Mad Monster Party (1967) Blu-ray - September 04, 2012

[DetroitSquirreL]

such a negative remark for it being your 'childhood favorite' you know (im assuming) any BD will look better than a DVD. Maybe marginally sometimes but not to buy it from a review (which I never totally go by myself) is insane and given that its $10 CAN or USD is even MORE insane.

[Dex Robinson]

Originally Posted by meetherbertwest

Any luck finding this in stores?

Oddest thing.

Today was damn near a total bust for finding catalogue titles in stores (fortunately, I have several pre-ordered and in the mail).

But I go to Best Buy and what do I see? A stack of MAD MONSTER PARTY Blu-rays! However, my copy shipped from amazon today so I didn't need to buy it.

[banandroid]

Found this and Hocus Pocus at B&N.

[MJW]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

But I go to Best Buy and what do I see? A stack of MAD MONSTER PARTY Blu-rays! However, my copy shipped from amazon today so I didn't need to buy it.

Do you know what the Best Buy price was in-store for this title? I also ordered from Amazon but went to Walmart yesterday morning and tried to find it but they didn't have it.

[BLURAY PHIL]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

+1 if ths was your favorite as a child you're kinda being foolish not wanting to pick this up on BD.. it will always look better

Maybe you have a point just because the reviewer does not like it does not mean he is correct because i see when a reviewer gives a movie 3 stars someone else gives it a higher rating.Ok if i find a good deal i might pick up a copy.and see for myself.

[Dex Robinson]

Originally Posted by MJW

Do you know what the Best Buy price was in-store for this title? I also ordered from Amazon but went to Walmart yesterday morning and tried to find it but they didn't have it.

Well, I'm in Canada so our Best Buy price won't mean much, but, for the record, it was $14.99.

Mine should arrive from amazon.ca tomorrow (Thursday). I had it pre-ordered for $10.49.

[HD Canuck]

I've never seen this one. Very interested in seeing another (this) Rankin/Bass production. All I'm familiar with are their Christmas specials.

[nolfoc]

Originally Posted by BLURAY PHIL

Maybe you have a point just because the reviewer does not like it does not mean he is correct because i see when a reviewer gives a movie 3 stars someone else gives it a higher rating.Ok if i find a good deal i might pick up a copy.and see for myself.

let us know what you think.. I'm sure you dont be disappointed

[sancho]

I need to buy this once it hits $9.99

[Torgon]

Originally Posted by sancho

I need to buy this once it hits $9.99

I got the pre-order at $10.49, so that's not too bad. To me, all of these Rankin/Bass releases should be around that price.

[sancho]

I can do $10.49

[Dex Robinson]

Got my copy today and just finished watching it.

First comment is that, as entertainment, I really enjoyed it. Being born in 1958, I would have been the target demographic for this film released in 1967. It definitely has that swingin' 60's vibe. If you're not of the "right" age or the right mindset, you're opinion may be different .

I really must say something about the aspect ratio. Honestly, I strongly feel that this was really a 1.85:1 movie when exhibited theatrically. I know that IMDB says 1.37:1. And I know that the Blu-ray.com review says the same. I have strong doubts. This was a theatrical release by Embassy Pictures in 1967. I have a hard time swallowing the idea that an American studio did a theatrical release at 1.37:1 in 1967. Protected for 4x3 TV aspect ratio...sure. But I'm not convinced it was in the theater that way.

I watched this at 1.37:1 for 35 minutes (one third of the movie). And I thought there was an awful lot of headroom. So I zoomed the movie to 16x9 full screen (1.78:1) for the last hour and I thought it looked perfect...no action cut-off, no wide expanse of extra headroom. I'll say it again: A U.S. studio releasing a theatrical film at 1.37:1 in 1967? Hmmm.

The image quality was really all over the place. We know that the original negative was damaged so there is nothing to be gained by pointing fingers of blame. It is what it is. Some parts of it looked great. Some parts were very weak. Black levels and contrast were especially subject to variation. Again, some of the black levels were right on but there were a lot of scenes where the blacks were little better than slightly dark grey. The opening scenes and opening credits are especially weak so don't be scared by the first six minutes of the movie.

Strongly on the plus side is the apparent lack of digital manipulation. Light grain remains and I couldn't spot a single edge enhancement halo.

Somewhere, I have my original Anchor Bay DVD. I'll see if I can find it. That would be a fun comparison.

The sound was good. It's nothing to right home about but it delivered all you can expect from an old mono track. Sounds were clear and without hiss.

Some of you may not be familiar with Gale Garnett who provided the voice of the lovely Francesca. Here she is "in the flesh":


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjQQm...ature=youtu.be

[supercutz]

Originally Posted by sancho

I need to buy this once it hits $9.99

If you can get to a Frys, 9.99 is their normal price.

[BLURAY PHIL]

Everyone on this Mad Monster Forum
Says this is one of their favorites yet No user reviews.
I have ordered this when It comes in will post a review of this
classic

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by BLURAY PHIL

Everyone on this Mad Monster Forum
Says this is one of their favorites yet No user reviews.
I have ordered this when It comes in will post a review of this
classic

I have it, I love it, I don't do reviews

[moviebuff75]

The older dvd looks MUCH better than this. Beautiful colors, great contrast, and fewer age related defects. I truly believe they used the wrong copy for this transfer. There are even reel change marks here that weren't on the dvd...a shame, and should be recalled.

[Surfink63]

Moviebuff75 is correct, the Blu-ray actually looks MUCH WORSE than both the DVD included in the combo pack and the 2003 release, which I own. I don't know how Lionsgate did it, but it's just terrible. One of the worst Blu-ray transfers I've seen yet. Really flat contrast, with watery blacks (more like grays) and dull, dirty whites, badly undersaturated and unbalanced color, washed-out and dingy looking. Compare it directly to any DVD edition you have and you'll see what I mean. I did, and had to pick my jaw up off the floor it looked so bad. Sorry to report, but it's a fact.

[Jammingene]

MAD MONSTER PARTY has not been restored at all in this version. You know how it looks if you have bought a copy. Washed out is how I would put it. I found a way to make this faded print look really good.

Set your television - PICTURE MODE to DYNAMIC.
Set your television - ENERGY SAVING to LOW.

The colors will POP and the contrast will look much better.

I watched it like this last night and it was AMAZING how much better it was.

Try it out. Let me know.

It's a darn shame they couldn't have come up with a better print of this Rankin-Bass classic. I'm glad I only paid $8.00 for it.

[Gone2HiDef]

Got this in my Amazon shipment yesterday (with The Fly) and watched it last night. I popped in my Blu-ray first of course and noticed the dull look at the opening and the reel change marks, which the quaintness of them sort of made me chuckle. Then I went here and discovered the posts about the PQ differences between Blu and the DVD. I popped in the DVD and WOW! Obvious different. So interesting and intriguing that this is the case with this combo pack. I grew up watching this from time to time as a kid but hadn't owned this title in any form before, so regardless of this odd PQ aberration, I'm glad I have it in my collection now. But odd that I'll have a serious choice to make with future screenings whether to enjoy it in dull-colored HD or brightly-colored SD.

[MifuneFan]

I blind-streamed this through Netflix, and I thought it was a really fun movie. I wasn't sure about it after reading the synopsis, but I loved the stop-motion work, and the humor throughout. I didn't care much for the music parts, and the ending could have been better, but overall it was quite entertaining. I'll be looking to pick up the BD now (even if I might end up watching the DVD version based on what people are saying)