[Idea] Robocop (1987) UAR version

[Stamper]

It looks like all those frames missing are right at the LD side break so confirmation all those discs use the LD master.

[spoRv]

It looks like all those frames missing are right at the LD side break so confirmation all those discs use the LD master.

I suppose the side break of the French LD is made right, at the end of one reel (probably 3) and at the beginning of the next one (probably 4); indeed, it has few missing frames from that next reel - can't remember how many, few.
I will not say it is the LD master, but instead the LD used the same master as the others.

I guess there are at least three masters: one for all releases but the following; another for the Criterion DVD (and possibly for the 2007 DC DVD/BD?) and the last one the 4K remastered BD (that probably will be used for a future UHD release).

[Stamper]

Side break was at the same place in the Image LD too, I wish I kept it but I had no idea at the time that sound would be less good on DVD and Blu-ray due to remixing.

Will you sync the Image DVD sound to the Sony disc, or do you want me to do it? Shouldn't take long.

Watching the Image DVD I also realise the color scheme is pretty close to the Criterion. I think these two are probably how the US prints looked, whereas the French LD is how the french prints looked. I suppose all others are deviations from this.

[crissrudd4554]

I’ll have to check again, or maybe someone else here can, but I also believe the Criterion disc had the ‘green face’.

[spoRv]

@Stamper: Well, if the Image DVD is the one Chris provided, it is in sync already, thanks!

@crissrudd4554: confirmed, the green face is in the Criterion DVD as well! For sure, Criterion and French LD, albeit both with the same, don't confirm they used the same master - because the geometry is different, but *maybe* Criterion and Italian DVD (as well as 2007 BD, I suspect) did...


Started to watch the last UAR version in the afternoon, only to realize something more needed a patch - namely, one single frame that is botched in the FS TV, and I needed to "reconstruct" it, more or less, with a quite good success, and two shots I simply forgot to add, as they are so brief, but happy to have found them - Bob that tries to catch the bomb in fullscreen is even better!!!

Tweaked a bit the fixed shots, to be more in line with colors of the rest of the movie - mission accomplished!
Sure, the quality - as written before - it isn't as good as BD+TV, but the edit works quite well; sometimes you don't notice them at all (after the tentative rape scene, the car under the bridges, and after the explosion at the gas station, when RoboCop enters in the police archive, at the beginning of drug factory scene), while in others you notice them only at the beginning and/or the end... for example, when the disco scene ends, and we are at Bob's with him and the two girls "have fun", you don't immediately notice the drop in quality; you only realize it when Bob step up to open the door; or, when Clarence put the bomb on the table, and Bob tries to pick it. Even if you notice quality drop, I think it's forgivable in this project, as the main aim is to get as much image as possible, and now you have it, apart the short shot right at the beginning of the drug factory, where the LD was cut and fade in - this is the only remaining shot which is not UAR, apart MGM and Orion logos, and closing credits, but they are not the "movie", after all...

Note: I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the FS TV blended so well with the BD that the only - few - moments where I was slightly aware of this blending - because I'm the author, and pay attention TO ANYTHING - were during RoboCop's POV; all the others were great, so good that seems that the fullscreen is HD, too - probably also thanks to the fact letterbox was downsized.

EDIT: forgot to mention: actual grading, that vaguely reminds Criterion DVD (hence named here as "Criterion-esque") works really, REALLY well... while Sony BD is too saturated, this has the right saturation. Still, I do love to regrade it as French LD, and then decide if release only one, or (as I think) both - even if it will request double download. Sure, I could include a second video track, but this will cap the maximum bitrate, so I'll avoid it.

And, because I'm always curious, and think the others are, too... why nobody asked about the bonus audio track?

[CourtlyHades296]

I'd like more info on the bonus audio track.

P.S. Can you get back to Terminator 2 UAR once this is finished?

[spoRv]

Finally!

I wanted to keep it secret until the release, but to tease you a bit, let's say that is not a custom made music-only track... well, not only! I can say it's very interesting, albeit too "avant-guarde" for someone... oh well, I think that it's always better to have it, and do not use it, instead to want it, and have it not!

T2: there are so many half-finished projects before it, in more advanced state, that probably need not too much effort to be finished (read: I made most of the work, only final rendering is needed). Still got to find few bucks to but that famous 8TB HDD - want to contribute?

[crissrudd4554]

Anyone here still need the ripped folders of the Image Entertainment DVD?? If not I'm going to remove them from my OneDrive account.

[zoidberg]

Hi guys,

I've managed to get hold of a rot-free Image LD and I've capped it with bit-perfect audio. MKV 480x720 4.45GB, PM for link (active members of the forum only)

The PCM track is very dynamic, one of the most dynamic tracks I've probably listened to. Frustratingly Orion home video at the time of Laserdisc were being a bit 'creative' with their opening logo, so unfortunately this release omits the ominous 'drone' sound normally heard over the Orion logo (Silence of the Lambs has something similar but still allows the score to begin at the right point during the logo).

Picture-wise it's similar to the French LD although comparing the two the French LD has blown highlights and over-saturated colours. The whole film is open-matte with the exception of the ED-209 sequences which are pan-and-scan (due to being photographed hard-matted).

[crissrudd4554]

Does it have the same intro as this?? Funny the VHS copy I had had the same intro and I actually became accustomed to hearing the Orion jingle at the start of the film to the point that when I got the film on DVD and saw the correct intro with the ‘mechanized’ sounds it kinda threw me off. Still does at times. The Orion jingle did segue pretty nice into the films opening shot.

https://youtu.be/Z69fk4OQFN0