Buck Rogers In The 25th Century - REGION FREE

[mar3o]

Regarding shipping, why can't we just have the option of paying for 2-day UPS/FedEx delivery? Why does it have to go through the mail service if it takes weeks to ship? It boggles the mind that in 2016 we're still waiting weeks for some of this stuff to travel by the Pony Express.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by FatalSpiderbite

I am going to wait on reviews and see what you guys say when it comes out. I see this hitting 50 bucks or less soon after release and that also gives a little time to see if a US release may get announced.

JB has regular 20% off sales -- at least a few times a year. I MIGHT hold off until their next one for this, but it looks so good, I'm not sure I'll be able to

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by FatalSpiderbite

Any idea if this is going to be released in the US? If not, I will definitely have to import it. I love the show.

Twiki is my text tone. Beedee - beedee- beedee

This is a Madman release, not a Universal (international) one, so I think it's a safe bet to import it. Someone like Mill Creek might take a shot at it in the US, but if that happens, you're probably better off just importing this one (price would probably be about the same, quality would probably be better with Madman's).

[greenguy]

Originally Posted by mar3o

I emailed Madman directly to ask a few questions and here's what I received back:

[Show spoiler]
"You probably know this, though the reason for the SD extras (pilot and feature) is that Universal do not have the remastered versions of this any more. There is the chance that these once existed, though do not any more. What we do know, is that a lot of their masters were destroyed in a 2008 fire at Universal's vault, of course I can't confirm if that is exactly what has occurred here.

The unfortunate truth is that it would cost tens of thousands of dollars for us to remaster these, and Universal have told us they have no plans to remaster this themselves. When weighing the cost of production against the fore-casted sales, it just is not a viable option for us.

This kind of thing isn’t unusual, as with The Rockford Files, which we have released, all the episodes were remastered in HD, but the original feature-length pilot episode was only available in SD (for similar reasons).

The Blu-ray will be locked to region B.
As far as the frame rate episodes, menus and extras are 23.976 fps. The exception is the two (upscaled to HD) SD features - (Pilot Theatrical version & Flight of the War Witch feature-length version) that run at 25fps as that was the source of the SD master file received, and re-encoding to 23.976 fps would have compromised their quality.

Sorry for the wall-of-text email, though I hope the info helps!"

So it will be region-locked to region B, but the good news is the menus and most extras along with the episodes will all be 23.976 which means that hopefully they will play in the Panasonic players with the menu trick. I'll let everyone know after I try it out.

Shame to think the theatrical film may indeed have been destroyed. How does the Galactica theatrical film survive but not Buck Rogers? Maybe it was indeed the famous fire that got it. Still sounds like a great release.

Thanks for taking time to post Madman's reply.

Did you use the standard Contact Us link that's at the bottom of their page?

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by greenguy

Thanks for taking time to post Madman's reply.

Did you use the standard Contact Us link that's at the bottom of their page?

Yup, I used the link they provide on their Contact Us page. They were very quick to respond. I got an initial reply back within a few hours, and they followed up with more information for me the following day. Great customer service.

[billyearle]

Yeah, thanks mar30 for that info. From the quote, it sounds like the original film elements might be out there, but that an HD file was destroyed(?). Just rewatched the opening 5 mins of the Theatrical. The narration that precedes the credits is also pretty great with it's final remark. It really colors the whole film differently than the intended kid-safe TV intro...a bit like the 80 Flash Gordon. I almost forgot Erin Gray is sexing it up in those credits. Even when I was 12, I was really bummed when the TV pilot dropped all that after seeing it in the theater. Will be buying the set since it's likely to be the best we'll get. If only some brave, wise company with deep pockets (Arrow, Shout...?) could just scan the opening 5 mins (and maybe the end credits, not sure if anything else was dropped for TV, innuendos perhaps? anyone know?) they could piece together a decent theatrical version I believe.
For DVD, the theatical SD doesn't look tooo bad actually, and the credits are soft focus, I'd even be thrilled with a Rabid Dogs type SD/HD hybrid.

[mar3o]

There were definitely a few innuendos in the theatrical film that were dropped for the pilot. At one point late in the film when Twiki is hiding in a compartment on Ardala's ship, he states, "I'm freezing my ball bearings off". Earlier when Wilma saves Buck at the last minute from the wasteland, she tells Buck she took a risk coming out to find him, and he replies, "Ballsy". Also, Tigerman dies in the theatrical film. They decided to not to kill him in the pilot version so they could keep him around. They also shot some added footage for the end of the pilot where Dr. Huer and Wilma come to Buck's place to ask him if he would join up with them, and he thanks them but turns them down, tells them he needs to sort things out and find himself first. I think there were some changes with how her father appears at the end too, but I'm not certain.

I agree it's shame we won't get to see the opening theatrical credits in HD. That opening credits sequence is pretty awesome. It realy does remind me of something out of a James bond film between the song and all the attractive women. It's a great sequence. It's very odd that the pilot and all the episodes would get an HD scan by Universal but not the film. How many hours is the series, all added up? And they couldn't do another 90 minutes for the theatrical?

Maybe at some point the film will get it's own HD release if it's even possible. At least for now weve got the 2-part pilot in HD plus all the episodes, and that's more than I thought would ever happen.

[Bobbyjoe766]

I would have bought this in an instant if it was loaded with outtakes like BATTLESTAR GALACTICA was.SPACE VAMPIRE is a particular favourite of mine,i would have been thrilled to have seen deleted moments from that episode-had they been included-assuming they still exist?

