Marc Alucard

How did you get it before it is released on the 18th? I ordered it on HD-DVD directly from Warner Brothers on sale for $22.46. BTW- Warner is running a 25% off promo this month if you enter promo code is "DCBM". Here is a link to an article on "The Final Cut" Blade Runner on the Cutting Edge Cheers, Marc

I'm a big Mott Hupfel fan. "The American Astronaut" and The "Notorious Bettie Paige"rocked. Tough crowd to be nominated in.

When I heard they cut up the Colony I was mortified. Remember if you survive the scene in Cleveland you are prepared for anywhere!!!

Hello Karl, I grew up in Cleveland when the Colony at Shaker square, The Vogue , and the Center Mayfield were all single screen theaters. 2001: A Space Odyssey in 6-track at the Colony theater opened my eyes for the first time Cheers, Marc

Beyond dust and dirt removal and scratch repair what are the steps taken in transferring and digitizing these "Special Collector's Editions"? What about mastering for HDTV and Hi-Def discs? Thanx in advance!

Hello Michael, I prefer Blu-Ray for the same reasons you stated as well. I have about 25 disks in both formats I did an A-B-C test between the to HD formats and the latest Kubrick boxed set upscaled to 1080P on "The Shining", "Full Metal Jacket", And "2001". Both HD formats looked awesome and the SD discs looked really good as well but didn't hold a candle to the HD stuff. Massive respect to anyone else who admits to having a "Bat Cave"! I have a Sony VPL-VW100 projecting on a 3 meter wide permanent screen, and a 4:3 DLP projector hitting a 8' x 10' pulldown screen for the old movies in my"Bat Cave" Cheers, Marc

Hi Michael, Believe or not the Blu-ray 1.1 and 2.0 profiles require an additional video processor that isn't present on any Sony stand alone player. It blows me away they don't have an easy upgrade solution. Profile 2.0 includes an Ethernet port, hopefully Wi-Fi will be included. I have about 2000 Films on SD-DVDs in my collection, so I am probably taking too much time to pick the red pill or the blu pill. Which format do you prefer, how many discs do you have of each format? What are you watching on? Cheers, Marc Correction: Most PS3 consoles will be upgradeable to profile 1.1 at some time in the future, like when the profile 1.1 disks get released hopefully. LOL

The High Def and new SD DVD releases have been long overdue for all the Kubrick films. Glad to see I'm not the only one enjoying them.

The PS3 doesn't do all the high end audio tracks. It also may be hardware incapable, (not firmware upgradeable) to handle Blu-Ray Profile 1.1 or 2.0. I'm waiting until after X-mas to see what format the studios end up throwing most of their support to. Right now The lower priced HD-DVD players and the PS3 or Blu-Ray players under $500 with the Kubrick movies are worth spending the money on. Sony is starting to reevaluate the format war. Their stuff keeps ending up in pro gear and the other guys go to the masses. IMHO. If Lossless audio is important to you, a new AV receiver may be part of your purchase. I'm tortured waiting and have tried two of both formats players in my home theater. Cheers, Marc

The Blu-Ray transfers are in the "correct" theatrical aspect ratios. 2001 is 2.20:1. The others are also in the correct aspect as well. (I haven't seen them yet). I heard the SD box set is also "correct". The HD-DVD versus Blu-Ray debate is so vast I won't touch that one. 1080p/24p and Lossless dts-HD Master Audio is a factor my choices stand.. Cheers, Marc

I mentioned that in post #9. Most people in the US think Greyhound=Dog Track Racing.

