Transcript: Laurel and Hardy Blu-ray Review: A Christian Perspective

3, 2, 1, 0, 0, and liftoff! Welcome to the Retro Drive-In Podcast with Jason Pastor Jay Larker. Say the secret word and divide $100. It's a common word, something you find around the house. We want to thank all our sponsors for their help in making this podcast possible. The African Queen. Humphrey Bogart. Boy, was he lost. Hey, hey, bogey. Now let's rewind the tape and join Pastor Jay for some retro entertainment talk on the Retro Drive-In Podcast. Greetings, classic cinema and TV fans. This is Pastor Jay here with you on the Retro Drive-In Podcast. We thank you for joining us once again. This is our second of the new podcasts, the Retro Drive-In Podcast, and we want to thank you for joining us. This is the sleek edition. We don't spend hours on end talking, but we want to bring you the best quality, the best content in the smaller amount of spaces so that you can hear what we have to say and move on. And so that's what we're doing here on the Retro Drive-In Podcast. And today we're talking about Laurel and Hardy. Shine on, shine on, harvest moon up in the sky. I ain't had no loving since January, April, June or July. Snow time, tame old time to stay outdoors and spoon. Shine on, shine on, harvest moon for me and my girl Dan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, probably one of my favorite comedy teams. I love them, and they're just so iconic. They have become icons over the generations because of their unique way. They're just so well done Everything that they did throughout the generations With all their different films They were so amazing Now today what we're doing We're focusing on one brand new release That's a little bit older Not too brand new It's been out for just a little bit It came out earlier this summer as we're recording this. But it's the newest release, and it is an amazing one. Now, Laurel and Hardy have been released in so many different ways. You get box sets like Laurel and Hardy, like this. Box sets of movies of Laurel and Hardy. Also, you get double features of Laurel and Hardy, like this. We also have had releases like these, colorized versions of Laurel and Hardy, like Flying Deuces and March of the Wooden Soldiers. These are colorized versions. We have gotten releases such as the Laurel and Hardy Comedy Collection, like this. We have also seen releases like this, the Laurel and Hardy Essentials Collection. So many different releases, but it's time for one more. Now you probably say, why do we need more Laurel and Hardy? Well, it's simple. Because we have yet to get a definitive collection. That is until now with the definitive restorations. Yes. Earth, if you've been watching our videos on our channel, if you're listening to the podcast, you probably haven't been, but if you are watching this video you probably saw that we talked a little bit about the Blu release from Kit Parker Films and MVD Visual They joined forces to bring this amazing collection to us, but you probably saw a little bit about that. Maybe you checked out the full written review. If you haven't, be sure to go to retroac.blogspot.com and search out Laurel and Hardy and you'll find the definitive restoration collection right there. It is amazing. We did a full written review, but today we just want to talk about this amazing Blu-ray set. Four Blu-rays on one set, and it is amazing. So this collection here is just spectacular. Now, you don't get every film they ever did. Of course, you couldn't. To restore every single film they did would take years. But we get quite a few amazing films here in this box set here. We want to talk a little bit about them. First off we get the two feature films Which is Sons of the Desert Sons of the Desert was produced in 1933 And it's basically about Stan and Ollie Who want to go to a lodge convention But when they arrive They have to tell their wives they're going to Hawaii Because Ollie is having a nervous breakdown That's the only way they can get to go to the convention. So their wives say, okay, go ahead and go. So they supposedly go to Hawaii, but actually they're at the convention. And little did they know, they were videoed, and their wives find out about it, and they're in trouble. It is such a really cool film, and it's probably the most iconic of the Laurel and Hardy films. It's probably one most people remember, but it is so, so cool. Another one that they're known for is the one called Way Out West. Way Out West was released in 1937, And it's all about Stan and Ollie as they're hired to deliver a deed to a gold mine to a young lady. But they get into trouble with not so kind people that want to steal that gold mine deed. And just another amazing film. These two have been restored. And we have these in so many different collections. of course, so we showed you a little bit of those with some of those. But we have these, but here in this Definitive Restoration Collection, these two look amazing. Absolutely amazing. But beyond that, beyond with these two films, these two feature films, the Definitive Collection goes a step further. They give us so many different classic short films that probably most people know Laurel and Hardy for. 1929, Birthmarks. 1929, The Battle of the Century. 1930, Brats. 1933, Busy Bodies. 1932, The Chimp. 1931, Come Clean. 1932, County Hospital. 1932 Helpmates 1930 the short film Hog Wild 1933 Me and My Pals 1933 Midnight Patrol 1932 The Music Box probably one of the most iconic of the short films that they did, they restored that one as well One Good Turn from 1931 1932's Scram, 1932's Their First Mistake, 1932's Toad in the Hole, and 1933's Twice 2. So this Blu set is absolutely stellar with all kinds of restored short films and two amazing feature films Now the interesting thing is Jeff Joseph and Sabu Pat joined in conjunction with the UCLA Film and Television Archive and the Library of Congress and have restored these films. and they look absolutely stunning in comparison. They've been restored in 2K and 4K, as you can see here. For those of you that are watching the video, if you're listening, you can't see that. But on the box, it says restored in 2K and 4K from the original 35mm nitrate film stock. So amazing stuff. And they got the best quality, the best of the film stock, and then they cleaned it up. They didn't overbrush it and do all this type of