Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > DVD Discussions > DVD Talk
Reload this Page >

Not so special editions

DVD Talk Talk about DVDs and Movies on DVD including Covers and Cases

Not so special editions

Old 08-04-07, 08:56 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not so special editions

What supposed "special editions" or re-releases of DVDs that have been released you feel are either not worthy of a "special edition" label, or are not really the upgrades from a previous edition?

An edition I thought was not so special was "Deer Hunter". The r1 Legacy Series release is quite a joke for a supposed 2 disc special edition. First disc has only one commentary track with the cinematographer while the second disc just has some deleted scenes and a trailer. That's lacking quite a lot when compared to the UK set which housed commentary with the director and a number of featurettes on the making of the film.

Two re-releases off the top of my head that weren't really upgrades are "Big Lebowski" and "Carlito's Way". The former didn't really bring any new features and some argue that the transfer has it's ups and downs compared to the first DVD. Carlito's Way's re-release only really brought small collection of deleted scenes that weren't that big a deal and a 5 minute throwaway interview with Brian De Palma that was put together from out-takes from the interview used on the making of featurette.
Old 08-04-07, 09:15 PM
  #2  
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
'Fletch' comes immediately to mind, as does that paltry 'Escape from NY' 2-disc that could have easily been a single disc release. The commentary may be great, but there's only one deleted scene and a 22-minute 'making of'; thats not enough shit to need a whole other disc for!

Its amazing that now that I'm sitting down to list them, barely any come to mind. Considering I've looked at pretty well 1/3 of my collection and thought 'fuck, thats a skimy SE'.
Old 08-04-07, 09:16 PM
  #3  
Banned
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Puerto Rico
Posts: 11,973
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Pretty much everything that Universal has re-released as a special edition since 2001. Big Lebowski, Fletch, Flash Gordon, The Jerk, Mallrats, The Blues Brothers. They have had some good releases like the legacy collections but the other gimmicky rereleases have been atrocious.
Old 08-04-07, 10:08 PM
  #4  
DVD Talk Hero
 
GoldenJCJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Colorado
Posts: 27,124
Received 3,159 Likes on 2,035 Posts
One word: Ransom
Old 08-04-07, 10:37 PM
  #5  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,337
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
21 Grams
Old 08-04-07, 11:14 PM
  #6  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
The Monkees's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 4,009
Received 16 Likes on 9 Posts
The Secret of NIMH
Old 08-04-07, 11:21 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Valley, CA
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Definitely Big Lebowski.
Old 08-04-07, 11:34 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Peep
21 Grams
I'm glad you said that. I was gonna see about double-dipping on that tomorrow if it's $4 at CC, but after consulting the DVD review, jeez I know it's only chump-change but that $4 is better kept in my wallet.
Old 08-04-07, 11:37 PM
  #9  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,120
Received 78 Likes on 56 Posts
The Secret of Nimh: Family Fun Edition - Two discs and it only has a few set-top games, short making-of, and commentary.

Halloween H20 - featurette, music video, and trivia game. The original artwork listed a commentary and DTS 5.1 audio which weren't included.

The Hunt For Red October - Commentary, 30min featurette, DTS 5.1 audio, and trailer.

Patriot Games & Clear and Present Danger - 30min featurette, DTS 5.1 audio, and trailer.

Tartan UK's R2 Collector's Edition of Hard Boiled - Theatrical trailer and DTS 5.1 sound. That's it.

Fox Australia's Porky's One Size Fits All Edition - Almost none of the extras from the US SE appear on this disc except the trailer.
Old 08-04-07, 11:38 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
mallrats & the blues brothers definatly came to mind when i read this aswell as mission impossible 2 & 3.

enemy of the state was a pointless re-release, same with rush hour 1&2
Old 08-05-07, 12:14 AM
  #11  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Mondo Kane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,660
Received 112 Likes on 100 Posts
Originally Posted by emachine12
Halloween H20 - featurette, music video, and trivia game. The original artwork listed a commentary and DTS 5.1 audio which weren't included.
Non-anamorphic too, I think.
Old 08-05-07, 12:20 AM
  #12  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Midlothian, VA
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by dx23
Pretty much everything that Universal has re-released as a special edition since 2001. Big Lebowski, Fletch, Flash Gordon, The Jerk, Mallrats, The Blues Brothers. They have had some good releases like the legacy collections but the other gimmicky rereleases have been atrocious.
Hate all you want on those other titles, but the Mallrats 10th Anniversary re-release was definitely NOT a totally unnecessary double-dip...

Along with a remastered picture, we get the all new recut extended "version that should not be", plus over an hour and half of new special features: new making of documentary, brief Q&A with Kevin, introduction to the extended cut, outtakes, the cast and crew reunion Q&A, etc....

Sure, you lose the brief bits of PIP video from the commentary, and you cannot watch the deleted scenes separately with the intros/explanations from the original release (that's why I held onto it as well)....but in an overall comparison, the 10th Anniversary still wins hands down as the better package in my book...
Old 08-05-07, 12:44 AM
  #13  
DVD Talk Hero
 
PopcornTreeCt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,913
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I can't really think of any because I don't buy them.
Old 08-05-07, 01:18 AM
  #14  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
The Monkees's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 4,009
Received 16 Likes on 9 Posts
I hate to admit it but I know that the biggest waste of the "Special Edition" label is The Care Bears Movie dvd that was released not too long ago. The only special feature was an episode from the tv show, but the DVD was labeled as the "25th anniversary limited ediion". whatever
Old 08-05-07, 01:28 AM
  #15  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
MTRodaba2468's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Western Kentucky
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by dx23
Pretty much everything that Universal has re-released as a special edition since 2001. Big Lebowski, Fletch, Flash Gordon, The Jerk, Mallrats, The Blues Brothers. They have had some good releases like the legacy collections but the other gimmicky rereleases have been atrocious.
I agree with you on some of those titles, like The Big Lebowski and The Jerk, but Mallrats? And The Blues Brothers? Both of those have got plenty on them, including two different cuts of the movie!

