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alloneword

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Join date
7-Feb-2017
Last activity
29-Oct-2023
Posts
126

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Post
#1473064
Topic
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) Extended + Open Matte
Time

jaken97 said:

alloneword said:

jaken97 said:

Hi Everyone,

I have the extended version on BluRay but have been unable to source an open matte copy as of yet. Any help finding a copy is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Jake.

I had the “International Cut” Extended UK PAL version on VHS but cannot remember if it was open matte or pan & scan. I can’t remember whether or not I still have it and my Hauppauge PVR Rocket has not worked properly since I recently updated the Capture software.

If I still have the VHS, and am able to capture, and if it is indeed open matte, I could upload it somewhere. 😃
It’s PAL so if it’s what you’re looking for, it’ll need to be slowed down to NTSC to edit into the US open matte DVD. My PVR captures VHS at 576p50, just FYI.

On a side note, I would love to see a similar restoration of the International Cut in HD, using the Optimum 2010 UK Blu Ray to insert the additional/alternate scenes into the US Blu Ray which is far superior quality. The UK Blu Ray, whilst not as bad as people make out in my opinion, is nowhere near as good quality as as the US Theatrical BD release. But it is the International/Extended Cut, is 24fps and very watchable. It’s true HD but just a rather weak transfer. I don’t have the US BD so can’t attempt it myself right now though.

It would definitely be interesting to see what aspect ratio this version is in! If you manage to get it transferred let me know. And I agree in regards to the UK extended blu ray, certainly not terrible, but a hybrid copy of those versions might be something I look into as well.

Still haven’t found the VHS yet but will have another look soon. Still having issues with the PVR Rocket as it decided to stop saving recordings on the flashdrive in standalone mode. Will probably have to capture direct to my PC instead.

If you could try doing a hybrid BD that would be awesome. I’d also like the International Cut with the 1990’s Capella ident if possible. The 2007 10th Anniversary HMV Exclusive DVD used the same/similar ident to the VHS from what I remember. I still have the 2007 DVD which can be slowed down to NTSC in place of the 2010 logo if there’s no HD version available.

Post
#1472566
Topic
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) Extended + Open Matte
Time

jaken97 said:

Hi Everyone,

I have the extended version on BluRay but have been unable to source an open matte copy as of yet. Any help finding a copy is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Jake.

I had the “International Cut” Extended UK PAL version on VHS but cannot remember if it was open matte or pan & scan. I can’t remember whether or not I still have it and my Hauppauge PVR Rocket has not worked properly since I recently updated the Capture software.

If I still have the VHS, and am able to capture, and if it is indeed open matte, I could upload it somewhere. 😃
It’s PAL so if it’s what you’re looking for, it’ll need to be slowed down to NTSC to edit into the US open matte DVD. My PVR captures VHS at 576p50, just FYI.

On a side note, I would love to see a similar restoration of the International Cut in HD, using the Optimum 2010 UK Blu Ray to insert the additional/alternate scenes into the US Blu Ray which is far superior quality. The UK Blu Ray, whilst not as bad as people make out in my opinion, is nowhere near as good quality as as the US Theatrical BD release. But it is the International/Extended Cut, is 24fps and very watchable. It’s true HD but just a rather weak transfer. I don’t have the US BD so can’t attempt it myself right now though.

Post
#1464348
Topic
Info: Films re-released with alterations
Time

I’m porting this over from The “Is it in HD somewhere because I can’t find it” thread as it is relevant to this;

https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/The-Is-it-in-HD-somewhere-because-I-cant-find-it-thread/id/49901/page/4

Seeing as it’s Christmas;

Raymond Briggs’ “The Snowman” (1982) with original intro, 4:3 aspect ratio and instrumental “Walking in the Air”.

The Blu Ray, which is still great quality, is cropped to 16:9 and lacks any of the three intros as part of the main feature. It does however include all 3 intros by Raymond Briggs, David Bowie and Mel Smith’s Father Christmas as a bonus feature in 1080i 4:3. (Although the Mel Smith Father Christmas intro is not the open matte 4:3 intro, it takes the cropped 16:9 version and stretches it vertically to 4:3)

The original Briggs intro version has never been release in PAL on DVD or VHS, let alone Blu Ray, in the UK. It was released Australia in 2004 in it’s original form but the quality is not great, though still very watchable. This is the only PAL version I’ve been able to find.

