Remastered version by 20th Century Fox coming in 2014

[stanton]

The 2014 Blu is not that bad. Turn the color down and it mostly should look good. Maybe the colors of your TV are also not correctly adjusted. The standard settings of a new TV are mostly wrong, or at least far from good.

[Novecento]

Yes - I didn't make any adjustments to my TV and it looked really good. I really like the release and with the original mono audio, it's a no-brainer for those who want English dialogue

[Jordan Krug]

Aside from the color, the 4k remaster is flawless in terms of sharpness, grain retention, print damage, flicker, registration. Had they got the color right you couldn't ask for a better transfer. The italian mondo has superb color but suffers from registration problems and digital warping.

[stanton]

after taking the colors a bit back there are still some yellowish whites and some turquose skies in some shots, but it is far from distracting, and I can live with this.

Don't forget the next MGM HD mastering will arrive at about 2019/2020

[dave jenkins]

Are you kidding? There's no way MGM are going to pass the 1966-2016 anniversary (the big 5-O) without issuing something for this title. It's not in their corporate DNA.

[drinkanddestroy]

The italian mondo has superb color but suffers from registration problems and digital warping.

Yeah,  couple of days ago, I just stuck my Mondo BRD into the blu-ray player for the first time, and as I wrote then, it kinda  looks like the old cellphone videos where there isn't a smooth movement (both when people move and when the camera pans), it's like moving step by step, very weird. Is that what you are talking about?

[drinkanddestroy]

Aside from the color, the 4k remaster is flawless in terms of sharpness, grain retention, print damage, flicker, registration. Had they got the color right you couldn't ask for a better transfer. The italian mondo has superb color but suffers from registration problems and digital warping.

Maybe "aside from color, the 4k master is flawless." But color is a huge factor. And I'm not interested in messing around with the colors on my TV. (As mentioned above, the Italian Mondo, while color looks nice, is absolutely useless.)

For me, the best BRD out there is MGM's first BRD. Yes, it's too red; yes, they used DNR to get rid of the grain; no, they don't have mono. But overall it is the best BRD out there (between that, the 2014 Fox version, and the Mondo version). It's better than the piss of the 2014 version and the Mondo is unwatchable as described above, all movement is in steps there is  no smooth movement, that's unwatchable. I am certainly not going to watch the awful piss of the 2014 version just for the mono audio.

IMO, here is what it comes down to:
If you want the extra scenes and will live with the changed audio, then use the MGM SE DVD (probably what I'll be doing).
If you absolutely can't live without mono and don't mind watching an unrestored version, then use the 1998 MGM DVD.
If you wanna hear Frayling's commentary, which is only available on the MGM BRD or the Fox BRD, use the MGM.

If DJ is correct and MGM does release another BRD soon for the 50th anniversary, I'd hope they'd keep the original mono, and for image, keep the colors similar to the MGM SE DVD. Still hoping for a definitive release of one of the greatest movies of all-time.

[stanton]

Are you kidding? There's no way MGM are going to pass the 1966-2016 anniversary (the big 5-O) without issuing something for this title. It's not in their corporate DNA.

They won't release a new version in 2016. It simply too early. But I expect maybe something like a limited Steelcase Special Edition (1.000.000.000 copies only) with a 1034 pages booklet, the screenplay and a collection of 10 - 20 yellow dyed stubbles from Clint's last shave. A must have for any real fan.

[dave jenkins]

They won't release a new version in 2016. It simply too early.

No. Not for this title with its fan base. MGM are gonna be ready to go.

But I expect maybe something like a limited Steelcase Special Edition (1.000.000.000 copies only) with a 1034 pages booklet, the screenplay and a collection of 10 - 20 yellow dyed stubbles from Clint's last shave. A must have for any real fan.

Sign me up! Sign me up!

[Dust Devil]

They won't release a new version in 2016. It simply too early. But I expect maybe something like a limited Steelcase Special Edition (1.000.000.000 copies only) with a 1034 pages booklet, the screenplay and a collection of 10 - 20 yellow dyed stubbles from Clint's last shave. A must have for any real fan.

 

[Cusser]

I expect maybe something like a limited Steelcase Special Edition (1.000.000.000 copies only).

A billion copies?  Even for GBU that's too many !!!

[stanton]

A billion copies?  Even for GBU that's too many !!!

Well it's only the limited release ...

[The clint]

What's GOOD abou this version:

mono soundtrack option
Chritopher Fraylings superb commentary. He deserves the title "Sir"!
Vibrant colors
restored scenes in mono

I really like the release and with the original mono audio, it's a no-brainer for those who want English dialogue

I'd hope they'd keep the original mono, and for image, keep the colors similar to the MGM SE DVD. Still hoping for a definitive release of one of the greatest movies of all-time.

Guys... Hate to break it to ya, but the new BD doesn't contain the original English mono track. The BD mono track is a mixdown of the surround hack-job that was created for the extended version around the year 2003. To my knowledge, every English mono track on an MGM/20th Century Fox release of a Leone film since 2003 has been a mixdown. I think hell will freeze over before MGM/Fox release a Leone BD with an original soundtrack, because that would expose all the inauthenticity the crept into the surround mixes.

Also, a real English mono mix of the extended version The Good, the Bad and the Ugly doesn't exist. The mono soundtrack with English dubbing was mixed only for the International version and we probably won't see that released again either. I still have the 1998 DVD though, the only version I've watched for years, and the only one I'll ever watch from here on.

Here, blu-ray.com acknowledge that the English mono of GBU is a mixdown:

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Man-with-No-Name-Trilogy-Blu-ray/95396/#Review

[Novecento]

I think you are talking about the 3 disc set in which the original mono was not included. However, the most recent US single disc BD release of GBU does contain the original mono track.

[The clint]

Really? None of the reviews I saw indicated that MGM had actually reissued the film with the original mix. In any event, it doesn't include the International Version, even though it would have been the easiest thing in the world with seamless branching. Add to this the dodgy color correction and this release doesn't hold much hope of winning me over.