Commander Dan

Well, I just got in my “replacement” disc for the Original version of E.T. As near as I can tell, it is the second disc from the regular 2-disc edition. After examining the bonus features on my “replacement” disc, however, I am still perplexed as to why Universal did not include the DTS track on the Ultimate Edition disc.

I have previously read statements that the DTS track was omitted on the Original E.T. in the UE set to “make room” on the disc for additional features, but that makes little or no sense to me.

The “regular” edition disc 2 (with DTS) contains “The Making of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (24 minutes, 9 seconds), “The Reunion” (17 minutes, 56 seconds), a 20th Anniversary trailer (2 minutes, 11 seconds), a Back to the Future DVD trailer (59 seconds), and 1 minute, 2 seconds of “Special Announcements.” That is over 46 minutes of bonus footage, and there is still more on the disc in terms of production notes and designs.

The Ultimate Edition disc 2 contains the “A Look Back” documentary (37 minutes, 42 seconds), and a trailer (1 minute, 57 seconds). That is only 40 minutes of bonus material, yet there is no DTS track on this disc.

So then, does anyone know, or care to speculate, why the DTS track for the Original E.T. was not included on the Ultimate Edition disc? If it fit on the regular 2-disc edition, then it surely should have fit on the UE disc.

eedoon

Universal include French 5.1 track on the Gift Set Edition. That takes up much of the space. I think that's pretty sucks IMO. Why I got less for what I pay more? I got a double dip for this (yeah... I bought that crappy 2-disc ET)

Tyler_Durden

It's not crappy, especially considering the price. But in any case we all agree that Universal dropped the ball in putting the two E.T. DVDs together.

Commander Dan

Ah. I did not check or consider the audio options, and that very well may be the reason the DTS track would not “fit” on the UE disc.

Here’s the breakdown in audio tracks, for those that are curious:

“Regular” Edition Original E.T. disc 2:
English 5.1 (Dolby)
English 5.1 (DTS)
Spanish 2.0
French 2.0

Ultimate Edition Original E.T. disc 2:
English 5.1 (Dolby)
Spanish 5.1 (Dolby)
French 5.1 (Dolby)

Giles

Universal is continually dropping the ball IMO, "Brotherhood of the Wolf", the upcoming release of "The Pianist", "Jaws" (docu).

DavidH

How many more bits does a 5.1 track take up over a 2.0 track?

eedoon

384 Kbps for 5.1 DD compared to 192 Kbps for 2.0 (correct me if I'm wrong)

Tyler_Durden

Right. And where is that Frighteners SE?

Pants

and they world famous ball drop that is Back to the Future

rect

5.1 dobly digital tracks are more commonly 448 kbps, but can be 384 as well. 2.0 are 192 like you said.