question about Mask of Zorro (special edition)
 

I already own the regular version, great film - what I was wondering about were the bonus features like the deleted scenes and making of features. Should I ebay my current one and buy the special edition? Thank you in advance!

I definitely recommend the SE. It includes one of the best technical commentaries I've heard. Too many directors narrate what's happening on screen, but this one really got into the stunts, costumes, etc. The documentary was very comprehensive (45 minutes and 16 chapters). However, there are only 2 deleted scenes. If you're like me and into commentaries, this is a no-brainer. If you're looking to upgrade for the deleted scenes, you might want to hold off.

...also - and not so incidentally - the original release was 'letterboxed',
whereas the newer SE features an anamorphic transfer of the movie...

. . . :o . . .

...And let's not forget the awesome DTS track that's included on this disc.

The movie, commentary, and the documentary are all on the first disc, while the full frame version is on disc 2. This means, of course, that you get a coaster with a picture of Zorro on it for FREE!!!

:lol:

??? EVERY review I found of the original states that it's anamorphic - hard to believe all of them are wrong...

The original release is indeed anamorphic - few if any Columbia Tri-Star releases were not.

OUCH ! ! !

...color my face beet-red ! ! !

I wuz wrong - should've checked my facks - somehow had in the back of my mind that this was a PARAMOUNT release (and, at that time and afaik, THEY still hadn't released anamorphic transfers, except for THE TEN COMMANDMENTS)...

...mea culpa, &cetera...

. . . :( . . .

Hendrik, this just isn't your thread!:) When the original <I>Zorro</I> hit shelves in 12/98, Paramount had released only a few titles. However, many of the titles from their first batch - which included movies like <I>Star Trek First Contact</I> and <I>Face/Off</I> - was anamorphic. (Some others - such as <I>Top Gun</I> - weren't.) <I>Ten Commandments</I> didn't come out on DVD until almost four months AFTER <I>Zorro</I>. It may have been the first Paramount release SINCE that initial wave to offer 16X9 enhancement, but it definitely wasn't their first anamorphic disc; after the early batch, they briefly went to non-16X9, but they largely recovered following a few months...

...well... ahh... it sure as heck wasn't my day, was it ! ? !

...solemnly promise to be more careful in future (see my post on Méliès disc)...

. . . ;) . . .