Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: SW: Episode I.....my new baby

This is topic SW: Episode I.....my new baby in forum The Afterlife at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000929

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-28-2011, 12:30 AM:

What a find and what a steal!

My new baby. I paid $4 for this. Super mind condition. I think it was never used as the plastic inserts inside the sleeves were perfect.

Argued as the greatest sounding laserdisc ever made!

# One of 3 Japan Only Dolby Digital EX 6.1 Releases
# The Last THX LaserDisc Manufactured
# Pressed in Limited Quantities on the 4th of July 2000
# English Language with Japanese Subtitles Outside the Picture
# Presented in the Original Theatrical Aspect Ratio of 2.35:1
# Original Theatrical Trailer

I can't wait to test it out.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-28-2011, 01:18 AM:

Actually it is 5.1 EX. 6.1 implies 6.1 discrete channels and AC3 does not have that capability.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-28-2011, 01:27 AM:

I copied the bottom listing from DaDon's Laserdiscs. I have no idea what it is. It just says Dolby Digital on the back so if it is 5.1 then so be it.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 01-28-2011, 02:00 AM:

I really wanted this laserdisc very badly but could not justify paying the prices some of the import dealers were charging so I passed. I did get to see it projected at a high end home video equipment sales store and I was impressed with the picture and sound quality until the domestic DVD was released at a very affordable price. After I watched the DVD, I was very happy I did not buy the laser because the difference between the DVD and the laserdisc was like night and day

-Claude

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-28-2011, 01:11 PM:

Hi Claude, I don't have the DVD but I tested the LD last night and it sounds pretty amazing. Up there with Titanic and English Patient. It is also a pretty good looking picture as well.

This is my first Japanese market laserdisc. It was kind of cool to see Pioneer Logo before the Dolby Train and THX ads. I got it more for the "I have to have it" idea than anything else.

You are also right, the price is way too high to purchase new or online. I purchased it for $4 which was in a lot of old classics including Night of the Living Dead, Day the Earth Stood Still, 9 box sets etc which I also purchased. There was a lot of classics in this lot and throw in the LP records for Casablanca, John Carpenter's Halloween and a Clint Eastwood film and you have an amazing lot of movies for $4 each.

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 01-28-2011, 02:57 PM:

That's a nice find indeed Tom. I've had mine since it came out and have gotten a good amount of play out of it. It does sound really amazing too.

The image was great, but you might want to adjust your brightness a bit since American NTSC is slightly different from Japanese NTSC: typically the Japanese discs are darker than they should be on an American set.

Turn down the lights, crank up the sound, and have a blast!

AJG

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-28-2011, 03:51 PM:

Thanks for the reply Aaron. I noticed right away that this is a good looking laserdisc that will likely give the DVD a run for its money. I have heard that Japanese made LDs are often better than American made Lds.

Aaron. How many laserdiscs do you own?

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 01-28-2011, 06:24 PM:

I own 76 titles, although I count the Star Wars SE as 1 title.

Funny, I think the collection may still grow a little.

AJG

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-28-2011, 06:48 PM:

Looks great...except for the fact that it's The Phantom Menace.

[puke]

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 01-28-2011, 08:07 PM:

See John, I just try to pretend it isn't that bad. That, and I just have too much sentimental feeling for it. So bad, it's good, eh?

AJG

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-28-2011, 08:27 PM:

The reason it is so expensive is because it doesn't have Jar Jar in the artwork.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-29-2011, 01:00 AM:

quote: Aaron Garman

Funny, I think the collection may still grow a little.

Are these from the past before dvd/blu-ray or do buy them now?

I am always on the look-out for lds. I think I am at 850+ with about 75 doubles.

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 01-29-2011, 01:11 AM:

Well I started collecting sometime in, I dunno, 1995 when I was in the 7th grade and have never stopped.

I didn't have 5.1 until I got a DVD player in 1998. Eventually, I upgrade my LD player too...maybe a year or so later. Even though I already had a bunch of AC3 titles, it grew even more after that.

I also find it funny that I find it easier to part with a DVD than a LaserDisc.

AJG

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-29-2011, 03:11 AM:

quote: Aaron Garman
I also find it funny that I find it easier to part with a DVD than a LaserDisc.

Aaron, funny that you mention the mid 90s. I started collecting 1995, my dad bought me a player and i remember I had to save up my money from my part time job at the cinema to go out a purchase a disc. I remember having to go out of my way to rent them at a store called Laserland, they were the only shop in my area. I would also travel all the way into the city to get new ones. So I think this has a lot to do with it.

I don't ever part with lds. I trade in my dvd once I pick up the ld version. For me, almost every laserdisc I own (lots included) have a story behind them. ie, driving to Montreal for 250 0f them, meeting some crazy devil worshipers for some, heading into Toronto for others...there is always a story, I can't say the same for dvds.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 01-29-2011, 08:31 AM:

I have one of those! My player doesn't work anymore, but I have that disk in my collection.

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 01-29-2011, 01:49 PM:

Were you ever a member of Columbia House's LaserDisc club? I sure was!

I also was a good patron of Ken Cranes' online store. I still miss that.

Locally, we did have a couple stores that rented discs, and I think I was the only one who was renting them because I never ran into anyone in the "LaserDisc aisle". I do remember how awesome I felt walking out of that store with a giant 12" cover for a movie, when everyone else was carting off plastic VHS cases.

AJG

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-29-2011, 04:37 PM:

Mark, you have a Phantom Menace LD? If so, I'll give you a small amount of $$$ for it + shipping. Now don't get the wrong idea... I DO NOT like the movie, it's freakin' stupid. But it does have the pod race scene and people are always telling me how wonderfully perfect the LD sounds and how completely awful (like absolute trash) the DVD sounds. I want to compare myself. If you don't want to sell it, lend it.

I think the more rare something is, the more people who have it hype up the supposed quality.

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 01-29-2011, 05:10 PM:

Joe, it's worth it just for the sound mix alone. Just try to ignore the plot as much as possible. I kind of look at it not as a Star Wars film or a George Lucas film, but rather as an example of what Gary Rydstrom and Ben Burtt can do in a mixing room.

AJG

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 01-29-2011, 08:42 PM:

I sent you an email, Joe.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-30-2011, 12:59 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
people are always telling me how wonderfully perfect the LD sounds and how completely awful (like absolute trash) the DVD sounds.

Most DVDs usually don't sound as good as the same movie on LD. That is just my experience.

quote:
Were you ever a member of Columbia House's LaserDisc club? I sure was!

In my area. We had Laserland who sold/rented lds. Jumbo Video rented them only and downtown in Toronto there was HMV/Sam The Record Man who sold them. I was a trip to rent or purchase them.

To bring back memories. We have a store in Toronto called BMV books which has an isle of used lds. I have purchased "The Criterion Princess Bride, Manhatten and Baraka" recently. Like old times, it is a trip to the store to see what they have.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 03-25-2011, 12:18 AM:

I pick up

"The Three Face Of Eve" *SEALED* for $5.99

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 03-29-2011, 09:51 PM:

I am thinking of getting a spare, maybe even two spare LD players while I still can in the event the Pioneer I have dies, which I figure is inevitable. When that happens, it many not be easy to find a replacement. Now you can still find them boxed new.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 03-30-2011, 12:08 AM:

Hey Frank

If you are interested. I have a used CLD-504 by Pioneer I am looking to get off my hands.

Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 09-10-2012, 10:23 AM:

It has been 530 days since the last post.