DVD Upgrade Suggestions

[slayrrr666]

As I've scoured my video library for the films to complete my series, I've noticed two things: I've got a ton of VHS that needs to be upgraded to DVD, and bare-bones DVDs that probably need to be upgraded to better versions (sound, sight and extras are my only concerns.) Since I'm totally clueless on this state, I was hoping for suggestions from you fellow board members, which is good since this comes in just before Christmas as well. Here's what I'm hoping to do, any suggestions would be welcome.

VHS to DVD:
The Thing (82)
Scream series (Do I get the four-DVD pack or individual?)
Halloween 1, 2 and 4
An American Werewolf in London
Demons 2
Hellraiser 2
Phantasm 1 and 2
The Howling
The Evil Dead series (last two on VHS, one taped from cable)

DVD to DVD:
Suspiria
Hellraiser 1
Night of the Living Dead (68)
Carnosaur series (all three on DVD, is there a pack that features better extras?)
The Ring (02)

Thank you. This will really help me out.

[Quorthon]

Hmmm, that Night of the Living Dead 1968 is a toughy. That's got no fewer than 4 different DVD versions--one is colorized for some damn reason. I believe I have the best version (though I may be wrong, supposedly there's a version with 6-8 extra minutes, but I've never seen it). It has a crystal-clear transfer--right from the film and has, as I recall, THX remastered sound. The zombie of the little girl is on the front cover with some odd colorization and the lettering for the title is green. It has two audio commentaries. There is no widescreen version of the film.

Evil Dead--definetly, but only if you can find the "Book of the Dead" version made to look like the Necronomicon. Two audio commentaries--Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert on one spend most of the time making fun of Bruce. Lots of special features for one disk. Two booklets.

I just picked up the Howling special edition myself, it's down to $10 at Best Buy. Haven't watched the special features yet.

Get the Thing--it's one of my most-wanted DVD's. I got rid of my VHS copy before I upgraded and now I miss that movie!! If I were you, and I'm not, I wouldn't bother upgrading Scream. I'd buy a DVD box set of Sleepaway Camp or Species instead.

Best I could do for yah...

[slayrrr666]

No problem, Q. Any help is appreciated. Sleepaway Camp or Species, hmm? Gore or gore w/nudity? Tough choice.

[frankenjohn]

Species. I love Sleepaway Camp, but the first one is downright weird.

[slayrrr666]

I just saw a special edition version of The Thing availiable with what seemed like a lot of special features on it. Is this a good upgrade version or not?

[Bartwald]

It sounds like a good one, slayrrr - but I don't own it, so I can't say for sure.

You should definitely get the following:

An American Werewolf In London - 2 disc SE
The Howling SE
Demons 1 and 2 Box Set (plus an Argento/ Bava interview disc)
Phantasm 1-4 Box Set

...and me being me I'd also get the Scream box set. Why the hell not?

[Termination]

slayrrr666 said:

I just saw a special edition version of The Thing availiable with what seemed like a lot of special features on it. Is this a good upgrade version or not?

I own the bare-bones release but;

The Thing: Special Edition sports a new 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, the disc includes:

-English Dolby Digital 5.1 track
-Audio commentary with director John Carpenter & Kurt Russell.
-A John Carpenter's The Thing: Terror Takes Shape featurette.
-Production Background Archives.
-Cast Production Photographs, Production Art & Storyboards.
-A feature on Location Design.
-Production Archives.
-The Saucer feature.
-The Blairmonster feature.
-Outtakes.
-A feature on the post production.
-The films theatrical trailer.

Why the heck do I not own this?

[slayrrr666]

Okay, what does all that TV screen size and sound technobabble mean? I'm very illiterate on that sort of thing.

[Termination]

The soundtrack is remixed for Home Theaters. If you have a Dolby Digital receiver & 5 speakers + a sub, you will get a different sound from each speaker.. surround sound.. & it is digital. If you have no receiver & no speakers, just using the tv speakers, you are getting analog. Basically, the difference in sound quality is like a music tape compared to a music cd.

The aspect ratio is a term used to determine the width & height of the film. So 2.35:1 means the picture is 2.35 times greater in width than the height. Anamorphic is a term used when the image is enhanced for widescreen televisions. Basically, the image is stretched horizontally & vertically & displayed on the tv without losing any of the original aspect ratio of the film.

