Mad Max (1979) (Collector's Edition)

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I love the bug-eyed moments, they fit in with the cartoony vibe that the action has, like strapping a ****ing rocket engine to a car! Whenever I watch the film I half expect to see Wile E. Coyote riding the rocket car.

Yeah, I know the film has this rep for "gritty realism" but it's also darkly funny and downright surreal at times too, that's what I love about all of Miller's Max movies. One of my favourite bits in MM2 is when the two dudes are relaying the damage to the big rig back to Papagallo, the way that the guy says "Okay!" at the end cracks me up, I'm laughing just thinking about it.

I think it's less the concept that bugs me than the execution. Those effects look awful. Since everything else in the movie looks realistic (if often silly, ex all the cheap football pads) they stick out like a sore thumb. Nothing really looks dated to me at all apart from those eyeball prosthetics and maybe some of the establishing shots of the halls of justice (which look like cheap matte paintings or something). Road Warrior and Beyond Thunderdome don't have anything similar that I can recall. They're cartoonier movies and that's more than OK with me, they just also were done so practically and with such brilliant art design that I think they completely hold up today. This first one does too, besides those darn rubber eyeballs!!

One fun thing I learned from those unwatchably mangled featurettes was that in the crash at the end, the semi driver wouldn't allow them to use his truck because it was going to damage the front, so they painted a VERY crude picture of a grill and headlights on a big metal plate and stuck it on the truck. They show it in slow motion, and it looks hilarious. I watched the movie immediately afterwards, and was so wrapped up in the action that I didn't even notice it in the shot, not even after being shown it was there! That's some great sleight of hand.

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

Is there any solid info about the Mad Max trilogy re-release that's coming out April 28th? How is it two discs? Maybe 2 & 3 on one disc and the first one on its own? I'm thinking of getting this release, but information is scarce.

It's already the 18th and no cover art...wondering if this is hitting stores at all. Sure seems like there are plenty of Road Warrior and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome copies available in various Walmart dump bins and through online retailers super cheap... plus the original Mad Max is available at a discount whether you choose the original MGM release or the new Shout! Factory special edition. My bet would be the same as what others have suggested. It's more likely that Warner Bros is simply re-releasing a cheaper version of the trilogy sans tin packaging with the two sequels squeezed on one disc. That would be awful. I'm happy to own the three separate releases.

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by Thomas Guycott

Jesus Christ, I watched all three of of WB's set last week and they looked fine.

ALL THREE LOOK JUST FINE!

You are correct sir! In fact, the MGM disc is identical in almost every respect. Warner did a tad of additional clean-up but my buddy and I could not detect any difference as we switched between both discs and watched on a 65" flat screen. Could they be better? Sure...and I don't begrudge those who get bogged down in the technical minutia. Its definitely OCD...we all have it to a certain degree or DVD would be just fine for us.

[DetroitSportsFan]

It's either going to be the existing set minus the tin, or if the product listings are true about it being 2 discs, it will be this.....

Originally Posted by AaronSCH

It's more likely that Warner Bros is simply re-releasing a cheaper version of the trilogy sans tin packaging with the two sequels squeezed on one disc.

Either way, the price is going to have to come way down. And it will.

[RodChester]

Man you guys weren't kidding about the video in the old clips. It is awful. I just can't see how this made it through Scream's quality control. Did no one watch the features on the disc before finalizing it?

[Rompclown]

Bestbuy.com has it coming soon. It's $12.99

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by RodChester

Man you guys weren't kidding about the video in the old clips. It is awful. I just can't see how this made it through Scream's quality control. Did no one watch the features on the disc before finalizing it?

They have quality control? Is that new?

[RodChester]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

They have quality control? Is that new?

Haha. I'm sure they have it. It's obviously just not very good.

[tylergfoster]

Originally Posted by AaronSCH

You are correct sir! In fact, the MGM disc is identical in almost every respect. Warner did a tad of additional clean-up but my buddy and I could not detect any difference as we switched between both discs and watched on a 65" flat screen.

Apparently that's only true outside of the US, in the territories where Warner controls the film themselves. Those editions also have no extras and the original Australian English track lossy only.

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by tylergfoster

Apparently that's only true outside of the US, in the territories where Warner controls the film themselves. Those editions also have no extras and the original Australian English track lossy only.

