The Godfather Trilogy UK (June 2, 2008)

[Mr. Hankey]

Quite expensive for me. WiLL ordering directLy from Amazon be Less costLy? Anyone?

My copy arrived today. Not bad - by standard shipping (Royal Mail), the set had a June 2 release date, and was in my hands by June 11 - long weekend holiday included.

If you've never ordered online, just be sure to keep your total under US $50 (shipping included) to avoid customs duties, and it'll basically be the equivalent peso conversion rate charged by your credit card company. But as pointed out, defects can happen. My steelbook has a slight dent on the right side. Luckily, though, the discs are intact - nothing displaced, which frequently leads to scratches with my Amazon UK orders. On two occasions where my discs were damaged, Amazon UK did replace them free of charge. But replacements are more tedious these days due to apparent abuses by other customers. Some of those abusers even used to boast about their thievery here at PinoyDVD. 

=====

As far as improvement in picture quality goes, just doing a quick demo... umm...

I'll post two screen captures, tell me which one you think has better PQ:

Sample A:



Click here for full-sized Sample A.

Or Sample B:



Click here for full-sized Sample B.

Sample A is The Coppola Restoration (R2), Sample B is the original imported DVD9 release (R3). Surprised? I was. Colors are more vibrant in the old version, and blacks are more solid on the old version, as well - you can actually make out the creases/details of the wedding gown better on the OLD version. So I actually prefer the old release, so far.  But I'm a sucker for bonus material, so maybe the new features they added will compensate a bit.

[techdude]

In the two sample pic, brightness was pushed up for sample A resulting in a sunnier pictures (as if the wedding takes place with the sun overhead).  Sample B has the light source at the back.

[Dowals]

now i'm having second thoughts selling my R3 copy, might keep both instead 
the movies, in my opinion, are worthy of a double dip 

[d4nu65+3R]

My steelbook has a slight dent on the right side. Luckily, though, the discs are intact - nothing displaced, which frequently leads to scratches with my Amazon UK orders.

precisely the reason i am so queasy ordering stuff online.  lord knows how many broken cd jewel cases and dented digipacks i have in my collection, and as i have said before, the packaging counts as much as the item itself.

still, to each his own.

[juanch]

I wonder why they jacked up the brightness 

The dust, specks & dirt were cleaned right?

[kristerocky]

The older version has this classic feel..

[talisman30]

I love the set that i got. enjoyed the supplements, etc. 3rd set that ive owned from the beginning, but sold the R3 digipack and R1 sets.

[-sniper-]

now i'm having second thoughts selling my R3 copy

'wag poooo....'wag poooo. hehehe

[Dowals]

'wag poooo....'wag poooo. hehehe

  good na tayo bro, no worries

[-sniper-]

good na tayo bro, no worries

thanks bro. 

[barrister]

Thanks very much for taking the time to show us those screenscaps, sir Hankey.  Ang galing ng presentation! 

I had high hopes for an amazing remaster, but this was quite unexpected.  Yes, I guessed the wrong screencap  .

And packaging on the new version is not as good as the old.  Mine is the first release, with a smaller logo on a thicker cardboard case.

[Mr. Hankey]

You're welcome, guys.

Yes, I also really like the old, thick cardboard slipcase (almost like a wooden box) of my original R3. The steelbox is less bulky, though. There's a featurette on how (and why?) they did the current restoration process the way they did. I haven't watched it, though, but my guess would be that the faded older image is what processed film stock looked like in that era? The new, sharper colors/blacks makes the film look like a period piece shot in the last decade. Will let you guys know if that's really the case.

What I found odd about the new special features disc is that... there is absolutely NO participation from any of the films' casts. It's glaringly obvious. I'm guessing they were all asking for additional royalties from potential DVD sales of the new version, so Paramount figured, let's interview Spielberg and Lucas about their friend instead - they don't need the money so they won't ask for any payment... 

[Dowals]

I've seen the remastered part 1 the other day, to address the brightness, i've set my player vid settings to "soft". I could say that the new transfer is definitely cleaner.

[juanch]

any news when the R1 or R3 version will be released?

[boredfilmmaker]

any news when the R1 or R3 version will be released?

september daw for the R1.. no confirmation yet though from paramount..

[d4nu65+3R]

havent seen the original releases on dvd and the last time i saw the movies were in the heyday of the beta format, so i guess i have no idea what im talking about.  but i have to agree, the new editions are cleaner in terms of pq, but the dark scenes were much too dark for my taste.

