I didn't realize that the Criterion edition is not anamorphic. I haven't watched my version since getting a widescreen TV at Christmastime, but I've finally been able to see how dreadful other non-anamorphic DVDs look, so I'm now tempted to buy the new edition and sell the old.

Entertainment Weekly reviewed this disc and gave the extras a C-. It said the disc rehashes alot of the old material from the previous MGM special edition. It also said the new extras are nothing to get excited about either.

What's this about sound problems with the first MGM SE? Can anybody confirm this?

that was my initial reaction as well, after reading the laundry list of supplements this go round.

Very few people want to pay to license commentaries.

which is annoying since the major studios probably could pony up the cash to include commentaries... too bad, we probably wont see the CC commentaries for 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' or if or when a deluxe edition of 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'/'Fisher King' were ever to materlizae from Columbia/TriStar

YGM

I'm not triple dipping on this. I wasted over $30 on a crappy transfer Criterion, then was and still am very happy with the second NON-Criterion version

Me personally. I am going to get the Hannibal Lecter box set, all 3 original movies in one nice box set. Call me a sucker (I own many earlier versions of all 3 movies) but I love box sets!

So, can anybody explain why the old Criterion release has so much more fine detail than either of the MGM's in the DVD BEAVER comparison? Just look at the fine lines and wrinkles in faces (even that medium-long shot of Lechter in his cell). What gives?

And I don't think I care for the reframing. It seems a bit too much of the image was lopped off the top in the new MGM transfer.

well anyone with both of these titles please let us know if the new release looks better than the criterion!

I don't have any of the MGM releases of this disc, so obviously I will not have seen any of those extras though I do have the Criterion version. How are the extras on the MGM releases? Mediocre in general?

There is NO WAY the last MGM release of SOTL's transfer is inferior to the crappy CRITERION version. This isnt even subjective, it is FACT

I don't know. That sounds like a "faith-based" assertion to me. Here are a few "facts" I've been mulling over since viewing the comparison review at DVD BEAVER :

First, it must be acknowledged that since Criterion's release came out way before they were doing anamorphic transfers, their transfer will come up lacking for those of us with widescreen televisions. I'm keeping it for the extras, but I need an enhanced transfer for viewing.

On the other hand, if I was the owner of a 4x3 set, I'd stick with the Criterion disc. Why? Clearly, it has better detail. It almost looks as though both MGM transfers were filtered, removing grain structure and fine detail. It's fairly apparent in all the stills, but look especially at the long/medium shot of Lechter in his cell. Look at the detail on his face, his jumpsuit, and the cell blocks behind him. The middle screengrab (the Criterion one) is clearly more detailed. Some may say "I smell contrast boosting", but look at his white pillow. Clearly, we're getting at least as much range - and possibly more - in the Criterion.

The color timing is vastly different, but this is a subjective "your call" as to which is preferred. I certainly have no idea which more closely resembles the theatrical release print, and apparently Tak has signed off on all of 'em. I prefer the Criterion, but that's the one I know best.

Also, the framing is different, with each successive MGM transfer lopping a bit more off the top. Again, subjective "your call" as I have no idea which is correct (though I think they overdid the cropping on the most recent release).

Whether the new MGM release also lessens the LFE impact as many have claimed with the first MGM release (especially in Buffalo Bill's house at the end), I don't know. But certainly a consideration, especially for the bass hounds.

IMO, the only improvement offered by MGM is anamorphic enhancement, though that's certainly a biggie. But if that's less than a deal-breaker for you - say, if you have a 4x3 TV or an amazing scaler that does a great job zooming non 16x9 transfers - then Criterion would have to be a consideration given what appears to be an otherwise better transfer, possibly superior audio (can someone please check the "LFE issue" on the new MGM release?), and definitely superior extras. If you lean Criterion, it's may not be worth paying OOP prices (though the value may be down at the moment), but if you already have the Criterion, you may decide that the new MGM release isn't, in fact, an upgrade for you.

Is the version of SOTL included in the new hannibal lecter box set the same one that comes in the new stand alone, 2 disc special edition?

If that makes sense?

OK, I have confirmation on the "Hannibal Lecter Collection" box set. I have it in my possession (thank you, 24-hour Wal-Mart)

It does NOT contain the new 2-disc "Silence of the Lambs" Collector's Edition. It contains "Manhunter", "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Hannibal" in single-disc releases in slim cases.

However, it DOES include, for the first time ever in Region 1, the theatrical cut of "Manhunter" in widescreen. I haven't watched the whole thing yet but I skipped to the "as an adult somebody should blow the sick fuck out of his socks" scene which is missing from all three previous widescreen releases from Anchor Bay and present in the only previous R1 DVD of the theatrical cut: MGM's previous fullscreen edition. It's there in widescreen for the first time ever so until somebody proves otherwise this is the true theatrical cut of the film in it's original aspect ratio.

So yeah, I picked up both the 2-disc "Silence" and the 3-disc collection for "Manhunter".

This is another weird question but perhaps there is an ad for that vanished Usual Suspects DVD on there, with a date?

No, nothing like that is included. There's a flyer advertising the theatrical release of "Hannibal Rising" with a weblink to see a "sneak peak" but nothing in the way of advertising other MGM/Fox titles (and that goes for both the 2-disc "Silence" and the 3-disc collection releases)

how much did each set you back?

what is the place that has the New Two-Disc Special edition Silence of the Lambs for the cheapest price? :)

So, is the SOTL in the "Hannibal Lecter Collection" the same as disc 1 of the new 2 disc Collector's Edition (same new anamorphic widescreen transfer)? If so, I'd pick up that box set.

Circuit City has it for $17.99 (cheaper than any online store I've found), whereas Target, Best Buy and Wal-Mart all appeaar to have it for $19.99. So there ya go...

or buy it from Best Buy, bring the DVD back with receipt and CC's ad price they'll price match it and take an additional 10% off.

The Boston area Best Buy that I went to never got any in stock, so apparently this isn't a "major" release. I had planned on price-matching the CC ad.

In an interesting aside, when I price-matched something else from the Target ad today, they claimed that they must now call the store to verify that they have them in stock AND confirm the price before they will price-match. I stood there more than 10 minutes waiting, while everyone behind the counter looked at me like I was some sort of common criminal. They've never done that before, and I think it's quite ridiculous.

It looks like it. The disc art is different but the menu is the same as the new CE. I just watched the theatrical "Manhunter" and I'm about to watch the new "Silence" disc so I haven't watched either one but just from looking at the menus of both discs I'm 99% sure they're the same.

I just popped the "Hannibal" disc in and that one seems to be the same as disc 1 of the 2001 2-disc release. Once again it does have new disc art but the content is old. There is none of the Fox logos and stuff from the other two discs. Curiously enough the special features menu (which includes the Scott commentary, a trailer for the old "Silence" SE that was released the same day and "Windtalkers" trailer) says "additional special features can be found on disc two" which obviously isn't included.

So yeah, you get a new "Manhunter" DVD and the first discs of the new "Silence" and old "Hannibal" DVD's.