'Armageddon' theatrical cut (Blu-ray) released

[jefferiestubes8]

I was wondering if this 1998 film would get a brand new HD telecine for a Blu-ray...

As some of you may already know, the original master was apparently destroyed in a fire, so a new print had to be struck and a new HD digital master created just for this release. That means the transfer is brand spanking new, and the 1080p image really benefits from it. Colors are bold and vibrant. Contrast is terrific too - the shadows are deep and detailed, yet the brightest areas of the picture are never overblown. Meanwhile, the detail and textures are crisp and plentiful, without appearing edgy or digitally over-scrubbed. There's just enough grain visible to leave the image looking nicely film-like. Disney's just done a great job with this image. (Note that the Blu-ray contains the theatrical cut of the film, not the slightly longer version that appeared on DVD from Criterion.)

The only issue is that the original 5.1 mix isn't quite up to the standards of Bay's more recent films - say Transformers. The soundfield is just a little more front-biased than more recent action 5.1 mixes, with more directional surround play. What probably needs to happen, is that Bay himself needs to come in and remix the film.

Unfortunately, the extras are virtually nonexistent. If you have Disney's very first non-anamorphic DVD release - one of the studio's first DVDs from WAY back in 1997 - be aware that everything on that disc carries over here.

NONE of the superior extras from the 1999 Criterion DVD release are included here.

The new transfer is just too good looking in my opinion for fans to pass up on. You have to take into consideration here that Armageddon was never released on DVD with a true anamorphic widescreen transfer - both of the previous DVDs were letterboxed widescreen only.

You'll obviously want to hang on to that Criterion DVD, but you can finally pitch the original DVD in the trash

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/reviewshd/bdreviews041410.html#arm

Another review feels differently about the 5.1 surround mix though:

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz/24-bit) soundtrack for Armageddon is an absolute aural assault, as one would expect. Sounds come from every direction, explosions absolutely BOOM and resonate right through your bones. There is hardly a moment when there isn’t discrete sound coming from the surrounds in this mix. There is also a good amount of ambient sound effects used to bring everything all together in a cohesive manner.

http://www.blu-raydefinition.com/reviews/armageddon-blu-ray-review.html
Sure the film itself is very stylized and over the top and the darkest space shuttle ever (lighting-wise) but the production design is really great.

 

[RoJoHen]

Probably won't be buying this as I just picked up the DVD for $5 a couple months ago. I do love me some "Armageddon," though.

"This is one order you shouldn't follow, and you fucking know it!"

 

[jefferiestubes8]

DVD

Probably won't be buying this as I just picked up the DVD for $5 a couple months ago.

I hope you are got the 1999 Criterion DVD 2-disc release.
I got it used last year on Amazon and man the commentaries and special features rock!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Interesting that Armageddon wound up on Criterion in the first place. I always thought it was too mainstream and 'popcornish' a flick for Criterion to bother with.

 

[StarshipDefiant]

The Armageddon DVDs came out in the 90's? Wow, and I didn't even realize there was a "slightly longer" version of it. Damn.

 

[Aragorn]

The longer cut will probably be on a double dip. Disney released a lot of movies on DVD, then re-released them as longer cuts (Enemy of the State, Crimson Tide, Con Air, Armageddon, Tombstone), and now the Blu-rays are all the theatrical cuts. Sort of like how Fox isn't carrying over any special features for a lot of their Blu-ray titles, for the inevitable double dip.

 

[T'Baio]

After Bad Boys and The Rock, Michael Bay held so much promise as a really good filmmaker. Then he made this piece of shit, and it's been downhill ever since.

 

[StarshipDefiant]

Tomb Stone has a longer version? It makes me wonder what version I have got. The DVD I have has multiple discs, and a map replica of the OK Corral fight (At least according to the movie, anyway). Bah. Double dipping. Bah.

 

[Yoda]

As some of you may already know, the original master was apparently destroyed in a fire

And they should have just left well enough alone!

 

[DarylCarpenter]

So, does the Blu-Ray edition come with an "Image Stabilization Mode" and a free sample of Aleve?

 

[T'Baio]

Tomb Stone has a longer version? It makes me wonder what version I have got. The DVD I have has multiple discs, and a map replica of the OK Corral fight (At least according to the movie, anyway). Bah. Double dipping. Bah.

That's the longer cut.

 

[Corran Horn]

Re: DVD

Probably won't be buying this as I just picked up the DVD for $5 a couple months ago.

I hope you are got the 1999 Criterion DVD 2-disc release.
I got it used last year on Amazon and man the commentaries and special features rock!

The commentaries are great...Affleck and Willis are hilarious.

Affleck: Here's a scene where you have a helicopter just because it's a huge-budget movie and you can.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

High Def Digest has a review up:

For a twelve year old mix, this default English DTS-MA 5.1 is still awesome. This disc is definitely going to be included in my short list of demo presentations because it's not just loud (oh, but it is), it's immersive and engaging in its accuracy. One could literally watch this film with no picture and have almost as good a time.

Dialogue is perfect, and is mixed well enough so that you don't have to reach for the remote during quieter moments.

I always appreciate the level of detail HighDef Digest goes into for the surround sound mix in the reviews.

This Blu-ray is immensely superior to all previous 'Armageddon' home video release, which featured letterboxed, non-anamorphic presentations; in fact, they look so bad today, this doesn't even feel like a double dip.

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/245/armageddon.html

 

[Argus Skyhawk]

...the original master was apparently destroyed in a fire...

Evidence that God does not want this movie to exist.

 

[Aragorn]

Random trivia... during the opening credits, Michael Clarke Duncan's name is nowhere to be found. Even actors who are barely in the movie are in the opening credits.