Robocop ripping problem (wrong order in playback)

[DVDHack]

I have backed up many DVDs but this one is giving me grief. It doesn't matter what I try, internal routines, smartripper, DVDdecrypter, etc. I always get the movie file extracted in the wrong order ie the first part is the middle of the movie. The only way I get it to play is by using the original TS file to load it and then it finds the right chains in the movie and plays back - but that's no good for SVCD.

Anyone had problems with this movie. It's the only one that has caused me grief like this.

[idbirch2]

Grief? Grief isn't the word with Robocop the Directors Cut. I tried and tried for a couple of weeks - i was trying to get it onto DVD-R.

All the scenes that contain director's cut footage are at the start of the movie VOB set (VTS 11 if I remember right) followed by the standard movie. During playback (If you selected to view diector's cut) it will zip back to the start to play an extra scene then back into the main movie - this makes it a nightmare to rip.

The only way I got around it was using vStrip (standalone) to rip by Cell ID. Rip them in the right order (order can be seen by using IFO edit - direcors cut is VTS3) then putting it back together using VOBedit/IFOedit.

It worked but the resulting DVD will only play and pause - if I try to fast forward/rewind it either freezes or stops - I think the time codes are all f*cked up after butchering the original VOBs

I'm going to try again with Instant Copy and see if that can do it

Let me know if you figure it out

[DVDHack]

You can do it by ripping by Cell-ID and then manually renumbering the files in the correct order. I then re-ripped and joined it all together. The result was jerky in play back. Fair use also will do it correctly - its the only ripping tool that actually seems to follow the 'playback script' properly and hence gets the movie in the correct order - I dont use fair use usually.

I haven't tried any of the all in one tools eg DVDShrink, but they may do it.

I suggest the movie isn't worth the bother. I gave up on getting the kind of quality I was after.

[idbirch2]

Yeah, I gave up too after my half-assed attempt. Oh well, I managed to get the Director Cut version and its smooth - I just can't FF or RW.

I'll have another crack when I've got more spare time. Anybody know if there's a version of the Director Cut that isn't authored by some git who hates rippers? :D

[smiller667]

Get the Criterion DVD (actually the first DVD I ever bought:)) ... it has the DC, but I understand the image quality on the new DVDs is significantly better.
The Criterion does not have any of that non-seamless branching stuff ... just the DC, plain and simple.

[idbirch2]

Criterion? I've heard of that somewhere - is it available in the UK or is that an NTSC only release?

[smiller667]

Criterion (www.criterionco.com) is an independent US-based label and as such NTSC (but sometimes region-free) ... they started off with producing excellent LDs and later moved on to DVDs. Criterion editions often feature unique supplements (like good audio commentaries) and nice restoration (like for Akira Kurosawas Seven Samurai) and in general also good to excellent image quality (the earlier ones like the Robocop DVD were, I think, ports of their LDs and don't boast really outstanding transfers).
Often, the licenses they acquire are for a limited time only and thus their DVDs go OOP at some stage, often making them highly collectible items. John Woo's "The Killer" or "Hard Boiled" (both long OOP) sell for up to 200 US-$ ... for Robocop, it is not that bad, you can get the DVD for like 30-50 $ depending on condition.
Oh, and yes, Criterions are never really low-cost in the first place ... the titles they release are not necessarily blockbusters, but rather more classic titles of worldwide cinema ... this did not prevent them from releasing "Armageddon", though :( .

[idbirch2]

Damn, don't think i'll ever get my grubby mitts on a copy of that one - thanks for the info though! :D

And the less said about Armageddon the better...

[dvd2svcd]

@idbirch2: Is "Robocop the Directors Cut" part of the "Robocop Trilogy Box Set"? I'd like to get my hands on it so I can test it. And what is the dela with armageddon?

[markrb]

I think he means it's a bad movie and not an encoding problem.

For me that movie is a guilty pleasure. As bad as it is I still like it.

Just like the movie the New Guy. This movie is aweful, but I love it.

Mark

[idbirch2]

@dvd2svcd

Yes - the directors cut is part of the PAL trilogy boxset. When you load the disc you get the option of original cut or Director's Cut.

If you look at the VOB set you see that VOB IDs 1-6 are the extra scenes then the normal movie starts at VOB ID 7. the director's cut therefore does something stupid like 7,8,9,1,10,2,11,12,13,3 etc

Oh and the extra scenes at the start aren't just the extra clips they're most of that chapter with the extra bit in. The VOB set is therefore about 02h10mins while the original movie is about 1h47 and the directors cut about 1h48.

The only word I can muster to describe this disc's structure is 'gay'.

I would be interested to hear your take on how this disc should be ripped.

[smiller667]

If you don't feel like obtaining the 3-disc UK version, the Robocop SE DVD is apparently available as a single disc in Australia. Now, I don't own either the UK or the Aussie discs, but a comparison of the features suggests they might be identical (the Australian disc is R2 and R4 according to http://michaeldvd.com.au). More reviews as always via dvd-basen.dk :).
Both "feature" the non-seamless branching (apparently like an extended layer break on an unbuffered single-speed player) quite nicely described here: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=1405.

NB: One Australian etailer has this currently on offer for 15,50 € shipped to Europe.

[dvd2svcd]

Thanks for the info smiller667. But maybe I should add it to my Amazon Wishlist. I might get lucky :D