Just a quick one.  Please realise that this is NOT a true widescreen edition.  There never was one!  The closest to a widescreen edition of this film is the Brit released 'reconstructed' which is horribly 'unfinished' looking in places, due to the simple fact that most of the additional 'visible screen' was unfinished!  

This version, as with the original theatrical release, shows black borders at the top and bottom of the screen, where they have cropped, and might I add, a HUGE portion of the visible viewing screen!  If 'recosntructed had just been cleaned up a tad, and those pesky 'new' sound effects ommited, it would certainly be the definitive version.  The only thing I can forsee this 20th anniversary set having going for it will be the special features!

Still, will be pre-ordered and promptly purchased cos I am truly a sad sack!

Darkmimic wrote: Found this in the Transformers Movie entry on Wikipedia:

Despite the fact the the trailer hails the film as "spectacular widescreen action," Transformers: The Movie was actually animated in 4:3 "fullscreen" format (as proven by animation cels acquired by fans and Metrodome's Reconstructed DVD). The feature was vertically cropped to widescreen dimensions for theatrical showings - a practice was frequent with animated films during the 70s and 80s, including those from Disney - and released in fullscreen on home video and DVD. The 20th anniversary release of the movie by Sony, however, will again feature the cropped widescreen presentation.

Yeah, I thought that was what Chris was saying, and what I myself had understood of the film--that there is no such thing as an image with more than the fullscreen version.
Unless some lunatic has made a P&S of the widescreen crop...it'd be better than THAT FS, heh...but I can't imagine anyone taking the time or paying someone to do that, so I'd say it's pretty clear that in this case this widescreen is a crop, period, end of story, and it is SUPPOSED to be.

From what I've read, there never was a traditional widescreen version animated of it.

It was originally animated as fullscreen since they were thinking this was going to be on TV more instead of the theaters.

The widescreen was created by cropping the original fullscreen version of it - just like if they took one of the orginal TV episodes and cropped it for a movie screen.

Thats why the DVD releases of this so far have been in fullscreen only - the widescreen actually takes away from the frame instead of adding to it.

Did I fall asleep and miss the announcement of another UK edition?

Chris summed it up pretty good.   I remember watching this movie in theaters on my birthday almost 20 years ago.   I loved it.

This is a must buy. I can't wait.

Woo Hoo! Yeah! Been waiting for a decent edition! A must for me.

Jonny "Me You" wrote: Woooooooooo! You've made my day with this news Chris. I've b een waiting nearly 20 years for a decent home video version.

By the way, if anyone's missed it, the live action movie's producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura officially announced on G4 yesterday that Optimus Prime WILL be Peter Cullen. My guess is that Frank Welker will be announced as Megatron very soon.

Blurb about it here.

Now you made my day!

Someone got a video camera in to the comic con the other day and got some video from the upcoming release..... its going to be hard to make out from the c**ppy video.  From what I can see, it looks like they brightened the movie a bit from the original, but then again like I said its hard to tell from the video.. anyways take a look..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwQu3Pyc3_8&...

I grew up on the G1 Transformers and always thought the show was cool.  However, after some of the newer incarnations of Transformers, including the CG Beast Wars/Machines, there's one thing that really bothers me about the G1 animation: The robot modes are very generic representations of what they should llok like compared to their vehicle forms and how they transform.  In other words, their robot mode doesn't match up to what they would look like if all the parts were there.

It's about time!

I could not agree more Chris! Fantastic news!

FangsFirst wrote: That artwork DOES suck. But I'll be getting it anyway.
On another note--am I alone in having originally heard that this was to have the soundtrack included on CD?
The very first press release for this reads...
Quote: The 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD includes never-before-seen footage, exclusive interviews, interactive games and collectible packaging. The film features the voice of Orson Welles in his final role, as well as stars Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Casey Kasem, Robert Stack, John Moschitta, Peter Cullen, and Frank Welker. The DVD also features a winning soundtrack featuring the iconic theme "The TRANSFORMERS" performed by Lion, and the popular "The Touch," performed by Stan Bush.
...which could be construed to mean the set contains the soundtrack separately on CD, but in fact is only pointing out that the film itself features a "winning" soundtrack. No big loss...you can still pick up the Scotti Bros. released soundtrack that contains most of the songs in the film for around $10 at most retailers, but the soundtrack containing the film's score is a bit on the rare side since it was never widely released and might be difficult to find. Here's a link for more info on both.

That artwork DOES suck. But I'll be getting it anyway.
On another note--am I alone in having originally heard that this was to have the soundtrack included on CD?

Excellent - hopefully this will come to R2 as well, though the recent release of the Reconstructed version would suggest otherwise...

I hope the soundtrack isn't f**ked up like on the recent R2 release. I read that certain effects were completely changed, even Optimus Primes gun!?

Cool only saw this once when I was 9 yrs old. Now I'm 29 and  WOW how time flys. Cant wait to buy this one, the SPECIAL EDITION of THE TRANSFORMERS. Cant wait for the live action version on July 4, 2007.

Artwork looks off but I only own this as an old used VHS so i'll be sure to pick this up.

This is good news.

About damn time, but yeah, the artwork is unnimpressive.  With all the great Transformers artwork out there from so many sources, they could've done something far more amazing for this.

-NJM

Apparently the image above is just one image that is being used for the DVD as it's supposed to having a transforming cover, whatever that means, but I would imagine it's probably a lenticular cover.

The third version of the movie is supposed to be a popup video type deal with facts and trivia showing up every once in a while during the film.

So we get full screen, 16.9, but what's the third version?

Way too many c**p releases of this film. Hopefully this one will be the definitive edition. Widescreen will be interesting, although I bet a few people moan that part of the image is missing...

i hate that cover.  the original dvd cover is 10x better.


see?

It's about damn time for a Special Edition