this 3-pack is great. I am a big fan of all of these movies and was happy to see it. I had "Domino" on dvd but was happy to get a blu-ray version. Much crisper. "Point of No Return" is a print transfer. It's BEAUTIFUL. Just a solid transfer. "Long Kiss Goodnight" is also pretty sharp. you do start to see film grain and little bit of digital noise, but overall, it's a fine enough transfer, considering they didn't put much effort into its packaging even when it first came out. I recommend getting this three pack.
NEW Schneider CINE-XENAR III Lens 18mm, Arri PL-Mount
Aug 01, 2022
A Great Mid-Cost Professional Grade lens
Introduced around 2013, these lenses didn't seem to get the love to noted brands such as Cooke or Zeiss. If I were to compare the image quality, they are closer to Cooke than Zeiss. This lens boasts zero breathing and smoother contrast than the Zeiss. To me, this is kinder to talent. The 18mm is a tiny bit slower then the others in the set at T2.2. For 18mm I saw very little distortion at the edges.
The lens itself is ruggedly constructed. Markings are clear. I still shoot on film and this lens won't fit on certain film cameras. Fits the Arriflex 35BL4, the Moviecam Compact but NOT the Arriflex 35-3. The side motor panel gets in the way of the size of the barrel. Also the focus ring is recessed deep near the foot of the camera body, which makes it trickier for a follow focus. Seems to be designed for smaller remote focuses.
Also, I felt it would be nice to find a UV filter that could protect the front element. But a 100mm filter thread has proven to be difficult to find for cheap. Just a sticky point.
Oct 07, 2012
Left Me Filling In The Gaps
The book that I received was in great condition, so the review I'm giving is for the content alone. The problem with Maureen's book is that you can almost sense that she's still trying to be Marcia Brady. Which she doesn't deny. It's a character that was both a blessing and a curse. But it seems that she has finally embraced it. However, being that her past life is being atoned for, there is still something missing from this book. Because you tell the truth, doesn't mean you bend it to save some from embarrassment. It leaves a lot of readers who go for these types of read feeling empty. The behind the scenes stuff seem to gloss over other details of the Brady Bunch lore. And I think that is to be expected, since she can only report what she was privy to. What is strange, though, is that she does have a mean streak. Some salacious stories she'd throw out there like bait and then leave it for us to fill in the blanks. That's really tough to go with since we expect Maureen to either be a hardcore drug/sex addict uncontrollable weirdo, or a sweet girl next door. The fact that she balances both is harsh, since these were the girls you truly did hate when you were in high school.
Overall the read is brisk, with great images. I think the stories with her parents and questions that linger about her relationship with father & brother seem to dissolve any reconciliation (a sad note). And if you're not a "Brady Bunch" fan, a lot of this will be not as interesting. She bounces around too many topics too much. And the timeline sometimes gets confusing (as I'm sure it was for her). It's okayl.