Laserdisc titles still not available on DVD?

[joliom]

Originally Posted by Giles

Ken Russell's 'The Boyfriend' was released by MGM.

Image released Pasolini's 'The Decameron' (released onto DVD by MGM), 'Canterbury Tales' and 'Arabian Nights' - the latter two are not available on DVD - who owns the rights to these... MGM?

Pasolini's Arabian Nights and Canterbury Tales were both released on All Region DVD's that are now OOP.

[Giles]

Originally Posted by joliom

Pasolini's Arabian Nights and Canterbury Tales were both released on All Region DVD's that are now OOP.

really? - what studio released them... I found it odd that MGM held the rights to Decameron but I have never seen US release of the other two... guess they flew under the radar.

[patherto]

By a ridiculous twist of fate, Black Rain (1989) was released the same year as Black Rain (1989). The one I'm talking about is Shohei Imamura's quietly ironic look at the fallout (both literally and figuratively) from the Hiroshima atomic bomb.

This Black Rain is one of the most moving films I've ever seen. I own an OOP DVD I bought used (for $35...the new ones were $70) on eBay. I have never seen a worse DVD than this—the picture is widescreen but non-anamorphic, so you have to blow it up to resolution-killing proportions. The sound is bad. This DVD is being offered at over $200 per copy on Amazon!

I also have a VHS and a laserdisc of this movie. The VHS is a major improvement over the DVD(!), and the laserdisc is by far the best version.

How do we get companies to re-release high-quality DVDs of films like Black Rain? People should see this film, but they shouldn't have to pay ridiculous prices for inferior products. Sigh.

[nin74]

Originally Posted by matome

Didn't know there was one. It must be way better than the US Image one I have.

I think I have the US version as well. Here is a couple of screenis from the Japanese LD:

[Randy810]

I have Max Headroom Season 2 on LD from France. I picked it up when I was there about 2 years ago. Subtitles are in French, English is the main language. I am quite sure it is not a bootleg since I purchased it in a B&M that has been there for years.
If LDs from other countries are not allowed, please excuse the error and delete the entry.

Randy

[teoalcantara]

Hi folks, I'm new here, but there goes a list of some titles that I remember:

Night of the Creeps (Trashy Cult classic!)

Wes Craven's Deadly Friend (Rumors that WHV will put this one out this year. Probably by Halloween);

Kenneth Brannagh's Hamlet (Rumors that WHV will put this one out this year);

Sky Riders (James Coburn flick, released in LD in Europe, though it's not mentioned on LDDB);

The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (Peter Seller's last movie. Made available on DVD recently (february, I guess) but only in Germany;

The Curse, Curse II - The Bite, Curse III and Curse IV (Horror flicks);

Death Ship - Issued in Japan on LD this horror flick has some cult status. The artwork of the later "Ghost Ship" movie was pratically cloned from this film's original poster; It is available on a very hard to find bootleg DVD, which by-the-way used the japanese Laserdisc as source for their transfer.

The Last Shark - Issued in Japan on LD, this movie was yenked out of movie theaters by a lawsuit moved by Spielberg and Universal Studios, claiming it was a rip-off "Jaws" and "Jaws 2". And it is! But a very entertaining one, in a campy way if nothing else!

Meeting Venus - Glenn Close as an Opera Diva, driving the maestro completely mad (and of course falling for him);

The Island - No, not the one with Ewan McGregor. This one is starred by Michael Caine, who gets involved with Pirates in this suspense thriller written by Peter Benchley (from Jaws fame);

Cast a Deadly Spell - Above average detective flick with elements of witchcraft a stylish noir aura, based on an H.P. Lovecraft story;

Violets are Blue - Romance with Sissy Spacek and Kevin Kline;

Run - Good thriller from 1991, with Patrick Dempsey running for his life;

Certain Fury - Tatum O'Neal flick. I think I'm the only person in the world that actually likes this turkey (a lot! I have it on LD);

Some remarks on the titles already listed:

Blade Runner (Theatrical Version) - Will be "the" WHV release for this year, with a Special Edition DVD that will contain four alternate versions of the movie: the Original U.S. Theatrical Cut, the Expanded International Theatrical Cut, the 1992 Director’s Cut and last but not least, Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Scott’s definitive new version of his science-fiction masterpiece. Also, ample, ground-breaking bonus features will be included in the set.

