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Good post, yo mama; here's my current Top 10 List ...

24.0.34.251

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Audiophilander

In Reply to: Let's talk LASERDISCS... my Top 10 List (not on DVD!) posted by yo mama on January 4, 2005 at 09:27:02:

...of NYA (not yet available) titles of interest. Note: Some of these are on LD (in one form or another; some not)
Greed (Von Stroheim dir.; TCM/Brownlow branched restoration) NYA
Napoleon (Gance dir.; Brownlow restor.; NOT Coppola/Zoetrope edit) NYA
King Kong (orig. & remastered) NYA
Shanghei Express (Von Sternburg dir.) NYA
Flesh and the Devil (Clarence Brown dir. Gilbert/Garbo) NYA
Free Live/Tribute to Paul Kossoff (only released as Jap. imp. LD) NYA
Jimi Hendrix/Atlanta Pop Festival (only released as Jap. imp. LD) NYA
Harold Lloyd silents (ALL restored; never released on LD) NYA
Traffic Live in Santa Monica (only released on LD) NYA
Val Lewton Collection (only released on LD) NYA
I'm also inclined to second your comments on The Shadow & Pink Floyd/Pulse and to a lesser degree on the Star Wars Trilogy (I think that The Empire Strikes Back is fine, but I still have problems with the DVD releases of Return of the Jedi and to a lesser degree Star Wars AKA "A New Hope"). BTW, the current DVD issue of War of the Worlds ('53) is one I eventually intend to purchase, however, I'm not convinced as to how enhancing the original mono film track for stereo will heighten or improve the experience of the original release.
Cheers,
AuPh

Follow Ups:

Re: War of the Worlds - rico 14:09:33 01/04/05 (7)
My understanding is that the stereo on the LD is true stereo as the main title of the 1953 film was in stereo.
- Thanks! I wasn't aware that the original release utilized stereo tracks. (nt) - Audiophilander 15:06:58 01/04/05 (6)
  (nt)
  - Re: Thanks! I wasn't aware that the original release utilized stereo tracks. (nt) - michael w 23:10:11 01/04/05 (5)
    I'm pretty sure the original was in mono.
    All the original reviews of the Paramount CAV LD mentioned that the soundtrack was remixed for stereo.
    http://www.dvdlaser.com/search/detail.cfm?ID=26134
    I'm afraid I don't share the same rosey fondness for this film.
    Sure it was a better film than When World's Collide but the CAV LD (I bought both back in '97/98 at the now-horrendous price of $45ea.)release of that film eclipses the rather poor presentation of WOTW.
    The remastered Paramount CAV LD is sharper than the previous issue but is also blemished with many scratches and other markings on the source print, plus the
    (Techni)colour palette had degraded so much that nearly every SFX shot showed up discrepancies wherein the color mattes had faded at a different rate to the main film stock.
    As for the stereo sound, it was distinctly nondescript and offered no real advantage over mono. The WWC mono track was far superior with better overall smoothness and a more solid, extended bottom end.
    
    Someone mentioned The Shadow earlier on ?
    It was released in a very good looking anamorphic widescreen Region 4 edition and possibly Region 2. Dolby Digital only, no DTS unlike the LD.
    - Great info, Michael! - Audiophilander 09:45:46 01/05/05 (4)
      I'll be on the look-out for the Shadow (Region 2 or 4) in anamorphic WS for my nifty multi-region player! I was very disappointed that the Shadow DVD wasn't released in it's proper anamorphic aspect ratio here. As for War of The Worlds, it looks like the DVD may be the closest to the original release sound-wise; now I'm curious as to whether the technicolor negative has been sufficiently cleaned up and color balance restored through video remastering for the DVD to be a significant improvement over the LD.
      Cheers,
      AuPh
      - Mo' War o' the Worlds info - yo mama 10:50:04 01/05/05 (3)
        
        In Reply to: Great info, Michael! posted by Audiophilander on January 5, 2005 at 09:45:46:
        
        Hi,
        There's no color difference between the WOW laserdisc and dvd; they appear to be the same source elements, although why the dvd was released in mono (very low-bit rate mono no less) escapes me.
        The technicolor transfer runs to the browns (very common) but is excellent nonetheless. For EYE-POPPING Technicolor check out DR. CYCLOPS on LD. It's a 50's sci-fi cheeze-fest about a shrink ray, but it has the most intense technicolor I've ever seen (and I specialize in collecting technicolor movies).
        The WOW was indeed released in TRUE STEREO for the roadshow prints; this was done to help compete against the threat of television by the movie studio; if you listen carefully to the WOW soundtrack you can hear a lot of out-of-phase material that gives a nice surround effect in stereo.
        Watch for the authentic remake of WOW by Pendragon films coming soon; it's done in Victorian times and is true to Welles' novel.
        
        Yep, if I'm not mistaken, I posted a link to the Pendragon WoTW site awhile back, but good info bears repeating. - Audiophilander 11:25:52 01/05/05 (2)
        
        In Reply to: Mo' War o' the Worlds info posted by yo mama on January 5, 2005 at 10:50:04:
        
        BTW, Dr. Cyclops is an early 40's SF film (1940, specifically), which makes the survival and quality of it's 3 strip Technicolor elements seem even more impressive. I never owned the LD (wish I had, now); is it out or due out on DVD?
        Thanks for the updates, yo mama!
        AuPh
        Dr. Cyclops (Open in New Window)
        
        Not sure if it's due on dvd; check the cheese section of your local supermarket! (nt) - yo mama 14:40:13 01/05/05 (1)
        
        In Reply to: Yep, if I'm not mistaken, I posted a link to the Pendragon WoTW site awhile back, but good info bears repeating. posted by Audiophilander on January 5, 2005 at 11:25:52:
        
        x
        
        Would that be under Gouda or Cottage? (nt) - Audiophilander 15:02:20 01/05/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Not sure if it's due on dvd; check the cheese section of your local supermarket! (nt) posted by yo mama on January 5, 2005 at 14:40:13:
        
        ;^)

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