The Godfather - The Coppola Restoration

[wm lopez]

I'm sure I'm like many out there who are waiting to see reviews from the paying custmer than take the word of some online reviewer who gets his copy free. On if to rebuy this boxset again and spend over $40 on some movie set you already own.
For those of you who have bought it please give your thoughts on the new dvd set. Not blue-ray since that would be the first release anyway.

[mzupeman2]

I didn't vote since obviously I haven't seen the restoration yet, and I plan on picking it up on blu anyhow. But, the DVD boxed set has been around a while. I didn't purchase any of the 'remasters', and this is how Coppola wants them presented so, I'm down. The comparison pics really show the strengths of the new transfers, as well as some of the weaknesses but overall, it looks promising thus far.

[wewantflair]

I was really hoping "evil liberal conspiracy" would be one of the poll choices.

[eedoon]

The original mono soundtrack alone is worth upgrading imo.

I haven't received mine yet (pre-ordering from Amazon) but based on preliminary review, the buzz about the picture transfer quality has been very good.

[Tardo317]

My concern still revolves around their choice to push Godfather II onto one disc instead of 2 as the previous release. I wanna know how that looks.

[canaryfarmer]

From the DVDTalk review:
"Even with The Godfather Part II now being only one DVD instead of two, the restoration team has avoided any compression issues, and you'd be hard pressed to find any problems with the resolution."

[Goat3001]

I decided to pass. The new transfer looks good from reviews I've seen but that isn't enough to justify getting the new set for movies that I think are amazing in every right but I do not watch too often.

Maybe I'll pick up the Blu if I can get it for under $40 someday in the distant future.

[Darth Maher]

Me too. I'm fine with my current DVD versions. I'll probably pick them up eventually on Blu-ray.

[NiCK Crush]

Me too. I'm fine with my current DVD versions. I'll probably pick them up eventually on Blu-ray.

This is probably what I will be doing as well... the DVDs i have are fine for now.

[KillerCannibal]

Me too. I'm fine with my current DVD versions. I'll probably pick them up eventually on Blu-ray.

Same here. I'll eventually upgrade once I go Blu. Until then, DVD is just fine for me.

[Tardo317]

From the DVDTalk review:
"Even with The Godfather Part II now being only one DVD instead of two, the restoration team has avoided any compression issues, and you'd be hard pressed to find any problems with the resolution."

Cool. I didn't even realize that a review was posted yesterday! Thanks!

[Boba Fett]

I'll definitely get the set, but not right away.

[darkside]

Absolutely buying it. New transfer looks to be a great update and the Blu-ray version was under $60 for me on Amazon.

[rmick]

Picking this up, but I have to say, Paramount should have a rebate for this for people that already own the original collection.

[canaryfarmer]

Definitely, because other studios give out rebates all the time for their double-dips. It's only been seven years, the nerve.

[wm lopez]

The ads I've seen on t.v. just looks like the color has been pumped up.

[JMK]

Picking this up, but I have to say, Paramount should have a rebate for this for people that already own the original collection.

The Blu-Ray at least has a $10 rebate for previous buyers.

[NoirFan]

This has to be one of the most one-sided polls ever.

[Dr. DVD]

Think I'll just stay with what I got and maybe get the Blu-Ray versions if I ever get a player.

[scott1598]

This has to be one of the most one-sided polls ever.

well, it's no abe55 thread!

[lamphorn]

I'll stick with the current DVD's till I upgrade to Blu. No reason to buy the set now only to re-buy it in Blu in a couple years.

I got to see this restoration of parts 1 and 2 at the Cinerama dome in Hollywood and no home theater (and certainly not one I could afford) will come close to touching that experience.

[DonnachaOne]

I'm sure I'm like many out there who are waiting to see reviews from the paying custmer than take the word of some online reviewer who gets his copy free. Explain to me what is so easy to dismiss about the informed opinion of someone reviewing picture quality for your - and everyone else's here - benefit?

[milo bloom]

Explain to me what is so easy to dismiss about the informed opinion of someone reviewing picture quality for your - and everyone else's here - benefit?

While I don't explicitly agree with his statement, I can see where someone might not be as critical if it weren't their money being spent. There's also the reviewers that are in studio's backpockets (no I don't have names, but I'm sure it happens.)

I do know there are reviewers out there that make it their life's goal to find every little flaw in a transfer and detail with screencaps, bitrate graphs, etc, those might serve the OP's purpose better.


And sometimes it's just good to get the opinion of someone who is not either type of reviewer, but is simply a fellow consumer that wants the most for their money.


There's also the fact that when the first DVD set was released, the transfers were touted as the greatest thing ever...until some folks started getting their retail copies and noticing that it wasn't actually the greatest thing ever, and when they tried to point it out they were ignored or banned (not this forum, that I can recall anyways).

