One of my favorite movies (some days, just plain "my favorite") is It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. If it's one of yours and you own a Blu-ray player, know this: A Blu-ray edition of that film is being released but not everywhere. It's a Walmart exclusive and you can pre-order a copy here for ten bucks. There are others in this series of only-at-Walmart releases including When Harry Met Sally, A Fish Called Wanda, Legally Blonde and Throw Momma From the Train.
As far as I know, this release of Mad World is exactly the same in terms of running time and scenes included as the currently-available DVD version. Also as far as I know, we are never going to see the kind of fully-restored, just-like-it-was-when-it-first-came-out release about which some Mad World lovers fantasize. Some cut scenes could be restored for a future release if very expensive video work were to be done…but some simply do not exist. Some day soon, I hope to complete a big article listing the actual run times of the various releases and what was cut from each. Based on e-mails I get on the topic, I think some people think a lot more was cut than actually was.
I am not, by the way, ordering a Blu-ray copy because I do not own a Blu-ray player. There are two reasons for this, one being that I have my home video setups all set-up nicely and don't have a burning need to tamper with those arrangements. It would mean finding new inputs and outlets and rack space and…well, I just don't want to rearrange all that again. More importantly, if I were to suddenly decide to go Blu-ray, the following conversation would occur somewhere at the company that decides when it's time to bring out a new format…
"Good news, sir. We've been monitoring his purchases and Mark Evanier has finally ordered a Blu-ray player."
"Finally! Well, keep monitoring. As soon as he has a substantial investment in Blu-ray discs, let me know so we can make them obsolete with one of the many better formats we have waiting. Oh — and I especially want to know when he orders Goldfinger for…how many times will that be?"
"Twenty-eight, not counting the two different Laserdiscs that looked like different releases but were actually exactly the same."
"Excellent."
So I'm doing all of you who have Blu-ray a big favor by not joining your throng. If I did, you'd have to junk your players and all your Blu-ray discs in favor of something new. I'm guessing the next big thing will be either View-Master reels or a slightly fancier version of the Kenner Give-a-Show Projector.