Not so special editions
 

What supposed "special editions" or re-releases of DVDs that have been released you feel are either not worthy of a "special edition" label, or are not really the upgrades from a previous edition?

An edition I thought was not so special was "Deer Hunter". The r1 Legacy Series release is quite a joke for a supposed 2 disc special edition. First disc has only one commentary track with the cinematographer while the second disc just has some deleted scenes and a trailer. That's lacking quite a lot when compared to the UK set which housed commentary with the director and a number of featurettes on the making of the film.

Two re-releases off the top of my head that weren't really upgrades are "Big Lebowski" and "Carlito's Way". The former didn't really bring any new features and some argue that the transfer has it's ups and downs compared to the first DVD. Carlito's Way's re-release only really brought small collection of deleted scenes that weren't that big a deal and a 5 minute throwaway interview with Brian De Palma that was put together from out-takes from the interview used on the making of featurette.

'Fletch' comes immediately to mind, as does that paltry 'Escape from NY' 2-disc that could have easily been a single disc release. The commentary may be great, but there's only one deleted scene and a 22-minute 'making of'; thats not enough shit to need a whole other disc for!

Its amazing that now that I'm sitting down to list them, barely any come to mind. Considering I've looked at pretty well 1/3 of my collection and thought 'fuck, thats a skimy SE'.

Pretty much everything that Universal has re-released as a special edition since 2001. Big Lebowski, Fletch, Flash Gordon, The Jerk, Mallrats, The Blues Brothers. They have had some good releases like the legacy collections but the other gimmicky rereleases have been atrocious.

One word: Ransom

21 Grams

The Secret of NIMH

Definitely Big Lebowski.

I'm glad you said that. I was gonna see about double-dipping on that tomorrow if it's $4 at CC, but after consulting the DVD review, jeez I know it's only chump-change but that $4 is better kept in my wallet.

The Secret of Nimh: Family Fun Edition - Two discs and it only has a few set-top games, short making-of, and commentary.

Halloween H20 - featurette, music video, and trivia game. The original artwork listed a commentary and DTS 5.1 audio which weren't included.

The Hunt For Red October - Commentary, 30min featurette, DTS 5.1 audio, and trailer.

Patriot Games & Clear and Present Danger - 30min featurette, DTS 5.1 audio, and trailer.

Tartan UK's R2 Collector's Edition of Hard Boiled - Theatrical trailer and DTS 5.1 sound. That's it.

Fox Australia's Porky's One Size Fits All Edition - Almost none of the extras from the US SE appear on this disc except the trailer.

mallrats & the blues brothers definatly came to mind when i read this aswell as mission impossible 2 & 3.

enemy of the state was a pointless re-release, same with rush hour 1&2

Non-anamorphic too, I think.

Hate all you want on those other titles, but the Mallrats 10th Anniversary re-release was definitely NOT a totally unnecessary double-dip...

Along with a remastered picture, we get the all new recut extended "version that should not be", plus over an hour and half of new special features: new making of documentary, brief Q&A with Kevin, introduction to the extended cut, outtakes, the cast and crew reunion Q&A, etc....

Sure, you lose the brief bits of PIP video from the commentary, and you cannot watch the deleted scenes separately with the intros/explanations from the original release (that's why I held onto it as well)....but in an overall comparison, the 10th Anniversary still wins hands down as the better package in my book...

I can't really think of any because I don't buy them.

I hate to admit it but I know that the biggest waste of the "Special Edition" label is The Care Bears Movie dvd that was released not too long ago. The only special feature was an episode from the tv show, but the DVD was labeled as the "25th anniversary limited ediion". whatever

I agree with you on some of those titles, like The Big Lebowski and The Jerk, but Mallrats? And The Blues Brothers? Both of those have got plenty on them, including two different cuts of the movie!

Anyway, a few titles come to mind. To list a few, IMO:

Casino Royale: 2-Disc Edition
Empire Records: Remix! Special Fan Edition
Fast Times At Ridgemont High: Special Edition
National Lampoon's Vacation: 20th Anniversary Edition
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Special Edition
Parenthood: Special Edition

Most (especially) Sony and Universal titles come to mind, especially with catalog titles that get's a "Special Editions". Especially the recent FLASH GORDON.

Rainmaker. I waited a long time for the SE of that movie and when I read the review of it I felt like it just did not seem to have a lot in terms of bonus features. I have not seen it, but I would love to rent it first to at least check it out.

Mallrats is another one...the first edition was pretty packed. Aside from the extended version, it really didn't have all that much more.

:hscratch:

Mallrats?

The Q&A in the first side and the intro prior to the extended edition on the other side are worth the price of the disc by themselves. Two of the funniest things I've ever seen.

(from dvdcompare.net)
Extras:SIDE A
*Theatrical Cut Of The Film (95:17)
Audio Commentary by director Kevin Smith, actors Ben Affleck, Jason Lee and Jason Mewes, producer Scott Mosier and Vincent Pereira
Cast Interviews From Original Set (8:44)
"A Brief Q&A With Kevin Smith" featurette (9:03)
Outtakes (8:13)
1999 "View Askew's Look At Mallrats" featurette (21:06)
"The Erection Of An Epic: The Making of Mallrats" featurette (22:10)
Production Photographs (19:30)
The Goops "Build Me Up Buttercup" music video (3:41)
Theatrical Trailer (2:25)
SIDE B
*Extended Version Of The Film (122:07) (w/ Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier introduction (11:02))
"Mallrats: The Reunion: Tenth Anniversary Q&A" featurette (50:11)

Yep, not much there...

Edit: Plus there are 8 Easter Eggs too.

Blues Brothers 2000
V for vendetta: 2-Disk Specail Edition
Punch-Drunk Love: 2-Disk Special Edition
The Village: Vista Series
La Femme Nikita: Special Edition
Bandits: Special Edition

It may not have a LOT of extras, but what's there is pretty good. Coppola's audio commentary is terrific, and the alternate ending is really interesting. Plus audition reels of Matt Damon and Claire Danes. And a top-notch anamorphic transfer. Sometimes, less is more.

well, if people think of every Criterion as being a "SE", then let me add
1) every W.C. Fields dvd they have put out
2) lady vanishes
3) Most dangerous game

and probably a whole bunch that I have sold and can't remember.

The upcoming Chinatown special edition doesn't look so special.

Lionsgates hellraiser 3, it has sceen selections as its only special feature and its full screen

Legends of the Fall: a 4 1/2 minute making of featurette, a costume featurette, a few deleted scenes and commentary don't really make this a special edition

Bourne Identity: Explosive Extended Edition: Don't buy this one, the new 3 disc Bourne series has the original version with Liman commentary. This one has a bunch of fluffy EPK featurettes.

300: I'm sorry to say this, but this disc is a little bit of a downer as well. The making of featurette is 5 1/2 minutes long!! You would think this would be the type of movie that gets an extensive 1 hour + making of documentary that covers pre-production, production and post production.

The Terminator: Although there are some really good behind the scenes material and interviews, I was disappointed that Cameron didn't do a commentary, but did one for the deleted scenes? :hscratch:

16 Blocks: Richard Donner and the writer did commentary on the deleted scenes, but not the movie? Is this a new trend? :hscratch:

I'm questioning the sanity of the people who are singling out "Mallrats" 10th Anniversary edition as not being very special. Most of the others I agree with, but you guys saying "Mallrats" are on drugs. It was pretty packed. I loved the aforementioned Q&A reunion that was included.

(Numes makes this point very clear in his post above, which lists all the features included.)