F.M.S

And now, a box that I finally got hold of last week (and that at a very pleasant price 😊) allows me to present the announced JOHN CARPENTER'S T H E THING S P E C I A L • This Edition was one of two different Box versions released ( the blue "Classic" one here and the "Modern" green version) as "Deluxe Editions" by TURBINE Media | Universal in March 2019. The one presented her is Cover Version A, which makes maximum use of the iconic Drew Struzan Artwork in a gratifyingly maximal manner... This amazing Box contains comes in a valuable, thick cardboard slipcase and contains: Disc 1 with the Original Cinematic Release based on the 2017 4K Master used for the Arrow Release and new Audio Tracks, which fix some problems of the earlier mixes. • Disc 2 with the Prequel of 2011 • Disc 3 (Bonus Material) consists of four different audio commentaries for the 1982 film and three featurettes with a total running time of 160 minutes for the 2011 prequel and four interviews - including with John Carpenter - with a total length of 70 minutes and further material like the "Fear on Film" conversation between Carpenter, Cronenberg and Landis that runs for half an hour. In addition storyboard-film comparisons, six minutes of unused scenes, and some trailers and promotional clips (four shorter making-of clips as well as the US TV version of the film (94 Minutes) complete this extensive content in the truest sense of the word Also included: Audio Compact Disc with the Original Soundtrack Recording • Art cards • 76-page booklet that contains Campbell's original story script "Who Goes There?" • 128-page history booklet that including production photos, sketches and much more • Film posters and ... • a Jacket Patch ! John Carpenter's unique horror classic that combines the sheer endless expanse of Antarctica with claustrophobic inescapability. Just as @Scary Hair has described so aptly for herself many times, so do I: I too have *A thing with The Thing* This film transcends an exhilaratingly eerie, atmospheric depth throughout that I have never experienced before or since - except for most parts of "John Carpenter's The Fog", which I think perfectly conveys what a classic Ghost story is. Therefore I will go on with "dipping now matter how often" when a new interesting release of THE THING is to come... So - in addition to the ZAVVI-Steel... and the WWA of the 4K UHD release - I will be glad to receive (with a little help from my friends at MP !) the Box from Cinemuseum, as well as the Filmarena XL-Slip (too bad they did't made a Box-Set...) and the upcoming Titans Of Cult Edition too, as it looks like containing a quite nice Steelbook. In fact I can't wait to hold it in my collector's hands !!! But in order to shorten the waiting time a bit, I will soon be showing more photos of newly arrived treasures - beginning with this edition (and more...):

I wish You a swift final recovery stage @ShadowWarrior but I'm sure: Because after all, when I think about Your always friendly welcome greetings MP and all of us really don't want to do without You So, get the job done and recover fast, because - like my fellow members already rightly said - this community would not be the same without You. But fate already seems to be on the right track again and kind to you after receiving these true treasures. What splendid Editions !!! Since I'm also an absolute HDZeta Enthusiast I am really happy for You!

Wow - so many great Editions - My Congratulations !

No... Anyway after seeing this I need some oxygen! So CM .. even though it ay take 20 years sometimes (sorry Carlo ) - but their Editions do excite me more and more ! Or to use my personal Check-List: A Box with a decent Spine • A good and Lenticular on the Front definitely is no mistake... • No not that sort of kitschy, super-ultra colourful, optically overloaded THING (...) hat you watch out of the corner of your eye because you fear it's waiting to eat you (!) • But an artistic design that uses the original motifs (especially when these elements became optical synonyms associated with the film) and still forms an independent approach To summarize the result and express my emotional evaluation of this box: And one is for sure - in the end...

Well @damships believe me - I know (!) why You love HDZeta glossy TDK Steels... Even if they are not embossed, they are a feast for the eyes and, in my opinion, a class of their own. Nevertheless ... just like life, hunting and gathering goes on, so... I can't wait to get the Blufans Versions into my Showroom !!! (and start the usual lighting experiment orgy... 😛)

As promised - more (WWA) arrivals of the last weeks. Hope You and Your eyes enjoy. • Let's begin with FANTASTIC BEASTS THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE 4K UHD (UK) STEELBOOK • And now two WWAs in comparison... One from Europe and the other born in the U.S.A (As regards the latter: Thanks to John and MP for the ever rolling US-Release GB-Train !) Incidentally, these are good examples that common Steelbooks (even those with a matte finish - at least if there is some spot-glossing...) can also have an impressive look - if they are staged correctly in terms of lighting. T H E M A T R I X RESURRECTIONS 4K UHD STEELBOOKS (Best Buy Exclusive US | European Version "Pills" ) Even though I like the white one significantly better than I would have thought - the full-glossy US Version is just "much more Matrix"... • But now (absolutely needed...) better films have to get attention and with the following All Time Classic - that came in some weeks ago - this task can be regarded as accomplished 😎 : BRIAN DE PALMA'S THE UNTOUCHABLES 4K UHD STEELBOOK • That's all Folks for today. But next time pictures of a brand new WEA Edition that has just arrived ... and a Box that I was hunting for and were finally able (last week) to get it at a very reasonable price. Because this will be a Special for all Fans of JOHN CARPENTER'S T H E THING as well, there should be enough reasons to stay tuned 😉

@Rambo That's really a great new Treasure for Your shelf! And by the way... also a nice Steel inside... Just in case You wanna keep it closed for a while: Not to mention the Spidey block... My Congratulations!

@R1s1ngs0n And someone should say again, our moderators are just sleeping... 😃 Well, the European heatwave seems to be too much for my film database at the moment... kind of 'neandertalizes' me (Or is it just my subconscious that's already waiting for the Blufans OC of this title...?)

Some new Pictures of recent acquisitions. Hope You and Your eyes enjoy. • First of all, two not quite as spectacular but still nice additions, the BATMAN | BATMAN RETURNS ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S 4K UHD EDITIONS • Let us stay with DC for a moment - therefore the meanwhile completed collection of WWA Steelbooks that have been published for THE BATMAN 4K UHD STEELBOOKS • Furthermore we have another Collector's Box EDGE OF TOMORROW ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S 4K UHD EDITION • This following Classic came in from the States... HEAVY METAL & HEAVY METAL 2000 BLU-RAY STEELBOOK • Also in the Mail this week: HELLBOY II THE GOLDEN ARMY GERMAN 4K UHD MEDIA BOOK In fact, as an absolute Steelbook enthusiast, I'm not an overly big fan of the mostly significantly overpriced Mediabooks. However, it is a popular way for retailers in Germany to squeeze as much money as possible from buyers of physical media with comparatively little production effort. Moreover in many cases it is the only way to get a German dubbing, which only a few international releases include. However, some media books are at least nicely designed, which in my opinion applies to Hellboy II as well as to the following one of a non-high budget, but fine film: THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR GERMAN BLU-RAY MEDIA BOOK • More will come soon...

Thanks a lot! (...motivates me to present future editions accordingly...)

@Cornrow @vinny91 @tr0llhatt Well Fellows the Edition crafted by "TheOn", distributed by KimchiDVD really is a grail to have on the shelf... I was so lucky to pick this up not so long ago at a reasonable price... But now... The arrival of today I was craving for... AND HERE IT IS IN IT'S FULL GLORY: BLUFANS SPIDER-MAN Far From Home F A N B O X Doesn't the Steel look really nice this way...? You think You can leave it sealed, because it looks good enough...? You have no idea... 😈 Even the Back of the J-Card needs to be admired WITHOUT the shrink-wrap... By the way ... until that merry day may come when Blufans delights us with a OC, I am housing the steel together with a second Box of their Homecoming Edition (Acceptable for me in the meantime - especially as I only show the Spine ... ... the same way as I do with the first Tom Holland Spidey... wich is also a Steelbook that is outstanding. But well - it's Blufans. And now I hope You enjoy the Pictures ( especially those of Our fellow members who remain their treasures sealed despite my pictorial tricks that try to lure into the "opening trap" )

