TF:TM Reconstructed - UK DVD review
Chris McFeely
Cert: PG
Dur: 85mins
Dir: Neslon Shin
Starring: Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Stack, Lionel Stander,
Orson Welles, Peter Cullen, Frank Welker
Hey, my reissue Kup and Wheelie arrived just as I was about to start
typing this! Awesome!
FEATURE
I shall not waste your time or mine doing an extensive review of a film
we have all seen many times over. Suffice to say that it's a cheesey,
fun movie that stands out as one of the biggest Transformers stories,
which set in motion a series of story concepts that have constantly
been mirrored in the fiction to this day. The story's a bit lurching,
and completely derails itself in the third quarter as the writer
indulges his imagination with pace-disrupting sequences on Quintessa
and Junkion, but it remains an enjoyably watchable affair, moreso if
you are a fan.
DISC SPECS
Okay, now, this is where it's at.
I do not know the technical terms. I do not know the first thing about
"interlacing" or "artifacting," or even what those are. So this
is going to be in layman's terms, which I hope is enough.
VIDEO
For years, fans have debated the existence or not of a true widescreen
version of the movie, since no such version has ever been released. It
has, eventually, been realised that is because no such version does
exist - the film was animated in fullscreen (4:3, the size of a
regular TV screen), and for its theatrical release, was cropped into a
widescreen (16:9) ratio. However, what is also apparent is that there
is a small amount of additional footage inexistence around all four
edges of the picture, which have previously been cropped off.
And this, my friends, is where the "Reconstructed" subtitle of this
movie comes into play. Using assorted technical jiggery pokery,
Metrodome have had the movie image resized, to fit as much of this
additional image into the frame as possible. And they have succeeded
greatly.
The resulting image is not full widescreen, but is, however, notably
wider than a normal, fullscreen 4:3 image. To accommodate this, the DVD
is presented in a widescreen format, with the image "curtained" on
both sides with narrow black bars. Consequently, if viewed on a
widescreen television, these black bars will be the only empty space on
the screen. However - and this is the negative result of this process
- if viewed on a regular, fullscreen television, you will have to
adjust your TV setting to a widescreen aspect ratio to view the film
without stretching, meaning that black bars will appear on the top and
bottom, working with the side bars to completely frame the image.
Thankfully, I myself have a widescreen TV, so this does not affect me,
but I understand that this will surely be rather off-putting to some
viewers.
Additionally, there were early conflicting reports that the aspect
ratio of the active picture image might change from scene to scene, as
a result of each one being filmed differently. Well, you'd need to be
looking very, very closely to spot it - any fluctuation in the size
of the image width is barely perceptible though it does occur. And when
I say barely perceptible, I mean, I had to hold something with a
straight edge up against the screen to be absolutely sure if the
picture was overlapping it at times. Rest assured, the image is not
jumping from widescreen to fullscreen, as initial fears suggested.
There are, however, one or two moments where the picture resizing
reveals reasons why it wasn't done before. The glowing line on the
edge of the title sequence, for example. Or when Grimlock growls at a
Sharkticon, you can see, just at the very bottom of the screen, the
un-delineated bottom of the animation cel, where the paint fades out
- basically, it's a part of the movie that wasn't properly
animated, because it was never truly intended to be on the screen.
Although in all honesty? I can only tell you it's there because I was
made aware of it beforehand. I doubt I would have noticed it so readily
had I not, and it's miniscule anyway.
Hopefully, I have sufficiently explained all this.
But on top of all this picture resizing, the actual video itself has
also been remastered, the only other DVD release of the movie to have
done this being Rhino's R1 version, which I do not own, but have seen
images of, and have heard to be criticised for being overly dark. Well,
that is certainly not a problem with Metrodome's version. Admittedly,
the opening scene of Unicron's fly-by does not immediately fill the
viewer with confidence - the colour balance is way off, with the
blacks of space and shadow possessing a distinctly greenish hue.
Thankfully, it's not something that's repeated - everything soon
falls into line, and results in a very nice looking version of the
movie that's bright, sharp and colourful; the screencaps on
Metrodome's messageboard did not do it justice. There are times, mind
you, when it seems a little too light, occasionally appearing a little
washed out, and there are occasional moments where scenes and shots
seem unremastered - for example, Astrotrain's take off seems very
saturated and blurry. But in this case, I'll take the bad with the
good - when all is said and done, I really like how the majority of
the film appears.
Oh, and finally, one more thing about this release makes it unique for
the UK - it's actually the US version of the film, featuring the
cast instead of the Star Wars scrolling text and Victor Caroli's
narration, Spike's expletive, and no closing narration assuring us
that Prime would return. As far as I know, this version has never been
released in the UK before.
AUDIO
Ah, hereby hangs a tale.
