Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles October 9 2012 Review

[GaragePoet]

OK, so now this thread isn't about ANY Beatles movies on BD, but has instead become the "how to start a thread" thread... stick to the topic, people!!

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by GaragePoet

OK, so now this thread isn't about ANY Beatles movies on BD, but has instead become the "how to start a thread" thread... stick to the topic, people!!

Hey! If you read the thread you'd see that it was a member trying to help a newer member "stay on topic". Maybe you should follow your own advice.

[GaragePoet]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Hey! If you read the thread you'd see that it was a member trying to help a newer member "stay on topic". Maybe you should follow your own advice.

yeah, that was completely tongue-in-cheek, but thanks for playing!

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by GaragePoet

yeah, that was completely tongue-in-cheek, but thanks for playing!

Sorry, bro.

[Early Memphis]

My Beatles Live In Japan 1966 Blu-ray finally arrived yesterday and I sat down to experience all three versions/both concerts as well as all the extras. While an official release, which may never come , would certainly be better, I was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality which regaled me - especially the sound, which was a definite improvement over my CD. Anyway, since I was used to the "smaller box" 1:33 picture, I finally ripped open my waiting copy of Magical Mystery Tour and popped it into my new Oppo.

Jeffrey Kauffman, the BRDC reviewer, said that his "hunch is those who have seen inferior previous home video releases are going to be generally thrilled with this Blu-ray". That's a huge understatement. The wealth of critical comments I'd read, as well as the supposed source (variegated "copies" of the original 16 mm print) this Blu-ray was supposedly fashioned from, had prepared me to not expect much. Boy, was I surprised! No, shocked would be a better way of expressing it. The video was gorgeous - especially when compared to every other way that this TV special has ever been seen. In the foreground, the bus was shiny, faces were sharp; the background, eh, perhaps not so much - especially when compared to some of today's video's which have the advantage of 45 years of technical advances. Yes, as Mr. Kauffman put it, "those expecting some sort of digital perfection culled from pristine elements may be at least slightly disappointed", but those folks would have to be blinded by totally unrealistic expectations.

But the audio! Absolutely exquisite! Revelatory! It makes me wish that they would prepare 5.1 surround mixes of all of The Beatles albums. My friends, I know this music backwards and forwards, under every imaginable circumstance (and some, perhaps not so imaginable ). It has never sounded so good. Not only were the cobwebs of time more-or-less erased from the video, the audio was simply transported kicking and screaming into the future - without losing one iota of its original brilliance!

Woe, long is the wait for the other Beatles flicks to be so transformed. A Hard Day's Night, Help, First U.S. Visit, Anthology, Get Back : I await your arrival with baited breath. Please hurry while I'm still around to enjoy you!

[aviosis]

WOW!! I'm so glad the blu turned out to be "revelatory!" The guy finally shipped my copy of Shea, and I can't wait to check it out! I might bid for a Budokan blu again soon in the future! I know I really have got to see (and listen) to it!

[Early Memphis]

Brand new trove of 21 previously unseen Beatles photos (from Help to Pepper to the Maharishi).

[rock_soldier]

I just bought the box set version of this tonight (with the EP and booklet) and it happened to be the European version. There doesn't seem to be any difference aside from the small ratings logo on the outside of the box. Is that accurate?

[Crimson King]

The blu-ray of Magical Mystery Tour does not use the original audio mix or even have the original audio mix as an alternate track as an option, I have the MPI VHS and the soundtrack is different in parts, not hugely different, but different nonetheless, I noticed it in mainly the title song

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by Crimson King

The blu-ray of Magical Mystery Tour does not use the original audio mix or even have the original audio mix as an alternate track as an option, I have the MPI VHS and the soundtrack is different in parts, not hugely different, but different nonetheless, I noticed it in mainly the title song

The music has been remixed to 5.1 audio. How could it possibly sound the same? And if it did, wouldn't that be defeating the purpose of upgrading the audio? A mono or even a low-grade (CD quality) stereo mix is never going to sound the same as a 5.1 mix encoded for DTS HD MA. Would you really want it to?

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

The music has been remixed to 5.1 audio. How could it possibly sound the same? And if it did, wouldn't that be defeating the purpose of upgrading the audio? A mono or even a low-grade (CD quality) stereo mix is never going to sound the same as a 5.1 mix encoded for DTS HD MA. Would you really want it to?

I said an optional track would have been nice, I guess me being one of the Fab's biggest fans like having all the various audio options.

This 39 year old still likes listening to my original pressing vinyl LP's and 45's, I've always preferred two channel setup with my audio.

My local used CD store had a used VHS copy of "Let It Be" THEY WANTED $99.99 FOR IT!, I know that thing will sit on their shelf for infinity

I'll wait til my local thrift store gets a copy

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by Crimson King

I said an optional track would have been nice, I guess me being one of the Fab's biggest fans like having all the various audio options.
This 39 year old still likes listening to my original pressing vinyl LP's and 45's, I've always preferred two channel setup with my audio.
My local used CD store had a used VHS copy of "Let It Be" THEY WANTED $99.99 FOR IT!, I know that thing will sit on their shelf for infinity
I'll wait til my local thrift store gets a copy

I didn't mean to seem rude. I was in too much of a hurry. I just sold my original DVD a few days ago - can't remember if it was mono or stereo. I know the sound was inferior to this, which I posted describing as "revelatory". I understand people wanting the original mono on things like Terminator, where, although the new sound is far better, new stems were added so it's not the "original" soundtrack - even though I'll stick with the stereo. But with The Fabs, I figure you've got the CDs, the remastered CDs and, in your case, the LPs - whereas the DVD sound, imho, was abysmal, which is why I couldn't see missing it. But, hey, it's like Terminator, if they had the room, they should've included the original sound - which, unfortunately, was not done in either case.

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

I didn't mean to seem rude. I was in too much of a hurry. I just sold my original DVD a few days ago - can't remember if it was mono or stereo. I know the sound was inferior to this, which I posted describing as "revelatory". I understand people wanting the original mono on things like Terminator, where, although the new sound is far better, new stems were added so it's not the "original" soundtrack - even though I'll stick with the stereo. But with The Fabs, I figure you've got the CDs, the remastered CDs and, in your case, the LPs - whereas the DVD sound, imho, was abysmal, which is why I couldn't see missing it. But, hey, it's like Terminator, if they had the room, they should've included the original sound - which, unfortunately, was not done in either case.

found a rare Apple LP for 20 cents at my local thrift store today, John Tavener "The Whale", in very good condition!

records are 5 for a buck there

also picked up a Atlanta Rhythm Section album as well