Medicine Man (awful dvd transfer) - Blu-ray Forum

Flatnate · 09-22-2010, 08:34 PM

Well new to the forum so bear with me here. I searched and haven't seen a single thread on Medicine Man on here... or really anywhere! My wife and I put the dvd up on the projector the other night and wow what a ugly transfer for even dvd. Non anamorphic, low bit rate, really really soft looking; you could zoom it to fill the screen but that really didn't help. Its one of my wifes favorite movies and its classic Connery regardless of your thoughts on Lorraine Braccos performance. Much of that forest would be great eye candy in 1080p. I see Amazon lists it as held by Disney, so its anyones guess what decade it will ever come out. Still I know of a lot worse has been released on Blu-ray now. I have my fingers crossed, but won't hold my breath.

roxics · 08-13-2018, 12:54 AM

I was at a used record store looking through their DVD section and saw Medicine Man. First time I bought a DVD in a while. It's one of those movies I remembered liking as a teenager and I have the VHS I inherited from my parents. Didn't even think to look and see if it was widescreen. One of the shortcomings of buying blu-rays for so long now is that you forget DVD came in separate widescreen or full screen discs. I was happy to read it was widescreen on the back of the case but quickly discovered it's not anamorphic widescreen. Yikes!

Completely agree the image quality is bad, even for a DVD. As my girlfriend put it "It's like a copy of a copy." Part of that I'm sure is that we're zoomed in so the widescreen fills the HD TV. Even still, the transfer looks bad.

I'm really surprised this still isn't out on Blu-ray. It's not like some weird little indie film from the 1970s, it's a John McTiernan film with Sean Connery in it from 1992. Predator (another McTiernan film) just got a 4K rerelease, but Medicine Man still hasn't even seen a blu-ray release.

Jessie · 08-13-2018, 01:12 AM

I would love to see this get a HD release! I love the movie! The soundtrack is also a favorite of mine.

Michael24 · 08-13-2018, 01:54 AM

One of my most wanted titles on Blu-ray. I love this movie and even though I still have the DVD it's practically unwatchable these days. Being non-Anamorphic doesn't help, either.

Spooked · 08-13-2018, 07:39 PM

This is one of those 'forgotten' movies that I used to rent repeatedly growing up. I've always been surprised it's stayed 'under the radar' in terms of an upgrade for so long. Gorillas in the Mist and Outbreak have had Blu-ray editions for quite awhile (though I almost thought Gorillas might not make it).

NeMo_ET · 08-15-2018, 05:35 PM

Totally forgot about this one - I'd buy it.

danny24 · 08-15-2018, 09:26 PM

Definitely needs to come to Blu-ray. About the DVD they were able to get away with crappy non-anamorphic WS transfers because back in the day people obviously used Tube TV's CRT displays and they looked fine on those displays.

So the only way to enjoy Medicine Man on DVD these days is to hook up a good old Tube TV.

On widescreen HDTV's, the DVD is awful now. It's to bad they couldn't do an anamorphic WS transfer as that would still be watchable at the very least on an HDTV.

With the Medicine Man DVD transfer it's basically the equivalent of hooking up a laserdisc player and watching a laserdisc on your HDTV.

Before buying a DVD always check the back to make sure it's anamorphic WS or your throwing your money away as it won't be watchable unless you still use a Tube TV. What's funny is 4:3 transfers look better on HDTV's than non anamorphic WS transfers. Still avoid buying any DVD with non anamorphic WS video if possible. If you do your basically buying a Laserdisc on DVD.

Anyway yes this film has definitely been forgotten stuck in Disney catalogue dusty dump bin hell. I hope they license it out to say Criterion, Olive, Kino Lorber or Shout.

StingingVelvet · 01-27-2019, 03:36 PM

This really is an awful DVD. Tried to watch it today as I was eager to see the film again but I'd consider it unwatchable. I actually think most DVDs look fine, watched Stakeout not too long ago and it was fine. This awful early DVD is horrible though.

I procured an HD version through other means and it looks okay, but the film really needs a remaster I assume Disney will never give it. A shame.

IndyMLVC · 01-27-2019, 04:15 PM

Note that the Vudu version is mono. Just an FYI.

meremortal · 01-27-2019, 04:24 PM

Saw this in the theater as a little kid and remember enjoying it. Can't recall much about that film but have always wanted to watch it again, especially with decent a/v.

