VCI

[manicsounds]

We are about to announce the release of a Blu-ray of WHITE ZOMBIE, which we are doing in partnership with movie archivist, Cary Roan, who just completed a spectacular restoration, and should hopefully prove to be the ‘definitive version’ of this genre classic.

[Moe Dickstein]

Anyone else order "And Then There Were None"? I was going to wait for reviews, but the restoration clips they posted on FB sold me on one of my favorites of the 40s. I preordered at Amazon but it's "released" today and showing 2-5 weeks. Wondering if anyone else got this from another source?

[chatterjees]

Anyone else order "And Then There Were None"? I was going to wait for reviews, but the restoration clips they posted on FB sold me on one of my favorites of the 40s. I preordered at Amazon but it's "released" today and showing 2-5 weeks. Wondering if anyone else got this from another source?

My amazon order was also delayed. I received it today, and it was shipped on Friday! I guess it should be on its way for you too...

[Ashirg]

Meanwhile, WHITE ZOMBIE blu was delayed until May 2014...

[Moe Dickstein]

Yes it arrived at last, it's an improvement of my VHS copy but that's about it...

[HerrSchreck]

Meanwhile, WHITE ZOMBIE blu was delayed until May 2014...

That's a total bummer. One of the most visually fascinating early talkie horror films for me, and certainly Bela in the ferocious peak of his youthful raw power . . . pre opiate destruction . . . his charisma is bleeding out his ears furchrissakes. That Roan group restoration of yesteryear (what . . . was that like 1999?) brought Martinelli's gorgeous chiaroscuro and framing in this film to previously unseen (by me) heights via the elements lurking within. And I love the primitive sound . . . adds to the unreality of the most excellently awful proceedings.

[Feego]

Blu-ray.com on Bird with the Crystal Plumage

[Gregory]

"A rather swarthy amount of grain is still in evidence"? Thanks as always, Kauffman.

[Orlac]

And it's a crappy MPEG-2 encoding.

[manicsounds]

DVDBeaver on Rene Clair's "And Then There Were None"

MPEG2 encoding, and for extras? What a surprise: None!

[Cash Flagg]

Does anyone know if there are any differences between VCI's 2001 and 2005 editions of Horror Hotel, other than the cover?

[HerrSchreck]

I'm looking at what's on the site right now and the contents look the same as what's on mine, which is probably the 2005 edition. I'm sure that release restored the film for the first time in the USA to what was called in the UK "The City of the Dead," which was edited and shown in the US as Horror Hotel in cinemas then on TV during that famous early 70's broadcast (scared the poo outa my little ass).

The 2001 edition was likely the shorter Horror Hotel version, and the transfer not anywhere near as glorious as the 05 edition, which is CC quality. Seriously. Desmond Dickenson's camerawork is amazing and really comes to life in widescreen.

[Minkin]

5 minute video about VCI, their restoration work, and their upcoming White Zombie blu-ray. (should be far superior to the Kino mess).

[captveg]

6/3/14

King & Country (1964)

[domino harvey]

A heads-up to those who partook in the VCI sale: Apparently some of their titles have been repressed as DVD-Rs without any outward notice in packaging or on the website. Luckily only three of my 23 titles were DVD-Rs (Actors and Sin, the Moon and Sixpence, and Summer Storm), but it's worth opening your titles when they arrive if this matters to you. I'm pretty sure I'll make my money back selling them on Amazon, but I still hate being tricked into buying a DVD-R

[Feego]

Blu-ray.com on White Zombie. Just going by the caps, I prefer the look of Kino's "raw" version.

[Minkin]

Blu-ray.com on White Zombie. Just going by the caps, I prefer the look of Kino's "raw" version.

I guess I stand corrected with my earlier comment. I suppose most releases of this film won't be much better than these two releases, unless some global search for a superior print is undertaken (like what Criterion did with The Man who Knew Too much). VCI was rather too ambitious with their statement that Manicsounds quoted above - about this being a "spectacular restoration" and "the definitive edition" ... yeah, with an MPEG-2 Codec. Also, coming from Jeffrey Kauffman, this isn't a good sign:

the image here does have a slightly processed look that I suspect will be more noticeable on larger screens.

The Kino has the Lugosi interview, but costs an extra $5. The commentaries seem comparable on either. I'd say skip both releases and either just watch it online for free (or as part of those 250 PD movie sets) or just wait to see what might turn up in the UK (as it won't take very much effort to better both of these releases and it seems like neither of these present blus are worth their pricetag).

Edit: Swapping between the screengrabs, the Raw version on the Kino looks vastly superior. VCI must have used a really awful print (or slathered on DNR - which VCI has been known to do). Certainly avoid the VCI then (apologies to the people in the video I posted above, you seem nice, but your final product is rather bad).

[Feego]

Beaver weighs in on White Zombie and also recommends the Kino "raw" version. Oddly, Gary seems to have missed the commentary on the Kino edition as he does not mention it in his review nor does he have it listed in the specs, even though it is clearly visible on his menu caps. He claims that fans may want the VCI disc for the commentary, but that seems unnecessary when Kino has one as well.

Frankly, I wouldn't hold out for a better edition of this film any time soon (I have one of those PD movie sets and the blown-out version included is unwatchable). Just wait until you can find the Kino edition cheap, either in a good sale or from a third-party seller.

[manicsounds]

The VCI's blu-ray is 9 gigabytes. What's the difference between a 9 GB blu-ray and a DVD-9?
MPEG2 video, PCM 2.0 audio, everything that could be put on a standard DVD.

Why did they even bother?

[EddieLarkin]

They've watermarked their new "restoration" in at least two spots during the film. Bunch of jokers.

[Orlac]

Not bothering with this one. I have the Roan DVD and the Kino Blu-Ray.

Why does VCI still only use MPEG-2?

[manicsounds]

They did use VC-1 (yes, similar to their name) for a few titles. But an MPEG2 high bitrate movie can still look pretty good. Why the movie is encoded at such a low level (possibly the lowest disc space I've ever seen on any title)?

[Orlac]

Is MPEG-2 superior to VC-1?

[captveg]

Is MPEG-2 superior to VC-1?

No. Quality basically goes AVC > VC1 > MPEG2

[Cash Flagg]

They've watermarked their new "restoration" in at least two spots during the film. Bunch of jokers.

On their Facebook page, they've been reduced to quoting Amazon user reviews for positive feedback.