Paul Arnette

Hi all.

I need your help, if you have time to give it. As part of a New Year's resolution, I have decided not to carry duplicate versions of the same movie on DVD in my collection whenever possible. However, I have really been struggling with a few double-dips, which I have listed below.

As a general rule, video and audio quality will trump extras for me eveytime, but there are some tricky decisions here (e.g. Gladiator: Extended Edition lacks DTS ES 6.1, the new Reservoir Dogs has aspect ratio questions, the Stripes theatrical cut being a sloppily edited version of the extended cut , etc.)

Here are the double-dips, which ones should I part with:

The Evil Dead: Special Collector's Edition (Elite)
The Evil Dead: The Book Of The Dead (Limited Edition)

Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn
Evil Dead 2: The Book Of The Dead 2 (Limited Edition)

Jaws: 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition
Jaws: 30th Anniversary Edition

Gladiator: Signature Collection
Gladiator: Extended Edition

National Lampoon's Animal House: Collector's Edition
National Lampoon's Animal House: Double Secret Probation Edition


Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs: 10th Anniversary Special Edition

Stripes
Stripes: Extended Cut

Terminator 2: Judgement Day - Special Edition
Terminator 2: Judgement Day - Extreme DVD

Underworld
Underworld: Extended Cut

X-Men: Special Edition
X-Men 1.5: Collector's Edition

Interested in hearing any thoughts or suggestions you might have.

Thanks.

waylonsmithers

I would keep both gladiators and terminator 2 dvds since they both offer exclusive extras and a/v options. As for the rest, I would stick with the newer versions.

Greg613

My vote to keep:

Both book of the deads. They just look cooler!
Jaws 30th. Has one extra thing over the 25th
Reservoir Dogs: 10th Ann. Special Edition. I hope its Mr. Pink
Underworld: Extended Cut. Thats a gimme.
X-Men 1.5: Collector's Edition
T2 Extreme Edition. Better Cover in my opinion

Gladiator could go either way, but if I had to pick: Signature Series.

cerial442

I would say it would be safe to get rid of these.

The Jaws 30th Anniversary Edition is way better than the 25th Anniversary Edition. The 30th has the original sound mix and the full documentary that was chopped up on the 25th.

Animal House: DSPE is anamorphic and I remember it getting good reviews.

Underworld has a better cut of the film.

X-Men 1.5 has DTS and better extras.

Cinemaddiction

Drop these;

Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn (Anchor Bay's is better)
Jaws: 25th Anniversary Edition (Ehh..)
Gladiator: Signature Collection (3 Disc has better audio options)
National Lampoon's Animal House: Collector's Edition (Obvious)
Reservoir Dogs (Ann. Edition is loaded)
Underworld (UR EX DC is the one and only..)
X-Men: Special Edition ( 1.5 is loaded)

That being said.., keep both editions of "Evil Dead". Elite's release is the only one, AFAIK, that presents it in its OAR. The "Book of the Dead" release does indeed look cool, and has a few extra features. Also hang onto both copies of "T2" and "Stripes", just to have the theatrical and DC cuts of both films.

Matthew Chmiel

No, the Signature Collection has DTS whereas the Extended Edition does not.

The Evil Dead: Special Collector's Edition (Elite)
The Evil Dead: The Book Of The Dead (Limited Edition)
MY OPINION: This is your call. The Book of the Dead has a great transfer and some nice bonus features, however, the Elite DVD is in the film's original full frame aspect ratio whereas the Anchor Bay edition is matted to widescreen per Raimi's request. You could keep both versions, but if you have an HDTV (or plan on getting one), I'd go with keeping the Book.

Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn
Evil Dead 2: The Book Of The Dead 2 (Limited Edition)
MY OPINION: Book of the Dead. I don't know which DVD you initially had (let it be Anchor Bay's first non-anamorphic disc or their second THX-certified disc), but the Book has all the same extras as their second outing plus a better transfer. So ditch that first one.

Jaws: 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition
Jaws: 30th Anniversary Edition
MY OPINION: The 30th is the one you have to keep. You get Dolby Digital, DTS, and mono (in one package) and the uncut documentary. You don't get that with the 25th.

Gladiator: Signature Collection
Gladiator: Extended Edition
MY OPINION: This is a case where you might have to keep both. You get DTS with the Signature Collection, but it's dropped for the Extended. IIRC, some extras that show up on the Signature don't show up on the Extended.

National Lampoon's Animal House: Collector's Edition
National Lampoon's Animal House: Double Secret Probation Edition
MY OPINION: Double Secret Probation Edition. Same transfer (IIRC) from the CE, but a few more extras and a Dolby Digital 5.1 upgrade. Unless, you want to keep the CE just for the superior cover, however, in this case, you can ditch the CE.

Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs: 10th Anniversary Special Edition
MY OPINION: There are some minor edits to the 10th anniversary special edition, but if you don't mind those, that's the edition to keep. Plus you get an anamorphic transfer and killer extras.

Stripes
Stripes: Extended Cut
MY OPINION: The Extended Cut you can keep. You get both theatrical cut or extended cut options on that version, plus extras.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day - Special Edition
Terminator 2: Judgement Day - Extreme DVD
MY OPINION: You have to keep both. The Ultimate Edition has DTS and a shitload of extras that the Extreme DVD does not. However, the Extreme DVD also has a better transfer and a hi-def version of the film in WMV9. However, both discs do have the special edition edits and the theatrical edition edits (it's hidden as an easter egg in the Extreme DVD).

Underworld
Underworld: Extended Cut
MY OPINION: Keep the Extended Cut.

X-Men: Special Edition
X-Men 1.5: Collector's Edition
MY OPINION: No brainer, keep the 1.5.

darkside

As a frequent double dipper I will try and help.
I kept just the Book of the Dead, but as many have mentioned the Elite version is the only one in OAR. That is a tough one and I might suggest keeping both, but if you are only keeping one I would keep The Book of the Dead as I thought it looked fine matted.
I would keep the Book of the Dead edition of this one as well. I still have the limited edition tin myself along with the Book of the Dead version and have been thinking of selling off the tin.
Sell the 25th Anniversary Edition. I passed on it completely as I found it a very mediocre release. The 30th Anniversary version is the best version easily with the original sound and full doc.
I didn't even end up buying the the Extended version as I was completely satisified with such a great version of the theatrical. I would recommend keeping both though since there are extras exclusive to each version. I would not get rid of the original release though if you must get rid of one.
I did this double dip as well and the DSPE is clearly the better version. Drop the original. Best thing about the original is the cover art but I didn't find it worth keeping the DVD for.
No brainer here. Keep the Anniversary edition and drop the original.
Another no brainer. Keep the extended cut which has both versions and drop the original.
I passed on the Extreme edition of this one but was very tempted. If I had both I would keep both.
I passed on the theatrical cut of this one (just rented it) and waited for the extended which I have watched and thought was a bit better. I would keep the extended and drop the theatrical.
1.5 edition is pretty amazing and I don't consider this a film worth having two editions of. I bought the 1.5 myself and sold the original and I would say you should do the same. However, if your original version came with the free mini CD-ROM I would keep that and toss it in your 1.5 case.

Hope this helps.

TomOpus

I take it the first one listed is just the regular SE and not the UE?

Paul Arnette

No, actually the first one listed is the UE.

To everyone else, thank you for your replies. Keep 'em comming.