[RiffTrax] Merlin The Return (2000) HD Upgrade

[Riffling]

Used the Amazon 1080p WEB-DL for this. 5 scenes were removed in RiffTrax's riff (for no discernable reason) totaling a total of 14 minutes. As such, I've created an uncut version and "riffcut" version. The colors on this WEB-DL are very 2000's when we started leaning yellow/green.

1080p 1.92GB Uncut: https://mega.nz/file/52pRwRqB#EC8nkaVJa1...F2svrgNeks
1080p 1.51GB Riffcut: https://mega.nz/file/dngxjRKZ#2oEpL1lA3e...EYzTzBbRKk

Comparison screenshot (right click and open in new tab for full image):

[Torgo]

Wow thanks once again Riffling!  I gotta say, lots of folks are working hard on these upgrades.  The comparison on this one is very interesting.  The upgraded version looks like they were trying to cover up the fact that it was a straight to video movie.  Anyway, thanks!

[NotRichBatman]

This is fantastic, thank you 

[Coldyron]

Wow thanks once again Riffling!  I gotta say, lots of folks are working hard on these upgrades.  The comparison on this one is very interesting.  The upgraded version looks like they were trying to cover up the fact that it was a straight to video movie.  Anyway, thanks!

It appears that the RiffTrax version is probably an "Open Matte" version, meaning we are seeing stuff at the top and bottom that would have been covered by the gate on the projector when being shown in a movie theater. The WEB-DL is likely how the movie was intended to be seen (no decent cinematographer would frame the roof and a bit of the car hood in the shot).  They converted a lot of stuff to open matte for video releases in the 4:3 days. The other alternative was pan-and-scan which was even worse. Showing things open matte is usually the reason we see boom mics, etc. in some movies.

[jhs39]

I'm sure anybody who actually watches these on a television instead of their phones really appreciates the upgrades. Thanks as always.

[NotRichBatman]

Very cool insight, thanks for sharing coldyron

[Miss Martian]

Wow thanks once again Riffling!  I gotta say, lots of folks are working hard on these upgrades.  The comparison on this one is very interesting.  The upgraded version looks like they were trying to cover up the fact that it was a straight to video movie.  Anyway, thanks!

It appears that the RiffTrax version is probably an "Open Matte" version, meaning we are seeing stuff at the top and bottom that would have been covered by the gate on the projector when being shown in a movie theater. The WEB-DL is likely how the movie was intended to be seen (no decent cinematographer would frame the roof and a bit of the car hood in the shot).  They converted a lot of stuff to open matte for video releases in the 4:3 days. The other alternative was pan-and-scan which was even worse. Showing things open matte is usually the reason we see boom mics, etc. in some movies.

I was actally about to comment on this. I abhor pan & scan, but I LOVE seeing the open matte.
I'm still looking for the open matte of the V mini-series.
and you're probably right that it was intended to be seen in the format of the web-dl.
But I think the colors look so much better in the open matte print on this one! 

So I was wondering if anyone had the original to share as well?

[BadFilms]

Traknos has the original open matte version up here.

[NexusWraith]

5 scenes were removed in RiffTrax's riff (for no discernable reason) ...

The cuts in their VOD releases is why I don't buy them anymore. Thank you for this.

[Shue]

Thanks for all the work Riffling. I love your upgrades. Keep up the good work. 

One question about the riffcut version of Merlin the Return. When I listen to the actors voices, not MKB, but the actors in the movie; their voices sound like they are doubled. I am assuming you left the original audio in to sync with the riff audio, but never took the original audio out. I could be wrong but the voices sound like they have an echo. 

If anyone else hears this let me know. If not I will assume it was a problem in the downloading and try again. 

Cheers