Twilight Zone - The Movie (Rumors that WHV will put this one out this year. Probably by Halloween);

The Public Eye - Is available as Digital Download on Amazon.com. Why they haven't made this excellent title available on DVD is beyond me!);

The "Phantasm" movies (all 4 of them) are available in Region 2 DVDs (and with a really cool 'sphere shaped' collectible package, I might add!);

Labyrinth of Passion was issued in Spain as part of a Newspaper (El País) Almodóvar DVD Collection. Unfortunately, no english subtitles are available in this edition though;

Electric Dreams - Sadly, it looks like this one won't be out anytime soon! WB, that distributes MGM titles, declared recently that they lost their rights to this movie. It's a Virgin co-production so who knows? Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Howard the Duck - This title was released recently, though I think it's sort of OOP in the US, as Amazon is selling used copies for US$ 44.95;

I'm sure there are a lot more. Some titles were just made available very recently (White Nights, Shirley Valentine, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Frankenstein Unbound among others) and a lot more are on the way!

[H8nXTC]

One of my favorite movies, Motherlode starring and directed by Charlton Heston was available on PAL Laserdisc (I've got a copy) but never released on DVD.

[Giles]

Originally Posted by teoalcantara

Kenneth Brannagh's Hamlet (Rumors that WHV will put this one out this year);

the rumours say this summer.

[Giles]

Menace II Society - Criterion laserdisc: unrated cut.

[Cameron]

lots of little rascals and looney tunes shorts not yet to dvd as well.

anyone know how to identify the 1933 King Kong in color laserdisc?

also any other colorized films on laserdisc...

[laserdogg]

Originally Posted by Cameron

anyone know how to identify the 1933 King Kong in color laserdisc?

I have it - what do you mean by identify? It's clearly indicated on the jacket.

[Cameron]

i mean does it have a upc code, or a certain title across the top. what country produced it? etc.

[mrhan]

I'm still waiting for "Amongst Friends".

[Hammer99]

Death Becomes Her (WS)

[avrilfan]

some of my fav. Ld's that I own that are not on dvd, and may never be on the format are:
calendar girl(1993(
golddiggers: the secret of bear mountain(1995)
belinda carlise: runaway videos
sex and the single girl(1964)
if looks could kill( 1991)
deborah gibson live around the world/ out of the blue tour ld released by pioneer.

also other films i have that are not releaased on dvd
fast getaway( like this film)
rescue me with ami dolenz(ok ,average film at best)
honeymoon acedemy( good funny film)

[laserdogg]

Originally Posted by Cameron

i mean does it have a upc code, or a certain title across the top. what country produced it? etc.

U.S. laserdisc - Turner Home Entertainment - Distributed by Image
UPC - 0 14381-2134-6 1

Here's a shot of the one I have

[Cameron]

thanks so much. how pricey is this? I may just do a dvd conversion and resale it.

[matome]

Originally Posted by nin74

I think I have the US version as well. Here is a couple of screenis from the Japanese LD:

Thanks. Those pics look pretty damn good. Apparently, this may be in public domain, as I see these pop up on Ebay once in a while. I wonder if they're legit and not just a laserdisc rip? I hate buying discs off Ebay.

[ThatGuamGuy]

Was the theatrical cut of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' ever released on laser-disc, or did they jump straight to the anniversary cut also?

Also: Robert Altman's "Streamers"

[joliom]

Originally Posted by mrhan

I'm still waiting for "Amongst Friends".

The 1993 Rob Weiss film? If so, that's available on DVD.

[matome]

Originally Posted by ThatGuamGuy

Was the theatrical cut of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' ever released on laser-disc, or did they jump straight to the anniversary cut also?

I have the Criterion laser of this, though I'm not sure which cut it is.

[matome]

Well, for all the talk about Deadtime Stories on LD, I noticed the DVD was just listed on DVDEmpire for release on 6/12 from Image.

[Lastdaysofrain]

wow, appears to be bare bones?

[matome]

Yep, looks like it, though Image has never really been known for SE's. I'm just glad to get it on DVD as I thought it would never see the light of day. Price is right too at $7.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by tsetse27

One I wish I have:
A Brief History of Time (documentary of Stephen Hawking)

This is coming out. Amazon has a listing for it, although no date has been set.