[wm lopez]

Explain to me what is so easy to dismiss about the informed opinion of someone reviewing picture quality for your - and everyone else's here - benefit?

I use what happened years ago on HTF when the 1st set of THE GODFATHER came out and that site's reviewer gave it rave reviews while others and myself we pointed out the flaws. So I trust the posters comments and not the website hack who wants to continue to get his free dvds from the studio.

[Paul Mavis]

I use what happened years ago on HTF when the 1st set of THE GODFATHER came out and that site's reviewer gave it rave reviews while others and myself we pointed out the flaws. So I trust the posters comments and not the website hack who wants to continue to get his free dvds from the studio.

That may be for other websites, I don't know.

But for clarity, we the reviewers here at DVDTalk don't get our DVDs directly from the studios. We get them from DVDTalk. What we write, positive or negative, has absolutely <i>no</i> bearing on what titles we get in the future. If that were the case, none of us would get a single title after our first negative review of a big studio release. We have no contact with the studios whatsoever, as far as getting DVDs is concerned. And nobody at DVDTalk or anywhere else tells us what to write.

Nobody.

Ever.

I can see where someone might not be as critical if it weren't their money being spent. There's also the reviewers that are in studio's backpockets (no I don't have names, but I'm sure it happens.)

Please name names. Because I'd like to hop on that gravy train, particularly if cash is involved.

[Shannon Nutt]

I should follow up Paul's remarks by saying as an online reviewer who DOES get titles directly from studios, I've never, ever had them complain about a review. They're more concerned that the title gets coverage on your website than they are what you have to say about it.

That said, I have had some cast and crew of the movie/show complain about negative reviews...but that goes with the territory. :)

[wm lopez]

That may be for other websites, I don't know.

But for clarity, we the reviewers here at DVDTalk don't get our DVDs directly from the studios. We get them from DVDTalk. What we write, positive or negative, has absolutely <i>no</i> bearing on what titles we get in the future. If that were the case, none of us would get a single title after our first negative review of a big studio release. We have no contact with the studios whatsoever, as far as getting DVDs is concerned. And nobody at DVDTalk or anywhere else tells us what to write.

Nobody.

Ever.

Oh no way was I meaning DVDTALK!
DVDTALK one can say whatever about a movie or dvd and not get banned.
I was refering to HTF and a couple of other dvd review sites.
You see I've been burned in the past listening to these sites and just buying these dvds at there review and upset when I view them.
The ones that stick in my mind still are the 1st time releases of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, GODFATHER,THE STING and 2nd release of BUGSY.


Please name names. Because I'd like to hop on that gravy train, particularly if cash is involved.

[DJariya]

Has anyone purchased this who owned the previous set?

Just curious if the new bonus material and improved pitcture quality make this a worthy, but expensive double dip?

[PatrickMcCart]

In all fairness, the quality of a transfer can really change in perspective over years.

The early Lowry Digital Images digital remasters were praised, but the flaws in their first gen processing are obvious now (blobby textures in high motion).

The only pre-2001 DVD I can think of that still stands up is American Graffiti.

[Shannon Nutt]

Has anyone purchased this who owned the previous set?

Just curious if the new bonus material and improved pitcture quality make this a worthy, but expensive double dip?

Yes, and yes.

[eprater]

Explain to me what is so easy to dismiss about the informed opinion of someone reviewing picture quality for your - and everyone else's here - benefit?

Well, the DVD Talk reviewer didn't compare the current transfer to the earlier one, or even mention the current transfer. So this particular review didn't really address whether it's worth buying the new transfers.

[mdnitoil]

Personally, I myself am a little on the fence about this set as well. As best I can discern, there seems to be a consensus that, yes, these transfers do look different, particularly in the area of color. Beyond that, all I'm really hearing is that this version must be better because Coppola approved it. That argument would hold a lot more water with me if it were anyone BUT Coppola. Dracula, anyone?

[wm lopez]

Personally, I myself am a little on the fence about this set as well. As best I can discern, there seems to be a consensus that, yes, these transfers do look different, particularly in the area of color. Beyond that, all I'm really hearing is that this version must be better because Coppola approved it. That argument would hold a lot more water with me if it were anyone BUT Coppola. Dracula, anyone?

Bless you, for bringing that up!
Anybody know where online one can find out if this set is selling?

[mzupeman2]

I'm sure I'm like many out there who are waiting to see reviews from the paying custmer than take the word of some online reviewer who gets his copy free. On if to rebuy this boxset again and spend over $40 on some movie set you already own.
For those of you who have bought it please give your thoughts on the new dvd set. Not blue-ray since that would be the first release anyway.

I purchased mine, and the transfers look great. There.

[wm lopez]

I wonder how long we see these new transfers on free t.v.
Because this past weekend of September 2008 they ran all 5 DIRTY HARRY movies on AMC and they were the new transfers from the set that came out in June 2008.