FIRST LOOK: Poseidon Adventure & Towering Inferno SE DVD

Message

AndyDursin · #1 Post by **AndyDursin** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 5:08 pm

Just got my review copies in of POSEIDON and TOWERING INFERNO (and thankfully they're actually final product - not squeezed-down, compressed screeners like Fox has regrettably begun sending of late to the media).

Fans will LOVE these two discs -- remastered transfers, TONS of featurettes (some 30 deleted/extended scenes on TOWERING alone!), commentaries, trailers...the works!

Better yet each retails for just about $10 a pop. Absolutely recommended (with a full review to follow, obviously!).

andy b · #2 Post by **andy b** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:13 pm

Hi Andy

are the actual movies longer or is it a case of all the extra scences being in the extras & the movies is the orginal release version?

look foward to the reviews

Andy b

Carlson2005 · #3 Post by **Carlson2005** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:19 pm

I'm in two minds about Poseidon, which I'll wait until its discounted, but have ordered Towering Inferno since Warners (who own non-USA rights) don't seem to be releasing it in the UK. Two questions - does it include the two 10-minute 1974 featurettes ("If anything happens to me, Ali gets my pickup!") and the blooper reels?

AndyDursin · #4 Post by **AndyDursin** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:52 pm

Carlson2005 wrote:I'm in two minds about Poseidon, which I'll wait until its discounted, but have ordered Towering Inferno since Warners (who own non-USA rights) don't seem to be releasing it in the UK. Two questions - does it include the two 10-minute 1974 featurettes ("If anything happens to me, Ali gets my pickup!") and the blooper reels?

Will check!

No bloopers though I believe.

Edmund Kattak · #5 Post by **Edmund Kattak** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:13 pm

I vaguely remember the original POSEIDON ADVENTURE DVD release, however, it seemed that every non-cable showing of the movie for years featured a really horrendous print that was abnormally dark for much of the film. I think the original DVD release vindicated those previous poor TV presentations.

How is the picture/sound quality on the new edition? I presume POSEIDON ADVENTURE is mono, but does the same go for TOWERING INFERNO?

Ed

AndyDursin · #6 Post by **AndyDursin** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:22 pm

Edmund: nice to see you back! The audio/video is improved on both (I don't believe either previous DVD was 16:9 for starters). On the audio side POSEIDON is in 2.0 stereo and mono; TOWERING INFERNO is in a 4.1 surround and 2.0 surround. TOWERING had a bigger budget and the audio mix is a lot more impressive...POSEIDON almost sounds like the same stereo remix that was done for the laserdisc. Still it beats the mono track

Trevor: the Ali pick-up truck line IS in one of the featurettes! Fox did a great job on both sets; TOWERING includes 2 vintage featurettes plus the NATO presentation reel, and all of the deleted scenes from the TV cut (which run about 40 minutes). Both sets include about 40 minutes of new interviews, plus vintage trailers, storyboards, multiple commentaries, and American Cinematographer articles. More in my review coming this weekend, but I would not hesitate to pick up either release, especially at that $10-15 price point.

Jedbu · #7 Post by **Jedbu** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:44 pm

It's good to know that Fox Video is finally doing these two films the right way. I remember that TOWERING INFERNO did have a 70mm release (NYC and LA), which back in the pre-Dolby days usually meant 4-track stereo, so someone must have found that soundtrack somewhere either in Paul Newman's garage or under some secretary's desk at Fox.

I also remember that POSEIDON inspired one of Mad Magazine's most beautiful parodies-"The Poop-side-down Adventure," which actually used Gene Hackman's classic line "We must go up-up to the bottom!". When I read it I thought they were just doing a spoof of the dialogue until I watched it on ABC-TV's Sunday night movie sometime later and actually [b]heard[/b] that line. I guess Mad felt that there was a line just too good to fool with. As I recall, the other parody was "The Overblown Inferno."

What is the official release date? One store I go to sometimes gets stuff early and gives me a discount, so I would like to plan accordingly. . .

AndyDursin · #8 Post by **AndyDursin** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:26 pm

Jedbu wrote: It's good to know that Fox Video is finally doing these two films the right way. I remember that TOWERING INFERNO did have a 70mm release (NYC and LA), which back in the pre-Dolby days usually meant 4-track stereo, so someone must have found that soundtrack somewhere either in Paul Newman's garage or under some secretary's desk at Fox.

