new thread
Buyer beware...
From IGN.com:
One of the biggest DVD releases of the year hit stores on Tuesday, but the three-disc set of the Back to the Future movies has a little problem that Universal doesn't want you to know about (until February 2003, at least). The anamorphic widescreen transfers on Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III were framed improperly, which means that elements in the picture that should be visible are cropped out.
Now, the studio is aware of this problem, and there will be a replacement program in effect starting in February, but that information isn't being made readily available for the people headed down to the store to fork out $40-$50 for the three-disc set. Thankfully, some store employees have smartened up and are telling customers about the problem, but Universal still has a multi-million dollar advertising campaign in effect for the release. They want as many copies to be sold through Christmas as possible, and then in February those people who bought the messed up DVDs will be able to send the discs to the studio for replacement copies.
This isn't an isolated problem with just a small amount of the shipment affected. Every copy of BTTF 2 and BTTF 3 on store shelves is affected by the bad framing. Everyone who buys the set will have the "defective" DVDs.
Our pal Bill over at The Digital Bits got his hands on the email that Universal is sending to people who ask them about the problems:
"Thank you for your email. Universal Studios will exchange Back to the Future parts 2 and 3 for copies with the updated framing in late February 2003. You may send the DVDs back now or wait until February. Please send Back to the Future disks 2 and 3, without the case, and a letter with the following information: Name, Full Mailing Address, Daytime Phone Number, Reason for Return and Return Address. Send to:
Back to the Future DVD Returns
PO Box 224468
Dallas, Texas 75260
Thank you,
Universal Studios Customer Service"
Thanks for the tip. I was intending to buy the set this weekend.
Happy Holidays,
Petros
I bought it anyway, and watched all three yesterday. It'll be nice to get the fixed-up ones, though.
Something else of note: the "to be continued" at the end of Part I was removed for some inexplicable reason ("to be concluded" and "the end" from parts II and III remain).
Also, the trailer for part III still appears at the end of part II.
A strange way to do business.
The omission of the TO BE CONTINUED title card in the first movie is faithful to the original theatrical release of BTTF. The TO BE CONTINUED wasn't added til it hit home video.
Actually, the "TO BE CONTINUED" was added late in the theatrical run of the movie. I remember seeing it in the theater with it there...