"V" Miniseries Review
06-05-01, 11:09 PM
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Hey, remember "V", with the "Visitors" trying to take over Earth.
There's a review here:
http://www.toldyouso.net/search/deta...l%20MiniSeries
Took 'em a while, but it's finally on dvd.
There's a review here:
http://www.toldyouso.net/search/deta...l%20MiniSeries
Took 'em a while, but it's finally on dvd.
07-02-01, 11:41 AM
#10
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Originally posted by BRDeckard
It's not suppost to be out yet
It's not suppost to be out yet
Edited to Add: None of the major sites seem to have reviews up yet. Here's a (sort of) review:
http://www.toldyouso.net/search/deta...l%20MiniSeries
I'm personally curious to see if this was truly filmed in widescreen (as people have said) or if the 1.85:1 ratio is simply a matted TV ratio. I still find it hard to believe that the director filmed a 1983 TV miniseries in widescreen, but maybe I'm wrong. He claims he did -- maybe he was thinking about releasing it theatrically in Europe or something. Anyway, I'm looking forward to finding out.
[Edited by bboisvert on 07-02-01 at 09:50 AM]
07-02-01, 02:47 PM
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It was $15 a BB but i got it for $10 with one of those $5 off phone call survey slips. I thought it came out last week. Guess not. On the back it says open matte version i believe
Capt
Capt
07-03-01, 01:39 PM
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Got it today and already watched the first part. I think they did a great job with it, the video looks really great .. in fact so good you can see how fakey the ships are in a lot of parts 
that was something I never noticed before
On the back of the box it has the dolby digital logo, but the audio is actually dolby sterio surround or whatever.. but still, it sounds great and there's a lot of good surround parts, especially when there's a lot of laser blasts and stuff
I'd say if you liked the series on tv at all, this is definately worth getting 'Specially since it's only $15
The only complaint I have with it is the disc itself is one of those double-sided types, like Superman and a lot of the older DVDs. First part is side one, second part is side 2. I personally just never liked the double sided discs, I'm always paranoid I'll mess up one of the sides
I would have rather it was a 2 disc set, but my guess is it was just cheaper to do it this way
that was something I never noticed beforeOn the back of the box it has the dolby digital logo, but the audio is actually dolby sterio surround or whatever.. but still, it sounds great and there's a lot of good surround parts, especially when there's a lot of laser blasts and stuff
I'd say if you liked the series on tv at all, this is definately worth getting
'Specially since it's only $15The only complaint I have with it is the disc itself is one of those double-sided types, like Superman and a lot of the older DVDs. First part is side one, second part is side 2. I personally just never liked the double sided discs, I'm always paranoid I'll mess up one of the sides
I would have rather it was a 2 disc set, but my guess is it was just cheaper to do it this way
07-03-01, 03:51 PM
#13
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Originally posted by CaptDS9E
On the back it says open matte version i believe.
On the back it says open matte version i believe.
I assume that it says that it is "matted". That is, bars have been placed over the 1.33:1 image to create a 1.78:1 image. If that is the case, I'm darn curious why they did this. Obviously it wasn't filmed that way.
Anyone have any side-by-side comparisons?
07-04-01, 06:04 PM
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I watched about a quarter of each side and thought I'd drop my two cents worth.
I'm leaning toward believing this was filmed at 1.85:1. I'm no expert on the subject, but judging by the head room in most of the shots, I don't believe this is a matted full-screen version. Check out the beginning of chapter five on side A, for example. I could be wrong, though.
Overall, this is an impressive presentation. The video looks terrific, and the audio is good as well, especially considering this is almost 20 years old, and made for television. There have been many major studio feature films that don't look this good on DVD.
As far as the extras, I listend to parts of the commentary and found it interesting. The featurette is pretty dry. I would much rather have seen some new interviews with the cast. Maybe they'll do this for "The Final Battle." And, if I recall correctly (I was in fifth grade at the time), there was a pretty big marketing blitz ("the Visitors are coming in 30 days," etc). It would have been nice to see some of this included as well.
This was a favorite of mine as a kid, and it still stands up as a well written and well acted (for the most part) piece of science fiction. The effects don't really hold up, and some of the clothing and hairstyles are laughable, but this is true of many older titles. It's definatly worth the 15 bucks that you'll pay at most stores.
