I got to chat a bit with Don at a convention a few years ago and I asked him about Coffin Joe. They weren't able to ship the materials here, rights owners wouldn't allow that. Biggest reason being that they were fragile. So the only option was to fly down there and supervise a transfer. But Brazil doesn't have good scanners and it would have been very expensive to stay down there (and a tad risky). So a HD scan appropriate for 1080p was just not possible. And that's where Synapse was at some five or so years ago. I was hoping, since they'd been holding out, that they were waiting for some new developments, but this DVD shows that things are pretty much in the same state. But Coffin Joe's a favorite of mine, and the promise of comics books is enough for me, I'll bite. And it looks like free S&H too so that helps.
I don't get this sentiment when it comes to films that won't be able to make the leap to HD that people/collectors just dismiss the release/format. I can understand if you own(ed) them already on the format in the previous OOP editions if its a title that was previously available, but there are still so many films out there that deserve to be preserved and DVD, especially today with updates in compression quality and upconverting DVD/Blu-ray players, still looks good when blown-up on an HDTV.
Yes, I agree. If the only release option is DVD and I don't have a previous release or it's never been released, count me in. I would rather have a DVD only then no release at all.
It's not a logical reaction with me, just an emotional one. Well authored DVDs definitely look pretty good, especially with Darbee enhancement. And I know Synapse is uber-reliable when it comes to quality. That said, Embodiment of Evil is a new film (that's been released in HD)--and this isn't a budget-priced set. If it was $20, I'd feel differently. I don't care about the comic books, so I'll likely wait to see if Amazon is offering a lower price at some point.
I somewhat agree. I've seen almost everything at this point so forking over money for non HD copies of anything just doesn't do much for me. Plus if history has taught us anything is that we will likely see, from someone, HD copies of things we never thought we'd see at some point. And I'm a snob. I dropped, what, $80 on Tenebrae and Phenomena to reward all the work they did on superior titles. Dropping $40 on niche DVDs? Not doing it for me.
Well I am split on this. I obviously love the first two since I put them in my Halloween list this year (see front page). But I had heard from another forum that HD materials just were not feasible which is a huge shame. It is too bad that they didn't include Embodiment as a bonus blu or Awakening of the Beast which was paired with the first two in the old "coffin dvd" box set. It basically boils down to this: - if you have never seen these, this is a killer package at any price - if you have the existing sets, the A/V quality better be a decent boost to double dip, although I note that there is no language to that effect in the press release.
Phenomena: I forgot how nuts it was. Dario always had a weird vibe but this has to be the pinnacle of his extravagance. I mean it really feels like no one around him said no to any of his ideas. Having said that, if you can just roll with it it is beautiful, and weird and the last 20 minutes are NUTS. Very happy with the work Don and the gang did. This was worth every penny.
http://synapse-films.com/dvds/popcorn-collectors-edition-steelbook-limited-to-3000-units/ 3000 UNIT LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION BLU-RAY/DVD COMBO IN BLU-RAY STEELBOOK® PACKAGING! PLEASE NOTE: Like our four previous Limited Collector’s Edition Steelbook® releases, the price of this product is $39.95 plus a $6.00 packing/handling fee ($45.95 total). Synapse Films personally and securely wraps/packs/insures and ships each and every Steelbook® individually with additional packing necessary to keep it safe on its way to your home. We even hand deliver them ourselves to the post office. Those of you who would like to save the $6.00 and pick it up direct from our office can certainly do so. Please call our office at 734-494-3502 to place your order for pick up and we’ll reserve yours, so you can come by the office and get your copy when it’s released! What could be scarier than an all-night “Horrorthon”? A group of film students finds out when they stage just such an event at an abandoned movie palace. In addition to the three features—MOSQUITO, THE ATTACK OF THE AMAZING ELECTRIFIED MAN and THE STENCH—they decide to screen a bizarre short called THE POSSESSOR, whose creator, Lanyard Gates, killed his family and set the theater on fire after its first showing. Maggie (Jill Schoelen, THE STEPFATHER) has been having frightening dreams that seem to be connected to THE POSSESSOR, and as the festival proceeds, the nightmare comes true for her and her friends as they are stalked and slain by a mysterious killer. Has Gates survived to continue THE POSSESSOR’s deadly legacy? A loving homage to ’50s/’60s B-movies (the trio of flicks shown at the Horrorthon all have accompanying William Castle-style gimmicks), POPCORN is also an insanely fun horror/comedy in its own right. Pseudonymously written by Alan Ormsby (CAT PEOPLE, DEATHDREAM), who directed the films-within-the-film, it celebrates the joys of old-fashioned creature features and ’80s-style stalk-and-slay, with a great cast additionally including Dee Wallace Stone (THE HOWLING), Tony Roberts (AMITYVILLE 3-D), Ray Walston (THE STAND), Malcolm Danare (CHRISTINE) and Kelly Jo Minter (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 5). Pop some popcorn of your own and settle in to watch this new high-definiton transfer, which comes with a box full of bonus features! PLEASE NOTE, SO IT IS UNDERSTOOD (We always seem to get emails/calls about this, even though the info is posted in the order info for the Steelbooks, so we’re just posting it TWICE in this listing, and again in our News/Blog post about this release elsewhere on the site): Like our three previous Limited Collector’s Edition Steelbook® releases, the price of this product is $39.95 plus a $6.00 packing/handling fee ($45.95 total). Synapse Films personally and securely wraps/packs/insures and ships each and every Steelbook® individually with additional packing necessary to keep it safe on its way to your home. We even hand deliver them ourselves to the post office. Those of you who would like to save the $6.00 and pick it up direct from our office can certainly do so. Please call our office at 734-494-3502 to place your order for pick up and we’ll reserve yours, so you can come by the office and get your copy when it’s released! International orders are being handled by our friends at: www.diabolikdvd.com. If you are outside of North America, please visit DiabolikDVD’s website to order. Features ALL REGION / PLAYABLE WORLDWIDE! Brand-New 2K Scan of a 35mm Interpositive Vault Element All-New Blu-ray 7.1 Surround Sound Mix Supervised by Synapse Films (Original 2.0 Stereo Mix also Included) 5.1 Surround Mix Included on DVD Audio Commentary with Director Mark Herrier, Stars Jill Schoelen, Malcolm Danare, and Special Makeup Effects Artist Mat Falls MIDNIGHT MADNESS: THE MAKING OF "POPCORN" featuring interviews with Director Mark Herrier, Stars Jill Schoelen, Derek Rydall, Dee Wallace, Malcolm Danare, Ivette Soler, and Elliott Hurst, Special Makeup Effects Artist Mat Falls, Composer Paul Zaza, and Distributor Executive Jonathan Wolf (55 mins, HD) Electric Memories – An Interview with Actor Bruce Glover Original Theatrical Trailer Television Trailer and TV Spots Still Gallery Liner Notes from Michael Gingold English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing New Collector's Edition Cover Design by Justin Osbourn/Slasher Design
Is a regular version coming out? I don't really care about steelbooks and there's no way I'm paying $50 for Popcorn
Synapse regularly has said that they "aren't planning a regular release at this time..." When they release a Steelbook... Then one comes out.