Giles

what?!?

the teaser that is missing from all the current video versions of CE3K is the one that shows all these people on a tarmack at night with a light coming in from in front of them as the camera snakes itself around them... it was very eerie.

joliom

How would there be an E.T. teaser in 1977 if the movie wasn't even made for another 5 years? Are you talking about the home video release of CE3K?

CertifiedTHX

A few days ago, The Digital Bits noted that the DVD is going to be a 2-disc set (rather than a 3-disc) like the Blu-ray, and all three versions of the film will be presented with seamless branching on both formats. DVDActive agrees.

I wonder if the studios are trying to push us to convert to high definition by making extras exclusive to those formats. There is no reason why all the extras on the Blu-ray could not have been on the DVD. They were excluded, apparently, to bring more people to the Blu-ray. Which doesn't make much sense, especially when the real draw of high definition is supposed to be the improved picture clarity.

--THX

Dane Marvin

^ As someone who isn't ready to commit to HD for video media quite yet (I have a 50" plasma, but dont want to have to decide on HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray for quite a while), I find the substantial content that is exclusive to the Blu-Ray to be quite disheartening. Was gonna buy the SD version, but now I just might wait several years before purchasing this title...

joliom

Yeah, I couldn't care less what they add to the Blu-ray version, I'm not going HD until they end the format war. If they want my money then they have to make the SD version worthwhile. If not, then I'll stick with the current CE.

Panda Phil

I'll probably pick it up, assuming its being remastered too. It's been awhile since I watched my dvd, but I remember my copy being grainy as hell.

Cameron

it seems that the HD/BR content is being split amongst stores as bonus disc for SD-DVD. I wouldn't be suprised to see a Best Buy Exclusive 3 disc set, or something like it.

Dane Marvin

That's a good thought. If there's a 3-disc exclusive at Target or Best Buy or somewhere, I'll be all over it. Knowing my luck, it will be Circuit City which I do not have anywhere near me.

dolphinboy

Can anyone else please chime in about the transfer from the Collector's Edition of Close Encounters, because I'm leaning towards keeping the one that I have if the bonus features play out the way people are speculating?

The review here has the video transfer rated at 4 1/2 stars. That's pretty darn good and better than a lot of brand new films being reviewed daily.

Short of a great HD transfer, can the standard edition really be much better than the one that is already out? I mean even if it goes from 4 1/2 stars to a perfect 5, only the best of eyes will notice that.

Dane Marvin

^ It could be better, but I think the main point of this that they are combining all three versions into a single set for the first time on DVD and also adding in some new bonus features. I have personally never seen the '77 original version and would enjoy getting to see it, but probably not enough to make the purchase if we're not getting ALL the bonus features they are making available. I may as well just wait to buy it in HD after the format wars are over. Should be cheaper by then too.

phraseturner

Multiple bonus discs, each at a different store? Ugh...

I'm still not in an HD format yet, so I may be purchasing more than one set at different stores to get all the bonus discs...

Ugh again...

Trevor

This will be nothing, probably 2 bonuses tops. Imagine having to buy 7 copies of Ghost Rider to get all the bonuses.

Now that was an ugh!

CertifiedTHX

Further evidence:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=29525

--THX

pmreed

If the intention is to force buyers into HD media by withholding SD extras, I don't think it will work. Only on forums like this are extras even discussed. None of my friends even watch extras. Recently, when I tried to show some cool extras to a group of them, all I heard was "boring, let's watch a movie!"

Phil

Feathers McGraw

Oh, there's no doubt about it.

All it does is piss me off, and makes me put a film onto my "will not buy" list.

CertifiedTHX

DVDActive now has the artwork for both formats. The design of the DVD package seems like it could be cool, but the artwork is lacking. Reminds me of something I might have seen on the front of a VHS box in the '80s. The Blu-ray is nothing all that special, either. Actually prefer the promo sheet at the bottom.

--THX

dhmac

uhmmm, check again because it's not there.

Cameron

I'm in the HD-DVD camp and have no plans for Blu-Ray. SO I hope that the bonus features do get an exclusive somewhere on SD as I want it all as well.

phraseturner

The Digital Bit's drumbeat for Blu-Ray must drive you crazy, then...

When you hear more about DVD store exclusive bonus discs, please pass it along. I know you're "in the know".

wm lopez

This movie CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and THE GODFATHER are the only 2 movies that have mixed reviews on dvd. When each set came out the review places like HTF gave the transfers good review, but many consumers who bought the dvds complained about the transfers. I too found the CEOT3K transfer grainy & brownish looking. I even watched it on a different player & t.v. and it looked not too good. And if SONY video thought the transfer was good they would have released it on Super-bit years ago. So on that that tells me it's a bad transfer.

ryuryu2949

This set better be good--after hearing the announcement, I just sold an unopened copy of the 2 disc collectors edition (OOP?).

RD1973

Am I the only one excited about this release? I thought there would be a huge thread by now.

I'm looking forward to finally getting rid of my old Pan and Scan CETK: Special Edition VHS.

By the way, does anyone know what extra stuff will be on the BluRay that's not on the regular DVD set?

chris_sc77

I would be excited but it doesnt appear to have a heck of a lot of new material. So since i have the 2-disk collector's edition I wont be upgrading..
Would like to see some reviews for this though.

Dane Marvin

Here's the existing thread on it:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread....ght=encounters

Giles

I must admit, I'm not the one for detailed analysis on transfers, but the HDNet Movies airing of CE3K was impressive in my book.

As for the extra's issues, it seems like a number of supplements have been exclusive to different video versions, the number of still pics in gallery form seemed far more extensive on the Criterion laserdisc version. Columbia/Sony held out and made the current SE contain deleted scenes not made privey for Criterions' release, exclusive for that version. I'm really curious to see what's going to appear in the new SE.

Widespread Review was supposed to have a gotten and reviewed the Bluray disc edition, but that doesn't seem to be up on their website.