From: wlrc@uhura.neoucom.edu (William R. Cruce)
Subject: Re: Opinions wanted from couple of LD's
Organization: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Distribution: rec
Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1993 02:52:00 GMT

In article <HM78907.92Dec31181127@kaarne.cs.tut.fi> hm78907@cs.tut.fi (Hannu Mikkola) writes:
>I'd like to hear some comments of the following discs and versions
>available currently (or in the known near future), specifically if
>LBX version is available.

>One flew over the cuckoo's nest
From Saul Zaentz $40, pretty good transfer. I don't think it was filmed
in anamorphic widescreen.  This version is full screen and I don't know
to what extent it was cropped or not.

>Amadeus
From Saul Zaentz $45.
Not so good transfer. Not LBX and needs it!  Was filmed in PANAVISION.

>Naked Lunch
From CBS/FOX $40, not so good transfer.  Not LBX but was not filmed in
anamorphic widescreen so may or may not be critical.

>Kafka
No comment.

>Alien 3         I've read some complaints about the graininess of the
>                transfer and it being the fault of some certain LD
>                player models; what's the true story?

From CBS/FOX $40.  LBX though at about 2.1:1 it is far short of the
2.35:1 of the PANAVISION frame.  For example the opening credits
are clipped off on the left, in several scenes computer monitor displays 
are clipped left and right.   I've not heard what you did, though
the transfer is in the bottom range of quality.  My copy was dark and
plagued with a high level of video noise especially in the areas bathed
in red at the end of side 2.  The reviewer in Laser Scene complained
about his copy having many defects: "snow, snits, and an occasional
break in the video signal."

>Citizen Kane    Recommendations please; which version has the best
>                combination of good transfer, affordable price and
>                interesting supplementary material?

I know only the old and new Criterion CAV versions, both about $100
list.  Avoid the old.  The new one is a much better transfer.  Superb.
Criterion also has a $40 CLV version which should be about the same
image quality as the new CAV but has no supplements.  If you like the
movie the new CAV (#CCl1259L) has one of Criterion's most stupendous
supplements including an incredible 73 min long series of interviews
with 3 faces on a screen (different voice on each soundtrack) with an
incredible list of film people.  There is a B/W short made by Welles
at age 19 and a gaggle of stills, storyboards, etc.   It's incredible.
I believe there are several other CK's available on LD, perhaps others
who've seen them can comment.


>Robocop         LVF lists this as a "new release to be expected in '92"
>                from Image, is there a better (LBX?) version coming or
>                already out?

VideoFax 4(8)-p.39 said it was a 1.85:1 film, possibly soft matted for the
theater and that the video version was opened up at the top and bottom.
The current version if from IMAGE $40 (#ID5168).  The pressing is several
years old but has digital stereo sound and a pretty good transfer.

>Finally, any news about possible LD releases of Videodrome (by Cronenberg)
>or The Trial (by Welles)? Are either of them available in Japan?

VIDEODROME was released by MCA (#11-018) with a noisy, grainy transfer
with a little static in the non-CX audio.  It is certainly due for
a re-release and perhaps there is hope since it was released on film
by Universal and they have recently increased the number of their
releases to disc.

No comment on Japanese releases or on The Trial.



-- 
	The answer is never simple and is always changing.
    William L.R. (Bill) Cruce       INTERNET: wlrc@uhura.neoucom.edu 
Neurobiology Dept, NE Ohio U Coll of Med, POB 95, Rootstown, OH 44272 
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases