Gamestyle

After the video nasties and the onslaught of VHS over Betamx,and before the arrival of DVD, there was a brief period for the laserdisc format.

Memories of this were bought back to me recently when bringing some Blu Ray discs back into the UK. This wasn't something I had done since the days of laserdiscs. You can read about the format and its issues elsewhere, but for fans of film quite often it was the true source for the best available version. Throw in that the discs were not encrypted as such, and you could easily enjoy a vibrant picture on a tape.

The market for LD's ended pretty soon after the arrival of DVD. Shortly after that, like many others, I sold my collection and cumbersome player (which was elephant sized) to invest in the new market. LD's had an affinity with LP's and vinyl in terms of physical stature and their attraction. Nothing beats a laser disc in full movie sleeve, many were gatefold editions with extra discs and material not found elsewhere. Even today, some 'cult' (jeez I hate that phrase) films have not made the transition to DVD, making the LD a vital source.

The reason why I reflect on this is I've finally obtained a version of The Keep, directed by Michael Mann and it seems lost forever after VHS & the LD editions. I'll reflect on the film itself in a videonasty piece later, but its funny how things come around full circle. The staff at GS are looking forward to seeing this film I've gone on about for years, tomorrow evening in our matinee season.