Should I get rid of the current Manhunter 2-disc LE and get the new one? Is it really worth it?

Well, the new disc is missing the featurettes from the Disc 1 of the LE (which was also released as a single disc) so even if the new one is superior (I haven't personally bought it yet) you might still want to hold onto your old one.

I heard the picture quality on the director's cut that came with the 2-disc KE is abyssmal. I don't know anything about the new one, but I imagine it looks better.

I've got the new version and it is better than the old one, but i'm keeping both because I like that little case file you get in the earlier one,I think it looks cool.

A little off topic, but in regards to MANHUNTER (and other upcoming AB releases), what exactly is "Divimax". Does it refer to the transfer (like Columbia's "Superbit") or is it just a fancy name for special features (similar to New Line's "Infinifilm") - or something else entirely?

From the back of the case:

From what I can put together from the reviews.

The original 2 disc set had;
a) The original movie in a nice transfer and a few featurettes
b) A long cut of the film in a very poor transfer, maybe from video.
c) An insert that looked like a small file folder with the crime data.

Then disc one was released on it's own with the featurettes
and a single chapter list insert.

Now the "Director's cut" sounds like it is the good quality version
of the film cut in with the extra parts from the video of the old
disc two. Reviews say you can see the video image quality change
as the source used switches back and forth.
The big extra that is new is a true director's commentary.
It sounds like it only has the single sheet insert.

I sold my old two disc used (less the insert), I bought the
original disc used and I have the new version on order.

Go with the new one.

1)Far better picture quality of the Director's Cut
2)Michael Mann commentary
3)Cheaper

The downside is that the packaging is not as cool and it lacks some of the special features that the LE has.

Here's my DVD Talk review:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=6878

Take note, the "original" version in the 2 disc LE is said by many to not really be the theatrical cut, but another, unique edit.

I'm keeping my 2 disc LE since I only paid $8 for it.

Jason I just read your review you pointed out, and in it you say the disc 2 of the LE was non-anamorphic. It was grainy, cropped and gauzy, but it was 16x9. I remember checking it out when I first got my 16x9 a few months ago, and thinking it looked marginally better than on my 4x3. Still pretty crappy, but a smidge better.

I'm definitely picking this up as soon as I get some cashflow, now who do we need to petition to get the theatrical cut released.

Does this new release reinstate the missing scenes that were inadvertently missing from the first release?

You're right. Correction made. Not that the enhancement makes it any easier on the eyes.

Well, it is 120 more lines of resolution. But it's 120 more lines of bad transfer...

ABYSMAL transfer is a more accurate discription of the 2-Disc LE DC.

I was wondering how the audio for the new Dir Cut sounded? I noticed in the review by Jason that the new Dir Cut is only dolby 2.0 where the earlier single disc version is THX. I am trying to decide between the new Dir Cut and the slightly older single-disc THX version.

What do you guys think???

Anchor Bay's "Theatrical Cut" disc:

Pros - looks better & sounds better
Cons - shorter version of movie, inexplicably missing footage from the actual theatrical version

Anchor Bay's "Restored Director's Cut" disc:

Pros - longer version of movie, commentary by Michael Mann
Cons - picture and sound inferior, still missing key dialogue scene found in the real theatrical version

Full review here:
http://www.dvdfile.com/software/revi...hunter_dc.html

I have the old theatrical cut, I never knew parts were missing. Grrrrrr... Sad there can be so many versions of a movie that is niche, and yet every single one has problems.