So, sitting in my hands right now is a copy of the brand new Gold Box edition of David Lynch's Twin Peaks. My verdict? While it's not quite comprehensive - none of the features prepared specifically for the original Season One box are included here - it is pretty damn close and by far the best release ever given to the classic television series. It features the excellent remastered transfers used in the initial DVD releases accompanied by the original 2.0 audio track and a 5.1 audio track created under the supervision of Lynch himself. Included are every episode of the series, including the hard to get pilot episode, which is here in two distinct versions: the US broadcast version and the European stand alone version. The lack of the pilot episode has plagued earlier North American releases and its inclusion here is enough on its own to make this worth an upgrade. While the menu systems are still not up to the standards of the Artisan season one release they are a significant step up from the CBS season two set.
Features? You bet. The Log Lady intros are included for every episode along with all the on air promos, Kyle McLachlan's Saturday Night Live appearance, the music video for Julee Cruse's Falling, the complete series of Twin Peaks themed Georgia Coffee ads created during the height of the show's popularity in Japan, four deleted scenes, an interactive guide to the actual locations used and, most importantly, a pair of lengthy, original features prepared just for this release. There's a half hour of discussion between Lynch, McLachlan, Madchen Amick and John Wentworth plus the feature length Secrets From Another Place covering the development and creation of the show. It's good stuff, all of it, and the only possible argument you could make against it is that a commentary or two would have been nice, though the chances of Lynch ever doing one of those for any of his work is pretty much nil.
Don't forget the selection of collectible postcards!
Mine arrived last night and I gloried in the pilot -- last seen on a crappy disk from somewhere in Asia. I've watched the pilot at least a half dozen times, but it still holds up as a powerfully moving piece of work.
I'd never seen the international version of the pilot, so I just watched the alternate ending after watching the original ending. All I can say is: how bizarre! Have to watch it a few more times, I guess.
Now I'm off to watch another episode or two before dreaming the night away...
can we get screenshots of the menus? i was so incredibly disappointed with the season 2 menus that i don't even want to contemplate buying this gold version until i see exactly what i'm getting. if the menus have motion could we maybe see those as well?
*spoiler
oh and concerning the pilot is it the broadcast version where jacoby picks up the necklace or the one with bob in the basement? i just want to know because that one where andy is playing the trumpet and coop and harry find bob in the basement of the hospital is kinda lame.
Away from home at the moment and don't have the discs with me but I'll try and remember to cap the menus when I get back. They're not as good as the Artisan disc but better than the S2 set.
And it's got both versions of the pilot so you can pick your poison.