[juanch]

but the dark scenes were much too dark for my taste.

The Godfather films, especially part 2 are really dark. 

[iiinas]

since this will be my first set, still contemplating whether to buy the r1 trilogy or the r2 remastered one, ordering preference kasi is amazon usa, since sanay na ako, have never ordered sa uk site nila, but looks like halos pareho lang ang cost if ever. mas mabilis lang sa usa because of jac.

question mga sirs, based on what i have read, the remastered one's pq is a bit brighter, which is ok lang sa aking, but for those who have it, i read in the website that it is now in 5.1 (1 & 2). is there a big jump in sq from the orig trilogy from this one, kasi if based on pq mukhang meron parin nagsasabi na mas ok yung orig, so it boils down to the sq. i'm not much of an dvd extras person.

tia! 

[Mr. Hankey]

i read in the website that it is now in 5.1 (1 & 2). is there a big jump in sq from the orig trilogy from this one, kasi if based on pq mukhang meron parin nagsasabi na mas ok yung orig, so it boils down to the sq.

For the record, the first two films are also in DD 5.1 in the old DVD release.

[iiinas]

For the record, the first two films are also in DD 5.1 in the old DVD release.

ah ok, thanks for that info.

[RNIverson]

For my case, I was only charged less than 2k including shipping. Kaso delayed ngayon and Amazon told me to wait until June 24  :'(

Nice estimate, my order actually arrived yesterday 

[d4nu65+3R]

curious lang, san nyo nilagay yung insert na nakadikit sa likod...

[Mr. Hankey]

curious lang, san nyo nilagay yung insert na nakadikit sa likod...

It fits very well inside the steelbook. I leave on top of Supplements Disc 2, behind the swinging disc holder.

[d4nu65+3R]

thanks.  that's what i did too,  was just thinking if somebody came up with something more, err, imaginative?

[di_di]

I love The Godfather!  My favorite book and movie!!

[Fat Makoy]

september daw for the R1.. no confirmation yet though from paramount..

guys, release na ba to locally?

[Dowals]

i dont think there will be one bro, but i could be wrong

[barrister]

As far as improvement in picture quality goes, just doing a quick demo... umm...

I'll post two screen captures, tell me which one you think has better PQ:

Sample A:



Click here for full-sized Sample A.

Or Sample B:



Click here for full-sized Sample B.

Sample A is The Coppola Restoration (R2), Sample B is the original imported DVD9 release (R3). Surprised? I was. Colors are more vibrant in the old version, and blacks are more solid on the old version, as well - you can actually make out the creases/details of the wedding gown better on the OLD version. So I actually prefer the old release, so far.  But I'm a sucker for bonus material, so maybe the new features they added will compensate a bit.

I now think the overblown whites on the outdoor wedding scene was correctly mastered.  The original brightness was intended to give a classic, nostalgic look of a shot taken during the story's era, and partly intended to provide a stark contrast between the dark indoor scenes and the outdoor wedding scene with blooming whites.

DVD Review:  http://dvdspindoctor.typepad.com/dvd_spin_doctor/2008/09/review-the-godf.html


This article from the American Society of Cinematographers, with quotes from Gordon Willis, assures us that meticulous care was taken in the restoration process.  The restoration of film elements in the Sollozzo-Capt. McCluskey assassination scene at the Italian restaurant is a fascinating read. 

In Focus:  Paramount Restores The Godfather
Stephanie Argy

Willis emphasizes that a restoration effort as disciplined as this one was essential, especially because The Godfather’s unusual look made studio heads nervous even in its day. “When people see things they don’t understand, they become frightened, and the concept of what The Godfather is — or was — still eludes some people,” he observes. “We all tend to reduce or expand things to a level we understand, and it can be fatal to a film like The Godfather if what someone understands is Petticoat Junction. The goal here was to restore, not to remake. The film has already been made.”

http://www.ascmag.com/magazine_dynamic/May2008/PostFocus/page1.php

I will need an NTSC copy though.  My TV does not handle PAL video well.

[Fat Makoy]

im waiting for my friend's advise if he can get one for me sa US. 

[Mr. Hankey]

im waiting for my friend's advise if he can get one for me sa US.

Not sure, but in case you missed the discussion, the R1 version sold in the US costs double what this does, and does not come in steelbook: http://pinoydvd.com/board/index.php?topic=81452.0

Then again, some people don't care about price/packaging, so... it's really your option.