New PHANTASM "Sphere Collection" (new 4K transfer for II & new bonus content) – October 2019

Has anyone watched the phantasm II disc yet? If so can you confirm what's additional? There were multiple scenes cut, but I'm hearing reports only the sphere to the head scene has been re-inserted, not the additional scenes when the sphere enters the guys back? Can anyone confirm?

 

Patience, Daniel-san. I got suckered by Anchor Bay and bought the mega-giganto Halloween boxset, repurchasing MANY of the exact discs I already had, because the H6 Producer's Cut was "exclusive" to the box. Of course, its soon appeared as a standalone release that was under $10 at Amazon during the pre-order period. I think it was about 12 months after the release of the box.

I also want the upgraded Phantasm II, but I'm sticking with my Arrow set. This disc will appear somewhere in the next year.

 

I also have the Arrow set and am very pleased with it. I wouldn’t MIND the new set, but I’m fine waiting for a stand alone of part 2. What’s annoying is going on the bluray.com message board and seeing the crazies argue, and bicker, over bullshit like this. It’s pathetic. I appreciate how much more laid back this site is. Everyone here is usually reasonable and respectful.

 

It's the "X-Rated" footage that the MPAA made them cut originally. It doesn't run much longer a few seconds, but the film is now the fully uncut original Director's Cut as Coscarelli intended.

I watched the disc last night, and this new 4K remaster is a big improvement over the old HD transfer.

There's more than just that one new disc in this set however. The first Phantasm film has a new Atmos track, the new Coscarelli commentary, new Angus B/W flashback footage remaster in HD, and there's the new feature-length Ravager documentary on the 5th bonus disc. Plus at least a couple of new Easter Eggs.

If you want the doc (I actually really liked Ravager) on the Bonus disc, I doubt it'll be available outside of this set.

 

Some comparisons here between the many editions: http://www.dvdexotica.com/2017/05/the-battle-for-ultimate-phantasm-epic.html

 

How bad is the audio dropout on the 4.0 audio on Phantasm 2 that people are talking about Kat?
I wonder if WellGo is going to address it or we're just stuck with a defective disc.

 

To be honest, I didn't even watch it with the 4.0 track. I'd heard about the dropout issues before, and just decided to watch it with the 5.1 track instead.

 

I'm sure there's some sensible, level-headed discussion taking place over at blu-ray.com.

 

I mean, any sort of disc playback issue is both irritating and unprofessional on the company releasing it. I'm surprised how often issues come up, especially with labels like Shout.
Those Blu-ray.com guys can be on another level though lol. Definitely a level-headed bunch

 

Those crybabies on bluraydotcom might get us a free replacement.

 

lolol I live for the drama on there sometimes.

~Matt

 

Looks like it's fully in stock at diabolikdvd. It's now or never for those of you that really want it.

https://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/phantasm-limited-edition-sphere-well-go-usa-blu-ray/

 

Arrow is finally releasing a standard edition of the Phantasm box set. UNFORTUNATELY, it looks like it is missing the new 4K remaster of Phantasm II. God damn it!

 

It will eventually surface in a single-disc edition. Keep the faith.

 

I don’t want to buy the movie a third time on blu. If it exists then it should be included in the box set. I already have the individual Well Go discs and the Shout release of II. I was hoping to upgrade to the Arrows and be done with it.

 

FYI - the Sphere Collection is dwindling fast, or somehow came back in limited numbers at Best Buy. I decided to take the plunge only to find out there is "1 Left in Stock" at random Best Buys, but only available through curbside pickup. I grabbed one in NH (I've been travelling between 2 two houses in CT and NH since COVID-19) and it was in decent shape, but it was obvious someone opened it because the circular tape tab seals were broken, the cardboard boxing was about an 1/2" torn on the top flap and that area where the Blu's live on the bottom. And honestly man, could they have come up with a worse design to get these Blu's out of the box? In this scenario some dummy definitely gorilla fingered it to get it out. Other than that, a couple of very light indentations on the top from the stupid security strap, a small random crease or two, but everything else was fine. Since it was obvious someone opened and returned the set, the manager at curbside knocked $25 off if I wanted to keep it. Deal! For $74.99 (no tax in NH) I can live with a box that was an A-/B+ at worst.

This all transpired two days ago. Today I drove to CT and noticed there was one in stock about 15 minutes from my house. Out of pure curiosity, I called them directly and spoke to a very nice girl who was managing the store that day and told her my story to basically see if the one they had left in stock was in any better shape. She grabbed it and said, "it looks like someone carefully slit the tape tab seal, and there is a tiny crease on one corner you can barely see. Other than that it looks perfect, and I understand it's collectible piece so I know how not to steer you wrong here." Long story short, she let me swap it out, and now I have the set, sphere, box, etc. that is pristine, in my opinion, for $74.99. Nice!

I have to say the sphere is pretty cool for what it is. Now, why someone conceivably opened it only to return it, I have no idea. Just to play with the sphere? On a quest for the perfect sphere whatever that is? I dunno.

Take away here is, if you have a Best Buy nearby and have thought about grabbing this not minding a little imperfection in the boxing, you can probably get one and with a nice discount. And honestly, we are all taking the sphere out of the box for display, putting the digibook with our other Blu's and tossing this box in an other box until the day you move, sell or die so who cares. I wonder if these random Sphere Collections left are all returns, and they just randomly shot one out to some stores here and there? Or am I luckily just coming in at the buzzer? Now time for Phantasm II

 

Have you checked the discs to make sure they weren't swapped out with the previous set's discs? The new discs have white lettering on a black background. The old discs have sphere art with blood speckling.

 

Exactly. There were posts on other forums back when the new set was released that people were buying the new set, taking out the "updated discs" and putting them in their older Blu-ray set ... and then returning the new boxset with the "old discs" replaced into it.

That's my guess as to what occurred.

Those people are assholes BTW.

 

Thankfully, all my discs are jet black with white lettering. They match the font and such within the digibook case which was very crisp when I opened it for the first time, so that’s not what’s going on here. OMG, can you imagine? That is horrible folks are doing that.

Let’s all send our spheres to attack them and suck the blood out of their brains - lol.

People may also just be ripping all the discs, or the updated ones, then returning it? I still say some losers are looking for perfect spheres. Or playing with them then mommy made them return it because it was too expensive. Haha.

 

Heh, could be any of those too. Better check for stray pubic hairs that fell in the box. We can DNA the fucker!

Glad you at least didn't get gypped with the old discs...