Anyway, a few titles come to mind. To list a few, IMO:

Casino Royale: 2-Disc Edition
Empire Records: Remix! Special Fan Edition
Fast Times At Ridgemont High: Special Edition
National Lampoon's Vacation: 20th Anniversary Edition
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Special Edition
Parenthood: Special Edition
Old 08-05-07, 01:31 AM
  #16  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: next to a schizo!
Posts: 1,774
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Most (especially) Sony and Universal titles come to mind, especially with catalog titles that get's a "Special Editions". Especially the recent FLASH GORDON.
Old 08-05-07, 01:47 AM
  #17  
DVD Talk Legend
 
calhoun07's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 14,401
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Rainmaker. I waited a long time for the SE of that movie and when I read the review of it I felt like it just did not seem to have a lot in terms of bonus features. I have not seen it, but I would love to rent it first to at least check it out.

Mallrats is another one...the first edition was pretty packed. Aside from the extended version, it really didn't have all that much more.

Last edited by calhoun07; 08-05-07 at 07:39 AM.
Old 08-05-07, 09:57 AM
  #18  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Hawkeye Country
Posts: 2,489
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts


Mallrats?

The Q&A in the first side and the intro prior to the extended edition on the other side are worth the price of the disc by themselves. Two of the funniest things I've ever seen.

(from dvdcompare.net)
Extras:SIDE A
*Theatrical Cut Of The Film (95:17)
Audio Commentary by director Kevin Smith, actors Ben Affleck, Jason Lee and Jason Mewes, producer Scott Mosier and Vincent Pereira
Cast Interviews From Original Set (8:44)
"A Brief Q&A With Kevin Smith" featurette (9:03)
Outtakes (8:13)
1999 "View Askew's Look At Mallrats" featurette (21:06)
"The Erection Of An Epic: The Making of Mallrats" featurette (22:10)
Production Photographs (19:30)
The Goops "Build Me Up Buttercup" music video (3:41)
Theatrical Trailer (2:25)
SIDE B
*Extended Version Of The Film (122:07) (w/ Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier introduction (11:02))
"Mallrats: The Reunion: Tenth Anniversary Q&A" featurette (50:11)

Yep, not much there...

Edit: Plus there are 8 Easter Eggs too.

Last edited by Numes; 08-05-07 at 10:00 AM.
Old 08-05-07, 10:36 AM
  #19  
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bellefontaine, Ohio
Posts: 5,628
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Blues Brothers 2000
V for vendetta: 2-Disk Specail Edition
Punch-Drunk Love: 2-Disk Special Edition
The Village: Vista Series
La Femme Nikita: Special Edition
Bandits: Special Edition
Old 08-05-07, 10:59 AM
  #20  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NY NY
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by calhoun07
Rainmaker. I waited a long time for the SE of that movie and when I read the review of it I felt like it just did not seem to have a lot in terms of bonus features. I have not seen it, but I would love to rent it first to at least check it out.
It may not have a LOT of extras, but what's there is pretty good. Coppola's audio commentary is terrific, and the alternate ending is really interesting. Plus audition reels of Matt Damon and Claire Danes. And a top-notch anamorphic transfer. Sometimes, less is more.
Old 08-05-07, 12:14 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Durham, NC USA
Posts: 994
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
well, if people think of every Criterion as being a "SE", then let me add
1) every W.C. Fields dvd they have put out
2) lady vanishes
3) Most dangerous game

and probably a whole bunch that I have sold and can't remember.
Old 08-05-07, 12:39 PM
  #22  
Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The upcoming Chinatown special edition doesn't look so special.
Old 08-05-07, 01:14 PM
  #23  
Cool New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lionsgates hellraiser 3, it has sceen selections as its only special feature and its full screen
Old 08-05-07, 01:24 PM
  #24  
DVD Talk God
 
DJariya's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: La Palma, CA
Posts: 78,664
Received 3,543 Likes on 2,539 Posts
Legends of the Fall: a 4 1/2 minute making of featurette, a costume featurette, a few deleted scenes and commentary don't really make this a special edition

Bourne Identity: Explosive Extended Edition: Don't buy this one, the new 3 disc Bourne series has the original version with Liman commentary. This one has a bunch of fluffy EPK featurettes.

300: I'm sorry to say this, but this disc is a little bit of a downer as well. The making of featurette is 5 1/2 minutes long!! You would think this would be the type of movie that gets an extensive 1 hour + making of documentary that covers pre-production, production and post production.

The Terminator: Although there are some really good behind the scenes material and interviews, I was disappointed that Cameron didn't do a commentary, but did one for the deleted scenes?

16 Blocks: Richard Donner and the writer did commentary on the deleted scenes, but not the movie? Is this a new trend?

Last edited by DJariya; 08-05-07 at 01:29 PM.
Old 08-05-07, 02:50 PM
  #25  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I'm questioning the sanity of the people who are singling out "Mallrats" 10th Anniversary edition as not being very special. Most of the others I agree with, but you guys saying "Mallrats" are on drugs. It was pretty packed. I loved the aforementioned Q&A reunion that was included.

(Numes makes this point very clear in his post above, which lists all the features included.)

Last edited by Dane Marvin; 08-05-07 at 02:55 PM.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.