Play by play review of the set.

[Jason R]

Ok. So, I went to the gym, ordered some Chinese food (have to, it's a Jewish holiday after all. It's a commandment to eat wonton soup and chicken with broccoli). Now I am watching the pilot thru the finale in one seating.

My first impressions.

I don't have the original disc anymore (eps 1-3), I actually gave out my copies to companies I wanted to get to sell the DVD (remember, I got shot down many times, and after leaving BMG (getting laid off, but really who's holding a grudge?) I couldn't "borrow" any more from their store room. Hehehe). Anyway, the menu system for that DVD, to the best of my memory, did not have full-motion menus or even music in the background.

Now, you insert the disc, sit through the pesky FBI warning and BMG Special Products logo-intro thingee and you are greeted by the theme song, and a full motion menu. Hard to explain. It's kind of like part of the screen is obscured, but you can see the characters moving in the background.

Purists will probably say they should not have added any artwork. This is fine by me. It looks good. I am not sitting here for 13 hours to watch the menu.

Ok, so I set it to dolby digial surround, turned on the subtitles and all I can say is "wow. the sound is great! the video appears to be cleaner than on the original version. At the very least, there is a lot less of the clumpy-compression encountered on the first release. Full disclosure: my TV is not one of those full sized, flat screen jumbotrons. However, from what I am looking at, it looks pretty good.

I'm more curious to see how the post 1-3 episodes look.

One other thing bugs me, there is no "thank you" in the credits to the customers who made them change their mind and release the DVDs. Although, I suppose that is what the bonus disc etc. is for. Are you reading this, AU?

Jason

[Jason R]

OK, Dancing In The Dark is up now.

I have been standing right up in front of the screen. Between my TV and my computer DVD player, I can confirm that the video quality is superior to the original release. (I suppose the warnings to BMG and AIX have paid off).

Subtitles on. Kind of annoying that while credits roll, the subtitles overlap them. Makes it a bit tricky to read, but not impossible. Yes. This DVD is significantly better than the original release. Sound was never a problem, but video is much cleaner.

Also, it's kinda funny. I thought my neighbor's dog was barking next door, but it actually was on the DVD, coming out of the rear speakers. Very good separation. As I've said, I hope it holds up in the later episodes.

[Debs]

I'm there watching it with you...
It sounds very swish.
I like swish. Swish is good.

[Jason R]

Guns And Gossip now.

So far so good. Next disc is uncharted territory.

Thanks to Gord for chilling me out during Episode 2. It froze for about 3 seconds. Gord taught me about a little thing called layer change.

What can I say. I am really a DVD novice. HEHEHE. (Actually, he explained that the computer doesn't do that because it buffers the video. I have watched DVDs before, just on my computer).

[Pedro!]

Hey Jason!

I'm checking these posts with bated breaths.....it all sounds great so far, cant wait to get the set and check it out for myself.

By the way, I think I am officially a bit of a saddo cos I actually got quite excited by your description of the 'menu' screen...hmmm, hope I don't hyper-ventilate when I get the set!!



P.S - Thought this emoticon was quite representative of how you will look after al those episodes....

lol

[Guest]

Thanks to Gord for chilling me out during Episode 2. It froze for about 3 seconds. Gord taught me about a little thing called layer change.

Did the layer change occurr right in the middle of a scene. IF so, it's a sign of one or two things:

a) Sloppy Authoring
b) They're cramming too much onto a single disc.

Normally, when authoring a disc, you can arrange things so that the layer change occurrs during a fade-to-black or static image. That way, it unnoticable.

How many episodes are on a disc? If it's 4 episodes, then it makes sense that they had no choice but to place the layer change where they did. If only 3 episodes, then it's just carelessness on their part.

[Jason R]

Father Figures on now. Officially in uncharted MSCL territory. Gonna watch. Will update at the end of this episode.

To answer the previous poster, Gord Lacey, a true DVD expert (having reviewed hundreds of TV shows on DVD) says that where the layer split occurs is actually very difficult to control.

To quote Gord, "There are a lot of mainstream movies with sloppy layer changes because that's just the way it happens."

Jury is still out on the surround sound. Will be back soon. (In all fairness, I have it turned lower so my landlord's kids can sleep tonight, but I will crank it up just to see how it measures up). In further fairness, the master was not in surround, so the surround was created in the studio. For those who doubt this, it was done to very good effect with the first release of eps 1-3/

[Jason R]

Now up, The Zit.

As for the surround. It depends on the scene. For example, at the makeup counter where her mom offers a makeover, you can hear the ambient piano of the department store in the rear speakers. Not quite sure how they accomplished this, as their master was not in surround.

My guess is lots of fancy electronic stuff.

[Nostradamus]

Yup, Surround Sound kicks ass, doesn't it? But why are you worried about waking the landlord's kids? I thought New York already had a City Department of Making Very Loud Noises at Three In the Morning. You know, the one that uses a crane to repeatedly drop an old taxi from 60 feet in the air onto the street right outside your bedroom window.

By the way, I downloaded that iVisit doohickey and it seems to be working OK, but how the hell do I find you on there, Jason? Bearing in mind that I have all the internet prowess of a, well, 400 year old dead French astrologer. If it's more complicated than a few mouse clicks I'll just read this thread, thanks.

[Jason R]

Now up, The Substitute.

Since I am the first person in the world to do an all-digital MSCL marathon (not that I am trying to rub that in or anything, hehe. Neener Neener ), I wonder if there might not be some dangerous side effects or something? Jitters? Forehead rashes? Ear lobe-itis? Gas?

Question for the experts here. Were there chapter names or did BMG make these up?

Example, Why Jordan Can't Read has the following chapter names:
Angela's Love
Jordan's Problem
Song for Angela
Stage Fright
Just Had To Look

PS: I just started Why Jordan Can't Read.

[Jason R]

BTW, my ivisit "room" is arts/film/mscl

just look on the directory thing. Come on in. Maybe I'll even aim the camera at the TV.

PS: Sometimes I go back to an old post and add more stuff. I am trying to preserve the order.

[Nostradamus]

Jason Rosenfeld watching TV is one of the creepiest things I have ever seen! Seriously Jason, if Ross Rojek or anyone else gives you any crap, just arrange a face to face meeting and use your webcam expression -- they'll back down in no time!

For those of you who can't see the actual "room", he looks something like with five o'clock shadow.

On the plus side, it could be argued that Jason bears some resemblance to the Keanu Reeves character in The Matrix, just before he meets the "White Rabbit". Now all he needs are the shades and long billowing coat.

The highlight of my online sneak preview had to be the Blair Witch-like handheld shot of the TV, which made Angela look like she was being chased by the Forces of Darkness through the haunted woods of Pittsburgh.

Oh, well, even if it doesn't sate the MSCL jonesing, it is nice to have visual confirmation of what we've all been waiting for so long now.

[Jason R]

Hehehe.

That is why some have been known to call me laser-eyes. I'll admit, it actually does look like a laser will shoot out of my eyes. Good for negotations and stuff.

So far, 7 episodes deep and no problems. I have some minor gripes, though.

For instance, I don't like the font that they used for the menus. It is very "high school year booky." I suppose, under the circumstances, that is not a horrible thing. I am going to bring a disc to a place like Best Buy tomorrow just to crank it up on one of their big screens and get more insight into the video. But it looks very clean.

[Jason R]

Strangers in the House is on now.

This marathon thingy isn't so bad. We should make up a date, say a week after it ships (maybe more, to give a chance to filter around the globe) and then all try to synch up our viewing.

[Jason R]

Halloween is on now.

I'm gonna be humming this theme song for the rest of my life.