Le 13ème guerrier (The 13th Warrior)

[McCrutchy]

Hi all, just received my disc yesterday.

Some notes:

The disc is Region B LOCKED, however, on my SA, I was able to bypass this using the "Menu" button on my remote when the player was set to Region A or C.

The disc default is to play the film in the French DUB track, so you'll need to go to the Languages menu and select the English audio, then disable the French subtitles with your player/remote. Only French subtitles are available. The source material is from France and the opening titles are all in French; the end credits are the original English, but afterwards, a very brief screen has credits for the French-language version.

All extras and trailers in English have forced French subtitles.

All subtitling is in white font.

The film is in 1080p23.976, but all of the new video extras are in 1080/50i, and the archival extras are in 576i (SD PAL) resolution, meaning that these extras will be unplayable on most North American equipment.

The only extra in 1080p is the French theatrical trailer for the film, although the promo French trailers for other Metropolitan titles (

[Show spoiler]Ironclad, Conan the Barbarian (2011), The Eagle and Solomon Kane

) are also in 1080p. All of these trailers are available with original English or French DUB audio tracks.

All of the extras have English audio except:

One of the archival video extras, A propos de Ibn Fadhlan, is a French-language interview on the historical character with author Sadek Sellam.

Additionally, the trivia track that can be played with the movie and the text screen character profiles on the Viking warriors are in French only.

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Hi all, just received my disc yesterday.

Can you post some screenshots?

[Torrente]

http://www.planete-hd.com/Le-13eme-G...test-t965.html

[McCrutchy]

Sorry, I don't have a way to post uncompressed or unfiltered screenshots, so I don't post them.

[Torrente]

There are a lot of good screenshots in the link I just posted so that should be ok for everyone to see the solid result (if not stellar - it's just the way it was shot 10 years ago)

[zepherman]

I'm strongly considering importing this Blu-ray, but am curious if the PQ on it is a major improvement over the non anamorphic DVD.

For those who own it, how much better is the PQ over the DVD?

[Eeeper]

Just stumbled into this disc on Amazon.fr while looking up Assault on Precinct 13. Must own this. Soon.

I love this film and have pretty much been clinging to my Universal DVD of it. Wasn't there a German blu ray release where you couldn't turn off the subtitles?

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[Jarfa]

Yes
and it's cheaper

Originally Posted by Eeeper

Just stumbled into this disc on Amazon.fr while looking up Assault on Precinct 13. Must own this. Soon.

I love this film and have pretty much been clinging to my Universal DVD of it. Wasn't there a German blu ray release where you couldn't turn off the subtitles?

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[Eeeper]

Originally Posted by Jarfa

Yes
and it's cheaper

Thought I remembered that correctly. The screenshots look decent and I've been very happy with Metropolitan releases of Silent Hill and Blue Steel. Have to wait until March to pay for these.

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[Sky_Captain]

The German disc has forced subs.

The French disc is clearly from an old master, with baked in EE and DNR. I'll also swear that the audio is the wrong pitch.

[Eeeper]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

The German disc has forced subs.

The French disc is clearly from an old master, with baked in EE and DNR. I'll also swear that the audio is the wrong pitch.

Is the German disc got a better transfer?

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[Sky_Captain]

No, they're both shit.

[Pineapples101]

I can't seem to track down a list of the special features in any language other than French. Can anyone tell me exactly what features there are?

[Eeeper]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

No, they're both shit.

Damn. But clearly nobody in US/UK cares about the film to release it so if I want it on blu ray, I've got to get this, I suppose

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[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by Pineapples101

I can't seem to track down a list of the special features in any language other than French. Can anyone tell me exactly what features there are?

40-page booklet with production photos
In Search of the Eaters of the Dead (HD, 51 min), documentary and interviews
In Viking Territory (HD 12 min), dir. of photography and artistic direct on set design
Trailer (HD)
Archives (SD 27 min) interviews and production images
Original trailer (SD 1 min)
About Ibn Fadhlan (SD 8 min)
John McTiernan on his favorite films (HD 17 min)
Trivia track (French text)

[Nocturnaloner]

I haven't seen the French release, but while not impressive for a blu ray, the improvement over SD is pretty substantial: http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergl...n=1&lossless=0

I'm definitely glad I have the German disc. The Oppo 83 lets me move the subs down, and it will tide me over until something better comes along.

[Hellboy]

I seriously don't understand why this film hasn't received a US release. Easily my most wanted BD.

[Jerome]

Because it was a flop in the US, and a success in France. And McTiernan is a respected director in France, like John Carpenter.

[Hellboy]

Originally Posted by Jerome

Because it was a flop in the US, and a success in France. And McTiernan is a respected director in France, like John Carpenter.

Regardless of how well it preformed at the box office it has a pretty strong following here. Plus there are literally hundreds of films far less popular than this that have received the BD treatment in the US and I have a hard time believing The 13th Warrior wouldn't be at least as profitable as some of that garbage.

[Sky_Captain]

I kinda expect it to pop out soon in the US, now that Disney are opening their back catalogue vault.
We weren't expecting Judge Dredd either, were we?