It was released in the US on DVD (NTSC) in 1998 (along with the William Dennis Hunt re-voiced “Father Christmas”) and much better quality than the Australian DVD, but it is in NTSC and speed/pitch is slowed down.

“The Snowman” was repeated on Channel 4 in 1991 (first time I saw the film) and again in 1992.

The instrumental “Walking in the Air” was soon replaced with a vocal version by St Paul’s Cathedral choirboy Peter Auty. This version is most commonly used in any version you watch (Brigg’s/Bowie/Smith Intro version) and is the version included on the 1998 R1 NTSC DVD. The Howard Blake score is not aligned the same way in later revised versions compared to the original, just to add to the headache.

An Australian VHS recording of the original broadcast version has been uploaded here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgcZAv4HAHM

Original Raymond Briggs Intro repeat broadcast from 1992;
https://tvark.org/?page=media&mediaid=112976
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNTMLM3yu4s

Apart from that, nearly every year between 1983 and 2002 it’s been the Bowie version. Then there was the 2002 16:9 version with the Mel Smith Father Christmas intro, but since Smiths passing in 2013, Channel 4 have reverted back to airing the 4:3 Bowie version. I would love to have a decent quality original broadcast version in PAL 4:3 with original intro and soundtrack either in HD or SD. There’s always a chance the original will be shown again or maybe even a 40th Anniversary 4K release in 2022.

So to sum up;
1982 - Original broadcast with Raymond Briggs introduction and instrumental “Walking in the Air”. Thids maybe be a version that was sent overseas for other languages to be dubbed for the song. (AVailable on 1993 US VHS and possibly laserdisc)
1982(?) - Original Raymond Briggs introduction with Peter Auty vocal version “Walking in the Air” replacing instrumental. Blake’s score rearranged slightly in parts. (Available on 1998 NTSC R1 DVD)
1983 - David Bowie introduction replacing Briggs’ introduction. Very washed-out transfer and image cropped on both sides. End credits also slightly redone/repaced. (Available on 2000 PAL R2 DVD, double feature with “Father Christmas”)
2002 - “Special Edition” with Mel Smith’s Father Christmas introduction, cropped to 16:9 on UK DVD and broadcasts. Dutch DVD “De Sneeuwman” is 4:3 open matte but no English audio. End credits reanimated again. (Available on 2002 PAL R2 DVD)
2012 - 30th Anniversary Edition with no introductions on main feature (which is 16:9), though all 3 are included are extras and in 1080i50 (4:3). (Available on 2012 Blu Ray, R2 DVD either as stand-alone or compilation with “The Snowman and Snowdog”, or “TSM&SD” and “Father Christmas”)

Post
#1430208
Topic
Wallace & Gromit in "The Wrong Trousers" - Original Audio Preservation (Released)
Time

Dek Rollins said:

I may do A Close Shave as well, but if I do I’ve decided to leave it in SD because of the cropped Blu-ray.

For “A Close Shave”, would it be worth capturing an HDTV broadcast from BBC One or Two?

I’m not sure what aspect ratio it’s broadcast in these days as I’ve not seen any recent broadcasts myself.

It get gets repeated quite a lot throughout the year, mainly on CBBC Channel but that will most likely have a logo.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01q0k5b

Although if it is broadcast in 4:3 then hopefully logo’s won’t be an issue if it’s within the black bars on the side.

“The Wrong Trousers” has the altered music on BBC iPlayer so I’m guessing that’s the version they broadcast nowadays. Not that it matters now.

Update - “A Close Shave” aired on BBC One on Saturday 29th May, 2021 and it was the cropped widescreen version. It’s also airing on the 5th and 6th June on CBBC so we’ll see.

Post
#1417567
Topic
It's the full collection, Charlie Brown! AKA continuing the Warner Peanuts 1960s, 1970s "decade" collections (a WIP)
Time

“The Snoopy 4-Movie Collection” Blu-ray is being released May 18th, 2021.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Snoopy-4-Movie-Collection-Blu-ray/287136/

The set includes “A Boy Named Charlie Brown” (1969), “Snoopy, Come Home” (1972), “Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown” (1977) and “Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don’t Come Back!!)” (1980), with the latter two making their debut on the format.

