Universal Video (oh no!)

[r.griffiths]

Well its started. I was looking at the new universal titles at MVC and their packaging is as bad as ever. Now that Universal has all the rights back, you would except them to step up in quality. Lets face it, Region 1 Universal is Superb. Anamorphic transfers, DD5.1, more and more often DTS, nearly ever disc is a collectors edition.

Over here, well Universal Pictures Video, should be avoided like the plague.

They have "rental windows", for one.

Back to these new titles.

Billy Madison. := Anamorphic transfer with DD5.1 sound a few extras

Region 2 := Full frame transfer with DD2.0 sound. No extras


Mallrats := Special Collectors edition. Anamorphic transfer with DD5.1 sound. Lots of extras


Region 2 := Full frame transfer with DD5.0 sound. No extras


Brewsters Millions := 1.85 :1 letterbox with Dolby Surround Track
Region 2 := Full frame transfer with Stereo only track

King Ralph := Full frame transfer with Dolby Surround Track
Region 2 := Full frame transfer with Mono Track. No extras

Hard Rain := Anamorphic. 2.35-1. DD5.1 sound

Region 2 := This is a new re-issue. 2.35-1 letterbox transfer (so the box says). DD5.1 sound. No Extras



With these disc dual coded for Regions 2 and 4, it looks like the Columbia deal in Oz has finished as well.

I am not looking forward to the Back to the Future now.

Does anyone now what Universal is like in France ?

I hope this post will help some people.

[utero]

to be fair these are budget titles so it's to be expected, if you want the better product go elsewhere but a disc for around £7 online ain't going to be feature packed

[Chris]

Originally posted by utero
to be fair these are budget titles so it's to be expected, if you want the better product go elsewhere but a disc for around £7 online ain't going to be feature packed

but Universal does exactly the same with their full priced (£19.99) titles.

[saltysam]

mallrats is actually letterboxed,nighthawks ,fear,people under the stairs are anamorphic so its not all bad,especially at the price.

[Jimmyboy]

Originally posted by Chris


but Universal does exactly the same with their full priced (£19.99) titles.
No they dont.

[Richie]

I love the R2 Universal titles that look like they will be okay only to be complete...

"To Die For": cover says 16:9 anamorphic and DD5.1
disc is actually 4:3 and DD2.0

nice!

[Chief Brody]

Small correction there bro, the Billy Madison disc IS anamorphic widescreen at least.

[Joe Pasquale]

Just got Fletch R4 this morning and it's 16:9 anamorphic and 2.0 Stereo, same as the R1 fortunately.

Only other one I was interested in was Brewsters Millions as the R1 was crap, but it looks like this one is even worse. :(

[feverpitch96]

Originally posted by r.griffiths

With these disc dual coded for Regions 2 and 4, it looks like the Columbia deal in Oz has finished as well.

I am not looking forward to the Back to the Future now.

Does anyone now what Universal is like in France ?



Well, the R4 editions of King Ralph and Billy Madison (both, IMHO, incredibly silly films) have both just arrived, and they are both 1.85:1 anamorphic....reviews at michaeldvd (http://www.michaeldvd.com.au)

Clearly Universal R4 are still doing their thing, whether the R2 discs are dual-coded or not. The way Universal R2 have behaved for some time now is completely incomprehensible. Do they want to go out of business???
:confused:

[P1]

Originally posted by feverpitch96

The way Universal R2 have behaved for some time now is completely incomprehensible. Do they want to go out of business???
:confused:

No they do not want to go out of business, they want to make a mint by releasing any substandard product at a highly inflated price for the content.

[r.griffiths]

Also, is it true that ALL of the Universal Title distributed by Columbia will be re-released with new Universal Pictures Video packaging. With the excellent tech info := 16x9 version. Yeah but what is it 1.85:-1 or 2.35-1.

(and re mastered poor quality discs, ie ):type:

[vanmunchen]

You'd think that Universal USA would put Universal UK in order but the R2 European operation seems to have total autonomy. Universal UK's parent company is, I understand, based in Netherlands. The personnel used to belong to Polydor until acquired by Universal and they seem to have carried on just as they used to do when they traded as Polydor, ie badly. They obviously don't want customer feedback to tell them how bad they are because they are incredibly difficult to contact. Even when I have managed to speak to them I get incredibly ignorant replies about their own product. Why doesn't that surprise me?