JayArgonaut

As a matter of completion, here’s ANH, which was broadcast again by ITV HD over the weekend.

The specs are the same as for the other films:

Audio: English, 48.0 khz, 2 channels, AAC LC (LATM)
Audio #2: English, 48.0 khz, 1 channel, AAC LC SBR - visual impaired commentary
Compression mode: Lossy
Bit rate mode: variable
DVB Subtitles: English
Overall bit rate mode: Varible
Overall bit rate: 4,178 kbs
File size: 4.49 GB

When ITV HD airs ROTJ, I’ll provide info and caps for that too.

For the benefit of those, such as myself who are unaware of problems with the mono tracks on DVD and Blu-ray, can you elaborate please?

The Laserdisc releases would almost certainly contain the original 1983 mix. However, according to DVDCompare, you can find the original mix on the 2-disc SE/AE releases.

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=199#overall

It’s also supposed to present on the Blu-ray, going by IMDB - yes, I know, not always a reliable source:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086250/alternateversions?ref_=tt_ql_trv_5

The 20th anniversary DVD, released shortly after, only has a Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS track of the original mix, but the 2006 Platinum Edition DVD re-release and the Blu-ray edition included the audio remix in both DD 5.1 and DTS formats. Though the original mix is also available on the Blu-ray release.

SilverWook said:

Who bumps a five month old thread just to troll? Honestly!

Someone with way too much time on their hands but I’m honoured that they felt so incensed that they created an account, just for little me. 😄

Casino on DVD contains burned in subtitles that translate the conversation between Santoro (Pesci) and Rothstein (De Niro) where the former wants to arrange a meeting with the latter. The pair are acutely aware that their phone calls are being monitored by the FBI and so they speak in code.

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/ffefc305-ea39-4d2b-9d47-d1347f57f70e

Nicky Santoro: Listen, I gotta meet Clean Face right away, what about the Chez Paris?
Nicky Santoro: [subtitles] I gotta meet Charlie the Banker right away at your house, OK?
Ace Rothstein: No, you can’t, you gotta make a reservation, it’s all booked up.
Nicky Santoro: No no, it’s ok.
Ace Rothstein: It’s impossible, it’s booked up, you gotta make a reservation, it’s very difficult to get in.
Ace Rothstein: [subtitles] I don’t want a meeting at my house.
Nicky Santoro: It’s ok, I’ll use the service entrance. I’ll see you at nine.
Nicky Santoro: [subtitles] I’ll come in from the golf course side. See you at six.

However, whenever I’ve caught the TV airings, even on different channels, the subtitles are omitted.

My question is this, was it untranslated for the theatrical release and then Universal/Scorcese decided to make the scene more clear for the home video versions?

Jonno said:

By the way, I’d avoid DV for something like this, personally - it’s a pretty punishing codec for analogue sources. A preferable route would be lossless capture…

Without wanting to hijack the main topic, I have a question arising from this discussion. Although I agree that lossless capturing is always the best choice and I have a machine set up for that sole purpose, I’ve captured the analogue signal from my older PAL games consoles (late 90s, early 2000s) via DV pass-through and the results were quite good.

Was this in spite of the source and the codec or it because they would have had a higher resolution than LD and VHS? Just curious.

Yeah, exactly. Some (constructive) criticisms are justified but at the end of the day, if you do not like the project or think that it is unnecessary, there’s no obligation to watch it!

SF01 said:

Would be worth comparing and worth having diversity.

Absolutely. I for one, would like to see this transfer.

Those who are not interested can choose not to. 😃

Dobrze! 😃

Forget to add, I also have this widescreen UK VHS set of the 1997 SE:

Just wondered, will Macrovision be a problem?

Williarob said:

A big thank you to Bob Furmanek of the 3D film Archive (http://www.3dfilmarchive.com/) for pointing this out to me this weekend.

A big thank you in turn to yourself for pointing this out to us. 😃

SF01 said:

Widescreen as well?

Yep, widescreen:

I also have these:

Also these, which were on sale from the early 90s…

SF01 said:

In my country there was a paper box with 3 films in 1995, no special features in pan and scan with voiceover (Still better than dubbing). I’m still hunting it, but I have all other tapes, 5 of PT (I and II in widescreen subtitles and pan and scan with dubbing and III in pan and scan in dubbing, there wasn’t widescreen) and 9 of OT (silver and golden special edition and 2000 rerelease of special edition). I am not counting rental only films and pirated versions.

A voiceover? Which country, is it Poland? I have Episode I in widescreen on UK VHS. Unlike the other EU nations, we only received the VHS release of II in pan and scan. III on VHS was produced but wasn’t even advertised over here.

Ok, gotcha! I have those exact versions on VHS: PAL UK releases.

Look forward to seeing the captures. 😃

Thanks for offering to do this.

I have a MiniDV camcorder with a pass-through option that I use for capturing analogue sources, straight into my Mac. Simplicity itself! FireWire cable between the camera and the computer and then I have the RAW file. My camera is PAL only, so for NTSC and tasks where I need Huffyuv, I’ve got a dedicated PC with a capture card.

Can you give more information about the bonus features?

Then please share! 😃

Are the films themselves widescreen or pan and scan?

For those who are curious like myself:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews23/from_russia_with_love_dvd_review.htm

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews28/goldfinger.htm

The Goldfinger comparison has shown me that my HDTV recording has been vertically cropped by the broadcaster, not quite as severely as the SE DVD but still badly enough when judged against the UE DVD and Blu-ray.

Very cool! That would have - and could be a very exciting spin-off. Imagine the potential for Trek cameos?

These are the kinds of ideas that I wish Rick Berman had pursued instead of Enterprise.

Speaking of which, this was a missed opportunity but as was pointed out in the comments section, it could be possible today with both Takei and Cho.

https://trekmovie.com/2010/06/11/george-takei-baffled-paramount-never-made-sulu-series/

That’s interesting. You wouldn’t happen to have an image comparison by chance would you?

captainsolo said:

Like all the non-scope Bonds for the SE DVD, GF was cropped to 1.78:1. While this is still around the safe limits for framing flat matted widescreen the SE DVDs did crop a bit too much on all five done this way and the 1.66 is the best ratio for the initial three in terms of composition.

Thankfully the 1.66:1 OAR was restored for the GF UE.

The Blu-ray features the theatrical version, the analogue releases and the original DVD contain the extended cut and the 2004 SE double disc edition introduces further changes, including to the aspect ratio.

Which one do (or potentially did) you have? I made a point of buying the original DVD release because it was the same version as my widescreen VHS. Although it’s non-anamorphic, I wasn’t interested in the 2004 SE DVD because of the alterations and revised aspect ratio.

Never underestimate anyone and never underestimate the determination of your opponent to see you defeated.

Anthony Joshua sensationally beaten by Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/48487939

Anchorhead said:

I have Batman nerd board friends who are already claiming… “it’s an abomination” - “it’s the end of the franchise” - “I’ll never see it”, “how could they be so wrong?”…etc, etc.

Never understood that attitude. The world will not end, life will go on. You’re not forced to watch it with your eyes held open ala A Clockwork Orange, you can still continue to enjoy the graphic novels or whichever cinematic depiction that you prefer.

oojason said:

For those in the UK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUGYXELKPTw

Thanks! 😃

Frank Lucas, whose criminal exploits inspired Ridley Scott’s American Gangster.

88 years - he lived longer than most people in his line of employment.

https://www.complex.com/life/2019/05/american-gangster-frank-lucas-dead-88?utm_campaign=complexmag&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

The 1932 original is overshadowed by Michael Mann’s 1983 remake. Which is a shame because it’s definitely a thought provoking film, particularly when you consider that Prohibition was repealed just a year later. I had no idea about the alternate ending. Unfortunately, there’s no Blu-ray available. With any luck, BBC Two (or Four) might show it in HD…