Everyone remembers Rhino's season boxsets, right? How the 5.1 audio
tracks were filled to overflowing with oppressive, excessive new sound
effects, which either by accident or design, sometimes wound up on the
2.0 audio tracks, which were supposed to contain the original,
unmodified soundtrack of the show? Sure you do.
But do you also remember how, when questioned about this, they claimed
that these sounds were always there, and that we just hadn't been
able to hear them before now?
That is, of course, a load of the purest arse.
But that's what we're hearing again.
Transformers: The Movie - Reconstructed presents two audio options
- 5.1 and 2.0. And both soundtracks have been mixed by the same sound
studio - "Magno," I believed the name is - who did Rhino's
sets. And surprise surprise, they both feature a collection of new
noises not in the original film, matching those inserted into the
season sets, and the studio (notably, NOT Metrodome, but the studio
themselves) is proclaiming they were always there.
Déjà vu.
Well, anyway, there is at least something positive to be said about all
of this - the sound effects this time around are, to my ears,
suitably more subtle and better integrated to the original audio than
on the season boxsets. Well, on the 2.0 track, anyway - I don't have
a 5.1 sound system, so I can't really comment on what it sounds like
coming out of that. And in truth, some of the new sounds do work well.
Starscream's death, in particular, I feel gains a bit of oomph from
the remixed sound, which is done well enough that I genuinely had to
check an older copy of the movie to make sure that it was remixed
(something that I had never had to do when dealing with these new
sounds before).
The most noticeable alteration - and what is probably the most awful
one - is during the "Touch" scene when Optimus Prime blasts
through the Decepticons to get to Megatron. As he opens fire on the
'Cons, the nigh-iconic blaster noise is supplanted with a ghastly
"banging" sound, like miniature explosions, or a pop-gun. It's
just not right. And even though rest of the remix is not hugely
objectionable, I would still have desired that at least the 2.0 track
remain unmodified in the name of accuracy to the original. But that
seems to be the furthest thing from the studio's mind.
PACKAGING AND PACK-INS
The packaging consists of a standard, blue-coloured DVD case. The
regular, widely-available sleeve that goes in this case features the US
poster artwork for its cover, while UK retailer Silverscreen is
offering an exclusive reversible cover, featuring both the US poster
artwork, and the UK's version. This might have been done as a result
of the negative reaction a lot of UK fans had to the use of the US
artwork, but y'know what? I still support the decision to use it.
Sure, the UK version might be better drawn, but Optimus Prime's back
is not a great focal point, and the image is messy and busy. The US
poster better reflects the movie (even if it doesn't even show
robot-mode Hot Rod), and again, I don't think it's ever been used
as a cover for a DVD or video in the UK, making it stand out
(Maverick's video release of the movie a good couple of years back
did use a nastily-redrawn version of this cover, though).
Included inside the box is a sixteen-page booklet primarily written by
Metrodome's Jezz Vernon, covering the reconstruction process, the
extra features, a run-down of the cast, how the movie fits into the
series timeline and some notes on its production. Vernon intelligently
and accurately gets the information across - a very good job for
someone who is not actually a Transformers fan. The booklet is rounded
out by three short pieces of writing from three fans
(Seibertron.Com's Raymond T., TheTransformers.Net's Darren
Jamieson, and me) about what the movie means to them, and then with an
advert for the upcoming release of the Headmasters boxset, advertising
its feature, and snipping some of the text I wrote for it's booklet
and packaging.
SPECIAL FEATURES
And at last, we come to all'a this. So lets hit them one by one.
Well, the first special feature isn't on the features menu - by
selecting the icon in the Transformers logo on the main menu, you can
choose between an Autobot and Decepticon theme for the main menu,
nicely accompanied by a G1-cartoon-style scene transition when you
switch designs.
The first option on the Special Features menu is "Compare and
Contrast" - a section which gives you the opportunity to look at
the alternate scenes from the UK version of the movie, as discussed
above (the Stars Wars text and narration, no swearing and closing
narrative). This is a great idea, but when there was originally talk of
creating a branching version of the movie that would allow you to watch
either version you chose in context with the movie, this doesn't
quite live up to that. It's still a really good idea, though.
Next on the list is the disc's ROM feature - a despicably bad
transcript of the movie, which the menu incorrectly calls the original
script. What was really necessary here was the real original script
that's around online. This thing is, in all honesty, just a bit of a
mess.
"Trailers and TV Spots" lifts things up a little, though. In
additional to the US Theatrical Trailer, and the extended, four-minute
Japanese affair with the additional shots of Unicron eating Lithone and
Diaclone-colours Ultra Magnus, there are twelve TV adverts for the
movie, including a tie-in sweepstakes competition, an ad for the Ultra
Magnus and Galvatron toys, and a series of ads for the Sharkticon toys.
