Bullets 'n' Babes

Optimum

Synapse

Optimum

Synapse

Optimum

Synapse

Optimum

Synapse

Absolutely no contest, that is unless the open-matte 4:3 was the intended ratio. I doubt it though, as it's highly likely that Bill Lustig supervised the transfer.

the open-matte seems far too dark

Yeah, Synapse easily emerges victor.

The film was released theatrically so I would presume it was shown at 1.85.

The 4:3 open-matte reveals extraneous space.

Croptastic, but better looking. Shame they dont offer both versions on the dvd.

You do realise Romero that open-matte films are supposed to be cropped?

Depends on the film and the director. Some are not suposed to be, some are, some are just done wrongly, we dont know for sure most the time and some do look better uncropped. But wont get into that, its a personal thing each to their own Reminds me of Super 35 and the hell that can produce with 5 different cropped versions.

For instance that 2nd cap the widescreen cap looks way to tight to the cops chin, open it a little more and that problem would have much better delt with and we would see what he was acctually doing on the desk. Not as much on the top mind you, but hey.

You've got a point about cap 2, it does look tight, But caps 1/3 are ideal.

Super35 is a giant pain in the arse.

Yup Super 35 irratates me more than any other format.

Fingers crossed Maniac Cop 2 gets the treatment too, as hell its a good film. Not even sure I have seen Maniac Cop 3.

Part 3 isn't bad for a schlocky DTV sequel.

Plus points: Robert Davi - the best actor to appear in the trilogy - and a terrific final stunt sequence in which an engulfed Maniac Cop (a stuntman on fire for what seems like 10 mins!) chases an ambulence at high speed in a stolen cop car. Mental.

I'm liking this new transfer.