I actually doubt that the color printed discs are bootlegs.

I have owned quite a few IMAGE DVDs over the years, in both snapper cases and keep cases. It certainly appears that the silver discs were the early releases but as IMAGE has re-released titles they have gone with keep cases and ALL that I have seen of these reissues have color printed DVDs. I actually made it a point to replace titles once they have been reissued in keepcases. And as a note all of THE MILESTONE COLLECTION releases I've seen (which are distributed by IMAGE) that came in snapper cases had color DVD art.

And another note...the IMAGE Chaplin feature film discs (now out of print) went from silver to color printed discs as the releases progressed...ALL in snapper cases.

I spoke to the AB rep at Fangoria last weekend and he told me they aren't sure about Vol. 2 yet. He said they need to work out some rights issues before they can determine if they will release it. I sure as hell hope they do. Vol. 1 was a fantastic set and there's plenty of Bava that needs remastering.

...And the plot thickens. Thanks for bringing that to my attention, carcosa. In light of that, it makes much more sense as to why so many sellers have the color artwork dsc, rather than that they are all bootlegs. Still, I think the situation may be that I have a bootleg copy of the keepcase version with the artwork. The actual case is an amaray-style popular in Asia, both identical to and with the exact same distinct 'cheap plastic' smell (best I can describe it) as the cases on two bootleg copies of the Criterion editions of The Killer and Hard Boiled I got awhile back. And although the Twitch insert looks legit--on thin paper and not the thick glossy kind usually found in bootlegs--the case has me very suspicious. I would think the legit keepcase edition of Twitch would be in a real amaray or alpha case. Could be I have the original disc/insert put in a replacement case too, I guess. Also, as I mentioned, by Black Sabbath is the keepcase edition but the original gray/silver disc. Maybe the new disc design didnt immediately coincide with the amaray switch, maybe they only changed certain discs in the Bava Collection--like Twitch, or maybe Image is just very inconsistant. Who knows?

I have very few Image releases that are in keepcases. The dozen or so that I do have were purchased at Borders. I just went to inspect them and not one was in an Amaray or Alpha case. Each one seemed be in a different kind of case. Each case had a different style hub. Several of the cases (The 1000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse, And Then There Were None, Assault on Precinct 13, Il Bidone, and Under Capricorn) had a very strong distinct smell when I opened them to look at the hubs.

That's also a good point you being up, Starcase. Went and looked at my Image copy of Assault on Precinct 13 in plastic keepcase and it's got an unusual hub different from my Black Sabbath and Twitch. (Black Sabbath, however, is in a genuine amaray w/ the 'ying yang' button). I don't have many Image releases aside from that and from the Bava collection, so can't do a ton of comparing, but, I see what you mean. Guess my Twitch may be legit after all. Btw, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but 'keepcase' is just an umbrella term used to mean any type/brand of single disc plastic dvd case--basically to differentiate from 'snappers', etc, right? At least that's what I'd always thought.

DVD manufacturers will often use cases from many different sources so its really hard to determine a DVDs authenticity by the case quality. The "smelly cases" you have noticed are probably similar to the Meritline cases sold by outlets like FRY'S ELECTRONICS. They ARE pretty cheap and smell...I quit buying them.

Keep case IS a generic term for the plastic, non "snapper" cases. There are probably a half dozen or more legit manufacturers (of varying quality) of this style case with Amray still probably the best.

Just to clear this up, I've worked for Image. They originally released the Bava films in snappers, they got some complaints, then later released them in plastic keepcases. Ditto for other titles.

Oh...to answer the original question you asked....I have a copy of TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE that I purchased from DVD Planet's retail store in Orange County CA and its in a keepcase with a color printed disc and folded insert. My case isn't smelly tho

Thanks for all the responses, guys. (I mean 'guys' in the neutral, all-inclusive sense, of course). Btw Linn, as I had said, I was aware Image had switched over to keepcases on a lot of their catalog, including the Bava Collection; I just had some doubts over the authenticity of my particular copy. My concern stemmed from the particular type of keepcase on my copy and its 'cheap smell' which were both identical to a couple oop Criterions I got recently which were confirmed to bootlegs. As a result, I think I was also on a brief 'bootleg paranoia' kick stemming from that scenario. I'm more confident mine's legit now, though.

Also, Carcosa--on the copy you got from Dvd Planet, would you play along and compare the serial # on the bottom of your disc w/ mine? This is mine:

ID5945AO.V2 5026472.5.A.A02

Thanks.

I once got Twitch from Netflix, and as I recall, the dvd has the screenprinted image on the front (not just silver, like my Black Sabbath and Black Sunday dvds I purchased before). Just to add to the certainty, like there wasn't enough...

Ben

Just to make sure.....TWITCH is the same as BAY OF BLOOD, right?

KC

Yes

Hello Friends,

Here r the BAVA films I've watched so far:



BLACK SUNDAY.......luved it!!!

BLOOD AND BLACK LACE........Good!!

KILL BABY KILL.....................Good!!!


Can someone send me their list of top 10 Bava films, so I know which ones r worth watching? I hear BLACK SABBATH is great and TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE is good as well. What else??? Thanx.


Ken C.

Rabid Dogs (Kidnapped) is really good. If you like sci-fi there's always Planet of the Vampires.

Thanx Tom. I just put KIDNAPPED in my cart over at Netflix. Can't find PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES though. Would it be under a different title?

Ken

It was part of the MGM Midnite Movies series, which might mean it's OOP.

Hopefully Netflix has the Bava Kidnapped. Just be sure it's not another movie with the same name. Also be aware that the disc contains both versions of the movie. Personally, I like the Rabid Dogs cut but at least you can watch both and make your own decision.

My Bava Ranking:

1. Black Sunday
2. The Three Faces of Fear (Black Sabbath) (I love the quote about Argento making an entire career out of one shot in the proto-giallo Telephone segment.)
3. Blood and Black Lace
4. Kill, Baby... Kill!
5. The Girl Who Knew Too Much
6. Hatchet for the Honeymoon (I was shocked by how many various aspects of the mis-en-scene in this film reminded me of Profondo Rosso and Halloween.)
7. Rabid Dogs
8. Planet of the Vampires
9. Danger: Diabolik
10. Twitch of the Death Nerve


Hercules in the Haunted World, Shock, House of Exorcism, Five Dolls for an August Moon, and the co-directed I vampiri are the only other Bava-directed films that I have seen. I highly recommend Dario Argento's Inferno. Bava contributed to some of the film's special effects.

Tom,

RAPID DOGS is which version? Bava's original cut or the version where Bava's son shot extra footage for the film?

Ken

Black Sabbath is by far my favorite of the ones you listed. Very scary if you watch it alone in the dark. The third installment, The Drop of Water, is something you won't forget once you see it.

Thanx Starecase and Grem for your input.

Kenny C.

Here's the link to the DVDTalk review of the disc which gives a lot of history behind the movie: Kidnapped.

At one time an original DVD of Rabid Dogs was a very sought after disc and fetched extremely high prices in the aftermarket. I think there were only 1,000 pressed.

Thanx Tom.

KC

What that review doesn't mention is that the rare authentic Lucertola disc also included a newly-filmed opening sequence for the film (directed by Lamberto Bava) that follows Mario Bava's original script for the film that he never got to shoot for himself. Anchor Bay decided not to spend the money to license that footage for their release and replaced it by generic credits instead. So rabid Bava fans would really need to get both discs if they want to have everything. Casual fans probably won't care that much.

Mine is slightly different. It has JUST "ID5945AODVD" on it....same as the spine number and also on the back of the inside insert....