Moonwalker versions

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Moonwalker versions

Postby Jason_Hall » 03 Jun 2018 05:33

Hi everyone.

I'm trying to determine which version of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker to buy. According to the comparison page, they're all identical.

I was wondering if the 2 versions listed on Amazon UK have the cuts listed at movie-censorship.com: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=224122

First version (4 April 2005): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moonwalker-DVD ... 0035KESBE/ - More languages and subtitles
Second version (19 June 2006): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Jackso ... 0009F68R0/

The R1 version on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Jackson- ... 0033TJATW/) lists an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 so I'm assuming it's the same as the other versions.

It's a shame that there's no anamorphic widescreen version.
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Re: Moonwalker versions

Postby Brent_Reid » 03 Jun 2018 18:15

Hi Ryan, sadly your choices are very simple: uncut, open matte DVD or cut BD. I have both. As the comparison states, the DVD alterations are only to the opening logos, not the film itself. Pretty standard stuff for reisssues of older films nowadays. Consider yourself lucky: while being released just about everywhere else, the US doesn't yet have Moonwalker on either format!

Jacko's home video back catalogue is in an absolutely shocking state and there's sign of it being improved anytime soon. If you want to collect his music videos properly you have to do so via a large assortment of substandard imports and promos.

His video back catalogue easily has the potential to be the most lucrative of any musician ever. All his videos from at least the Thriller era onwards were shot on 35mm film. Apart from the ones extracted from Moonwalker, they were all finished on SD video. This means the original elements would all have to be scanned and re-edited in HD, then any special effects recreated in HD, as was done for Star Trek: The Next Generation. It's a very lengthy and costly process but completely justified in Jacko's case, both artistically and commercially.

I don't understand why this hasn't been done yet; it's certainly not a rights issue: everything from the mid-1970s onwards from both him and the Jacksons resides with Sony, who have been busy exploiting the f*ck out of his music back catalogue since he died. Who knows: perhaps last year's 3D conversion of Thriller might herald the beginning of something happening...
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Re: Moonwalker versions

Postby Jason_Hall » 03 Jun 2018 20:01

Thanks for the info, Brent!

100% agree. MJ's catalog really does need to be properly brought into the 21st century. Considering how iconic he was/is, you'd think it would've been done by now!
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