RED DWARF on DVD: "improved" version or not?

[redshifter]

while we're waiting for red dwarf to appear on dvd, i have a question for you all. perhaps you noticed the producers of red dwarf have taken the earlier episodes and did a "lucas" on them. they "improved" the sfx and "fixed" the color. to me the "improved" color looks WAAAAY over-saturated and fake, and while the updated sfx look pretty good, i prefer the older, cheesy effects; they just worked better for the series.

so the question remains, when red dwarf comes out on dvd, do you want the original untouched version, or the all new and improved version with the bright colors and computer fx?

[Prancer]

I would like the old version because that's part of the show's charm. The cheesy sfx works well with the humor.


The only improvement I would like is for the transfer to be good, as in, clean up blemishes, tears or whatever else they can do to make a good presentation without messing with the sfx.

Stick `em both on the disc

[J.P. Morgan]

Originally posted by frulad
Stick `em both on the disc

That's a good idea!

I did vote for the original. It's the best.

Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers.

[Wirehed]

I would probably prefer the original version, but at this point I don't even care so long as they finally get released!

[BathTub]

original or both, but not just the 'improved'

[Ashenden]

I haven't heard any of these being released on DVD..... who is releasing it? BBS? A&E?

Then maybe there is a f..... chance they will release Bottom as well

[SidcupMartin]

Originally posted by Ashenden
I haven't heard any of these being released on DVD..... who is releasing it? BBS? A&E?

Then maybe there is a f..... chance they will release Bottom as well

I heard BBC America were releasing them...

[Prancer]

Originally posted by sidcupmartin


I heard BBC America were releasing them...

I hope that is true. I haven't head any news on the release. Are the BBC American releases designed as well as the BBC Brit?

[Welles and Ford Fan]

I saw most of the episodes on BBC America, and those were the "improved" ones. I later rented some of the originals from season one, which I'd missed, and did not like the "cheezy" look after having seen the "improved" ones.

However, they are funny either way, so I can live with either, even though I prefer the re-dos.

[SidcupMartin]

Originally posted by Prancer


I hope that is true. I haven't head any news on the release. Are the BBC American releases designed as well as the BBC Brit?

Put it this way, the second series of Father Ted was released in the US as one disc, in the UK it was spread over 2 separate releases... also you can't the box sets like Ab Fab and Dad's Army in the UK. Strange??

[Prancer]

Originally posted by sidcupmartin


..........also you can't the box sets like Ab Fab and Dad's Army in the UK. Strange??

WOW, That is strange. I actually was thinking about how nicely the Ab Fab set looks. Its just a matter of time before I purchase the first 3 seasons. I used to have all Ab Fab's 3 seasons on VHS and I lent it out and never got it back. Now it doesn't matter but rather a blessing since I can just get the DVD box and not worry about feeling guilty for throwing out the VHS.

[SmiterJaggy]

While I'm hesitant to post the URL to the site for fear of a million Red Dwarf fans clamouring for information about the DVDs, I will pass on one of the messages posted on their online forum. (The site is about the Doctor Who Restoration Team if you wanna hunt for it)

The team who do the Doctor Who restorations for DVD (and assemble all the extras for them, as well as all the other great stuff they do) were recently asked about the Red Dwarf DVDs, specifically which versions would be on them. I'm paraphrasing coz I cant remember the exact words but the lead guy replied that we'd all "be very happy".

Considering the remastered versions are almost universally despised, this sounds like both versions are going to be included. With the amount of money and time and effort that were expended (wasted?) on the remastered versions it's pretty unlikely they'll be abandoned, so the happy scenario is most likely to include both.

Well, it'll make me happy at least...

[AirSickMoth]

Red Dwarf on DVD

I would finaly be able to replace all my tapes of the show recorded off KCTS while they were doing a Marathon/teledrive. Nothing is more anyoing than having to FF through a plegdrive.

I would say I like the original version.

I thought the FX were very good for a show with such a limited budget. They might have been a bit cheezy, but I thought they were well textured and detailed minuatures (for the most part).

[redshifter]

Originally posted by AirSickMoth
Red Dwarf on DVD

I would finaly be able to replace all my tapes of the show recorded off KCTS while they were doing a Marathon/teledrive. Nothing is more anyoing than having to FF through a plegdrive.

I would say I like the original version.

I thought the FX were very good for a show with such a limited budget. They might have been a bit cheezy, but I thought they were well textured and detailed minuatures (for the most part).

yeah but i'd miss the times cat and lister were on, and nearly gave that george character a heart attack with their antics. man those guys were drunk! i of course have it all on tape as well, including the stoned/drunken pledge breaks.

[Squall]

The problem I have with the new versions of Red Dwarf is that in at least some of the episodes, they cut out some of the original material to make room for the new special effects, which take longer to show than the old ones. They did add some new dialogue as well, but I'd rather have the original episode intact.

Also, I remember that they actually altered the story in at least one of the new editions; the episode "Polymorph" had a completely different ending (which I didn't like as much as the original).