Admittedly, it all gets a bit repetitive, and a few of the ads clearly
came from low-quality VHS sources.
The next option is a series of animation tests, showing the final test
of the opening credits (the cast names flying around), and then a
series of further colour and exposure tests, including various pieces
of animation. Mostly notably among these is what would be called a
"Clean Opening" - the shots of Laserbeak's approach to
Cybertron's moon sans the credit text that appears over them in the
finished film.
Character Biographies are up next, split into Autobots and Decepticons,
covering the living and the dead. Arcee, Blurr, Hot Rod, Kup, Springer,
Ultra Magnus, Brawn, Ironhide, Optimus Prime, Prowl, Wheeljack,
Ratchet, Windcharger, Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge, Bombshell,
Kickback, Megatron, Shrapnel, Skywarp, Starscream, Thundercracker, and
out in his own section, Unicron, all get covered, although these are
simply the profiles which previously appeared on Madman
Entertainment's R4 Australian release of the movie (happily claiming
that Skywarp is Cyclonus - something that I personally agree with,
but wouldn't state so factually if it were me).
The final extra is the big 'un. When the previous licence-holders,
Maverick Entertainment, released their version of the movie, they
included as an extra the first episode of the Japanese-exclusive
series, "Headmasters," in its wretchedly dubbed form. Well,
Metrodome have done them one better - as an advertisement for the
upcoming complete Headmasters boxset, they've included the first
episode as well, this time in it's original Japanese language (with
the correct opening and closing) with a set of newly-created subtitles.
There's no dub option here, but there will be on the set.
However, it should be noted for anyone concerned that the subtitle
script used for this episodes is an early one, from before I got my
hands on it to correct any spelling or TF-based errors or
inconsistencies. So if you see any (there are a few) don't worry,
'cause they should be gone on the boxset itself. Take that very
British line, for example - "I'm Grimlock and I'll do you all
in!" I turned that line into "Me Grimlock smash you!" :)
And that is Transformers: The Movie - Reconstructed. It's clearly a
very fan-targeted project, and in general, it's a film that looks
very nice and holds a lot of curiosity value for those who have a copy
already. The audio is main the hiccup, and the extras are not as hot as
they could be, but there is already talk of another version in the
future. There is no region information printed on the sleeve that I can
see, but I assume that it has indeed been released with Region 0
encoding, meaning that our interested cousins across the pond can
import with minimal concern.
Avaran
most likely not be bought due to the sound issues...
David Minter
>future. There is no region information printed on the sleeve that I can
>see, but I assume that it has indeed been released with Region 0
>encoding, meaning that our interested cousins across the pond can
>import with minimal concern.
So, it's in NTSC? Region coding is easier to fix than PAL to
NTSC. :) Would have to demux to elementary streams, convert video
stream to a new MPEG file, then remux back with new stream. Far
easier to just remove the region coding if the original disc contents
are in PAL. (Like the R2 Day Of The Triffids BBC release. Which
probably won't get an R1 release.) :>
Chris McFeely
So, it's in NTSC? Region coding is easier to fix than PAL to
> NTSC. :) Would have to demux to elementary streams, convert video
> stream to a new MPEG file, then remux back with new stream. Far
> easier to just remove the region coding if the original disc contents
> are in PAL. (Like the R2 Day Of The Triffids BBC release. Which
> probably won't get an R1 release.)
I'll pretend I understood all that, and just say - no, it's in PAL. /:)
Chris
Steve-o Stonebraker
> So, it's in NTSC? Region coding is easier to fix than PAL to
> NTSC. :) Would have to demux to elementary streams, convert video
> stream to a new MPEG file, then remux back with new stream. Far
> easier to just remove the region coding if the original disc contents
> are in PAL. (Like the R2 Day Of The Triffids BBC release. Which
> probably won't get an R1 release.) :>
I think this has come up in the group before, but, it may not be nearly
that hard. If you're watching on a computer with a DVD-ROM, PAL/NTSC
seems to be a complete non-issue. And many standalone players for hooking
up to TVs will also do a PAL/NTSC conversion for you. On my APEX player,
for instance, it's just a matter of hitting the button labeled "N/P". On
my Sharp player, I don't even have to do that. It just seems to know.
Still, I would of course recommend that people test their playerof choice
with a PAL disc, perhaps borrowed from a friend, or something relatively
inexpensive to order, before splurging on boxed sets from the UK on the
assumption that they will play. Personally, though, I've had no problems
at all.
--Steve-o
--
Steve Stonebraker | http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~sstoneb/
sst...@gmail.com | Transformers, astrophysics, comics, games, cartoons.
