WARLOCK Vestron Collector's Edition Blu-Ray - 7/25

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AndyDursin
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WARLOCK Vestron Collector's Edition Blu-Ray - 7/25

#1 Post by AndyDursin »

Jeff Bond commentary on WARLOCK! Alas, no cut footage it seems.
The Vestron Video Collector’s Series is looking to cast the ultimate spell with the upcoming release of the Warlock Collection, arriving for the first time on limited-edition Blu-ray on July 25 from Lionsgate. A 17th-century Warlock is transported to the 20th century, where he looks to end all of creation. The 2-disc Warlock Collection set includes all three films from the Warlock franchise: Warlock, Warlock: The Armageddon, and Warlock III: The End of Innocence, and are packed with all-new special features, including audio commentaries, isolated score selections, interviews, TV spots, still galleries, making-of featurettes, and more! Restored and remastered, the Warlock Collection Vestron Video Collector’s Series Blu-ray will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.97.

WARLOCK COLLECTION OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

An evil warlock flees from the 17th to the 20th century and works to unleash Satan upon the world in these three supernaturally chilling films.



WARLOCK SPECIAL FEATURES (Disc 1)

· NEW Audio Commentary with Director Steve Miner

· NEW Isolated Score Selections/Audio Interview with Author Jeff Bond

· NEW Interviews

o “Satan’s Son” with Actor Julian Sands

o “The Devil’s Work” with Director Steve Miner

o “Effects of Evil” with Make-up Effects Creators Carl Fullerton and Neal Martz

· Behind-the-Scenes Footage

· Vintage Interview Segments with Cast and Crew

· Vintage Featurette with Make-Up Effects Creators Carl Fullerton and Neal Martz

· Vintage Featurette with Visual Effects Supervisors Patrick Read Johnson and Robert Habros, Animation Supervisor Mauro Maressa, and Matte Artist Robert Scifo

· Theatrical Trailer

· Video Trailer

· TV Spots

· Still Gallery


WARLOCK: THE ARMAGEDDON SPECIAL FEATURES (Disc 2)

· NEW Audio Commentary with Director Anthony Hickox

· Vintage Making-of Featurette Behind-the-Scenes Footage

· Extended Vintage Interview Segments with Actor Julian Sands, Director Anthony Hickox, and Actress Paula Marshall

· Theatrical Trailer

· TV Spots

· Still Gallery


WARLOCK III: THE END OF INNOCENCE SPECIAL FEATURES (Disc 2)

· Behind-the-Scenes Footage

· Vintage Interview Segments with Cast and Crew

· Trailer

· Video Sales Promo

· Still Gallery

Chris Shaneyfelt
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Re: WARLOCK Vestron Collector's Edition Blu-Ray - 7/25

#2 Post by Chris Shaneyfelt »

AndyDursin wrote: Wed May 24, 2017 3:26 pm Jeff Bond commentary on WARLOCK! Alas, no cut footage it seems.
Hi Andy, sorry to resurrect a old thread, but I was searching the Aisle Seat for information about "Warlock", a movie I admit to liking in spite of its many flaws. You stated in your excellent review that the Vestron Collector's Set has a transfer "similar to its German counterparts, save for some inferior compression."

I was wondering if you would recommend one of the German Blu-Rays? In your opinion, is the German transfer better enough to warrant purchasing if I already own the Vestron Blu-Ray? Also, does the German Blu-Ray feature any cut footage? I saw a picture online of a "Warlock Trilogy" Blu-Ray advertising it was "uncut".

Thank you!

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Re: WARLOCK Vestron Collector's Edition Blu-Ray - 7/25

#3 Post by AndyDursin »

Chris, the German release doesn't have any cut footage but the transfer's encoding is definitely better. It probably depends on how big your screen is. To me I could see a difference and it's worth it but then again I've got a critical eye and it's my job to notice these things :)

It's the same transfer source but the U.S. release has some compression artifacts that are common to several of Lionsgate's releases in the "Vestron Collector's Series" because there are so many extras and they crammed them onto a single disc.

