Received my copy of this at the weekend.The disc itself carries no extra features,consisting only of scene select and subtitles.I was hoping this film would really benefit from the blue-ray treatment but,alas, this is a mixed-bag of a release.
The first thing is that,to my horror,the packaging states a 4:3 aspect ratio.Luckily this appears incorrect as the film appears to be 2.35:1.The quality varies from very good to grainy and dirty in some shots.This is still,probably,the best the film is likely to look since I doubt there is a better master copy to be had.Audio fares much the same and is a plain stereo format.
The film appears region free as it will play on an American PS3.Somewhat disappointed but at least I can add it to my collection.

I ordered this ages ago from play.com but it still hasn't been sent... where did you order it?

*edit* found it on amazon.co.uk - ordered it and cancelled the play.com order.

The DVD was non anamorphic with horrid picture quality.

In addition to Capricorn One, two of Hyams' films that I would like to see receive HD treatment would be 2010 and Outland. Both movies received terrible standard DVD transfers (non-anamorphic) and really deserve a proper presentation even if it means only releasing them in brand new special edition SD DVDs.

2010 has an HD master somewhere I think, I've seen it running on HDNet Movies.

Agree on Outland, a pretty good flick few have heard of. And Capricorn One has always been a fave of mine.

MEC2

I also agree that all 3 of these would be hd purchases of mine. Was there a laserdisc of Outland ever created. I seem to remember getting this before the beginning of the end of laserdiscs and must have traded it in at some point. Excellent movie that none of my friends have ever heard of.

Was there a laserdisc of Outland ever created.

Yes.

http://www.dvdlaser.com/search/detail.cfm?ID=17954

Indeed, and the laserdisc lives on in the Warner DVD, which uses the exact same atrocious non-anamorphic transfer.

Indeed, and the laserdisc lives on in the Warner DVD, which uses the exact same atrocious non-anamorphic transfer.

Unless you live in the UK or Region 2 land, where the 16:9 transfer is fresh and looks great -- far better than the US DVD.

As far as CAPRICORN ONE goes it's taken from the same master as the UK Special Edition DVD. It's OK but is barebones to a tee.

Sadly the sound isn't even PCM -- just plain, boring 2.0 Dolby stereo. Even the US DVD's 5.1 track sounds better.

What's more, NONE of the extras from that Special Edition were ported over, including the trailer and 50 minutes of rough production footage. :(

The MPEG2 transfer is a hair better than the R2 PAL DVD but if all you are used to is the old non-anamorphic US DVD, it's a huge upgrade and is worth it. It's just too bad this disc doesn't deliver as much as it could have.

I ordered mine from Bensonsworld, 14.99 GBP delivered to the US.

Thread bump but my wife LOVES this film and was salivating at the idea of a good version. Is it going to come out here possibly or is it worth importing?
Thanks! d

The MPEG2 transfer is a hair better than the R2 PAL DVD

Really? I remember seeing the UK DVD back in 1999/2000 and being excited until I saw some very bad reviews. Is it really no better (or was there a re-release?), because I'd be happy if the Blu-ray was at least DVD standard, rather than sub-DVD standard that I heard the UK DVD was.

Ooooooowh. Outland. Ya, bring it on.

Ooooooowh. Outland. Ya, bring it on.

yep, great film.

Really? I remember seeing the UK DVD back in 1999/2000 and being excited until I saw some very bad reviews. Is it really no better (or was there a re-release?), because I'd be happy if the Blu-ray was at least DVD standard, rather than sub-DVD standard that I heard the UK DVD was.

The Blu-Ray is miles ahead of the UK PAL DVD.

Thanks, Danny

Listed at Xploited now:
http://xploitedcinema.com/catalog/capricorn-bluray-p-13540.html

In addition to Capricorn One, two of Hyams' films that I would like to see receive HD treatment would be 2010 and Outland. Both movies received terrible standard DVD transfers (non-anamorphic) and really deserve a proper presentation even if it means only releasing them in brand new special edition SD DVDs.

Electone, I agree. Love both those films, heck, even like The Presidio!

Would be great to see both 2010 and Outland in HD.

Good Review-

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=32412

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510AIW5OOCL._SS500_.jpg

Thanks Spizz, I have no trouble believing what a hash ITV have made of the box art, they seem to have the same approach to that as they do to television production. Thank god they managed to produce a seemingly decent A/V product, even more astonishing given the supposedly poor PAL DVD they released about 10 years previously.

awesome! early b'day present for the wife!

Wel, well, The Eeagle Has landed in K-town this day and it brought along a copy of Capricorn One. That's 2-nite's double feature!

It's insane not to use PCM for the sound on films like this. I just want to physically beat the morons responsible for these decisions.

I'm mildly disappointed in Capricorn One. I wasn't expecting it to look pristene but there were bunches of times where motion wasn't smooth. It looked like there were lost frames. Maybe it's my my Panasonic 30 player? I got the same thang but even more frequently on The Eagle Has Landed. ITC, hmnnnnn.....

I'm gonna play the disc again on one of my other players and see what happens.

I'm mildly disappointed in Capricorn One. I wasn't expecting it to look pristene but there were bunches of times where motion wasn't smooth. It looked like there were lost frames. Maybe it's my my Panasonic 30 player? I got the same thang but even more frequently on The Eagle Has Landed. ITC, hmnnnnn.....

I'm gonna play the disc again on one of my other players and see what happens.

It's your player. I had the same issue on my old Samsung 1000 but both movies play without skipping frames on my new Pioneer.

Looks like ITV is coming up with a couple of other nice releases in June. Play.com is listing The Boys From Brazil, Escape To Athena, Black Narcissus and Great Expectations (most likely the Lean version) with a June 16th release date.

It's your player. I had the same issue on my old Samsung 1000 but both movies play without skipping frames on my new Pioneer.

Yeah, I had a Samsung 1000 that played motion hop-scotch. This is more subtle than that. It's discouraging as hell to be going through this yet again. I'll call Panasonic this week.

Now that I installed firmware 1.6, Capricorn One and The Eagle Has Landed play just fine. Next, I'll be gunning for The Boys From Brazil....that ole Laserdisc needs a replacement!

Really? I remember seeing the UK DVD back in 1999/2000 and being excited until I saw some very bad reviews. Is it really no better (or was there a re-release?), because I'd be happy if the Blu-ray was at least DVD standard, rather than sub-DVD standard that I heard the UK DVD was.

There was a re-release. Network released a fully restored R2 DVD of CAPRICORN ONE over a year ago. This BD disc is derived from the exact same master as that DVD, obviously boasting a crisper (though not dramatically superior) transfer but none of the extras as that regular release contained.

I never saw the 1999 UK DVD transfer but I'm guessing it was the same as the disc that was released in the U.S. years ago, which was a non-anamorphic widescreen transfer. The only benefit that DVD had was a 5.1 audio track that's still probably better than the BD release (though obviously with a far, far INFERIOR transfer).

This is the best this movie ever looked. I doubt they'll release this in the US, especially during President season...

Thanks Xploited!

gravy, your comment reminded me of Bugs bunny.
"Rabbit season"
"President Season"
"Rabbit season"
"President Season. shoot!"
Bam!

(feel free to replace rabbit and president with Democrats or republicans)