Quite annoying that I picked up the “ABNCB”/“SCH” double BD only last year and then this gets announced, lol.

Post
#1410044
Topic
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends UK Series 1-2 Original Broadcast Version Reconstruction (WIP)
Time

I’m in the process of re-capturing all my VHS tapes as a base for this project as my Hauppauge HD PVR Rocket is capturing the colour grading more accurately than my DVD Recorder. The recordings i did back in 2007/8 (particularly for Series 2) had very blown-out contrast and loss of colour/detail that I originally put down to age and how much they were played back in the day.

This is taking a lot longer than planned as I’m still pondering over some editing decisions with regards to the yellow line split transitions. originally going to be clever and chop each frame up and crop/uncrop the DVD footage in line with the split but I’m not 100% satisfied with the results and is headache-inducing to the point where I just get fed up and don’t have the energy to pick up again. I am considering to just cross-fade from VHS~DVD~VHS so that it’s not as jarring and easier on the eyes, especially with the new VHSrips I’m doing.

Another thing that’s holding me up is that I would love to obtain some of the original Norwegian/Swedish/Danish DVD’s which used original masters with original episode titles and scrolling credits (no nameboards though) and in English. I’d love to purchase these but they’re almost impossible to find and to import to the UK, especially now. If anyone can help me out there, that’d be great.

Post
#1410029
Topic
Home Alone 2 - 35mm Scanning Project Opportunity
Time

stwd4nder2 said:

Out of curiosity, is there anything wrong with the blu-rays or Home Alone?

Home Alone 2 on Blu Ray has a rather low bitrate and the transfer is ok, not great. I have the UK Blu Ray and I think that looks fine but I’d love to see a film scan of it. HA2 has only had one release in HD in 2009 but the original has had three different remasters.

The 2015 Mastered-in-4K 1080p Blu Ray of Home Alone (the original) got raved about on Blu Ray.com but personally I thought it was a bit too dark and over-saturated. The UHD 4K disc (from what I’ve seen) seems to be more accurate. I remember the “Family Fun Edition” DVD being quite accurate to how I grew up watching it on TV/VHS and I assume the original 2008 Blu Ray used that same master.

Post
#1399865
Topic
The "Is it in HD somewhere because I can't find it" thread.
Time

The entire “Trumptonshire” Trilogy had their original film negatives re-scanned and restored in HD in 2011 but only “Camberwick Green” got a Blu Ray release in 2011. “Trumpton” and “Chigley” never got released in HD and “Camberwick Green” BD sells for quite a high price these days.

I never saw much of these shows but they’re considered classics and ought to be preserved and available in the best possible way.

Post
#1396869
Topic
The Blackadder
Time

uridon said:

Watched half of Blackadder II and all of the first,
and I find The Black Adder way better than the cheap sitcom it progressed into.
Will give 3 and 4 a shot but it’s not looking promising from youtube clips I’ve seen.

The Black Adder has better production value, wittier and blacker humor, a more unique dynamic with the main trio,
the best supporting cast (Brian Blessed in particular), and Rowan Atkinson is just funnier as a bumbling
fop than he is a cunning sociopath.

“The Black Adder” is my least favourite series but is still very good, for reasons you’ve mentioned. When my family started collecting Blackadder on VHS in the mid-1990’s, we started with Blackadder Goes Forth then worked our way back. No particular reason for it, it just worked out that way and I knew that things were going to be very different when it came to Series 1. Unlike you, I much prefer the sitcom format of the later series with Blackadder II being my favourite but I can appreciate why someone who started of with Series 1 and loved it to then feel underwhelmed with the following series’. Prince Edmund from The Black Adder felt to me like Mr. Bean playing the character rather than Rowan Atkinson but I think it worked well for this Series. Brian Blessed is fantastic in that series and steals the show whenever he’s on screen. Series 1 had much more of a story arc than the latter series’ and like you say, a much better production and wonderfully shot. I also loved how they satirised the Middle Ages but sometimes the Series and tone can get pretty grim for a sitcom. They had to do away with all that in order to get a second series commissioned though but personally I think it was was all the better for it.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the series though, and if you don’t, you’ll have at least enjoyed Series 1.

