Posted by The Man With No Name on 01/13/60 11:40

"Gary" <GParent@rocketmail.com> wrote in message
news:TabKf.2316$p02.1194@trndny08...
> Re: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
>
> Is the updated with extended video and re-mastered audio worth getting
> over
> the original release on DVD?
>

Firstly, if you do get the updated version, Region 1 is definitely the way
to go (since it includes the original Italian Mono. All the other versions
only have the atrocious 5.1 remix)

As for extras, picture-quality, etc...

Not sure how good or bad the original DVD's picture quality is... but this
one looks pretty darn good. Not one of those 'amazing' restoration/transfers
like on Citizen Kane (but, I wouldn't want the transfer to look too
pristine. This is a gritty with washed out colors and it should look that
way.)

Extras are well worth getting. Plenty of interesting featurettes,
storyboards/reconstructions of lost scenes, etc. etc.

A source of considerable debate is the restored scenes. All but one of
these were on the earlier DVD, but in this case they're re-dubbed and
incorporated into the film, which brings us to the big problem with this
release...

The sound is remixed in 5.1
I've heard that the gunshots in particular are changed quite a bit and if
you're already familiar with the older mono track, this remix will be very
annoying. Also, the remix makes heavy use of the left and right speakers for
dialogue from characters on the left and right side of the screen. If you
have a huge screen with speakers right next to it, this would be fairly
effective, but for most people this is very annoying (you may even find it
necessary to re-arrange your speakers every time you sit down to watch that
particular DVD.)
The deleted scenes, also, are re-incorporated into the film. The scenes
themselves are fine; this is a long, meandering film anyway, so most any
extra material isn't going to affect pacing or anything. But, because it's
re-dubbed many years later by some of the original actors, the change in
voices (especially Eli Wallach (Tuco) who's voice has changed considerably.
Every time he talks in a deleted scene, I think of Don Altobello,) is *very*
distracting.

So, basically, yes, I'd still recommend the new release. You can probably
pick it up at DVDPacific.com for under $15 and if you want to watch the film
in Italian, then it's a far better choice than the original release (not to
mention all those extras) But, definitely hold onto your older release for
the original mono soundtrack.

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