Laserdiscs

[Magic Hate Ball]

I had no idea where to put this, so mods can gladly move it anywhere they please (I also wanted to start a book thread).

So, the new record store in town carries lots of laserdiscs, and I found that I can get a good player for relatively cheap, and since lots of movies are on laserdisc and not on DVD (Magnificent Ambersons), and because I like collecting things, I thought it might be fun to do laserdiscs. I want to know if it's worth it, though, before I jump in.

In any case, discuss laserdiscs.

The only laserdiscs I remember are the ones we watched in science. The droning music of Boards of Canada isn't far off.

[David Ehrenstein]

I worked for Criterion when it was a laserdisc company that had but two titles: King Kong and Citizen Kane.

Laser was a great format, save for the fact that multiple discs and sides were required to contain a whole film -- and laser eventually rots.

My favorite laser is a Judy Garland box set that contains The Harvey Girls, The Pirate and Summer Stock, plus the trailers of every film she ever made, all manner of specialty shorts and an alernate track with recordings of rehearsals for songs going back to the Broadway Melody films.

[THX1378]

I'd start by getting the Criterion laser of Taxi Driver, which has a great commentary with both Scorsese and Schrader that has never been ported over to dvd, even with the new edition that came out. Also The Adventures of Baron Munchausen which on dvd is bare bones, but the Criterion laser was loaded with special features.

[atcolomb]

Me and my brother started collecting laserdiscs in 1990 and have over 200 with 100 being from Criterion. It's hard to chose a favorite but i am glad to have the first 3 James Bond ones with the commentary that was pulled of the shelves right after their release. The image on the laserdisc is not that sharp as on a dvd but certain discs have extras that are not on a dvd. Also some movies like Abel Gance's NAPOLEON are only on laserdisc or VHS tape... for now!

[Barmy]

I threw all mine out except "Zabriskie Point". I dug that out the other day and had to laugh at how clunky the "technology" was. Looks great though, and no sign of rot.

[atcolomb]

I threw all mine out except "Zabriskie Point". I dug that out the other day and had to laugh at how clunky the "technology" was. Looks great though, and no sign of rot.

I hear that MGM will release it on dvd soon...i have read alot about it but have not seen it so i will be nice to see i hope a nice copy of it on dvd.

[porquenegar]

I love the format and watch LDs as often as I watch DVDs. You can get movies for very cheap by buying in lots on ebay or in select used stores or via Craigslist. There are many good titles not on DVD yet but the number is shrinking significantly. Criterion LDs often have commentary tracks and extras not found on the DVD.

One other thing I like is that the sound quality of the LD is superior to DVD. I 'm holding on to a bunch of titles just for that reason alone.

[atcolomb]

A good example to me is the 1967 James Bond spoof CASINO ROYALE on which the dvd sounds ok but on the laserdisc the Herb Albert/Burt Bacharach score sounds bright and full. Sometimes i do perfer the laserdisc sound over the dvd!

[LionelHutz]

I for one,love the packaging of laserdiscs.
It's like vinyl,so browsing through a collection is much more romantic.

[s.j. bagley]

I've always loved laserdiscs, and I second the rec for 'Munchausen.'

[Magic Hate Ball]

Good news! I just picked up Time After Time. It's like a "deposit" laserdisc, in that it's going to sit on my shelf and annoy me until I buy a player. My chemistry teacher has one and I'm going to ask him about where he got it.

[domino harvey]

I'd be more impressed if anyone kept their RCA Videodisc Player

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

I'd be more impressed if anyone kept their RCA Videodisc Player

I like how they advertise as "affordable". Back in the day, wasn't a player about a grand, for a good one at least, and I remember seeing the laserdisc for Se7en back in the day go for at least a hundred.

As much as I like laserdiscs, they definatly can't hold up against DVD. Only reason I own one is for The Magnificent Ambersons, the original cut of Othello, and other rare films.

EDIT: Our precious Image Entertainment use to release pornos too. Don't worry, it's very work safe.

[Cold Bishop]

Well, I could go for a Criterion The Devil in Miss Jones... and is that a 4th Annual Criterion Porno thread I see coming (no pun intended).

[HerrSchreck]

like Abel Gance's NAPOLEON are only on laserdisc or VHS tape... for now!

Not true

[exte]

As much as I like laserdiscs, they definatly can't hold up against DVD. Only reason I own one is for The Magnificent Ambersons, the original cut of Othello, and other rare films.

It's funny you mention the Se7en laserdisc, because it's that viewing experience that bettered my dvd setup. I had thought through regular rca composite I had a great picture on my dvd player until I got real anal one day and wanted to compare the 'original' transfer of Se7en from the criterion laserdisc, and the digital intermediate transfer (with the added green, etc) on the dvd, only to find that the coaxial connection from the laserdisc player was better! I was so pissed off. Finally, I lugged up a somewhat smaller tv from my dad's room that had component, and truly saw what a difference it makes. (Now there's HDMI, of course.) Nevertheless, I do prefer the original transfer of Se7en, but how many times can you pop that puppy in?

BTW, thanks for the youtube link! Awesome!

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

As much as I like laserdiscs, they definatly can't hold up against DVD. Only reason I own one is for The Magnificent Ambersons, the original cut of Othello, and other rare films.

It's funny you mention the Se7en laserdisc, because it's that viewing experience that bettered my dvd setup. I had thought through regular rca composite I had a great picture on my dvd player until I got real anal one day and wanted to compare the 'original' transfer of Se7en from the criterion laserdisc, and the digital intermediate transfer (with the added green, etc) on the dvd, only to find that the coaxial connection from the laserdisc player was better!

Really, the laserdisc is better? Did you try comparing the laserdisc to the pre-restored footage they have on the second disc? I would love to know how that looks.

Se7en is one of those movies I love, but find extremely difficult to sit down and watch, considering the subject matter. I only need to cite the ending and the scene of lust to prove this.

I think that's why I love Zodiac so much. The scenes of violence weren't very graphic, and were limited to the first twenty minutes.

[exte]

I think that's why I love Zodiac so much. The scenes of violence weren't very graphic, and were limited to the first twenty minutes.

Well that's a totally different thread, but I love Se7en instead, only because it's texture on steroids. The killings in Zodiac were very offensive to me, yet I very much appreciate/adore the way it was all captured in Se7en - there's nothing else like it. (Though I will admit that I regretted paying so much for the dvd for a long time, precisely because of how dark and wretched the film really is. Then I just got over it!) Plus, I didn't notice any blaring of rock music in Se7en... not that it's the greatest thing ever, but I think it's Fincher at his peak...

Did you try comparing the laserdisc to the pre-restored footage they have on the second disc? I would love to know how that looks.

Well that's the thing. The original transfer can only be viewed on the criterion - not that they didn't do a lot of work for the dvd, but it's not the same. My opinion, of course. And with the setup now, I don't know, but maybe that pre-restored footage is from the laserdisc master, so maybe it's better on dvd due to the clarity of component, but it's all locked away, so I can't tell for now...