Blackadder Hall is a great site and includes some deleted scenes/rare footage as well;
http://www.blackadderhall.com/?page_id=581

Post
#1370068
Topic
Info: Films re-released with alterations
Time

SpacemanDoug said:

Nien Nunb said:

JayArgonaut said:

Back to the Future II: not necessarily a digital alteration but definitely a visual one.

The original: featuring “Coming Summer 1990”, as seen at the end of the theatrical and home video versions, including the Blu-ray:

original

Removed from the version shown in recent years by ITV (UK) and the “BTTF Part III” logo also appears to have been altered from the original.

HDTV

This is an alteration, but I don’t think this is a recent change. It was actually more recently that the “Coming Summer 1990” was restored after years of it not having been included. I first became aware of it on the 25th Anniversary Blu-ray set and corresponding DVD set. It was not present on the 2002 DVDs or any previous VHS release I have ever seen. I believe it appeared in theaters this way and then was removed for it’s initial video release which is how it remained until 2011.

You’re right it was in theaters that way, I could’ve sworn it was on the 2002 DVDs though, but I do know it was missing entirely on the VHS

The “Coming Summer 1990” is not included on the full screen R1 DVD box set.

Post
#1366321
Topic
'The Fast Show' (UK TV series) - unedited episodes (Released)
Time

Baobab Archiver said:

I might be able to do it. I enjoy the Fast Show but haven’t seen it in years, so not sure what I’m looking for.
However if the episode turns out to have what is needed, drop me a PM and I’ll see what I can do.

P. S. As these are a way off yet, you might need to prompt me nearer the time, as I can’t set them to record yet!

That’d be great if you could capture those for me. The top two YouTube links are the missing Series 2 sketches I was referring to and were oriignally included in the two episodes I listed. If you can capture them for me (I’ll be watching them as well) and if they have anything I need, I’ll PM you.

That’s fine, it’s too early to Sky+ them so I’ll prompt you nearer the time.

Post
#1366259
Topic
'The Fast Show' (UK TV series) - unedited episodes (Released)
Time

UK Channel GOLD are going to be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of The Fast Show (belatedly) this month by marathoning the entire series along with a brand new special “The Fast Show: Just A Load of Blooming Catchphrases” to air on August 29th 2020.

https://gold.uktv.co.uk/shows/fast-show/episodes/

Series 2, Episodes 3 and 4 both aired on 21st August 2020 in their original broadcast forms and have been captured thanks to Baobab Archiver
Christmas Special 1996 airing on 30th August 2020 at 12:20am
“You Ain’t Seen All These, Right?” is airing on 31st August 2020 at 10:15pm

Series 2 was presented in it’s original broadcast form with all sketches and licenced music intact so hopefully the two specials listed will follow suit.

I’m going to Sky+ them but I’ve no way of capturing them or even just capturing the audio as my Sky+HD box doesn’t have any audio outputs besides optical, so if anyone here would be able to capture these for me I would very much appreciate it!

Post
#1364329
Topic
Info: Back to the Future - without DNR & EE
Time

TheHutt said:

The new 4K picture scan has been already used on Netflix for Part II. Though it’s still heavily filtered (by Netflix itself), it shows much more details and has better colors than the old master.

https://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/4585/picture:0

Thanks for sharing. Those Amazon JP shots do look rather grainy though which is nice. Aren’t they meant to be the same master as the Blu Ray?

Post
#1363637
Topic
'The Fast Show' (UK TV series) - unedited episodes (Released)
Time

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fn9t2

Would anyone happen to have any original broadcast versions of some of these episodes that have since been edited for DVD/VHS releases?

I’m mainly after Episodes 3 and 4 from Series 2 as they have a few missing sketches, the 1996 Christmas Special and “You Ain’t Seen All These, Right?” (from The Fast Show Night), both of which have music replaced in some sketches.

