Armageddon revisted
 

Disclaimer: I know this isn't a great movie. Let's save that debate. ;) I'm just OCD about the quality of the movies in my collection.

Having upgraded my DVD player to one that is easily made region-free, I'm revisiting the one and only title in my collection that's widescreen letterboxed on a 4:3 field: Armageddon. I currently have the Criterion Edition.

What's the real deal on the current state of all worldwide English releases of this movie? While some foreign editions are anamorphic, I have seen lots of talk on other forums that they are "fake" anamorphic: taking the letterboxed edition and zooming it. Making them basically no better-quality than what I could do from zooming my Criterion Edition. Is there any validity to these claims? Are there any higher-quality true anamorphic foreign releases of Armageddon I could use?

I cannot answer your exact question, but apparently Michael Bay was quoted as saying that one master print had burned up in a fire but the studio was in the process or restoring another for a future Blu-ray. Sorry I don't have the source of this, it's probably in another topic on here.

Yeah I read that interview. I was just hoping that one of the releases in other regions was a legitimate post-fire anamorphic transfer.

I have the UK disc, and it doesn't look all that great. But, I may just be spoiled from Blu-Ray images nowadays. I'll have to compare it to my Criterion to get a better idea. I can tell you this...the PAL speedup on the audio is noticeable, which sucks bigtime.

Funny, I've had this for a while now and I never knew the Criterion was non-anamorphic. Sad, too, since this isn't a title I'd likely upgrade if given the chance.

Would be great to finally have an anamorphic upgrade, but it doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon.

if you are region-free, the Australian R4 2 disc set is anamorphic.

My hope is that like The Rock, the Buena Vista BD, whenever it appears, will include all the Criterion extras. Then I'm sold.