Just be careful and never chase the dogs with a vehicle . Here is a picture of my Greyhound "Maggie" that came off the track seven years ago. She is a great dog. Cheers and Good Luck with your shoot, Marc

Try out how lure savvy the dogs you are working with are. Most Greyhounds will chase a lure no matter what is going on around them. Modern Coursing is usually done with a lure pulled really fast by a winch type device. Coursing also includes changes in the direction that the dog is lured. Use it to your advantage to show of the balance and control the Greyhound has while making turns using its tail as a rudder. A vehicle running in front or from the side may be easier than you might expect. Find a good grassy level field and give it a try using a lure set up. Cheers, Marc

If you go the motorized route plan on speeds around 65-70 KPH with off the line acceleration of a super bike. Cheers, Marc

Hello David, Go through the trouble of getting a good antenna. OTA HDTV blows away any cable, Directv, or Dish compressed, so called HDTV. I have a Sony VPL-V100 SXRD 1080 HT @1080P projecting on a ten foot wide screen. Everything you mentioned is right on the money. Too much diffusion is my most common complaint. Color intensity is number two. Try this link for antenna info. AntennaWeb.org Cheers, Marc

An adjustable magnification ocular may help, but this is all harder in practice than theory. For the little water critters you most likely will be working around 100X. You FOV will be a millimeter or two. Watch using a bright light source unless it is a cold one such as fiber optic. Otherwise you will cook your tiny actors. Set up your camera and see if you can get a sharp image. The diameter of your camera lens shouldn't really make a difference. Most camera adapters contain optics and replace the eyepiece or use the camera port. A USB camera is still your best bet. You get to watch on a monitor as you go moving the micrope stage on the fly as your sample moves. If you can't make it work don't feel bad. Cheers, Marc

What are you looking at on the slides???? The lack of a third port makes it tough. It is also at the center of balance on most scopes. Give it your best shot through the eyepice but the "exit pupil" on the ocular is pretty hard to line up to. Or you can get a USB cam and shoot off the screen. LOL Cheers and Good Luck, Marc

Hello Leigh, Does your microscope have a dedicated third camera port? Hate to say it the easiest way to get moving pictures through a microscope may be a USB video microscope eyepiece that plugs into your computer. Most of them start well under $100 and let you record to the hard drive and then just burn a DVD. The quality is better than you would think. Also remember the running super 8 camera will transmit vibrations to the microscope causing motion at higher magnification. Try to focus in the center of your slide (depth wise) to give yourself some DOF wiggle room. Cheers, Marc

I just watched Robinson Crusoe on Mars(1964) this week also. Criterion did a great job on the transfer. It looked great on a 10 foot wide screen. I am amazed that only four years separated it from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). RCOM had a very '50s feel and look, where 2001 still looks futuristic to me. 2001 deserves a better DVD transfer than what is currently available.

Hello Ruairi, If you are relocating to LA "soonish" the entire southwest US offers virtually limitless locations that would fulfill your needs. You will be close to experienced crew, all the rental gear you can imagine, as well as a multitude of labs and post facilities. Good Luck! Cheers, Marc

Hello Phil, Check out "Queen of Outer Space". The Star Trek look is right out of the movie. Queen of Outer Space Cheers, Marc

Hello Adam, Stick to recessed handles and recessed butterfly latches. Use wire ties to secure the latches and tape extras to the case in the event the TSA inspector is kind enough to replace them. I don't like wheels mounted to the cases. They are easily damaged and seldom large enough to handle the outdoors. We found that TSA was never able to correctly reclose a Pelican case and we had partially open cases come down the baggage carousal. Good Luck!! Cheers, Marc

I fly gear about 25 round trips from Dallas to Las Vegas a year. I ALWAYS tip the baggage guy who checks me in at he curb counter and I NEVER get hit the up charge. So far. LOL BTW- Pelican cases are still pretty heavy.

Good guys. I have cases that have flown hundreds of times. ATA flight cases get heavy quickly. Mitch is right. Think about two smaller cases for easier carry, and airline weight limits. Hybrid Cases

What makes the "Action Genre"? Car chases? Explosions? Gun fire? Big stunts? A script that makes sense and involves the audience so they care about what's going on? Quite a few Sci-fi, Drama, Thriller, War, Western, and Mystery films get thrown in the "Action Genre" IMHO. What do you think? Cheers, Marc