Twin Peaks DVD

[LemJe]

I need some advice on the whole Twin peaks thing. I was in the Marine Corps when the show was on the air and never had a chance to sit down and wath it. I heard the people talking about it and discussing the Larau Palmer (I think thats her name) murder but thats about it.
Well I saw that the first season is coming to DVD and thought this would be a good oppurtunity to see what all the hupla has been about. Well looking in to the DVD I noticed that the 2 hour pilot episode is not going to included in the set. First off let me say that I think that it is a lot of crap not to include the first episode in the series but realize arguing the point now is knida moot. My question is will not seeing the 2 hour pilot lessen my enjoyment of the rest of the series?
I checked on E-Bay and there are several DVD's for the pilot episode available but they are all from overseas which makes me a little hesitant. I also read somewhere that there were two versions of the pilot, the version that aired in the States and a foriegn version. I don't know what the differences between the two are but from what I read the version that aired in the States is the better of the two. I didn't see anything on the ones for sale at E-Bay saying which version it was. If anyone can offer any advise on which pilot to look for it would be greatly apriciated.
I would also like you guys opinions on wether this show is worth going through all this trouble are not. Considering I have never seen an episode just heard about it.

Thanks for any help


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My little DVD List----http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollect...?alias=LemJe31

[Prospero]

I wouldn't watch the rest of the series without seeing the first episode. It's directed by David Lynch (which automatically makes it one of the best), and it gives a lot of important backstory, some of which isn't repeated until much later, if at all. The reason the first episode wasn't included in the box is because of rights issues (I think the first episode is owned by Warner Bros., and everything else is owned by Artisan).

Newcomers should not under any circumstances watch the European cut of the pilot, as it has spoilers left and right (it's edited to be a self-contained film, with clips from episodes near the end of the first season, and a bit of additional footage). Go ahead and import the Republic Pictures disc from Hong Kong--the sound and picture quality aren't stellar, but at least it's the first episode the way it was meant to be seen. (If it's on eBay, and it's from overseas, it's probably the American cut--funny how that works).

This disc is the American cut of the first episode.

Hope that helps.

[retroboy]

I've heard about the region 0 disc of the pilot episode, but i've never done any research on it. Artisan is releasing the first season boxed set without the pilot because Warner Bros., the owners of the pilot, refused to sell the rights. With Artisan likely to release the entire second season in 2002 and New Line's upcoming Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me DVD (god knows when that's going to come out) it's a good bet that Warner will release the pilot on DVD eventually. I have heard the region 0 disc does not have the best picture or sound however. i've got two VHS versions of the pilot--the Warner release with the awkward, silly European ending (which negates the entire point of the series) and a quality recording of the uncut pilot aired on Canada's Bravo--so I'm going to buy the DVDs and hold out for Warner to release the pilot. I agree that the pilot is essential to see because David Lynch directed it and it serves to introduce Laura Palmer's murder and the quirky inhabitants of the townspeople. I'd recommend renting the Warner version and stopping the tape at the 1:34:02 mark on the VCR counter (assuming you clear the counter as soon as the actual program airs)--that's when the aired pilot ended with the "excecutive producers" credit. The rest of the tape--about ten minutes is footage from other episodes edited together. The extra footage is nothing more than a curiosity that should be relegated to a deleted scenes menu of a proper DVD release of the pilot.


[This message has been edited by retroboy (edited 11-10-2001).]

[This message has been edited by retroboy (edited 11-10-2001).]

[This message has been edited by retroboy (edited 11-10-2001).]

[Soggy Bagel's Revenge!]

From what I've heard, the disc from overseas is pretty great, and it'll play on American players (as it's region zero), so if you see it on eBay for a good price, I'd pick it up, the pilot was absolutley amazing!

Thanx,
Brook

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[caligulathegod]

The Twin Peaks Pilot DVD is perfectly legal (In Hong Kong, anyway-it's not a bootleg, at least) and while flawed, it's only a $20 investment and the American cut, too. The only problems I see with it is because it's from a PAL master, there is a 4% speedup causing the sound to be slightly higher pitched, the surrounds are a bit too agressive, and there is a slight hiss. It will probably look terrible on a $50K system, but until Warner decides to release the pilot, this is all we have and you WILL need to see this for Twin Peaks to make whatever sense it will. It's not like it's a tattoo or something.

[caligulathegod]

Oh, yeah. That extra 10 minutes isn't from other episodes edited together. It was filmed by Lynch on the spot and more or less improvised after he saw the set decorator crouching by the bed. The footage was edited down and used at the end of the second episode (3rd to air, counting the pilot) as a dream.

[Marvin]

Without going into as much detail as the others... If you have any interest in David Lynch you have got to see Twin Peaks.

One of the greatest TV series ever.