 70mm print lurking around out there somewhere! Warner Bros are full excuses today.
I’ve read that some rare 70mm prints have had loving tender care treatment in preserving the original channel layout onto dts70mm yes dts70mm! I found the article on West Side Story interesting read. http://www.in70mm.com/news/2010/wss/index.htm
So if they can do it with West Side Story (1961) that is an older film than Superman the movie (1978).
Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.
Yeah, if anyone has the original stereo audio for the theatrical cut, synced to the theatrical cut on the 4-disc DVD, I'd love to have it. Even ripped from the replacement DVDs that Warner made. I've never heard the original mix, except for a couple comparisons between the original and the extended cut's mix (and that alone proved to me that there's no contest, the original mix is substantially better).
You don't happen to know where I can find some of those comparisons, can you? And are you saying you have the 4-Disc set but not the proper audio?
There is no lingerie in space…
C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.
For some reason I seem to remember that this sound issue is the reason that I have a french version of that 4-disc set in my collection. If I remember correctly, this set has the correct original audio for the Theatrical Version.
If this is the audio you seek, I would be happy to help....
“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison
Jedi Temple34 said:
Superman the movie £5.99 on fleabay Wow just brought the laserdisc a few moments ago. I saw the price and it was too tempting to pass on.
PCM Dolby stereo 4.2.4 the cover looked in good nick as well. Gate-fold with easy to read text!
You're luck tonight love! I'd buy this one being sold in the US now! I just brought the one same one only the seller is in the UK so it should be flying to my letterbox within the next few days...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Superman-Movie-1978-12030-A-B-LASERDISC-/170518485475?pt=US_Laserdisc&hash=item27b3b199e3#ht_650wt_825
Take a good hard listen to that audio in headphones when you get that disk. I have 4 LD's of that film and they all have rot and bad audio issues. I hope you got a good one. A lot of my Warner Bros. LDs seem to have that issue.
“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison
Gaffer Tape said:
You don't happen to know where I can find some of those comparisons, can you? And are you saying you have the 4-Disc set but not the proper audio?
I used to, but I no longer have the disc itself (I just have an MKV rip of the theatrical cut from said disc).
The first pressings of the 4-disc set had the 5.1 remix (as intended), but the 2.0 stereo - which was meant to be the original mix - was just a fold-down of the same 5.1 mix. When fans bitched to WB about it, they instituted an exchange program, with the fold-down replaced with the original stereo mix.
And I don't remember where these comparisons were, but I'll look around and let you know if I find them.
FanFiltration said:
Jedi Temple34 said:
Superman the movie £5.99 on fleabay Wow just brought the laserdisc a few moments ago. I saw the price and it was too tempting to pass on.
PCM Dolby stereo 4.2.4 the cover looked in good nick as well. Gate-fold with easy to read text!
You're luck tonight love! I'd buy this one being sold in the US now! I just brought the one same one only the seller is in the UK so it should be flying to my letterbox within the next few days...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Superman-Movie-1978-12030-A-B-LASERDISC-/170518485475?pt=US_Laserdisc&hash=item27b3b199e3#ht_650wt_825
Take a good hard listen to that audio in headphones when you get that disk. I have 4 LD's of that film and they all have rot and bad audio issues. I hope you got a good one. A lot of my Warner Bros. LDs seem to have that issue.
Laserdic database has none reported and its updated on issues.
http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/02701/12030-A/B/Superman:-The-Movie-(1978)
I’ve got fair few Warner laserdiscs haven’t had issues in the past expect for one. The Fugitive (1993) that had minor laser-rot on the CAV side.
As for listen I listen HARD! Listening is my pet love!
I’ve looked right though laserdisc database on all Superman the movie titles from US letterbox P&S to Japanese, (none reported) you sure it isn’t a DVD with laser-rot? I’ve heard some ramous but I’ve never seen one DVD YET with laser-rot. I know what laser-rot looks like its tiny sparkles of red like colour dancing around on the image. I had a brand new Dante’s Peak (1997) THX laserdisc years ago, when it was released and I think it was SideA that had laserdisc-rot and sent it back, for replacement and informed THX about the issue so they can look into the matter as, its part of the quality control program. I got a few nice gifts from THX for my efforts. There quality control THX program is not the same today, as it was years ago, since they went private.
Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.
The Superman the movie laserdisc i got with my player suffered with laserdisc rot & bad audio. Just because it doesn't state any rot on a database doesn't mean that this isn't happening. If FanFiltration has 4 that suffers with it and i have 1 then surely the evidence is there that it is an issue.
adywan said:
The Superman the movie laserdisc i got with my player suffered with laserdisc rot & bad audio. Just because it doesn't state any rot on a database doesn't mean that this isn't happening. If FanFiltration has 4 that suffers with it and i have 1 then surely the evidence is there that it is an issue.
Well for less than £10.00 pounds its no real loss and if its reported to have some, then I'll make a note, of it on the LDDB (after I’ve realigned the laser mechanism) as its tricky bugger to align. Might but a third laserdisc player 1750 to use it to realign my other CLD-1750, CLD-2950 needs a bit more attention, in getting back up and running.
Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.
Oh course there's a problem with the audio on the Superman DVD.... it's in that crappy Dolby Digital and not in glorious DTS!
IT'S MY TRILOGY, AND I WANT IT NOW!
"[George Lucas] rebooted the franchise in 1997 without telling anyone." -skyjedi2005
"Yeah, well, George says a lot of things..." a young 1997 xhonzi on RASSM
"They're my movies." -George Lucas. 19 people won oscars for their work on Star Wars (1977) and George Lucas wasn't one of them.
xhonzi said:
Oh course there's a problem with the audio on the Superman DVD.... it's in that crappy Dolby Digital and not in glorious DTS!
Dirty Theater System
Distortion Theater System
Distorted Theater System
DistortingTheater System
Distraction Theater System
Dreadful Theater System
Dead Theater System
Donkey Theater System
DOLBY SOUNDS BETTER!
Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.
Gaffer Tape said:
So, just in case what should I be listening for? How can I tell if this has the wrong audio?
It's been many years since I last saw this film with the remixed audio, so I'm not sure but I think you can easily spot it in the opening credits, if I remember it correctly, the sound effects of the titles receding into space were slightly redone for the special edition.
We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions.
Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com
I remember that the sounds of Krypton falling to pieces when Jor-El is launching baby Supes into space are very different in the remix. More high-end, tinkly glass-breaking sounds in the remix, whereas it's more mid-range, crunchy type sounds in the original mix.
On the VHS version (letterbox) it as the original Red like colour background of the Warner Bros logo is the same on the laserdisc?
Also I can hear subtle dialogue panning in the Dolby stereo mix, which gives a wider view to the scope of the image like being there.
I transferred the VHS version to DVD-RW as the VHS taped had been played so much in one spot because I liked the way dialogue panning sounded in DOLBY STEREO! Now I can play it over and over with any tape ware!
What I found was if you lower the centre channel level slightly or get the timber balance sorted along with some dynamicEQ to auto lower some of the sound frequencies it would sound really neat.
Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.
Does the Blu contain this mistake as well?
A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em
bkev said:
Does the Blu contain this mistake as well?
Its not theatrical version only directors edition for the bluray SIGH not worth me buying it.
Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.
Well, I can't complain on a blu I bought almost a year ago... plus it was a steal at $10. Shame I've only see the director's cut though, it seems...
A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em
Yeah, I'm disappointed that the theatrical cut isn't available on Blu-Ray.
Which reminds me - I know the Superman II "Donner Cut" is available on BR, but is the theatrical ("Lester") cut? I don't think it is ...
As to is Underworld (2003) on bluray its only the directors cut edition and that wins an epic fail for bluray!
Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.
I don’t think Superman 3 is available on DVD in 6track Dolby stereo as its one many handful of 70mm Dolby titles that was produced with split-stereo-surrounds.
Its only Dolby stereo 4.2.4 matrix same with Superman IV but lets forget about that one! LOL
Only the originals from the 70mm six-track Dolby stereo Dolby format 42 will sound better on DVD/Bluray.