David Minter
>I think this has come up in the group before, but, it may not be nearly
>that hard. If you're watching on a computer with a DVD-ROM, PAL/NTSC
>seems to be a complete non-issue. And many standalone players for hooking
>up to TVs will also do a PAL/NTSC conversion for you. On my APEX player,
>for instance, it's just a matter of hitting the button labeled "N/P". On
>my Sharp player, I don't even have to do that. It just seems to know.
>
>Still, I would of course recommend that people test their playerof choice
>with a PAL disc, perhaps borrowed from a friend, or something relatively
>inexpensive to order, before splurging on boxed sets from the UK on the
>assumption that they will play. Personally, though, I've had no problems
>at all.
I, too, have read that there are simpler ways around the issue.
Supposedly, there are Playstation 2 connection devices that piggyback
on the video cable that can send the PAL out as NTSC to the TV. I
suppose having a PAL TV, too, would be easier. LOL
Ka Faraq Gatri
I made the pleasant discovery that my XBOX (with the DVD player
accessory) can handle outputting NTSC signals from a PAL DVD just fine
a while back when I burned a few downloaded DVD images of the new
Doctor Who. Since its a British show, I should have realized that DVDs
people made of the broadcasts would be PAL, but I didn't think of it.
I can't say whether all XBOXes will do the conversion, but it works
beautifully for me.
If you don't mind going the rip & burn route, the latest version of
NeroVision Express (the DVD authoring portion of Burning ROM) does a
good job of converting PAL to NTSC before burning the disc.
Dave Connell aka Ka Faraq Gatri
kfg...@rcn.com
"Any day we create this much shrapnel
is a good one." - Jamie Hyneman, "Mythbusters"
"Of course we're going to _try_ to blow it up.
That's what we do." - Adam Savage, "Mythbusters"
Krypto
I must say I noticed the difference in the Audio when Prime fired his
gun, but mostly because you pointed it out, the first few shots are the
regular effects, but the last few kinda "Bang-bangs". I haven't dug out
all my old TF:TM dvds for comparison, but the movie definitely has all
the US version bits (intro and outro) as opposed to the UK version. I
prefer the UK intro and love the bit at the end where "The greatest
Autobot of all - Optimus Prime will return!". What can I say - I'm a
sucker for sentiment.
Also - I see a load of PAL/NTSC chat on this thread, whoa! I found a
website that usefully explains some of the differences when it comes to
DVD's: http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Articles/PALvsNTSC/PALvsNTSC.asp
Remember that this DVD is essentially 16:9 with borders on the left and
right.
David Minter
> I made the pleasant discovery that my XBOX (with the DVD player
>accessory) can handle outputting NTSC signals from a PAL DVD just fine
>a while back when I burned a few downloaded DVD images of the new
>Doctor Who. Since its a British show, I should have realized that DVDs
>people made of the broadcasts would be PAL, but I didn't think of it.
>I can't say whether all XBOXes will do the conversion, but it works
>beautifully for me.
I had someone sending me DVD's they made from recording the new
Who broadcasts off TV to DVD, converting to MPEG, changing the frame
rate, and then making a DVD in DVDLab.
> If you don't mind going the rip & burn route, the latest version of
>NeroVision Express (the DVD authoring portion of Burning ROM) does a
>good job of converting PAL to NTSC before burning the disc.
I was not aware of that. NVE has had its share of bugs that
I've been warry of. One that is in it for a year or two was
apparently recently fixed: pauses added after chapters. The addition
of DVD-R DL engine causes a huge error in writing image files: adds
layer breaks to DVD-5's where it's not needed. Plus, its codecs, in
general, don't produce that high a quality to begin with. But, if
it's something that can do the conversion, I may check into it again.
Brendan Anglesea
region free.
You can type in a sequence of buttons on your remote and it resets it or
something like that.
When I find the site with the info, I'll post it.
"Steve-o Stonebraker" <sst...@fox.mps.ohio-state.edu> wrote in message
news:slrndi67gi....@fox.mps.ohio-state.edu...
Steve-o Stonebraker
> You can buy dvd players that are region free, but any dvd player can become
> region free.
> You can type in a sequence of buttons on your remote and it resets it or
> something like that.
It is quite often not that simple. Yes, any DVD player can be made region
free, but in extreme cases doing so may require opening the device up and
soldering in a new microchip. Many players can be hacked simply with the
remote. Many others can only be hacked with a firmware upgrade (find the
upgrade online, burn to a CD-ROM, load it into the player). Hacking
information is not necessarily available for all players, so don't count
on this working.
Brendan Anglesea
Well maybe not all dvd players are there but most are.
"Steve-o Stonebraker" <sst...@fox.mps.ohio-state.edu> wrote in message
news:slrndiev7l....@fox.mps.ohio-state.edu...