I still have my German disc, it has no extras but the encoding is better:

https://www.rarewaves.com/products/9007 ... man-import

Looks like this is the same disc with a 3D lenticular cover:

https://www.rarewaves.com/products/9007 ... man-import

This "Trilogy" release also has WARLOCK: ARMAGEDDON in it, which DOES have some unrated material not in the US release (the 3rd movie is just trash lol).

https://www.rarewaves.com/products/9007 ... -3-blu-ray

Rarewaves is my default European import specialist at the moment, cheaper shipping than the Amazon UK/DE sites.

Chris Shaneyfelt
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Re: WARLOCK Vestron Collector's Edition Blu-Ray - 7/25

#4 Post by Chris Shaneyfelt »

AndyDursin wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 10:12 am Chris, the German release doesn't have any cut footage but the transfer's encoding is definitely better. It probably depends on how big your screen is. To me I could see a difference and it's worth it but then again I've got a critical eye and it's my job to notice these things :)

It's the same transfer source but the U.S. release has some compression artifacts that are common to several of Lionsgate's releases in the "Vestron Collector's Series" because there are so many extras and they crammed them onto a single disc.

I still have my German disc, it has no extras but the encoding is better:

https://www.rarewaves.com/products/9007 ... man-import

Looks like this is the same disc with a 3D lenticular cover:

https://www.rarewaves.com/products/9007 ... man-import

This "Trilogy" release also has WARLOCK: ARMAGEDDON in it, which DOES have some unrated material not in the US release (the 3rd movie is just trash lol).

https://www.rarewaves.com/products/9007 ... -3-blu-ray

Rarewaves is my default European import specialist at the moment, cheaper shipping than the Amazon UK/DE sites.
Thank you for the great information and the Rarewaves purchase links, Andy! I am going to buy one of the German Blu-Rays for the better encoding.

I appreciate your help and your critical eye!

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AndyDursin
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Re: WARLOCK Vestron Collector's Edition Blu-Ray - 7/25

#5 Post by AndyDursin »

Great! You are welcome as always Chris. Can you play out of region discs? I can't recall if they are "B" locked or not.

It's sort of like looking at the backgrounds in the movie and seeing "noise" that's "moving" or "shifting" just a little in the Lionsgate disc. That's a compression/encoding problem, when the image doesn't seem overly clear and you get a little "ghosting" or blurriness around lines, most detectable in the background of scenes. The German transfer is a little clearer and better encoded, image just is a tad sharper.

I know there are a few of those Lionsgate/Vestron discs that have this issue, MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE was another one where the German disc is much better encoded. Then there are others like EXTREME PREJUDICE which are fine...it's entirely title dependent!

I will say also Mill Creek's discs, many of them have this problem. They have high bit-rates which ordinarily would produce a really good transfer, but their encoding is poor. Anytime I have a disc I've already bought from Europe and compare it with something Mill Creek released, you can see the difference in motion. Grainy movies look natural on the imports, but with Mill Creek's poor encoding, you can see their mediocre compression at play -- even though the source being used is identical.

Chris Shaneyfelt
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Re: WARLOCK Vestron Collector's Edition Blu-Ray - 7/25

#6 Post by Chris Shaneyfelt »

AndyDursin wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 11:12 am Great! You are welcome as always Chris. Can you play out of region discs? I can't recall if they are "B" locked or not.
Andy, I just checked the German Warlock disc at Rarewaves and it says Region "B." I don't have a region-free player, though I would like to purchase one in the near future. Hmmn, I'll probably wait to pick up this title after I've fully committed to purchasing a new player.
AndyDursin wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2023 11:12 am It's sort of like looking at the backgrounds in the movie and seeing "noise" that's "moving" or "shifting" just a little in the Lionsgate disc. That's a compression/encoding problem, when the image doesn't seem overly clear and you get a little "ghosting" or blurriness around lines, most detectable in the background of scenes. The German transfer is a little clearer and better encoded, image just is a tad sharper.

I know there are a few of those Lionsgate/Vestron discs that have this issue, MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE was another one where the German disc is much better encoded. Then there are others like EXTREME PREJUDICE which are fine...it's entirely title dependent!

I will say also Mill Creek's discs, many of them have this problem. They have high bit-rates which ordinarily would produce a really good transfer, but their encoding is poor. Anytime I have a disc I've already bought from Europe and compare it with something Mill Creek released, you can see the difference in motion. Grainy movies look natural on the imports, but with Mill Creek's poor encoding, you can see their mediocre compression at play -- even though the source being used is identical.
This is all great and very helpful information! Thank you!

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