DVDs: The Super Collector Edition Thread

[Deleted]

When Dreamworks' Jeff Katzenberg says that the HD/Blu-Ray wars are irrelevant because it's the next format which'll be the one in which to invest, consumers can breathe a small sigh of relief and not give a damn about either. The incremental quality increase just ain't worth the expense and the risk of early-adoption.

Then again, if DVD isn't as cool as it was ten years ago — and face it, it's not — at least is has the chance to be pretty cool again. As cool as it was when Fight Club arrived in its innovative fold-out digipak case that contained two discs, a dark, thrilling film of violence and male bonding (one that almost could have been designed for the DVD demographic itself), and surprising extras. For some, DVD began with Fight Club. For others, it never quite surpassed it. And, maybe, it could get back there again.

Give it time.

I'm exceedingly disappointed that DVD Journal is closing up shop, a sad marking of DVD's tenth anniversary last week. There's a well-written sayonara essay but there's so much unsaid that it makes me grumpy and surprisingly sad. DVDJournal was a place to go for smart reviews and previews, unadorned by commercialism and hype, and it'll be missed.

[huntergrayson]

As The Digital Bits keeps pointing out, having a format war right now is the height of stupidity since it looks like the future will be on-demand/downloading and this will just push it further in that direction.

Speaking of the height of stupidity, the decision to break up Grindhouse on DVD has to be one of the worst DVD choices ever. Wasn't the whole point (according to the filmmakers) to recreate the double-feature Grindhouse experience? WTF!?! (Add the Weinstein Company making an exclusive rental deal with Blockbuster and...ugh. Maybe they deserve to fail).

[tamaradixon]

huntergrayson said:

As The Digital Bits keeps pointing out, having a format war right now is the height of stupidity since it looks like the future will be on-demand/downloading and this will just push it further in that direction.

Speaking of the height of stupidity, the decision to break up Grindhouse on DVD has to be one of the worst DVD choices ever. Wasn't the whole point (according to the filmmakers) to recreate the double-feature Grindhouse experience? WTF!?! (Add the Weinstein Company making an exclusive rental deal with Blockbuster and...ugh. Maybe they deserve to fail).

I know! but given the fact that I hated "Death Proof" and loved "Planet Terror", maybe not such a bad idea. Although getting a 2 for deal on the dvd's would have been sweet.

[huntergrayson]

I checked the IMDB FAQ and it's BEYOND convoluted and money-grubbing:

GRINDHOUSE Presents DEATH PROOF: September 18th, 2007.

This is the extended version of the film prepared by Quentin Tarantino for the Cannes film festival. Running time is around two hours. It does include the "Missing Reel" a.k.a. the lapdance, and a reel shot entirely in Black and White.

The 2 disc release does include bonus materials, including six featurettes (Stunts on Wheels: The Legendary Drivers of Death Proof; Finding Quentin's Gals; The Guys of Death Proof; Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike; Introducing Stunt Goddess Zoë Bell; & Quentin's Greatest Collaborator: Editor Sally Menke); an interview conducted by Quentin Tarantino with director Cirio H. Santiago; an International Poster Gallery; and trailers for Grindhouse and the documentary Double Dare.

The rental version of DEATH PROOF available at the BlockBuster rental store chain is only one disc, and does not contain any of the bonus materials of the two disc version, except for the Theatrical Trailer for DEATH PROOF. However, it does contain a featurette that is not on the 2 disc version, "The Hot Rods of Death Proof".

The Limited Steelbook Case issue of DEATH PROOF at the Best Buy chain contains the two disc release of DEATH PROOF and a bonus third disc which is a 30 minute documentary on the making of DEATH PROOF.

GRINDHOUSE Presents PLANET TERROR: October 16th, 2007.

This is the extended version prepared by Robert Rodriguez. Running time is around two hours. It will have the fake trailer of MACHETE before PLANET TERROR, as it was in GRINDHOUSE.

The 2 disc set does have bonus materials, including an audio commentary with Robert Rodriguez, deleted scenes, featurettes on the stunts, the make-up and effects, the badass babes, the renegade guys, the costumes, & the production design, cooking & 10-minute film schools; and the international trailer.

The Limited Steelbook Case issue of PLANET TERROR at the Best Buy chain will have a bonus third disc. The contents on the third disc is unknown at this time, but if it follows the example of the DEATH PROOF Steelbook, it will probably be a documentary on the making of PLANET TERROR.

GRINDHOUSE (DOUBLE FEATURE PRESENTATION): June 8th, 2008

This will be the Double Feature presentation as originally presented in theatres. Since the 2 disc sets for DEATH PROOF and PLANET TERROR had the bonus materials for each individual film, this disc will be a movie only version, with the possibility of just having the trailer(s) for GRINDHOUSE as it's sole bonus feature.

[Deleted]

I'm not sure I understand. Which set(s) do(es) The Weinstein Company actually want me to to buy, and which one(s) do they want me to illegally copy? Because completists like me sure as hell ain't gonna buy all three. Of each movie.

[MrsCatHead]

I didn't knowDeath Proof was missing the lap dance scene. I saw it in the cinema here in Prauge and we saw the lapdance sequence. Poor Americans. Why can't they just show a damn movie in its entirety?

[huntergrayson]

For once, the censoring isn't for prudishness. Both Death Proof and Planet Terror had scratched up/"missing" reels (whose events were later referred to but not seen) in order to seem more cheap and Grindhouse-y.

Oh, yay, Troy. A director's cut. Just what that movie needs. Though we get Orlando pubes and some more Brad ass.

Stupid studios and their inability to use the awesome "seamless branching" capabilities of DVD.

[MrsCatHead]

I should probably ask in a different thread but did the theatres in the US not show the lapdance scene? I understand the scratchy, "skips" in the film. We noticed those here. But we saw the whole lapdace thing when it showed in Prague. (God forgive me, I'm posting when drunk and praying I make sense!)

[satellite]

It seems we have yet another version of Blade Runner coming out. The article has what some might consider a spoiler.

A Cult Classic Restored, Again

[Deleted]

mrscathead said:

I should probably ask in a different thread but did the theatres in the US not show the lapdance scene? I understand the scratchy, "skips" in the film. We noticed those here. But we saw the whole lapdace thing when it showed in Prague. (God forgive me, I'm posting when drunk and praying I make sense!)

You saw Death Proof, which was "restored" to its "original glory." Grindhouse, true to its "ethos", was missing the lapdance (lost in the shuffle of reels from theater to theater).

(Use of quotation marks signifies my feeling that Quentin Tarantino has his head fully shoved up his ass. )