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View Full Version : The Classic Sci-Fi Collection Vol. 2


xman
09-12-2007, 07:51 PM
Too bad it is another Best Buy exclusive. Their price is $19.99. Anywho it is worth getting for the Technicolor version of Dr. Cyclops. The other titles are Cult of the Cobra, The Land Unknown, The Deadly Mantis and The Leech Woman. As far as I know these titles are making their DVD debut. I finished watching Dr. Cyclops, excellent quality!
_______________________
Stays Crunchy Even In Milk

Vidiot
09-14-2007, 01:59 AM
Thanks for the tip. I went nuts trying to find Vol. 1, released earlier this year, whose price skyrocketed after it sold out at all the Best Buy stores. I think it's going for $99 on eBay now (up from $20!).

wayneklein
09-16-2007, 09:43 AM
Dr. Cyclops seems to be the only reason to own this. All the others are bad films (much like The Incredible Shrinking Man being the gem of the first set).

thxdave
02-13-2008, 12:52 PM
Dr. Cyclops seems to be the only reason to own this. All the others are bad films (much like The Incredible Shrinking Man being the gem of the first set).

Wnen I first saw "Incredible Shrinking Man", I couldn't get that theme music out of my head. At the time, I didn't know who Ray Anthony was (something that was happily corrected by hanging around HERE!) but I knew that this theme was more than the usual Monster Movie Theme. Here's a YouTube link to Mr. Anthony performing the theme song to "Incredible":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmnd_gOq12M

John Egan
02-13-2008, 01:47 PM
Vol 1 & 2 are being rereleased together for $60 in April. I couldn't believe I missed out on Monolith Monsters and Tarantula as well as Shrinking Man. One guy at Amazon was asking $370 for vol 1. Sure they aren't all classics but it's nice to have something to watch late night when Bergman seems a little much.

Hawkman
02-13-2008, 01:57 PM
Vol 1 & 2 are being rereleased together for $60 in April. I couldn't believe I missed out on Monolith Monsters and Tarantula as well as Shrinking Man. One guy at Amazon was asking $370 for vol 1. Sure they aren't all classics but it's nice to have something to watch late night when Bergman seems a little much.

You don't happen to have a link for that do you??

John Egan
02-13-2008, 02:11 PM
www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa151.html#scifi

and the date is May 13.

runofthemill
02-13-2008, 02:15 PM
Those titles sound like the movies they watched on Mystery Science Theater 3K :D

thxdave
02-13-2008, 04:52 PM
One of my favorite posters I found when I first started collecting was a beautiful half-sheet for "Monolith Monsters". It's one of my prized posters. I got into collecting way too late as the prices were going through the roof and I just couldn't afford it. Mine is exactly like this one:
http://www.buckbeagle.com/posters/monolithhs.htm

wayneklein
02-13-2008, 04:52 PM
The first set is enjoyable and has a clear classic in "TISM" while even the worst of the films in the set are still fun.

Hawkman
02-13-2008, 05:02 PM
www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa151.html#scifi (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa151.html#scifi)

and the date is May 13.

Thank you!

Taurus
02-13-2008, 06:46 PM
Those titles sound like the movies they watched on Mystery Science Theater 3K :DYou are correct sir!

Episode 802- The Leech Woman (http://mst3kinfo.com/aceg/8/802/ep802.html)

Episode 804- The Deadly Mantis (http://mst3kinfo.com/aceg/8/804/ep804.html)

^ descriptions include funny commentary by various MST3K writers

Michael
02-13-2008, 06:48 PM
I'm glad I waited for this! Can't wait to the the incredible shrinking man!

conniefrancis
02-14-2008, 04:57 AM
You are correct sir!

Episode 802- The Leech Woman (http://mst3kinfo.com/aceg/8/802/ep802.html)

Episode 804- The Deadly Mantis (http://mst3kinfo.com/aceg/8/804/ep804.html)

^ descriptions include funny commentary by various MST3K writers

Sorry to go so off topic, but, Leech Woman is my all-time favorite MST! I could not imagine watching it without their comments. "Your god is a mouth-breather!"
:laugh:

Mister Kite
02-14-2008, 06:46 AM
I'm glad I waited for this! Can't wait to the the incredible shrinking man!I bought all three of these (including last fall's Universal Horror set) when they came out at BB, and for $20 each, I will not part with any of them. But, be advised, Michael, that the presentation of The Incredible Shrinking Man (in particular) on this set is not perfect. Check out the DVD Beaver (http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews25/classic_sci-fi_ultimate_collection.htm) assessment, complete with screen caps. Don't get me wrong, it is GREAT to finally have this film on DVD, but as it stands now, throwing it in a set like this as opposed to giving it the full-blown special edition it deseres (IMO) is a missed opportunity at best. Still, until something better comes along (if ever) this is well worth adding to your library.