“Fred Halibut & His Little Banjolele” cut from Series 2, Episode 3;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYks29_oxUA

…and this one from Series 2, Episode 4 for some bizarre reason;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXxgxXiqZZw

The Fast Show - Christmas Special 1996 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzVVAcexIuE&t=1758s

The Colin Hunt sketch at 29:16 in the original broadcast version features George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” played in the background during one of the Colin Hunt sketches, which has been replaced with an alternate instrumental track on the Extended Version which was released on VHS and DVD. The above link is a TV recording of the original broadcast version but with the same alteration. The last time it aired on BBC2 was Christmas 1999 and I did have a VHS recording this repeat which I tried to use but my VCR chewed it up recently. I’m kicking myself for not preserving it sooner when I had a working DVD recorder. The GOLD broadcast from August 2020 bizarrely didn’t have any music playing during this scene so I’ll have to do a custom track with “Careless Whisper” overlayed onto it.

The following sketch is from “You Ain’t Seen All These, Right?”. The original broadcast version features Louis Armstrong’s version of “What a Wonderful World” playing out towards the end, but on DVD it’s been replaced with a cover of the song by another artist;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRH--pMVOFM&t=1s

I also had a VHS recording of this when it was repeated on BBC2, Christmas 2000 (the 2nd and last time it was aired) but I can’t seem to find that tape anywhere and I no longer have any means to capture VHS to digital. Again, annoyed at myself for not capturing it when I had the chance. Luckily the GOLD broadcast from August 2020 used the original music.

Series 2 was repeated on BBC2 in 2015 (except episode 7) in their untouched form which I wasn’t aware of until recently. I’ve tried to find some captures of these but no luck.

There’s also a Finnish DVD release of Series 2 by Pan Vision which is a 2 disc set rather than a single disc and Episodes 3 and 4 appears to be longer than the UK/AUS DVD leading me to believe that the Fred Halibut and Newlyweds sketches are intact, though according to DVDCompare it states that the’ve been cut from this release as well;

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=25695
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.discshop.fi%2Ftv-sarjat%2Fdvd%2Fruuvit_loysalla_kausi_2%2FP54163

I would like to purchase myself but can’t seem to find it available anywhere. Homefully someone could shed some more light on this release or how to purchase it from the UK.

Here’s a great article about the changes made to home releases;

http://www.dirtyfeed.org/2015/11/the-fast-show-series-2-dvd-edits/

Plus a thread from another forum discussing the 2015 repeats;

https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=49347.0

There are some more edits listed on the wiki page;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fast_Show

I absolutely adore this show. It’s still brilliant and still holds up. Thankfully there isn’t too much missing from the DVD’s and not as severe a case like say “Only Fools and Horses”.

GOAL

Series 1 as far as I’m aware is uncut on the original 2002 stand-alone DVD release (some alterations were made to the 2007 Box Set) so I’ll just use that.

Series 2, Episodes 3 and 4, I will be reinserting the missing sketches from TVrips into the DVD version (most likely the original stand-alone 2003 release as that has fewer alterations compared to the 2007 Box Set) or better still, if any of the BBC2 2015 repeats surface and they at least match the DVD in terms of quality then I will just use those as my definitive versions. The 2020 GOLD broadcasts of these two episodes have been captured (Thank you Baobab Archiver) and have been used to reinstate the missing sketches and licenced music into the DVD version. Unfortunately due to the different framing and colour timing between the TV and DVD versions, I’m currently unable to remove the GOLD logo from the reinstated scenes. These episodes will be stand-alone .mpg’s.
Status - Complete

Christmas Special 1996 and “You Ain’t Seen All These, Right?” will simply be a case of doing a custom audio track by pasting portions of the original audio over the DVD AC3 of the Extended Editions. No re-encoding required. For these two specials, I’ll be able to reauthor the existing DVD’s including menus, chapters and subtitles but with the custom selectable audio tracks. The restored “Careless Whisper” version will be the default track and I’ll include the altered DVD version and the GOLD 2020 broadcast which is (I presume) and unfinished version (licensed music and laughter track missing in some sketches) as an option. These will both be DVD5’s.
Status - Complete

(I may even do a restoration of the original shorter broadcast versions of these two as they’re not commercially available and they both include elements that are missing/altered for the extended version)

Series 3 DVD’s claim to have edits made to them but I’m not sure what they are, if any. The 1996 Christmas Special was included on the original 2004 stand-alone DVD release so maybe the disclaimer was referring to that.