If you have a regular tv that is not widescreen, the aspect ratio of your tv is 1.33:1

[Quorthon]

I'd always wondered about "Anamorphic."

I learned something today.

Thanks, Term.

[slayrrr666]

I'm still confused. Surely, one of those terms must be as good as another. If they put it on the DVD, it must be good, right?

[Quorthon]

As I understand it, 5.1 Digital Sound is made for a home theater with 4 surround speakers, a center speaker and a subwoofer. The digital is just CD or higher quality. I'm not entirely sure about Dolby 7.1 sound. But for some of these set-ups, you need the right equipment to get the right experience.

There are three main aspect ratios:

1:1.33
1:1.85
1:2.35 (I think)

The top is classic, analog "full screen," the second places black bars across the top and bottom of the screen to simulate the widescreen image, the last one has thicker black bars, and a much wider screen.

Incidentially, both Piranha and Night of the Living Dead (68) were filmed on 1:33 formats. That's why the special edition of Piranha is full screen. At first, I thought I got gyped.

I have an old surround sound set-up: A stereo with AV inputs, two large main speakers, and two smaller "surround" speakers. All my speakers are much larger than what you'll find in modern Home Theater systems--my stereo is something like 6-7 years old. I'd like a 5.1 Digital set-up, but generally don't have the money for it. So my ancient stereo is still enlisted.

Through a gigantic mess of cables and switch-boxes, I have all the following running through my stereo: Cable box, TV, DVD/VCR, SNES, N64, GameCube, Playstation, Saturn, Dreamcast. I ran out of cables to extend my record player (that thing that plays vinyl) to the stereo, so it's currently not hooked up. At one time, when the computer was still in the living room, I had the computer wired through the stereo, too. I think the NES is probably just hooked up to the TV, but I'm not sure. It could be wired to the VCR, in which case, it can then be played on 8-bit Mono surround sound!! And my ever-aging Aiwa stereo keeps chuggin' along providing decent-enough quality sound to keep my movies loud.

[Termination]

Yep, Quorthon explained what aspect ratios are most common. Here is so more technobabble

Studio's differ the way they advertise this on the actual dvd packaging. The other ratio which is becoming more common is 16x9 or 1.78:1. On a widescreen set the ratio is 1.78:1 & it would be nice if all films were made in this ratio.

There are 2 ratios that are out that would fill the entire screen of a 4:3 tv;

1.33:1
1.37:1

Any ratio greater than that will result in black bars on a 4:3 tv. The greater the number, the thicker the black bars will appear on the set;

1.66:1
1.78:1
1.85:1
2.20:1
2.35:1
2.40:1
2.55:1

For widescreen owners these ratios below will fill the entire screen (no black bars);

1.33:1
1.37:1
1.66:1 (anamorphic)
1.78:1 (anamorphic)
1.85:1 (anamorphic)

Regardless if the dvd is anamorphic or not, these ratios below will not fill the entire screen. (black bars);

2.20:1
2.35:1
2.40:1
2.55:1

7.1 sound receivers requires 8 speakers set-up around the room as such;

1 front left
1 center
1 front right
1 side left
1 side right
1 back middle
1 ceiling center
1 sub (anywhere)

6.1 receivers are becoming more common & the only difference between that & a 7.1 is no ceiling center speaker. I have not seen a dvd that has 7.1 sound yet, so I don't see the point in owning one.

[slayrrr666]

So, basically:

The smaller the ratio, the closer to full-screen it is

The bigger the surround system number, the more sound comes from the speakers

[Termination]

slayrrr666 said:

So, basically:

The smaller the ratio, the closer to full-screen it is

Yep.

slayrrr666 said:

The bigger the surround system number, the more sound comes from the speakers

The more channels available, yep. Wether each channel (speaker) is used or not depends on the recording or transfer of the sound to each speaker. Most, if not all 5.1 dvds, do not use each speaker constantly throughout the entire film. That is why a lot of people prefer dts sound over Dolby Digital. dts outputs more sound to each channel (speaker) more often throughout the film.