hiphats

Well, folks,

It’s time for me to chime in as I promised. This news is very historic for all Superman fans who have clamored for decades on an official release of the long version, and finally, just in time for Christmas, we will be able to hopefully burn all those bootlegs people have been making of the TV cut of STM. My congratulations for WB for finally making it happen. And although Criterion didn’t get on the bandwagon on this (perhaps they will next year when and if they do a 4K of the theatrical cut along with the two other versions), this is only the climax of a celebration that began for all of us in 1971, when Ilya Salkind conceived the idea for a Superman movie, through its original theatrical release, and so forth. Somewhere in the next dimension, Christopher Reeve is proud that the upcoming blu ray will please all fans.

So, what next? Who knows. For now, let’s enjoy the new release.

Obviously this is a reissue print, cause it has the '70s MPAA G rating tag at the beginning, and the Buena Vista logo in place of the RKONlogo.

Update for you…

I have been in touch with The Criterion Collection and it’s head, Jon Mulvaney, concerning and suggesting SUPERMAN, and got a prompt response promising he will share that suggestion with his colleagues at Criterion. And yes, I did suggest they include all three versions of the film (they did with THE NEW WORLD, which is also a Warner title). Considering I did this now since the 40th anniversary is December 2018, if they do go through with this, it will take a long time getting it all together.

The URL is criterion.com if you fans want to suggest this too.

When WB did their restoration in 2000, I think they had access to whatever cut negative of the deleted scenes was needed for Richard Donner to insert the eight minutes that were edited back to the film, which is why the sections were presented in widescreen on the blu ray.

This will probably be my last post about this for a while (everything else I’ve had to say about STM RIC has already been said), except I’m sure more will be said when and if WB and/or Criterion makes any official announcement on a definitive edition of STM for the upcoming 40th anniversary. In the meantime I hope I have cleared some of the air on the state of the STM RIC.

The 2 inch videotape I believe was transferred from the 16mm pan-and-scan/standard master print of the TV cut prepared for worldwide television release.

As we get closer to the 40th Anniversary of STM, I would like to jump in here and add to the current fate of the Superman extended International cut (as it has been commonnly called). Last year we officially learned more about the status of this cut from the Warner Archive Podcast. According to the podcast. all WB has at this point is a 2 inch broadcast tape master of the longer cut, but all the elements of STM do exist and so it is possible to do a high quality remaster in HD. But the potential cost in putting together a proper cut at least for blu ray release is high, but George Felenstein (my spelling may be wrong) is confident an official release will happen at some point. Any decision, according to George, would have to be made at a higher level than the Warner Archive, but he certainly is putting a good word to them. And with the Criterion Collection now releasing special editions of Warner films, I imagine they will put out a collector’s edition of STM a la their recent release of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (where you have both the General Release and restored Roadshow versions plus some stuff).

Oso Blanco said:

Thank you very much, FanFiltration! I haven't been able to watch the whole movie yet, but what I saw looked amazing! Finally, we've got the SLV in widescreen and on DVD!

On the anamorphic topic, I think it actually IS anamorphic ... the information is just missing in the IFO file, so the picture looks squeezed on the computer as well as on tv. In both cases you would have to adjust the width manually. I recommend using a program called IfoEdit to fix this before you burn the movie onto DVD. Just load the IFO file and change the settings from 4:3 to 16:9, then save the file and everything's gonna be fine.

To add to his statement...if you have a newer HDTV that's capable of multiple ratios, especially one that can stretch out a 1.33:1 standard picture, and if you have an adaptable DVD or Blu-Ray player, you should have absolutely no problem viewing the film sans the squeezed picture distortions.  It played just fine with our VIZIO HDTV and a Phillips DVD player, and then with my Blu Ray player with a much bigger Sharp HDTV.  As for playing on PCs, if you have a widescreen monitor and your DVD software can stretch out picture, you should be able to view the film without distortions.  True. the disc is anamorphic, just need a little know how on your electronics to view the film correctly.

Ziz said:

Ok, I decided to stay up and burn a disc.

It plays on the computer but not on my stand alone player.  Tried two burns, one with Nero, one with Roxio.  Both times, I had to do it as a Data Disc, as neither had specific Video DVD options, at least not that I could find.

I was able to burn my disc using a Memorex DVD-R, and it played fine on my Sony Blu-Ray player...at least I took a sample of the disc, and there were no problems.

At about 9:25 PM my time, the downloading was finally complete, and hopefully I'll be looking at this tonight.  For those of you who do not want to go through the torment of downloading torrents of this, I need five people who are really interested in getting a disc of this work to IM me privately, and I'll tell you what to do from there.

Hopefully I will find a way of learning how to seed this, but if nothing else, Plan B...

On a personal level, it has been many, many years since I saw this longer version, so it will be a treat for ST fans, especially since it will add to my "Director's Edition" DVD.

Live Long and Prosper.

If you guys are having a hard time getting this on torrent, welcome to the club... not to be sarcastic.  I'm on day 3 of doing this, but hopefully I'll get it done today as I'm on 74% now.  Once I get this burned to DVD-R, IM me and I'll see what I can do to get you to see this.

Seeing that the original theatrical version is coming out on Blu-Ray later this year (and I do plan to get it to add to the "director's edition" I already have on DVD), it will be interesting to see how this longer version will look in widescreen since it has been many years since I've seen this version.  To me, the longer ST:TMP will be an example of how far this 1979 film has come since it was first made.  As far as I'm concerned, it is a work-in-progress, as it sees where the filmakers were at a point in time where things were uncertain (one reason why the "director's edition" was made in the first place).

edskizzorhands said:

I can do two versions, since I'm not done with cover. I don't mind.

