The initial project is meant to be a personal fan compilation of the best materials from both the Criterion Collection DVD and the MGM Special Edition DVD with a few added bits. The Auxilliary extras discs project are meant for distribution.
With alot of copying and pasting from various posts I made including some new bits, here we go:
If the Criterion DVD of RoboCop wasn’t so difficult to find, I’d already own it. I should’ve purchased it when I had the opportunity back in early 2002.
What I’d do, I’d use the best of both worlds and use both the discs from the MGM RoboCop Trilogy (also available individually from Japan as a Special Edition of which I own) and from the Criterion. I’d even make it in the same type of calibre as FOX Japan’s “Ultimate Edition” 2-Disc set releases.
Disc 1-
The film with both commentaries and a complete isolated score. I’d probably use the MGM 1.85:1 Anamorphic transfer if I were to be making this. Use both the 5.1 remix and the original 2.0 Dolby surround mix as the main audio choices. Subtitles would first and foremost be English and alot of others.
Disc 2-
Probably a DVD-9 with all the extras from both releases including other found gems. Would be thorough and quite extensive.
It’s probably be very complicated going about doing this. It should be a worthwhile effort if someone actually did make a worthwhile even more comprehensive release of both RoboCop and RoboCop 2.
And even more…
Concerning the Criterion Collection DVD release Only thing good about the transfer in terms of video is that it’s Paul Verhoven’s director approved 1.66:1 aspect ratio. And I totally agree with you. That’s the main reason why I’d use the MGM 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer from the Special Edition through an NTSC source (don’t want to use PAL as it has a 4% speed-up and annoys the hell outta me) and not the Criterion Collection’s transfer.
For the audio, I’d use the Special Edition again and excise the unnecessary non-original audio language tracks. The commentary of course will stay and from the Criterion disc I’d extract the Dolby Surround 2.0 and the exclusive commentary from it. Then putting in place of the remaining space left-over from extracting the non-English audio tracks a complete isolated score from Basil Poledouris from the soundtrack. Most likely one would need to customise the set-up menu to reflect the customised changes. Hell, even subtitling both commentaries would be a welcome addition. Besides the commentaries, the only other special features on this proposed custom set on disc one would be all the trailers and tv spots.
For disc 2, most likely a DVD-9 (a dual-layered DVD), I’d put on every extra from both releases and even a few more documentaries I could probably get ahold of.
Seems like a difficult project but it seems very worthwhile. And I’ll get even into more detail about it as time passes. This custom fan-made release would be highly touted as one of the most definitive releases for RoboCop on any format. Hopefully the same could be done for RoboCop 2 and perhaps even RoboCop 3.
There’s the possibility of even making this into a 3 Disc “Ultimate Edition” if enough materials were found. I’d buy that for a dollar!
I'd be willing to snail mail you a dual-layer blank and a single-layer blank in order to just have it quicker. Did you use the CD-case Region 2 Japan anamorphic version of The Game for the project? I remember you saying something about it. As for verification, I'll post the cover image as to which version I think you used.
