Dog Soldiers (2002) (Collector's Edition)

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Shout's hands, like those of Criterion and others, are pretty much tied when a director is involved to supervise/approve a transfer. Even if Shout hated what Marhshall has done to the transfer, they can't really do anything (short of shelving the disc indefinitely). Plus, these are merely our opinions of how it looks, there are others out there who I'm sure will love the changes made. Shout's responsibility is to put out a working disc supervised/approved by Marshall, they haven't failed in that regard.

Don't get me started on their encoding, and directors approval is a choice

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Don't get me started on their encoding, and directors approval is a choice

Yes encoding is another story. I'm sure they probably weren't expecting such drastic changes when they got the director involved, but that is the chance you have to take it seems.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yes encoding is another story. I'm sure they probably weren't expecting such drastic changes when they got the director involved, but that is the chance you have to take it seems.

Yep indeed, its a choice and I think arrow show you can do better work when you have your own way.
But its more the studio supplying masters like The Fisher King etc.

[Nocturnaloner]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yes encoding is another story. I'm sure they probably weren't expecting such drastic changes when they got the director involved, but that is the chance you have to take it seems.

For the record, I have 19 Shout releases in my collection. I'm no hater. This Dog Soldiers release is noteworthy, and not in a good way.

[lolwut]

Originally Posted by Nocturnaloner

If there was any added detail in the image over the UK DVD, I'd agree with you, but there's not. This is one of the very few times I'll say it: "The DVD is better than the blu-ray(s)." So far.

Agreed. Amazing really.

[Christian Muth]

According to a poster in the Robert Harris "A few words about DOG SOLDIERS" thread on the hometheaterforum, an HD version of DOG SOLDIERS aired in the U.K. last year and looked a lot better than the Shout transfer. I wonder why that HD master wasn't available to Shout to begin with?

Chris

[zbinks]

Further details about this transfer and the source print pieced together from tweets posted at https://twitter.com/Scream_Cast/with_replies

Originally Posted by @AxelleCarolyn

There's no negative anywhere, they had to track down the only print they could find back in the UK, so sadly until someone finds a negative this is the best it'll ever get. Contrast and colors are much better than previous BR, but to me the greatest issue is how crushed the blacks are - it's all the info they could get from that print. I had a look at both editions last night, that's why I'm chiming in

Originally Posted by @AxelleCarolyn

Ok, here's the thing. The preexisting BR sucked, and Neil decided to help SF find more material for their release. They couldn't locate the neg, all they could find was 2 old release prints. Given the poor material that remains in existence, Neil is satisfied that this is the best version he could put out there. It doesnt mean he thinks this is 100% awesome - just that it is the best they could do, since the neg has vanished.

RE: Night Scenes

Originally Posted by @AxelleCarolyn

...scene look barely watchable, so he made the (arguably difficult) choice to alter the grade slightly.

[GasmaskAvenger]

So I guess this movie always kinda looked like ass, so its not a case of SF and the director screwing up but rather a somewhat unsatisfying salvage job on crap source material.

At least I have to applaud them for trying.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

So I guess this movie always kinda looked like ass, so its not a case of SF and the director screwing up but rather a somewhat unsatisfying salvage job on crap source material.

At least I have to applaud them for trying.

Didn't look that bad in the cinema

[GasmaskAvenger]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

Didn't look that bad in the cinema

I've never seen Dog Soldiers to begin with, so i'm just piecing together what others are saying in this thread.

[DetroitSportsFan]

The film isn't even 15 years old. How could the negative just "vanish"?

[psicon]

Contrast is much better? Gonna have to disagree greatly on that.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

I've never seen Dog Soldiers to begin with, so i'm just piecing together what others are saying in this thread.

I saw it about 5 times maybe

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

The film isn't even 15 years old. How could the negative just "vanish"?

Yeah I call bs on that one, bet its something to do with pathe

[luis figo]

Can you imagine Synapse releasing Dog Soldiers in the condition Shout Factory has?

I cant, they have too much pride to release such a turd of a Blu-Ray!

[Ruined]

I would not blame shout if this is what the director wanted and they got him involved. Reminds me of first French connection Blu-ray, even in the color palette.

It is too different for it to be a mistake, it was clearly manipulated likely due to director request.

In some ways, the new look is cool and stylized. In others, it looks extremely unnatural.

Apparently though if you want to see the movie as the director always intended, get the shout version. For the look you are used to seeing in every past release, get previous versions.

I think I might pick this up when cheaper, but I will hold onto my old release too for alternate color timing, maybe...

[luis figo]

Originally Posted by Ruined

I would not blame shout if this is what the director wanted and they got him involved. Reminds me of first French connection Blu-ray, even in the color palette.

It is too different for it to be a mistake, it was clearly manipulated likely due to director request.

In some ways, the new look is cool and stylized. In others, it looks extremely unnatural.

Apparently though if you want to see the movie as the director always intended, get the shout version. For the look you are used to seeing in every past release, get previous versions.

I think I might pick this up when cheaper, but I will hold onto my old release too for alternate color timing, maybe...

Surely Shout Factory had an idea of what state the film was in (regarding the print) before purchasing the rights to release the movie under their label?

If not, seems like an incredibly risky/foolish business decision to make.

[nerdy916]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

The film isn't even 15 years old. How could the negative just "vanish"?

The film was direct to video and it is an independent small budget film. The storage for the negitve was probably not a high priority.

[saginawjuggalo]

I always wanted to pick up the first release, but I was turned off by the PQ. Now here we are 6 years later... After seeing the screen captures of SFs, I instantly purchased the First Look Studios Blu-ray/DVD combo ha!

Kinda reminds me of a story dealing with a uppity high school jock who latter becomes homeless and years later he's begging for 'the ugly girl' with money. Suddenly she looks really good compared to the alternative...

[GasmaskAvenger]

Honestly, i'll end up picking this up whenever I find it cheap since I was totally willing to get the first BD release of The French Connection on Black Friday week.

IMO less censorship has a higher priority to me than weird color timing revisions.

[MikeScott]

So what's the best looking version out there? Which DVD release?

Seriously wish I wouldn't have pre-ordered this one from Shout .