B5 Box Sets, Matrix 2, Teminator 3

[Stephen Hart]

Hi Paul, ...In a msg of <10 Nov 03>, Paul Henry wrote:

PH> Answering a msg of <03 Nov 03>, from Stephen Hart to Don Guy:

PH> In other news, Indiana Jones is out as a boxed set on DVD. For a
PH> reasonable $58 and change incl. taxes.

I bought them as VHS tapes, but that brings up an interesting
question...

Which movies that we have on tape "should" be replaced when they
become available on DVD?

If I was not heartily sick of seeing both "wire fu" and "bullet time"
being overused or misused in other movies, I would get _The Matrix_ on
DVD. As it is, I'll just stay with my VHS tape copy.

...Another factor in this decision is my strong sense of
disbelief regarding all the people who apparently think _The Matrix_
contains some deep philosophical meaning.

Of the movies that I had on VHS tape, a few that I've replaced with
DVD copies are as follows: _Eyes Wide Shut_, _Romeo + Juliet_ and
_Chasing Amy_.

In all cases, I've either really liked one of the actors or felt that
a "wide screen" version would make me appreciate the movie more.

In passing, I'd be interested in other people's recommendations of
movies that are "DVD must haves" and their reasoning. For example,
are the CGI effects in _The Matrix_ clearer on a DVD or does "wide
screen" really make the movie more impressive?

Probably I should mention that using A/V cable and a decent television
receiver can bring the quality of VCR viewing surprisingly close to
DVD quality. 'Least that's the way it seems to me, but I'm no video
connoisseur and do not have 5:1 sound. So, maybe I'm just not fully
appreciating the "DVD experience" by not having extra speakers and a
High Definition TV, eh?


TTYL, ...Steve

-
Democracy, where we all get what the majority deserves.

[Pardoz]

On 10 Nov 2003 20:13:03 -0500, Stephen Hart

Post by Stephen Hart
Which movies that we have on tape "should" be replaced when they
become available on DVD?

Eventually, all of 'em you want to hold on to, as your old VHS (or
even Beta) tapes finally bite the bullet - same approach I'm (still) taking
with LP/cassette vs. CD.

Post by Stephen Hart
...Another factor in this decision is my strong sense of
disbelief regarding all the people who apparently think _The Matrix_
contains some deep philosophical meaning.

To paraphrase the old definition of the Golden Age of SF, the Golden
Age of the Matrix is someplace in the mid-late teens, when one is
sufficiently inexperienced that the ideas it recycles are in any way, shape,
or form original.

Post by Stephen Hart
In passing, I'd be interested in other people's recommendations of
movies that are "DVD must haves" and their reasoning.

For me a lot of it is down to the quality of the Neat [Word that
rhymes with `thit'] on the DVD. For me, for example, the extra stuff
(deleted scenes, documentaries, voice-overs, etc.) on, say, the 4-disc
version of The Fellowship Of The Ring makes it a must-have. Similar things
apply to other movies. I've noticed an increasing trend towards decent
mastering, and even the odd wide-screen VHS release, so the choice comes down
price, relative longevity (I've had a few favourite tapes eaten by VCRs),
and, as I said, Neat Bonus Stuff.