Is it "bare bones" or does it contain some good extras?
It is, in fact, "bare bones", but it is complete and with Jerry's end title music after each part. The transfer and Mono sound are fine - had no problems with that. It also mentions on the back of the DVD box about Goldsmith's emmy win and Morton Stevens' nomination (in small print, at the bottom)...:-)
I happily purchased it last week but haven't had a chance to watch yet. Transfer is good?
As I wrote in my column this week, the transfer is decent enough...shows its age but it's more than passable. We've seen similar productions treated worse.
No extras of any kind, but at least they preserved the original multi-part structure with separate credits, etc.
Here’s something that’s always puzzled me: when the MASADA LP came out I noticed that the poster art on the back of the sleeve said the film was in Panavision. This was repeated on the later CD insert. Not, “Filmed with Panavision Equipment”, but, “Filmed in Panavision”. What’s the story there? Why would it say that about a made-for-TV miniseries?
Here’s something that’s always puzzled me: when the MASADA LP came out I noticed that the poster art on the back of the sleeve said the film was in Panavision. This was repeated on the later CD insert. Not, “Filmed with Panavision Equipment”, but, “Filmed in Panavision”. What’s the story there? Why would it say that about a made-for-TV miniseries?
The Panavision credit is often confusing. It was originally an anamorphic lens designed for projection at 2.35:1. In the 70's Panavision lenses also started being used for the standard 1.85:1 ratio and credits would sometimes say "Lenses by Panavision" but they would also sometimes say "Filmed in Panavision". I often remember seeing films in the '70s advertised as being filmed in Panavision and being surprised that they were projected at 1.85:1.
Some TV shows, such as Masada, have continued this practice of sometimes referring to them being filmed in Panavision when they have been intended for showing on TV as 1.33:1. The fact that Masada received a limited theatrical release (probably as an afterthought) has nothing to do with it and the prints presumably derived from cropping the 1.33:1 TV showing.
I watched Ep 1 of the Masada DVD last night. I'd never seen the series but was looking forward to it, due to the epic nature and the casting - and of course the music.
It wasn't quite how I thought it was going to be but still enjoyable. What struck me is that although there was a bit of blood, it wasn't like the series Rome (I only saw a bit of Rome) and I must say, I prefer Masada - not that it's the same story but that it is about Romans - because a) they use less bad language, graphic violence and sex to tell their story and b) the music's better!
Also, I thought the opening aerial shot of Masada would give rise to the glorious main theme but then we just see shots of the modern day soldiers taking a cable car and marching to the peak and the big - although overdubbed with narration - music's impact is lessened and it doesn't work over the footage. Maybe the next ep will be different.
I've only got Masada on LP - now someone has expressed interest in the series by releasing a complete DVD set, can a complete CD be far behind?
You're right: MASADA has much better music than ROME.
I finished watching the 4 episodes last week and what struck me is the sheer number of Goldsmith cues in episodes 1 & 2 still begging for proper release. Although Goldsmith constructed a well rounded choice for his London re-recording, when will we be able to listen to these great action cues at the begining? Or the haunting music underscoring Flavius Silva's remembering his late wife? That's truly great stuff. The show still holds up: it's well researched, full of informative details about Roman politics and paraphernalia. I'd be curious to see how modern-day audiences react to this show.
Morton Stevens' scoring also shines in the last episode with many standout cues.
Let's hope some 2CD release gets the greenlight eventually...
because a) they use less bad language, graphic violence and sex to tell their story and b) the music's better!
And I prefer ROME for exactly the same reason.
Masada's music is better of course, but wouldn't fit the dirty and harsh authenticity of ROME. I wonder, would an "old-timer" like Goldsmith be able at all to find a musical approach to disillusioned shows like Rome or Deadwood?
I hate to ressurect an old topic, BUT is there a link to an available quality complete/whole version of Masada on DVD or BluRay? Or are there perhaps plans by someone to revisit & remaster this for hi-def release?
Just listened to my Masada score, and I remember how much I enjoyed the series itself, the bits I can remember.
Hey, Warlok, it has actually been reissued but is still, like the previous DVD, missing some footage. Apparently minor edits but still not complete. Here it is for far less generally than the out-of-print version: