Dilemma!

[Phil]

I have a $50 gift card (xmas gift) for Best Buy, which is a music/movie/electronics store here in the states…not sure if they’re overseas as well.

Anyway, my plan was just to use it periodically when a new CD or something comes out that I want…but I noticed today that they have the complete DVD set of Monty Python’s Flying Circus for $79. Hmm…

This would normally be a no-brainer (paying only $29 for every episode of Flying Circus is an easy decision to make) except for the fact that I already own the VHS edition…but it’s 1,200 miles away in New Jersey.

Do I buy the DVDs and just scrap the VHS? Or should I not, and get my VHS versions at some later point? (I’ve already been without them for two years…) And if I DO just keep my VHS versions, won’t I want to update to DVD at some point anyway?

Argh! Advice please.

Topic

[John Hoare]

I’ve heard rumours – and they are only rumours – that they are planning to rerelease them with a load of extras at some point. If you can wait and see whether it happens, I would. It’s the reason I haven’t bought them yet, put it like that.

On the other hand, as you say, you can’t exactly go wrong with that purchase – and you could be waiting a long time, if at all, for the other release. You’ll easily get $29 – or even $79 – worth of viewing out of them in the meantime.

[Phil]

Actually, yes, I remember those rumors. What ever happened with that? I don’t recall hearing any particularly exciting extras, but I DO know that these versions (as were my VHS copies) edited.

Not much, from what I understand, but there is one Gumby sketch missing completely, and another episode which had a bit of the show continuing after the credits just ends after the credits. I don’t think either was intentional…I’m pretty sure it was just that the person doing the transfer wasn’t familiar with the show and expected that when the credits rolled, the show was done being funny.

So…yeah. If the new versions are coming anytime even remotely soon, I guess I should wait. Here’s where anyone with news on this is welcome to come forward…

[John Hoare]

The odd thing is – until very recently, the UK didn’t have proper releases of Python at all – just horrific Best Ofs. It was always pretty weird that the US had the proper episodes released, and the UK didn’t!

So when the episodic releases finally came, I was expecting extras-filled releases, as per the rumours – and we got bugger all. Then, I heard that they were planning to do a boxset with extras – and someone on the Doctor Who Restoration Team forum said that they were involved in extras material for TV Python.

I don’t know more than that. At this point, I’m just waiting and hoping. If a proper version with extras is released, I’ll gladly pay full price for it. If not… I’ll pick up the vanilla DVDs for a fiver each in a few years instead.

[Phil]

Googling has convinced me, for the time being, that the deluxe set, if there’s going to be one, won’t even be officially announced any time soon.

Rats. Because the more I think about those cuts, the more they bug me. If they amount to a total of a full three minutes over the course of all four series I’d be surprised…but just to know something is missing is frustrating enough.

Oh well. I don’t have to decide quite yet. But I’m surprised there’s nothing conclusive out there.

[James]

On the flipside you can get the entire set on Blu-ray Or HD-DVD The next one on the list is Life of Brian. Jan 8th. These would include the missing scenes, ok seprately. But you would have them at now and at a cheaper price than a full boxset.

[Phil]

I stopped by Best Buy a second time (I’m not obsessed…really…I was in the pet shop next door anyway…) and I gave the box a second, much closer look.

One, it’s $74, not $79. So…that’s good. But two: I got so caught up in the fact that there were no really huge special features that I neglected to notice something important: two bonus discs, containing material that the VHS sets didn’t have. To wit: two of the live shows, the Parrot Sketch Not Included clip show (which I adored and literally wore out as a young teen), and the German episodes.

Which means I’ve now decided I’m getting the set. I’d be a fool not to. As stupid as it sounds, watching Parrot Sketch again is going to bring back so many memories for me. In the days before being able to own any Python (outside of the films), that was just a precious commodity for me.

[Arlene Rimmer BSc SSc]

Y’know, I bought that last year (The “16-Ton Megaset”, isn’t it? Sounds like it) and I think it set me back around a hundred twenty bucks.

In sum: You lucky, lucky bastard.

[Phil]

Yep, that’s the box, and I know I’ve seen it priced $100 and over. It’s a good deal on its own, and with a $50 gift card I really would be stupid to pass it by. I’ll pick it up by the weekend, I think. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen Scott of the Sahara.

[Baz]

The lion is in the contract!

[Danny Stephenson]

My hovercraft is full of eels.

[Ian Symes]

My nipples explode with delight!

[James]

If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me? I am no longer infected.

[Danny Stephenson]

I will not buy this record, It is scratched.

[James]

I wish to plead incompetence.

[Danny Stephenson]

Take the fifth!!

[peas_and_corn]

this thread seems to be filled with random phrases.

“As not what your country can do for you, but what your broadband limit is doing to your porn quota”.

I think that’s how he said it…

[Author]

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