You are soooooo right @javi ! Me too is a huge fan of UHD Club's wooden Boxes - and even though many of our fellow members especially like the Digi's as they are fantastically designed Editions among them (such as "The Prestige", "Interstellar" or "A Chinese Ghost Story" to name just a few), I still wish that E.T. would have been released in this form (just imagine the classic midnight blue poster artwork as a shiny wooden box... sigh In any case, Bumblebee is in the best tradition with the Blade Runner Editions (which are also glorious) that I am happy to call my own... 🤗 ... and finally I don't give up hope that one happy day we will also be able to enjoy the Indiana Jones Box ( ... which could be the crowning glory so far...! )

@deckard99 Too much variations I think... Better we should keep the line look ! Instead of using for "From Russia With Love", I recommend... As You can see I did not use the same design as for Dr. No, because this truly iconic symbol has been rotated 180 degrees - namely counterclockwise (!). ( 🤔 ... should we consult @ksosk for further refinements of this already highly complex artistic design ? )

🤣 well was just kidding ... thanks to the providence of the gods I manage to secure enough sweets from the candy-shop myself.. (by the way - ordered all of these beauties right away...)

@deckard99 well said! I am really amazed about these Editions. And - instead of eye pain causing pop art, the appearance of classic paintings for true classics... And now: (as @mjk has already praised and correctly emphasized😞 Many, many Thanks to @ShadowWarrior and @R1s1ngs0n for - as always - keeping us on track by sharing so quick and giving us all the needed informations and links ! By the way... I have to join @Gary K @MoneySniper @willdebeast ... no matter how many other editions adorn the shelf - this is indispensable ! I'm even afraid of falling the same hope as @tr0llhatt - whether it may be Blufans OAB, Hdzeta Silver Label, Cinemuseum Art - or eben Filmarena (ok, even if it will take from there to the end of the universe) - I must dip again, if this happens In this case, I have to ask at most for a recommendation for possible payment options...

Hello my dear fellow members, I've already posted most pics of my newest arrival (so grateful to MP !) in the Manta Lab "The Prestige" - Release Thread (but at the moment I'm still experimenting with the best illumination of the Steelbook...) Anyway here again some views of this really noble Edition for your eye's pleasure. Hope You enjoy! And that's how I display the edition in my showroom (facing the Box-Spine combined with Steelbook-Front) :

Came in today - what a glorious Edition! Many thanks to all the great Staff of MP !!!

@extantsrevenge Nils Mein aufrichtiges Beileid Geht ein lieber Mensch, der uns so viel gegeben hat, wünschen wir uns nur, dass dies nicht das Ende sein darf und er uns noch weiter auf dem Weg begleitet Doch ich glaube, das tut er - und dass es so ist, wie Gandalf sagt: Enden? Nein, hier endet die Reise nicht...

Hello @extantsrevenge and many greetings to all other fellow MP Members! it is both time to get my next award and to tell a nice story for the MP-campfire... Once upon a time (in 2018) when I happened to come across a large black box adorned with the Star Wars logo on a common German Blu-Ray information site, in a list of international releases.... a box by the way which turned out to be the Blufans Edition of STAR WARS - AWAKENING OF THE FORCE...! At first I thought it was a cheap cardboard cover of some crappy third world release, but since I had been fascinated by the series since early childhood ("d*a*m*n, where the f*** do I get a laser sword...???"), I investigated further and found out step by step, that - what I had found was the contrary of some cheap bootleg but heavenly artwork, - what Premium Editions are all about - and that a small universe of its own has been created around this In a nutshell - today I can't imagine my cinema life without being part of this galaxy of Media Freaks! Since the time of hunting for my first Blufans Box I have developed into a collector who especially appreciates the combination of One Click and Steelbook (as a look in my showroom would easily prove) and If I wanted to present all the One Clicks I've got in the meantime, I'd probably might have to take an aerial photography (!) to present them all at once, but here are some editions from different retailers (and the editions that are still sealed and do not occupy too much space, so I could already present 25 One Clicks for the upcoming next OC-Award Level on one photography ) So now, @extantsrevenge this for Your appreciated consideration: By the way - the edition that started my collecting passion was also the first one I went hunting for - and of course it still holds a special place among my treasures to this very day.... (... and now I have to go back to the workshop and continue with crafting my light saber... 😎 )

@deckard99 there is no cure because you have reached the point of no return... look into this picture Then kneel down in front of your Premium Edition shrine to confess and ... while taking a look on this picture speak out the following words four times in each cardinal direction: "I MUST spend EVERY SINGLE BUCK on nice, tempting One Clicks !!!" Because after all, the Borg are right :

Hi @Veum my bro - I am very happy about your praise !!! (...and I promise to extensively document my new setting in the appropriate forum visually !!! Also many thanks to @javi and @RileyLad for Your kind words ! And @antiapathetic - absolutely no need to be modest - You can be proud to have already collected a bunch of real great editions, so You are well on your way to catch up in the race to collectors heaven !

@extantsrevenge Many thanks for Your kind words - sooooo Happy about it !!! (And a great motivation to gather more awards eagerly...

Oh Yeah @extantsrevenge !!! and not only a great but a fantastic, splendid, magnificent way to start the weekend !!! Thanks a lot for my first Medals ... eeeh, Awards !!! (and with the two HDZetas I received three in a row, so I can take all three places on the winner's podium right away...

Hi @extantsrevenge and my fellow MP-Psychos ! Well - and since it's the Olympics, it's time to reach out for another medal.... 😎 So Nils, ... here is my entry for the 50-WWA-Steelbooks-Award for Your Consideration ! ( hope this gets the job done... ) (I have selected some of the prettier or, shall we say, special regular Steelbooks, most of which are characterised by em-/debossing or gloss finish - therefore at least slightly similar to Premium Steelbooks...) Unfortunately, it's still a while before the wooden membership card appears, so I still had to settle for the cheap slip of paper solution.... sniff

Hello @extantsrevenge Nils ! (and of course a dear greeting to all members who follow this thread...) as I work in a field that robs you of almost any time you have (and makes you feel like you have to save the world every day), I unfortunately get to indulge my passion for Steelbooks and premium editions far too rarely. Nevertheless, it's finally time to open up at least a partial insight into my collection - and I'll start with the retailer whose editions I particularly appreciate - HDZeta. Unlike most of the others who have presented their fantastic collections so far, I am not a real sealed edition collector - although I can well understand this preference, I myself am an enthusiast when it comes to presenting premium Steelbooks as aesthetically as possible - and preferably in combination with the accompanying One Click box. However, this inevitably requires the opening of the box (and the slips) and is also the reason why I have so far shied away from participating in the awards, as an opened OC means a far greater display effort in order to be able to document the completeness of the edition (apart from the fact that I have so far kept the slips together with goodies in cupboards, as the presentation space in my cinema room (which also serves as my Premium Editions showroom) is largely reserved for Steelbooks (mostly with OC-Box) - this is all the more true as I give each edition its own compartment in specially converted shelves and strive for individual lighting, which tries to show off the beauty of the Steels as best as possible. Here is an HDZeta-related example of how I tend to present the editions: However I will be moving to a new residence towards the end of the year, which on the one hand gives me the opportunity - in the course of unpacking - to assemble all the editions before placing them again in the (then even larger) showroom for further awards, without being overwhelmed by the demands of my job... and in any case, I am already planning to show the upcoming presentation solution here at MP, showcasing the respective specially illuminated Steelbooks in detail (even though that is still some months ahead...) Anyway - luckily I still have some (27) sealed HDZeta (Silver) editions that I can use to hunt for my first awards... So,here we go - (now let's get serious and officially... ehemhm... ) for your consideration the following: As mentioned before, these are only sealed Silver Editions (by the way... did I mention that I got 17 of the Editions by MP...? ) . In fact there's much more (not all pics with membership name as not needed yet for the first awards... 😎 ) as shown in my actual HDZeta - BlackBox OC - Shrine (!) And not to forget this... of course also that... and (not at least) those... and these... In other words... I hope this helps for my first award... (even though I could not add more MP Stuff yet - hope this get's better next time as I am waiting for my first - wooden - membership card of 2021/2 which will be proudly presented...) To put it in a nutshell - when will we see the next HDZeta-Award-Stage...??? And now ... everybody have fun to collect and admire Your treasures !!!