I'm leaning toward believing this was filmed at 1.85:1. I'm no expert on the subject, but judging by the head room in most of the shots, I don't believe this is a matted full-screen version. Check out the beginning of chapter five on side A, for example. I could be wrong, though.
Overall, this is an impressive presentation. The video looks terrific, and the audio is good as well, especially considering this is almost 20 years old, and made for television. There have been many major studio feature films that don't look this good on DVD.
As far as the extras, I listend to parts of the commentary and found it interesting. The featurette is pretty dry. I would much rather have seen some new interviews with the cast. Maybe they'll do this for "The Final Battle." And, if I recall correctly (I was in fifth grade at the time), there was a pretty big marketing blitz ("the Visitors are coming in 30 days," etc). It would have been nice to see some of this included as well.
This was a favorite of mine as a kid, and it still stands up as a well written and well acted (for the most part) piece of science fiction. The effects don't really hold up, and some of the clothing and hairstyles are laughable, but this is true of many older titles. It's definatly worth the 15 bucks that you'll pay at most stores.
07-04-01, 10:45 PM
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http://www.dvdangle.com/reviews/review.php?Id=1734
http://www.scifi.com/sfw/current/screen3.html
[Edited by bboisvert on 07-05-01 at 07:38 AM]
http://www.scifi.com/sfw/current/screen3.html
[Edited by bboisvert on 07-05-01 at 07:38 AM]
07-05-01, 10:42 AM
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The image quality is quite lush and clean, but I'm not quite sold on the letterboxing yet (never thought I'd hear myself say that sentence...). I compared the 1.85:1 image on the DVD with my open matte VHS recording of the miniseries. The DVD provides a minute amount of extra image on the left-right sides of the frame, but cuts a healthy portion of the image at the top and bottom margins from what we saw on TV originally. I realize this transfer was supervised lovingly by creator Kenneth Johnson, so I'll have to default to his wisdom but, while some shots look more cinematic from this new framing, other shots seem a little cropped and/or claustrophobic. I was also under the understanding that there were to be more extras (original TV trailers would have been sweet), but all things considered, this is a pretty nice piece of work and I'm utterly pleased to own it!
07-07-01, 11:02 AM
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Looks really good, and the commentary is very informative, too.
It IS letterboxed, looks like matted (Black bars added after the fact) Doesn't look weird.
CFG!
It IS letterboxed, looks like matted (Black bars added after the fact) Doesn't look weird.
CFG!
07-07-01, 12:18 PM
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It seems this DVD was made possible by Kenny Johnson's considerable efforts. Yet, in the commentary, he makes it very clear he had little to nothing to do with V: THE FINAL BATTLE.
It might be a long time before we see that title (a great continuation) on DVD.
Such a shame.
It might be a long time before we see that title (a great continuation) on DVD.
Such a shame.
07-07-01, 12:38 PM
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Readers of CineSchlock-O-Rama were informed yesterday that I'll be giving away five copies of V thanks to our friends at Warner and some fancy dealing by Geoff. Look for a review next issue.
Before a din of "FLIPPER! FLIPPER!" breaks out. Keep in mind that V was shown over two nights and was truly TWO distinct parts. It's like having a movie on one side of the disc, and it's sequel and extras on the other. No crime at all. It looks and sounds fantastic.
Before a din of "FLIPPER! FLIPPER!" breaks out. Keep in mind that V was shown over two nights and was truly TWO distinct parts. It's like having a movie on one side of the disc, and it's sequel and extras on the other. No crime at all. It looks and sounds fantastic.
07-09-01, 10:45 AM
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Considering its a TV movie and is almost 20 years old, the quality of the transfer is quite impressive.
Possible spoiler ....
BTW: How bad was the special effect when 'Diana' ate the rat?
I know that it was a tv movie & the budget was minimal and that special effects of the time were quite inferior ... but its still quite amusing to watch!
Possible spoiler ....
BTW: How bad was the special effect when 'Diana' ate the rat?
I know that it was a tv movie & the budget was minimal and that special effects of the time were quite inferior ... but its still quite amusing to watch!
02-16-02, 10:45 AM
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I highly recommend the disc (both movie and extras) ...
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=2410
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=2410