I just usually don't like to go back and alter covers once they are done and finalized.

BUT, isn't there a difference between the KCOP and the Salkind cuts?

The KCOP and Salkind cuts are one and the same.  It has been referred to by these two different names.  The version you may have seen on KCOP is the version the Salkinds originally prepared for television prior to ABC's first broadcast, which itself was edited from the Salkind cut.

Is there anyone who can do similar artwork, only with the words "Salkind International Cut"?  I think those who prefer to call it that should have their way...

I hope to begin some type of work on the single disc adaptation of the Criterion CE3K materials sometime within the next few weeks.  This should be easy since it's already onto digital format.  So if interested and want it sooner, hit me up and I'll do what I can.

The Criterion release contains interviews, publicity materials, screenplays of deleted scenes, and "frame by frame" photo and artwork not available on any subsequent DVD issue of the film.  However, Criterion had no trailers or deleted scenes not in any of the two major versions that were out at the time (original theatrical and special edition).

For those of you "Close Encounters" fans, I have all the supplements of the CAV laserdisc version transferred to DVD-R (as you know, these were exclusive to the Criterion Collection and not available on any subsequent DVD edition of the film).  However, right now it is spread onto 2 DVD-Rs as part of a fan-made project I did many years ago, a compilation of all the known footage (theatrical, SE, collector's edition, deleted scenes) from CE3K.  I am planning to someday do a one-disc edition of just the supplements to supplement whatever DVD of CE3K you have.  Hit me up if interested.

IMHO, the visual editorial changes in the TSE actually enhances and helps the story rather than subtract from it, as the Smithee version did.  The flow is certainly a dozen times better, and music changes notwithstanding, the TSE is a much better film than the previous cuts.  I am not bothered by any changes that were made to make the TSE an enjoyable experience.  I hope you won't be bothered either.  I urge you to get this cut.

Hey, gang!

I finally managed to get a single-layer version of the new DUNE, and I glanced through all this a little more thoroughly.  Again, to the people who did this, a great job of editing!

There are a few things I wish to note...there were several scenes in the film that had music that had originally been intended fo the film but replaced in the theatrical version.  Scenes in question: where Dr. Kynes takes Paul and co. on a tour and seeing one sandship eaten up by the worm, the death of Duke Leto, and where the Fremen takes Paul underground to see water.  All these scenes with the score proper can be found in the Allen Smithee expanded version.  Also the new version presents the theatrical version of the sequence where the Baron is brought before the Emperor, whereas the TV version presents a more comprehsive version where we see the gang from the Baron's point of view.

But other than that, as I said before, this is the best version of DUNE I have seen done by anyone, and truly represents the film that might have been.  All the anomalites of the Smithee version are gone.

If you are interested in the single layer version without having to go through the long wait of torrents, etc., hit me up with a PM and we'll go from there.

You won't want to miss the Third Stage version of DUNE.  Bar none!

Well,

I was hoping if there is a dual layer version you can resend me, I'll see if it works with my player, and if so, I'll be happy to help get this version out much faster since my DVD-ROM is supposed to accept dual layer discs. 

Thanks.

hiphats

-edited-

See below.

It appears my getting this out to you will be delayed at least one day as I did not get my disc today in the mail.  I am waiting to see the finished product like you all want to.  Hang in there.

I should get hopefully a "final" copy tomorrow and from that point I will map out a plan to get this out to you fans as soon as possible.  Wait for my signal as they say!

hips

Just a little update to share with you all...I am contributing a bit to Mitch's "Superman" project.  I just sent him my copy of my composite version of the Salkind/KCOP edit (widescreen and full frame hybrid) so he can use it as a reference so he can know exactly which edits (sound and visual) to follow.  I also sent him MP3 files of the complete "Superman" score from various CD releases (especially the Rhino issue) so he can construct both stereo and mono soundtracks accordingly.  One thing to be noted...the "Destruction of Krypton" and "Lex Luthor's Lair" sequences in the TV version have restored cues out of place.  Those few who have seen my version will recognize their appropriate place in the film.

With Mitch's permission...anyone with high quality sources that can be used in this latest fan edition (this includes any TV trailers or any other misc. material on "Superman" not represented on the official DVDs) are encouraged to come forward.  I have done my part...I hope you will do yours.

I managed to see the first half of the new edition of DUNE (yes, there was a flaw in the disc I was sent, but I did manage to "squeeze [some] blood out of [this] turnip"), and Mitch did an exceptional job with what I have seen thus far.  The editing, the special effects, the picture quality...the seamless edits from extended scene to theatrical and vice versa...this was a great piece of work that I could not have done with the most simplest of software.  This truly is the best version of DUNE that has been put together by anyone.  Not even my hybrid cut compares with Mitch's version.  It's too bad that not all of the deleted scenes on the official DVD couldn't make it into the context of Mitch's version, but what was there certainly enhances the experience.

We're working on a plan to get this out to all of you fans, so when the time is right I'll PM (private message) you and set some plans in motion.

The sleeper has truly awakened!

hiphats@comcast.net

For those of you that can handle only single layer DVD-Rs, I am planning to do a shrink/mixdown for regular DVD-Rs and DVD+Rs (I'm getting a copy of the new DUNE shortly).  Of course, my DVD ROM can also record in and with dual layer, so if you want optimum quality I can assist in that too.  So when I'm ready I'll let you all know.

hips