stuff. Sometimes when you restore films, you kind of take away the charm of the film by scrubbing all the film grain away. Well, they didn't do that. it still has that grain the film grain which you look for in old classic films, they still have that but they are cleaned up all the specks are taken out or 90% of the specks are taken out and all the dirt and the grime, it's all been cleaned up and it looks absolutely amazing Pansy have a little mercy on me These classic films from Laurel and Hardy are just so amazing. Now, what makes Laurel and Hardy so spectacular is the fact that it is classic comedy. It's classic comedy. Classic comedy doesn't get old. I like to say there's no expiration date on funny. And that's the point. Laurel and Hardy are just iconically funny. I mean, there's no filth in what they say. There's no innuendo that you sit and you go, huh, well, you know, maybe I shouldn't let my kids listen to that because that didn't sound exactly. They don't do that. It's just classic comedy. It's just classic funniness. There's no filth. There's no dirt. There's no nothing. It's just funny stuff. and that's what makes this collection so amazing. Let's delve into the packaging itself. Now, as you see, for those that are watching the video, if you're listening, you'll have to just listen to me, but you get a Blu-ray set, and in this Blu-ray box, when you open it up, you get four discs. You get disc one, disc two, disc three, disc four, And they're in the flipper casing, too, which is nice. Some of the Blu-rays that have come out now, they're stacking them, and a lot of people can't stand that. It's not my favorite way to do it, but if you're careful, you shouldn't have any problems with it. But I'm glad they went with the flipper trays here so that you don't have that issue. Plus when you're stacking them, if you want a specific one, if it's the second one, then you've got to pull that one out and get the second one and put the first one back in. It's just a pain sometimes to deal with, but this one is not that way. Kit Parker Films and MVD Visual went full on strong and really did the best possible type of casing that you can get here. and I'm really loving it. Also with this casing is that these discs are very, very secure because of the way the casing is. When you take the disc out, and for those of you that are looking at the video, you might be able to see there, it is a very thick nodule there that holds this case or this disc. I mean it is very thick so what it is is when you pop that disc in that case there, that ain't coming out. That boy ain't coming out. I mean it secure Some of these you have to really break this holder here to make it to where it would fall out That really cool They went well above and beyond really making this case something special. And I have to say, Laurel and Hardy, this set from Kit Parker Films and MVD Visual, wow, they did a tremendous job. I kind of feel like I'm maybe not explaining myself maybe as good or being as flowery as I should be when I explain this but this is just an amazing, amazing box set I have to say that if you are a fan of Laurel and Hardy if you enjoy Laurel and Hardy films you have got to check this one out it is so, so good If you've never read the full written review, we've got a full written review. It is in-depth, and we go well in-depth with that. Check it out. You can get the link below. I want to complete an honest report from you. I want to thank Kit Parker Films, MVD Visual, and the amazing restoration of Jeff Joseph Sabucat and the UCLA Film and Television and the Library of Congress for doing amazing work at restoring these. these films deserve to be seen for all generations. And sometimes, sadly, with a generation that is all about streaming or all about colorization or color films and, oh, we don't want to watch black and white, and if it doesn't sound the best or if it's not the best video quality, well, we're not even going to touch it. I'm glad they did this because all generations need to experience Laurel and Hardy, the amazing fun that is Laurel and Hardy. They are so iconic. They deserve to be seen for generations to come. And with this release, many of their films will be seen for generations to come. I hope, to be honest with you, we get a volume two of the definitive restorations. Maybe the rest of the films might get released. That would be so amazing throughout the next several years. Maybe get some more definitive restorations and get the rest of the Laurel and Hardy films on DVD or on Blu-ray. You can get it on DVD as well, but yeah, I mean, what an amazing thing. I like it. I like it. We want to thank you for joining us today. Whether you're listening to the audio version or watching the video, whichever the case may be, we thank you for joining us. and be sure to go to retroac.blogspot.com and check out all the amazing content. We put up new stuff all the time. So go there every day. You never know. New reviews, new videos, new podcasts, new stuff all the time. You want to definitely go there because you never know when a new one's coming up. It just happens. Sometimes it's every day. Sometimes maybe not so much every day, But usually it's pretty close to almost every day we put something new up. So be sure to go there every single day. And we want to thank you for joining us today. We want to remind you that if you want to see a great film, check out a classic. And until we see you next time with another podcast, this is Pastor Jay. Wishing you a blessed day. And go check out a classic. See you next time. Bye, everyone. We want to thank you for joining us today on the Retro Drive-In Podcast with Jason Pastor Jay Lockhart. Have you heard the latest about McTavish? What? He don't know. He's living on the roof. Why would he be living on the roof? He heard someone say the drinks are on the house. The drinks are on the house. You know. But we... It's a little late, so good night, folks. Be sure to subscribe to our channel so that you can be notified when new content goes live. Bam. Out of an entry. Thanks again to all our sponsors for their help in making this podcast possible. I'll see you back at the hut Oh no we couldn't leave a poor defenseless girl like you Out alone in this jungle Yeah you need two defenseless men to protect you Remember to join us next time For another retro drive-in podcast With Jason Pastor Jay Lockard