Ahhhh...that explains it...we were quite amused because there was no discernible difference between the MGM stand-alone and the Warner Mad Max Trilogy edition.

[HD Goofnut]

I honestly think double dipping on this one is pointless. The only things that are even worth double dipping with this release are the Gibson interview and the better cover art, but that's not worth $15 or so. The better PQ on the MGM release makes it the winner in my book.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

I honestly think double dipping on this one is pointless. The only things that are even worth double dipping with this release are the Gibson interview and the better cover art, but that's not worth $15 or so. The better PQ on the MGM release makes it the winner in my book.

If you're in the boat I was in where you have the sequels already and not the first one I'd recommend this one wholeheartedly, though. I liked the new extras, and the old ones have some good info despite being nausea-inducing in their horrendous video glitches. :P I can't say if it's worth the upgrade though. Probably not, due to the two legacy extras being truly awful in video quality, the video being about the same quality (sounds like "subtley worse" based on people who have seen both and/or examined screenshots), and the new extra being just sort of a montage of interviews. It's not a Mel Gibson interview by itself, it's interviews with him and the lead actress and the cinematographer chopped up with scenes from the movie. I definitely don't regret buying it, but I'm not sure how rare my situation is (I bought Road Warrior as the first or second bluray I ever got, and got Thunderdome the day it came out as a single release, as opposed to most people who seem to have gotten the trilogy).

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by RodChester

Man you guys weren't kidding about the video in the old clips. It is awful. I just can't see how this made it through Scream's quality control. Did no one watch the features on the disc before finalizing it?

Doesn't seem like it. I am not one to complain about scream compression and would never say that Darkman or whatever is unwatchable, but these features really are. It's like constant stuttering/motion blur, as I said it's like if you try to watch a 3D movie with glasses off or something.

[Martin_31]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Doesn't seem like it. I am not one to complain about scream compression and would never say that Darkman or whatever is unwatchable, but these features really are. It's like constant stuttering/motion blur, as I said it's like if you try to watch a 3D movie with glasses off or something.

Mine just arrived, but I still haven't seen it. I'm disappointed about the special features being unwatchable. I'm going to watch it later tonight.

[Guydowood]

escape.jpg

[Monterey Jack]

That's awesome how they both seem to be giving each other the stink-eye.

[Geoff D]

Now THAT'S a crossover I'd like to see. Hell with Batman 'v' Superman (trailer got a resounding 'meh' from me), I wanna see Snake vs Mad Max!!

[Majin Blu]

Okay, I've read Double dipping on this would be pointless. How about if you've never owned the film (besides VHS, lol). Would the Scream Factory one be cool or to track down the trilogy set?

[tylergfoster]

Originally Posted by reelgeek

Okay, I've read Double dipping on this would be pointless. How about if you've never owned the film (besides VHS, lol). Would the Scream Factory one be cool or to track down the trilogy set?

It's tough. If you don't have any of them the trilogy set is a marginally better deal, but in addition to the new Shout! extra, you also lose some of the MGM extras because not all of them were put on the Blu-ray. The stand-alone MGM Blu-ray comes with the DVD, therefore you get all of their extras. There's also the question of whether the new trilogy repackage puts The Road Warrior and Beyond Thunderdome on a single disc, and whether or not that new set comes with Movie Cash for Fury Road.

Personally, I own the MGM with the DVD, the re-release Blu-ray of The Road Warrior, and I got Beyond Thunderdome on my Vudu with Disc-to-Digital, because the disc has no extras.

[Majin Blu]

Originally Posted by tylergfoster

It's tough. If you don't have any of them the trilogy set is a marginally better deal, but in addition to the new Shout! extra, you also lose some of the MGM extras because not all of them were put on the Blu-ray. The stand-alone MGM Blu-ray comes with the DVD, therefore you get all of their extras. There's also the question of whether the new trilogy repackage puts The Road Warrior and Beyond Thunderdome on a single disc, and whether or not that new set comes with Movie Cash for Fury Road.

Personally, I own the MGM with the DVD, the re-release Blu-ray of The Road Warrior, and I got Beyond Thunderdome on my Vudu with Disc-to-Digital, because the disc has no extras.

I may just wait and pick up the trilogy near the end of the year. I don't have to get every single SF Collector's Edition, I guess. Got enough on my plate for May anyway. Thanks for the response.