Armageddon - 2 Disc (R2) Vs Criterion (R1)

Ono

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Tempted to upgrade my bog standard single disc R1 version.

<br />Any difference?

Do we have DTS on either yet?
 
No DTS on either<br />The R2 version IS aparantly anamorphic<br />The Criterion has a gag reel included

DTS is available for about £45 on a Jap DVD at Movietyme
 
Has anyone got a full list of the features included on the new R2 version? We could then compare them to the R1 Criterion.
 
Thanks guys.

Originally posted by DuncanWardle:<br /><strong><br />DTS is available for about £45 on a Jap DVD at Movietyme</strong><hr></blockquote>

<br />From Movietyme! Not until they sort out my order.<br /> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

<br />Don't start me on Movietyme coz.........I turn green and start destroying things. <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

[ 16-08-2001: Message edited by: Ono ]</p>
 
After comparing the specs, it looks like the R2 is only missing the gag reel. I think this is because the gag reel has lots of swearing in it, so the BBFC would have had to give it an 18 which would be unacceptable to Buena Vista.

Everything else from the Criterion edition looks to be present, including the two commentaries, special effects analysis etc. Add to this the fact the R2 version is anamorphic and only £15.99 from Play and it looks to be a winner. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
 
Aparantly the " Gag reel " is actually owned by criterion.

Im not sure of the situation with DVD extras and as to how they are rated by the BBFC
 
Does the region 2 disc contain the directors cut, which is present on the Criterion edition?
 
Originally posted by DuncanWardle:<br /><strong>Im not sure of the situation with DVD extras and as to how they are rated by the BBFC</strong><hr></blockquote>

Everything on the disc must be passed by the British Board of Film Censors, every extra, every menu, each audio commentary..... and they charge (effectively) by the second.

From the BBFC Website:

"DVD Add-ons classified higher than the main feature

When a DVD add-on is classified at a more restrictive category than the accompanying feature the packaging must be labelled with the higher DVD add-on classification. This may confuse the consumer into thinking the BBFC has raised the classification of the main feature.

When these instances occur we advise it is best practice to add a note to the packaging along the following lines;

Overall category raised to [15] due to additional material being classified at a higher certificate than the main feature [12].

We will continue to contact our customers at the approval stage when a DVD add-on category exceeds the feature classification to establish if you would prefer cuts, if at all possible, to bring both categories into line."

[ 18-08-2001: Message edited by: Confucius ]</p>
 
I own the Criterion and the single disc R2. Criterion is much better quality picture IMHO opinion. Looks stunning on CRT projector.
 
Originally posted by bishman:<br /><strong>Does the region 2 disc contain the directors cut, which is present on the Criterion edition?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yes, the new R2 is the director's cut. Has anyone seen a review of it yet? I would like to know how the picture and sound quality compare to the Criterion edition. As we know, PAL isn't always better than NTSC.
 
Couldn't resist.

Went and bought the R2 version today.

Already I can see that the sound and picture (anamorphic) are much better than my orginal R1 single disc version.

It looks very polished. Shame they couldn't be arsed to put a DTS soundtrack on though.
 
just seen my mates R2...the outer box and disc sleeves state "Criterion Collection"..that was quite a surpise. the anamorphic works well but isn;t massivley bigger than Criterion. Worth getting as PAL does give a better picture..we compared them on my projector. I have the Criterion and Jap DTS versions but now feel I must get the Reg 2 one because of the anamorphic..totally gutted..
 
Gotta say that despite not liking the film, I was very impressed with the R2 special edition of Armageddon which offers superb AV quality and as mentioned above, all of the extras from the Criterion edition apart from the gag real. If you are a fan of the film, there really is no reason not to pick this release up if you've been saddled with the abominable flipper for the past couple of years.<br />On a differnet note, the BBFC do not certify audio commentaires. For more information on this check out the latest press release on their website. Proof of this comes from the Rocky: Special Edition which was quickly withdrawn from sale and then re-released with a higher rating when it was discovered that the commentary contained swearing which was unsuitable for the original certificate.
 
The R2 version is missing the gag reel and behind the scenes footage from the R1 disc. there is a review in DVD Review issue 29 out now.
 
Originally posted by Beek1:<br /><strong>On a differnet note, the BBFC do not certify audio commentaires. For more information on this check out the latest press release on their website. Proof of this comes from the Rocky: Special Edition which was quickly withdrawn from sale and then re-released with a higher rating when it was discovered that the commentary contained swearing which was unsuitable for the original certificate.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Which is proof that they do certify commentaries! It may be the case that this one initially slipped through the net of course but everything on the disc must be certified, as per the quote I provide.
 
Originally posted by dgj:<br /><strong>The R2 version is missing the gag reel and behind the scenes footage from the R1 disc.</strong><hr></blockquote>

What behind-the-scenes footage? I thought the only thing missing from the R2 was the gag reel.
 
Have yet to watch the extras disc but as for the main feature the improvemenet on picture and sound over the bog standard r1 ( and i guess r2 ) copy is brilliant.

The picture is among the best I have seen and the sound makes you wander just how better a DTS soundtrack could be as this DD5.1 version is crystal clear and has deep bass when needed.
 
RE StephenR query "what behind the scenes feature"? For feature read footage. DVD Review claim this is mmissing from the R2 disc. As I only have the Criterion R1 disc, I can not compare the two to check this.
 
The old R2 RSDL was already a reference in picture quality.

Armageddon has only really been dealt with properly on R2.

Non-anamorphic is horrible, it looks terrible on even a 32" TV.

A Criterion owner has seen the R2 RSDL - yes the RSDL is best for picture.
 
Re: extra features, it is my understanding that the only things missing from the new R2 are the gag reel and some TV spots. All the behind the scenes footage etc. from the R1 is present according to the specs I have read. Can anyone who has the new R2 confirm what features it has?
 
Armageddon SE R2:-

I spent most of the film checking for added scenes and picture/sound quality. And I can say it is near perfect. I believe no disc can be mastered any better!. There was near zero grain in the picture, other than that would have been on the original film etc. I didn't see any compression artifacts. The whole film seemed more vibrant than the normal region 2. Purples and blues looked stunning(neon signs etc). I would be happy to use this disc as a "Demo" disc. The sound was much better/cleaner than my normal R2. Speech came through so much clearer. Bass on the "blast off" scene came through strong, and without the "woolly" muted bass of the old version. To be honest the differences might not be massive, but the fact that nothing drew my attention to it must have been a good sign!.<br />Finally, we may be getting decent transfers and the added bonus of the slightly better resolution that PAL offers!.<br />I would be willing to drop some of the extras if all R2 transfers were this good. Also, I would be more willing to wait for the R2 version of films to be released. <br />In fact if all R2 DVD came with DTS/DD and were high quality, then more people would stop importing R1. Keeping the studios happy etc.
 
^^^^^

What he said.

<br /> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
 

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