I'll wait for some feedback from others here,before i decide whether or not to change my mind about this box set and buy it.MADMAN is a great label,I'm hoping for a HD Blu-Ray release of KOLCHAK:THE NIGHT STALKER.

I trust this is presented in it's OAR and not chopped at the top and bottom to accommodate modern widescreen TV sets?

[billyearle]

Originally Posted by mar3o

There were definitely a few innuendos in the theatrical film that were dropped for the pilot. At one point late in the film when Twiki is hiding in a compartment on Ardala's ship, he states, "I'm freezing my ball bearings off". Earlier when Wilma saves Buck at the last minute from the wasteland, she tells Buck she took a risk coming out to find him, and he replies, "Ballsy". Also, Tigerman dies in the theatrical film. They decided to not to kill him in the pilot version so they could keep him around. They also shot some added footage for the end of the pilot where Dr. Huer and Wilma come to Buck's place to ask him if he would join up with them, and he thanks them but turns them down, tells them he needs to sort things out and find himself first. I think there were some changes with how her father appears at the end too, but I'm not certain.

I agree it's shame we won't get to see the opening theatrical credits in HD. That opening credits sequence is pretty awesome. It realy does remind me of something out of a James bond film between the song and all the attractive women. It's a great sequence. It's very odd that the pilot and all the episodes would get an HD scan by Universal but not the film. How many hours is the series, all added up? And they couldn't do another 90 minutes for the theatrical?

Maybe at some point the film will get it's own HD release if it's even possible. At least for now weve got the 2-part pilot in HD plus all the episodes, and that's more than I thought would ever happen.

Thanks for that great info! Though it makes me even sadder we didn't get the film in HD and maybe never will. Before this, I had assumed like Galactica, we might have first gotten a blu-ray of the theatrical alone and then the series. I would have been far happier to have the theatrical in HD and the series only on DVD, but will almost certainly buy this anyway.

[mar3o]

Honestly I'm much happier about the series in HD vs just the film. The film is under 2 hours. The series is 35 hours of entertainment.

I was expecting to see the film come out first in HD like Galactica did, but I've been hoping for years that the Buck Rogers series would hit blu-ray so I'm very grateful that Madman is making it happen.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by Bobbyjoe766

I trust this is presented in it's OAR and not chopped at the top and bottom to accommodate modern widescreen TV sets?

Yes, it's OAR - 4:3.

[chip75]

Buck swears a bit more in the theatrical version if I remember, he says "Oh shit!" once or twice.

[borjis]

Not SD on Blu-Ray like the German release.

Fantastic!

https://b2b.madman.com.au/actions/ca...eleaseId=34998



(oops mods feel free to move)

I'll definitely be importing this like I did Galactica.

[MifuneFan]

Australian release

[borjis]

dang how did i miss this announcement!!

VERY interested in importing.

Curious about the response from madman about the tv pilot ep. The one included with the updated season 2 dvd set was awful...very dark and contrasty compared to the theatrical version on the season 1 discs. Looks like it was minted off a 3/4" umatic tape. So I'm stoked that an HD version was made that will no doubt look better, but still has high contrast...grrr.

The youtube video (tv pilot footage) is better but definitely has more compressed blacks (Twiki elbows black instead of beige at 45 second mark)


The tv pilot has a lot more than "a shot of bucks space ship" as differences go and I hope those are included (extended computer council scene, bucks apartment etc...)

can't wait!

[borjis]

Originally Posted by chip75

Buck swears a bit more in the theatrical version if I remember, he says "Oh shit!" once or twice.

he also says something about "Funking Wangnels" in planet of the slave girls, but it sounds like the F word in full.

My gf watched it once with me and was like "Did he just say the F word??"

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by borjis

he also says something about "Funking Wangnels" in planet of the slave girls, but it sounds like the F word in full.

My gf watched it once with me and was like "Did he just say the F word??"

Lol, he said "Funk & Wagnalls" - which was a company that put out dictionaries and encyclopedias. He said, "you better check you Funk & Wagnalls.".

There was no actual cursing in the movie or series.

[borjis]

haha!

and Mar3o I totally get your point about snail mail post on these imports.
nowadays you should be able to request fedex.

Took 1 month to get Kampfstern Galactica when it came out.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by borjis

haha!

and Mar3o I totally get your point about snail mail post on these imports.
nowadays you should be able to request fedex.

Took 1 month to get Kampfstern Galactica when it came out.

Yeah, I'd totally pay more for Fed-Ex delivery if it was offered. Plus it would be more likely to arrive in better condition. My mail carriers wreck everything they touch. This is a large-ish box so I'm hoping it will be shipped in a real box at least.

[greenguy]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Lol, he said "Funk & Wagnalls" - which was a company that put out dictionaries and encyclopedias. He said, "you better check you Funk & Wagnalls.".

There was no actual cursing in the movie or series.

I remember recording Planet of The Slave Girls on audio tape when it originally aired, and rewinding it to the "Funk and Wagnalls" part to try and understand what he actually said...LOL.

There's one of those "I KNOW he didn't say that" moments in the 1966 Batman movie also.

Adam West as Bruce Wayne has the line "Clever enough to outwit you, you stupid thug" However, to me it always sounds like "Clever enough to outwit you, you stupid f***"

I'm excited about the Buck release, looking forward to that isolated music and sound FX track.