I also remember that POSEIDON inspired one of Mad Magazine's most beautiful parodies-"The Poop-side-down Adventure," which actually used Gene Hackman's classic line "We must go up-up to the bottom!". When I read it I thought they were just doing a spoof of the dialogue until I watched it on ABC-TV's Sunday night movie sometime later and actually heard that line. I guess Mad felt that there was a line just too good to fool with. As I recall, the other parody was "The Overblown Inferno."

What is the official release date? One store I go to sometimes gets stuff early and gives me a discount, so I would like to plan accordingly. . .

The 9th I believe Jeff. I even like the packaging -- original artwork on each! The transfers are huge improvements on the previous DVDs. Superb job...now where's the DVD for BEYOND THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE?? lol. And please give it to us with the network-added scenes, too!

Also I have that Mad parody in a compilation book...absolutely hilarious! A lot of the parodies of '70s films were uproarious...aaah the good o'l days. Is Mad actually funny any more??

AndyDursin · #9 Post by **AndyDursin** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:09 pm

Review now up:

http://www.andyfilm.com/5-2-06.html

You may notice the Archive gets the columns first -- it'll go up on the main index page over the weekend.

MikeSkerritt · #10 Post by **MikeSkerritt** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:12 am

I'm so excited to have a deluxe release of POSEIDON finally. I really couldn't care less about the new version, but the original was an absolute classic of the genre, equal parts spectacle and engaging character study. What more could you ask for?

Eric Paddon · #11 Post by **Eric Paddon** » Wed May 03, 2006 4:23 pm

I had the release date wrong and walked into Best Buy yesterday expecting the movies to be out now, but it's actually one more week of waiting. And I've already gotten prepared by tossing out the old DVD versions!

I haven't seen the TV only scenes of Towering Inferno in 20 plus years since the last NBC airing so those will be nice to see again even as a supplement.

AndyDursin · #12 Post by **AndyDursin** » Wed May 03, 2006 5:05 pm

Eric Paddon wrote:I had the release date wrong and walked into Best Buy yesterday expecting the movies to be out now, but it's actually one more week of waiting. And I've already gotten prepared by tossing out the old DVD versions!

I haven't seen the TV only scenes of Towering Inferno in 20 plus years since the last NBC airing so those will be nice to see again even as a supplement.

Don't worry Eric you won't miss the original DVDs any after getting these.

That TV footage is in rough shape but I give them a lot of credit for including those scenes in here.

Carlson2005 · #13 Post by **Carlson2005** » Sun May 07, 2006 2:22 am

My copy of The Towering Inferno arrived and it's definitely one of the few special editions that truly is special. I’ve only skimmed the surface of all the extras this has to offer, and while it’s a shame the blooper reel didn’t make it to the disc (presumably because of clearance issues), there’s everything else you could ask for and more. I'm assuming the repros of the front-of-house stills are a limited offer (no mention of them on the packaging - with a nicely embossed slipcase), but even without them it's a real bargain at that price.

Eric Paddon · #14 Post by **Eric Paddon** » Tue May 09, 2006 5:47 pm

I picked up my copies today at Best Buy, and for good measure I got Universal's new DVD of "Earthquake" which despite its lack of extras will at least be an improvement over the old Goodtimes DVD. Amazingly, I didn't realize until later that the clerk neglected to charge me for "Poseidon Adventure"! I ended up getting it for nothing!

First thing I did was listen to the commentary with the cast members, which was pretty good. I'll try to squeeze in Neame's commentary later tonight.

AndyDursin · #15 Post by **AndyDursin** » Tue May 09, 2006 5:53 pm

Eric Paddon wrote:I picked up my copies today at Best Buy, and for good measure I got Universal's new DVD of "Earthquake" which despite its lack of extras will at least be an improvement over the old Goodtimes DVD. Amazingly, I didn't realize until later that the clerk neglected to charge me for "Poseidon Adventure"! I ended up getting it for nothing!

First thing I did was listen to the commentary with the cast members, which was pretty good. I'll try to squeeze in Neame's commentary later tonight.

Eric, nice!

I had a similar experience at a local record shop that had some deal going on used DVDs, where you got the lowest-priced one free when buying 4. Anyway, I ended up getting the OOP MEET JOE BLACK Ultimate Edition DVD (with Death Takes a Holiday) for free, when it should have rung up at $20...worked out well!

FIRST LOOK: Poseidon Adventure & Towering Inferno SE DVD

FIRST LOOK: Poseidon Adventure & Towering Inferno SE DVD

Finally-INFERNO in true stereo!

Re: Finally-INFERNO in true stereo!