FIFTH ELEMENT Special Edition...not so special

[pdenny]

One of my favorite flicks, out on Jan 11 in a new "Special Edition." But according to Sony PR it's just the Superbit version with a handful of the dreaded "featurettes."

No commentary? No making-of?

As usual, WTF...

[stypee]

If you have a region free player that converts to PAL - NTSC try to get your hands on the French edition. I understand it's quite nice.

I'm looking forward to this release. I love this film and always wanted to nab the superbit. The extras actually don't sound that bad according to AMAZON and DVDPACIFIC :righton:

[Oatsdad]

One of my favorite flicks, out on Jan 11 in a new "Special Edition." But according to Sony PR it's just the Superbit version with a handful of the dreaded "featurettes."

No commentary? No making-of?

As usual, WTF...

Luc Besson apparently doesn't like DVD extras. That means the supplements for his movies have to be done without his cooperation, and that makes it tough.

Still haven't gotten my screener of "Fifth Element", so I can't comment yet on the quality of the pieces...

[pdenny]

I'm not spending $25 for 4 shrimpy featurettes if the disc has the same Superbit transfer I already have. You can take love only so far! :realmad:

[JonUrban]

"Multipass"

[Mister Kite]

Since I never bothered with the single disc Superbit (I always thought the standard release was sensational!), I may take the plunge this time around just for the DTS, especially if it goes on sale for $15-$16 next week, as some sites are reporting.

[pdenny]

"Multipass"

:laugh:

[Pug]

You can take love only so far! :realmad:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Lownotes]

I thought the original SuperBit (which has been out for awhile) already had DTS?

[Mister Kite]

I thought the original SuperBit (which has been out for awhile) already had DTS? It does, Drew. What I said was that I never bothered to upgrade before because I didn't think it was worth the "double dip" investment, since the standard edition was so good. But, if I can pick up a new two-disc version for $15, I may no be able to resist this time around. Do I have willpower, or what? :laugh:

[JonUrban]

There is no point in buying anything "over" again on DVD in the next year or so. These discs will be cluttering up eBay in the next few years, as the HD formats blow away these "old relics". (Said with a pinch of sarcasm)

[Ron Stone]

There is no point in buying anything "over" again on DVD in the next year or so. These discs will be cluttering up eBay in the next few years, as the HD formats blow away these "old relics". (Said with a pinch of sarcasm)

Or will the higher-rez video formats meet the same market apathy as the audio hi-rez discs? Are people really clamoring for better-than-DVD video?

Sorry for the thread drift . . .

[Mister Kite]

There is no point in buying anything "over" again on DVD in the next year or so. These discs will be cluttering up eBay in the next few years, as the HD formats blow away these "old relics". (Said with a pinch of sarcasm) True, jon, but since the best TV in the house is a non-progressive 32" CRT, it is going to be a looong time before I have to think about an upgrade to HD-DVD. And, if my wife has anything to say about it, it may well be never... It sucks to be me, eh? :help: :laugh:

[JonUrban]

Or will the higher-rez video formats meet the same market apathy as the audio hi-rez discs? Are people really clamoring for better-than-DVD video?

Sorry for the thread drift . . .

Ron,

I was thinking about the same thing. However, did you notice how many people were flying out of Costco, Sams, Circuit City, Tweeter, etc with those Plasma/DLP/LCD 16x9 TVs? Many areas cannot get over the air HDTV, many cable companies have only a few channels, and D* and E* only have a handful as well. Someone who went into debt for 2-6K for a "TV" won't mind an additional $500 for something that will give him a good rationalization for the big TV purchase.

As far as HiRez, many people do not notice the difference, or do not like surround. OTOH, How many people do you know that do not go "WOW" when they see an HDTV picture?

[greg_t]

I think the HD DVD format wars is going to be bad news. I think most of the general public is very happy with regular DVD and all HD DVD, especially in two different formats, is going to confuse the people and hurt the formats.

One question I have is will they make players that will be able to play HD-DVD, Blu Ray, and standard DVD for backwards compatibility? There is no way I will buy one until it can play all the formats.

[pdenny]

I've met quite a few people who have bought HD sets thinking they'd get HD-level resolution from their DVD's.

[whitenoise]

A lot of those people are going to be quite happy. Have you seen the original (non-Superbit, no less) Fifth Element on an HDTV? It's stunning, compared to what you get on a conventional TV.

I've said it before: HD DVD is pointless exercise, especially given a nasty format war on the horizon. No one except the equipment geek wants a new format -- people are still just settling in to DVD. It's too early. Wait five more years. At least.