Cheers,

Michael
02-14-2008, 06:49 PM
I bought all three of these (including last fall's Universal Horror set) when they came out at BB, and for $20 each, I will not part with any of them. But, be advised, Michael, that the presentation of The Incredible Shrinking Man (in particular) on this set is not perfect. Check out the DVD Beaver (http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews25/classic_sci-fi_ultimate_collection.htm) assessment, complete with screen caps. Don't get me wrong, it is GREAT to finally have this film on DVD, but as it stands now, throwing it in a set like this as opposed to giving it the full-blown special edition it deseres (IMO) is a missed opportunity at best. Still, until something better comes along (if ever) this is well worth adding to your library.

Cheers,

I missed them at BB...

IIRC, isn't the spider scene cut short also?

are they just re-releasing Vol 1 & 2 as repacks or did they correct anything?

Mister Kite
02-15-2008, 06:34 PM
IIRC, isn't the spider scene cut short alsoNot that I am aware of. I have not watched it in a while, so I can't say for sure. But, I think if that were the case, it would have made it into a review or two, and I honestly don't recall ever seeing it mentioned.are they just re-releasing Vol 1 & 2 as repacks or did they correct anything?I doubt we'll know for sure until it streets, but with Universal's track record, I'd be hugely surprised if anything about the presentation is different.

BTW, here is second opinion on volume one by DVD Savant (http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2109sci.html?___rd=2). My advice is to take his review of the technical presentation with a grain of salt. He is clearly looking through rose-colored glasses when he says...Universal presents its DVD of The Incredible Shrinking Man in a beautiful enhanced widescreen 1:78. :rolleyes:

wayneklein
02-15-2008, 08:09 PM
Not that I am aware of. I have not watched it in a while, so I can't say for sure. But, I think if that were the case, it would have made it into a review or two, and I honestly don't recall ever seeing it mentioned.I doubt we'll know for sure until it streets, but with Universal's track record, I'd be hugely surprised if anything about the presentation is different.

BTW, here is second opinion on volume one by DVD Savant (http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2109sci.html?___rd=2). My advice is to take his review of the technical presentation with a grain of salt. He is clearly looking through rose-colored glasses when he says...

Although it isn't perfect, Universal did a pretty good job of transferring "The Incredible Shrinking Man".

My only complaint is that the contrast isn't quite dark enough--for example we can clearly see scenes where there's bleed through from the matte (double exposure) that was never INTENDED to be seen. Part of the reason is that the contrast is turned up a tad too high.

Other than that from a technical presentation point of view, it's pretty good.

The criticism of grain made be relevent if not for the fact that "Incredible" has ALWAYS looked grainy.

I would agree more so with Savant on the matter of the film's look except that, yes, it isn't quite as sharp looking as it could be but to digitally sharpen it might have created other artifacts.


No, the spider scene isn't cut.

Jackson
02-16-2008, 05:12 AM
I own volume #2 of this sci-fi series and to me the only film worth having is ''DR.Cyclops'' i also have the single disc Pal region2 of ''The Incredible Shrinking Man'' which is very good quality and the reason i never picked up volume#1.I think a nicely packaged two-fer with the two films would have been preferable.IMHO

Mister Kite
02-17-2008, 07:38 AM
I viewed the film again in its entirety last night and I stand by my original post to Michael about the transfer "...not being perfect." It is still a fantastic film that holds up incredibly well and certainly cries out for a "special edition" treatment - - C'mon Universal!No, the spider scene isn't cut.Upon revisiting this, I am not so sure that something may have been "snipped" here. There is a fairly jarring cut (unlike anything else in the film) when the Shrinking Man stabs the spider with the straight pin and blood oozes out of its body. IMO, that effect shot does not end gracefully. It has been so long since I have seen the film theatrically, that perhaps this is how it was in the original, but I have to say, it looks suspicious to me... Or, I should say, suspicious enough that I noticed it and I wasn't necessarily looking for it.