gorgo99

This has long been in the works at Anchor Bay UK, and finally the website has a target date of Sept 2005... quite soon!

This will be my first non-R1/R0 purchase... should be interesting! Too bad it can't be released in R1 due to licensing.

andicus

So is it going to be the full, uncensored releases, or the hideously censored releases like the current German 1-4 boxset versions? If it's not censored, I can't wait!

calhoun07

I'd like to know as well. I've steered clear from the German release as well.

sldvd

What is the licensing issue?

rw2516

1 and 4 are MGM/UA
2 is Universal
Don't know about 3

Chris777

great to know there are other phantasm fans out there .

i might pick this up, but that also means i need a region 2 dvd player

"YOU PLAY A GOOD GAME BOY"

renaldow

If they're full releases, anamorphic, and have a decent pic I'll pick this up. If they're the same R2 releases already out there, forget it! I have 'em, and they suck. I only tolerate them because they're Phantasm. Even bad PQ won't keep me away!

sldvd

So why is that an issue in the US but not in Europe?

viking99

We absolutely need a good Phantasm set. That is probably second on my list (behind Twin Peaks pilot and season 2).

rw2516

Video rights differ from country to country. For example some 20th Century Fox titles are on WB in R2. Whoever released this box set evidently has obtained the DVD rights to all four. In the U.S MGM/UA(now Sony) have the rights to the first and fourth while Universal has the second. Don't remember who released the third. Best bet is to hold out for single releases of 2 and 3 in R1. Box set will never happen unless Sony buys Universal or the two companies merge.

gorgo99

Don Coscarelli (the director) and Anchor Bay are working on new transfers. I think we can expect proper, anamorphic, uncut, etc. versions of these.

Daniel Windsor

These will be full on quality transfers from what I've heard. I've seen some trailers that will be used by ABUK and they look brand new.

Hopefully, that's an idea of the quality to expect.

dullboy

From the ABUK forums:



You knew we were working on something special....

Note that these renders do not fully depict the chromed surface. The sphere will come housed in an outer box which will be silver printed card with a circular hole in it (like an Easter Egg carton) front and back. There will be a clear plastic (vacuumed) inner packaging but the outer will be card.

We'll be posting photographs of the finished spheres shortly.

gorgo99

Hee-llll yeah!! Thanks for the pic, dullboy! That's kind what I was picturing!

On a side note, I had a conversation with Reggie Bannister at Comic Con a few weeks ago (VERY nice guy), and asked him about this set. He didn't know about the packaging, but he had been heavily interviewed for documentaries that go with these films, AND he mentioned that they flew him back out again recently to do a tour of filming locations as they are today. Apparently a lot of the filming was done sans permit (no surprise there)!

It should be an excellent set.

andicus

Looks pretty cool! I'll be getting this if it's not insanely expensive.

ShagMan

nice... if this turns out as well as the Hellraiswer UK/R2 puzzlebox set, I'm ON IT!

Geofferson

Specs from DVDAnswers :

Phantasm
# Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Audio
# Optional Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 Audio
# Introduction by The Tall Man, Angus Scrimm
# Audio Commentary by Don Coscarelli, A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister and Bill Thornbury
# Deleted Sscenes
# Behind the Scenes Footage
# Original Theatrical Trailer
# Biographies

Phantasm II
# Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Audio
# Optional Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 Audio
# Introduction by The Tall Man, Angus Scrimm
# Audio Commentary by Don Coscarelli, Angus Scrimm and Reggie Bannister
# TV Spots
# Theatrical Trailer
# Photo Gallery
# Biographies

Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead
# Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Audio
# Optional Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 Audio
# Audio commentary by Don Coscarelli, A. Michael Baldwin and Angus Scrimm
# Deleted Scenes
# Theatrical Trailer
# Photo Gallery
# Biographies

Phantasm IV: Oblivion
# Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Audio
# Optional Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 Audio
# Audio commentary by Don Coscarelli, Angus Scrimm and Reggie Bannister
# Biographies

Bonus Disc (available only as part of the Sphere and Digipak releases)
# Phantasm: Genesis Featurette
# Phantasmagoria Featurette
# Phantasmagorical Mystery Tour
# Phantasm Super-8 release
# The Gory Days Featurette
# Phandom
# 1979 interview with George Capewell, Don Coscarelli and Angus Scrimm
# TV and Radio Spots.

dullboy

Well, I'll definitely be getting the ball in the box. I don't particularly care for the coverart on the digipack set. Although, I would like to have the coverart for the first movie. Can't wait.

Deus

PRESS RELEASE:

Halloween 2005 sees the long-awaited release of what is arguably the most highly anticipated horror DVD title of the year, Anchor Bay UK's five-disc PHANTASM BOX SET.

Available in two amazing, beautifully packaged Special Collector's Editions - the PHANTASM DIGIPAK and the Limited Edition PHANTASM SPHERE - the set includes all four films from writer-director Don Coscarelli's revered and much-loved horror saga together for the first time, fully remastered under the supervision of Coscarelli himself: PHANTASM, PHANTASM II, PHANTASM III: LORD OF THE DEAD and PHANTASM IV: OBLIVION. Both editions also come complete with a fifth Bonus Disc packed with exclusive brand new interviews, featurettes and special features, all produced with the co-operation of Don Coscarelli, plus many of the cast members and creative personnel involved in the making of the Phantasm films.

Destined to become a must-have collector's item for every horror fan, the PHANTASM SPHERE features the five discs housed in a shiny, silver facsimile of the razor-pronged killer orbs seen in the films. Limited to 20,000 units only, the sphere itself comes in a silver 'Easter egg'-style carton and will be exclusive to this UK Region 2 release.

The PHANTASM DIGIPAK comes in a silver-effect mirrorboard box fronted by an eye-dazzling lenticular image of the Phantasm series' arch-villain, the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm) holding one of the deadly spheres.

Deus

^^^That's from the Anchor Bay UK Forum^^^.

The sphere sets are limited 20,000 so you'd better get your order in pretty quick. I've got it pre-ordered on play.com but I don't think they ship to the US. Amazon.co.uk only has the single disc releases available to pre-order so far.

js1

I will be getting the sphere as long as it does not cost a whole lot.(maybe as early christmas gift)

juicerocket

Deus, do you know of any other sites that do ship to the US that have this up for pre-order? I've got to get a copy of this!

gorgo99

Me too... although I'm not terrified that the 20,000 will sell out fast... just on my past experiences with jumping on Anchor Bay's limited editions of other movies like Evil Dead and The Wicker Man, then seeing them years later still at B&M stores.

Deus

I haven't seen it up for pre-order anywhere else except on www.play.com . It's bound to turn up on www.amazon.co.uk at some point so keep your eyes peeled! Also keep an eye on www.hmv.co.uk (expensive but they usually carry a lot of Anchor Bay releases) and also www.cd-wow.com .

In the meantime, feast your eyes on this from the Anchor Bay forum:

gmike

5 Disc Sphere Box Set
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...385832-4573236
Catalogue Number: ABD4430
http://www.anchorbay.co.uk/perl/search.pl?CO=ABD4430

5 Disc Digipak Box Set
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...385832-4573236
Catalogue Number: ABD4444
http://www.anchorbay.co.uk/perl/search.pl?CO=ABD4444