Complete Original Series April 10 on DVD

[retzev]

I just would have liked the first 10 in the more compact cases.

CB, the 1st 10 were rereleased in the smaller boxes, I called MPI and they sent me the smaller boxes with artwork for about 4 bucks apiece. You might give'em a try.

I'm not too crazy about the coffin idea, sounds a little gimmicky. The individual sets left a bit to be desired i think, too, hopefully this'll be tastefully done. I'll be pleased to get the whole thing in one set nonetheless.

[Cousin_Barnabas]

retzev, really?  That would be great!  Thank you for the tip.  I knew you could call away for new cases, but I didn't know they would give you the artwork, and I didn't want to cut the artwork I already had.  This would be a great option!  Thank you for the tip!

[Willie Loomis]

I've already invested over $1,000.00 on the set, as each set was 54.00 (i believe the beginning sets were a bit cheaper).  So, this kind of annoys me.  But, I don't think I'd buy anyway because of the coffin  box.  (is it Barnabas's Hershey Chocolate coffin?)

As for the revival series, meh.  it's nothing that annoying that I don't mind playing it every now and then.  I used to make a New Years Eve marathon of that set.

Also, are they still getting the smaller cases out for the first 10 and are they the same quality like the other 16?

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Is it possible that the reason it is not being released on blu-ray is because the picture quality cannot physically be enhanced? I don't know too much about this but I'm sure MPI would love to make more money.

I'm sure MPI would.    But several times I've read that, as you've surmised, the quality of the master tapes can't be significantly enhanced enough to warrant releasing the original series on Blu-ray. And it also seems unlikely that the "91 Series will come out on Blu-ray because of the way it was shot, particularly with all that smoke. I've been told it would look horrendous on Blu-ray. But who knows - maybe one day they'll develop a technology to get around that...

As for a DVD release of the material on MPI's DS Resurrected VHS, that also seems unlikely because apparently all that material was released on VHS without actually getting all the clearances for it (what a surprise considering who was behind its release and how they got caught releasing other material without the proper clearances). And supposedly trying to get the necessary clearances today would be next to impossible. But, again, who knows? I'm only repeating what I've been told. From very reliable sources, yes - but I don't know it to be fact myself...

[retzev]

can anyone guess how many discs there will be anyways?

128, if they repackage the discs just as they were when they were first released on DVD. I think The Beginning Collection 6 only contains two discs worth of episodes and two discs of supplements, so if they leave out the bonus discs, that could take it down to 126.

I hope that MPI has considered including the uncut versions of the episodes that were treated to unauthorized edits when the original DVDs were authored. They could lure in a good portion of us who already own the series on DVD and who might otherwise resist a second purchase.

[jimbo]

Thanks MB for the explanations. It's a shame about the 91 series not. If filmed correctly it would have looked great in HD. I can see about the limitations on the original series.

Retzev we can only hope.

[Gothick]

I am wondering about the two compilations mentioned in one of the DS news blogs this a.m.:  DS--the Best of Barnabas and DS--Fan favorites.  Presumably the Best of Barn is the same as before, but Fan Favorites would seem to be new.  I wonder whether the fan favorites were chosen through an internet poll that I somehow missed hearing about.

Among my favorites would be:  Mrs Johnson giving Maggie a tip of one silver dime; Mrs Johnson telling David that the one thing the sheriff knows is that when the whistle at the Cannery blows, it's time for lunch; Barnabas telling the story of Josette's death to Vicki and Carolyn during a storm at Collinwood; Julia telling Barnabas she's been waiting for him for a long, long time; Magda telling Jamison about floorwax; Roger speaking of Jeb as a "cheap, insufferable pig"; Julia quizzing Barnabas about his "talk" with Megan; montages of Quentin, Chris and Joe's shirtless scenes... and about 50 others...

cheers, Steve

[jimbo]

Hi Gothick. At the article you mentioned, in the comments section, Stuart mentioned that both compliations are new and that he had no additional information about them. You do ask good questions. I guess we will have to wait until MPI gives us a statement. I do also like your list of favorites.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

The original Best of Barn compilation (which is already out on DVD as part of Collection 26) was slightly less than 30 minutes long. The new version is listed as being 180 minutes long, so even if it includes all the same footage as the original, a great many more scenes will have to have been added. 

[RachelDrummand]

They should have released it in a BIG box set with Collinwood on it or something like that. I wouldn't buy a coffin box either. I'm better off just buying the regular sets. Maybe they'll go on sale for those of us who are still buying them.

[B.Collins]

they are on sale cousin. on amazon. pretty cheap too. i don't know about all of them but some of them are.
anyways episodes are cut on the dvd sets? i can't remember if i heard about that.

[RachelDrummand]

I don't think the eps on the dvds are cut. Isn't there a notice at the beginning saying that nothing is remastered and the eps are in tact so they won't have to cut stuff out?

[Nicky]

It seems strange to me that they're releasing any more compilations at all -- I had always assumed that the point of the video compilations in the wee early 1990s were to satisfy customers who couldn't wait for the later storylines (weren't they releasing, like, 5 tapes a month?).  As of now, the entire series is attainable, and 180 minutes of Barnabas seems a bit much ...

(Gothy -- re: your suggestions for "fan favorites" ... yes please.)

[Gothick]

Nicky darling I almost lol'd at your tactful hint that 180 minutes of Barnabas, Barnabas,, BARNABAS!!! might be "a bit much."  Ya think!

OTOH I watched the clip on Youtube the other day where Julia offers her blood to Old Barn.  Frid was incredible in those two episodes... I guess sometimes, he embraced a challenge.

To whom it may concern, several of the episodes on the first 7 or 8 DVD collections (from the arrival of Barnabas to, what, the end of 1795?) had "minor" bloopers and technical defects edited out.  The one I regret the most is the nasal Brooklyn voice o/c telling old Bathia Mapes "take him to the Old House!" in her dramatic attempted exorcism of Barn.  From what I recall when we discussed this (it's many years back in the Boards and my ability to manhandle the search engine here isn't up to the task of attempting to find those threads), it was the DVD authoring firm that was "routinely" "cleaning up" "materials of such age"--insert the usual cliche from the tech wallahs.

I keep thinking of more fan favorites that need to be on that disc:

Cassandra's first visit to the Old House.  "What was your major... Witchcraft?" *sneer*  "How DARE you."  I just love Cassandra's reaction everytime Barn says:  "ANNNN-geLEEEK."  Grand stuff.

The Julia Slap.  (followed by a montage of all the other times Julia bitchslapped somebody.)

Angelique in 1795 informing Ben that everything that is now Mamselle Josette's will eventually... belong to HER.

Hoffman and Angelique planning their "war of nerves" on Maggie Collins and Hoffman teeth-grittingly informing Ang: "I HATE having to take ORDERS from her!"

Any or all of the Julia/Nicholas scenes.

Naomi and Joshua the morning after Sarah dies.

I could go on... FORCING myself to stop.

G.

[Nicky]

I'll take "The Complete Cassandra" collection.