Customer Reviews

HELP! ( 2DVD)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Everyone knows the film and loves it, that's why we're here checking it out on this page. Most likely, you're deciding between this regular version and the Deluxe Edition. Let me tackle this dilemma first...

When I first read about the Deluxe Edition, I thought the price would be around $50 like most other Deluxe Edition DVDs out there. At $95, this is way too much for what they're offering. Yes, you get all this:

- a reproduction of Richard Lester's original annotated script

- 8 lobby cards

- poster

- 60-page book with rarely seen photographs and production notes from the movie

... but unless they are signed by at least one Beatle, I wouldn't pay that much. Yes, Richard Lester's annotated script is great, but wait awhile and you'll probably find a reproduction online sometime. The lobby cards and poster are great, but those are not the main reasons for the price inflation. The 60 page book would seem to be the main reason for the price hike, but look at other Beatles books out there. The paperback version of The Beatles Anthology has 368 pages, weighs 2.2 pounds, and has over 1,300 photographs. The price? LESS THAN A THIRD of what this Deluxe Edition of Help is going for.

Yes, all these extras are nice, but it's not worth the price, and I'm a huge Beatles nut who buys everything they make.

At this moment, I'm going to buy this regular edition which has been restored with great picture and a 5.1 soundtrack. Plus, the second disk has great extras (could be better if they had Paul or Ringo commenting) that will suffice. I didn't give it five stars simply because I think A Hard Day's Night is their 5 star effort, and although Help and this DVD package is great, it's not as good as A Hard Day's Night. If you have a choice, go for the regular edition of Help. Especially for the price.

All I've got to say is, "When can we expect the LET IT BE dvd?"

I actually expected this release back in '05 with some anniversary promo, but I'm wondering about the movie screen format. From industry research, I've read from several sources that all the original acetates were all cut down for 1:33 full-screen format for TV distribution in the late '60s. I do find that hard to believe, since library masters are seldom ever touched except to produce copies, so I'd be interested to see whether it's true 'wide-screen' or just additional trimming. Anyone with actual knowledge, please fill us in.

Also, since it was reported that all the extras and 'behind-the-scenes' footage was tossed out during a restructuring of the UA film library, I'm estatic to hear the Wendy Richard scene was somehow salvaged. Let's hope the music isn't cranked up like it was in the 'Hard Days Night' DVD release ~ TERRIBLE idea on the studio's part.

As for the film itself, despite it's few obvious shortfalls, the cinematography is beautiful, the boy's natural charm still shine tremendously, and it's musical sequences are the Beatles' best by far. It's simply a fun, light-weight romp. Would it be THAT HARD to have at least ONE Beatle commentary on this...?

Here's hoping 'Magical Mystery Tour' gets a proper redo and release..!

Will this have an actual, legitimate 5.1 mix, or will it have a fake, not-even-true-stereo 5.1 mix like the A Hard Day's Night fiasco?
(The 5 star rating is for what this product could be, of course; the system insists you give a rating for something you can't have seen or heard yet!)