StingingVelvet · 01-28-2019, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

Note that the Vudu version is mono. Just an FYI.

Vudu wanted $18 for an ancient DVD master so I watched it via... other means. I think it was stereo.

Skopos · 03-15-2019, 11:37 AM

This is getting a Blu-ray release in Spain:

TheOneWithThePrize · 03-15-2019, 12:04 PM

Looks like another Spanish boot.

IndyMLVC · 03-15-2019, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

Looks like another Spanish boot.

There's not even a studio on it..

Skopos · 03-18-2019, 09:50 PM

Pre-order https://www.amazon.es/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07PQ445NZ

roxics · 08-02-2019, 06:47 AM

Sorry but it makes me kind of angry when an American movie is only available on BD overseas.
That said. I'm glad it's at least out there. That it exists. But I guess I'm asking for my cake and to eat it too if I want it with the original cover and available in the US.

IndyMLVC · 08-04-2019, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roxics

Sorry but it makes me kind of angry when an American movie is only available on BD overseas.
That said. I'm glad it's at least out there. That it exists. But I guess I'm asking for my cake and to eat it too if I want it with the original cover and available in the US.

It looks like crap. That doesn't mean that's a good thing.

roxics · 08-04-2019, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

It looks like crap. That doesn't mean that's a good thing.

So are you saying it's a bad transfer?
The reviews on the Spanish Amazon site seem to say it's much better than the DVD. Anything better than the DVD would be an improvement.

AmishParadise · 08-04-2019, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roxics

So are you saying it's a bad transfer?
The reviews on the Spanish Amazon site seem to say it's much better than the DVD. Anything better than the DVD would be an improvement.

I'll have a copy in 2 weeks. Will be happy to chime back in with my impressions.

roxics · 08-28-2019, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmishParadise

I'll have a copy in 2 weeks. Will be happy to chime back in with my impressions.

How is it looking?

09-22-2010, 08:34 PM	#1
Flatnate Power Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2010 Location:Minnesota Home Theater Gallery:26 4K collection:14 Blu-ray collection:208	Medicine Man (awful dvd transfer) Well new to the forum so bear with me here. I searched and haven't seen a single thread on Medicine Man on here... or really anywhere! My wife and I put the dvd up on the projector the other night and wow what a ugly transfer for even dvd. Non anamorphic, low bit rate, really really soft looking; you could zoom it to fill the screen but that really didn't help. Its one of my wifes favorite movies and its classic Connery regardless of your thoughts on Lorraine Braccos performance. Much of that forest would be great eye candy in 1080p. I see Amazon lists it as held by Disney, so its anyones guess what decade it will ever come out. Still I know of a lot worse has been released on Blu-ray now. I have my fingers crossed, but won't hold my breath.

08-15-2018, 09:26 PM	#7
danny24 Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Feb 2010 4K collection:32 Blu-ray collection:43 Trading Score:58	Definitely needs to come to Blu-ray. About the DVD they were able to get away with crappy non-anamorphic WS transfers because back in the day people obviously used Tube TV's CRT displays and they looked fine on those displays. So the only way to enjoy Medicine Man on DVD these days is to hook up a good old Tube TV. On widescreen HDTV's, the DVD is awful now. It's to bad they couldn't do an anamorphic WS transfer as that would still be watchable at the very least on an HDTV. With the Medicine Man DVD transfer it's basically the equivalent of hooking up a laserdisc player and watching a laserdisc on your HDTV. Before buying a DVD always check the back to make sure it's anamorphic WS or your throwing your money away as it won't be watchable unless you still use a Tube TV. What's funny is 4:3 transfers look better on HDTV's than non anamorphic WS transfers. Still avoid buying any DVD with non anamorphic WS video if possible. If you do your basically buying a Laserdisc on DVD. Anyway yes this film has definitely been forgotten stuck in Disney catalogue dusty dump bin hell. I hope they license it out to say Criterion, Olive, Kino Lorber or Shout. Last edited by danny24; 08-15-2018 at 09:32 PM.

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08-13-2018, 12:54 AM	#2
roxics Member Member since:Dec 2013	I was at a used record store looking through their DVD section and saw Medicine Man. First time I bought a DVD in a while. It's one of those movies I remembered liking as a teenager and I have the VHS I inherited from my parents. Didn't even think to look and see if it was widescreen. One of the shortcomings of buying blu-rays for so long now is that you forget DVD came in separate widescreen or full screen discs. I was happy to read it was widescreen on the back of the case but quickly discovered it's not anamorphic widescreen. Yikes! Completely agree the image quality is bad, even for a DVD. As my girlfriend put it "It's like a copy of a copy." Part of that I'm sure is that we're zoomed in so the widescreen fills the HD TV. Even still, the transfer looks bad. I'm really surprised this still isn't out on Blu-ray. It's not like some weird little indie film from the 1970s, it's a John McTiernan film with Sean Connery in it from 1992. Predator (another McTiernan film) just got a 4K rerelease, but Medicine Man still hasn't even seen a blu-ray release.

08-13-2018, 01:12 AM	#3
Jessie Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Texas 4K collection:164 Blu-ray collection:745 DVD collection:720	I would love to see this get a HD release! I love the movie! The soundtrack is also a favorite of mine.

08-13-2018, 01:54 AM	#4
Michael24 Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Nov 2009 Location:California 4K collection:11 Blu-ray collection:559 DVD collection:164 Trading Score:2	One of my most wanted titles on Blu-ray. I love this movie and even though I still have the DVD it's practically unwatchable these days. Being non-Anamorphic doesn't help, either.

08-13-2018, 07:39 PM	#5
Spooked Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Aug 2013 Location:Washington Home Theater Gallery:2 4K collection:142 Blu-ray collection:419 DVD collection:43 MA collection:132 Digital collection:69 iTunes collection:3 Prime collection:22 Trading Score:3	This is one of those 'forgotten' movies that I used to rent repeatedly growing up. I've always been surprised it's stayed 'under the radar' in terms of an upgrade for so long. Gorillas in the Mist and Outbreak have had Blu-ray editions for quite awhile (though I almost thought Gorillas might not make it).

08-15-2018, 05:35 PM	#6
NeMo_ET Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2013 Location:Canada 4K collection:38 Blu-ray collection:1392 DVD collection:94	Totally forgot about this one - I'd buy it.

01-27-2019, 03:36 PM	#8
StingingVelvet Blu-ray Grand Duke Member since:Jan 2014 Location:Philadelphia, PA 4K collection:852 Blu-ray collection:2331 DVD collection:111 Digital collection:12 Trading Score:69	This really is an awful DVD. Tried to watch it today as I was eager to see the film again but I'd consider it unwatchable. I actually think most DVDs look fine, watched Stakeout not too long ago and it was fine. This awful early DVD is horrible though. I procured an HD version through other means and it looks okay, but the film really needs a remaster I assume Disney will never give it. A shame.

01-27-2019, 04:15 PM	#9
IndyMLVC Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:Oct 2010 Location:New York City, NY 4K collection:296 Blu-ray collection:738 DVD collection:58 Digital collection:754 iTunes collection:2 Trading Score:62	Note that the Vudu version is mono. Just an FYI.

01-27-2019, 04:24 PM	#10
meremortal Blu-ray Champion Member since:Jan 2012 Location:Bedford Falls Trading Score:258	Saw this in the theater as a little kid and remember enjoying it. Can't recall much about that film but have always wanted to watch it again, especially with decent a/v.

03-15-2019, 11:37 AM	#12
Skopos Active Member Member since:Oct 2010 4K collection:24 Blu-ray collection:55 DVD collection:30	This is getting a Blu-ray release in Spain:

03-15-2019, 12:04 PM	#13
TheOneWithThePrize Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Jun 2009 Location:En flugskit i kosmos 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Blu-ray reviews:1	Looks like another Spanish boot.

03-18-2019, 09:50 PM	#15
Skopos Active Member Member since:Oct 2010 4K collection:24 Blu-ray collection:55 DVD collection:30	Pre-order https://www.amazon.es/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07PQ445NZ

08-02-2019, 06:47 AM	#16
roxics Member Member since:Dec 2013	Sorry but it makes me kind of angry when an American movie is only available on BD overseas. That said. I'm glad it's at least out there. That it exists. But I guess I'm asking for my cake and to eat it too if I want it with the original cover and available in the US.

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