French Connection - Remastered Edition March 6, 2012 Review - Blu-ray Forum

Paint It Blu · 02-23-2009, 06:42 PM

The French Connection Blu-ray March 6, 2012

The French Connection Blu-ray Review

The French Connection Blu-ray

The French Connection Blu-ray Review

I just ordered the French Connection on Blu. Has anyone seen the disc or are there any reviews out there?

Beta Man · 02-23-2009, 06:45 PM

it's still a pre-order... so I haven't gotten it yet. Haven't seen a review either, but look forward to it.

EDIT:

Sandusky eh...?? Hi Neighbor!

miked924 · 02-23-2009, 06:53 PM

Just got a shipping confirmation from Amazon this morning. I'm not expecting much from this because it's a gritty movie by nature. Love the movie though so no review would keep me from buying. Looks like some of the special features are even in HD. DVD Beaver had a review if you're interested

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...on_blu-ray.htm

Paint It Blu · 02-23-2009, 08:48 PM

Thanks. That review doesn't sound too positive. I guess I'll have to see for myself.

jaytone · 02-23-2009, 08:50 PM

Amazon says release date of Feb 24th, but they are for sale on Ebay some new, some used. How can that be ?

danbenzvi · 02-23-2009, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaytone

Amazon says release date of Feb 24th, but they are for sale on Ebay some new, some used. How can that be ?

I know some Best Buy stores put em out early (it's how I got my copy).

graf1k · 02-23-2009, 10:12 PM

The color job Friedkin did on the movie looks really strange, especially in darker scenes where there is also red on the screen as the red bleeds like crazy. The best example I can think of off hand is a scene with a door man outside a building a night. It looks like he's wearinga glowing neon red outfit. Same with Popeye's Santa outfit early on. I really don't want to support this version but The French Connection is probably my all time favorite American film so I'll most likely get it anyway, but I'm praying for a re-release with a more regular transfer.

Clark Kent · 02-23-2009, 10:13 PM

Some are upset that the director has gone back and changed the overall look of the film on the new Blu-ray. It still looks good, but different from what it has looked like in the past.

mel2 · 02-23-2009, 11:34 PM

I am all for how the director wants it to look. I loved the adjustment made to bram stoker's dracula for blu-ray even though a lot of people complained about it. "director's intent" is the key phrase that people should understand.

spf781 · 02-23-2009, 11:41 PM

I picked up the disc last Friday at Best Buy (God bless stores that don't follow street date!) and watched it Saturday monring. It does look different to be sure, but I was okay with what Friedkin did. It's his movie, after all.

The best part was that Saturday night the Harvard Film Archive was showing Friedkin's 'Sorcerer' with Friedkin in person to do a Q&A. After he was done, I got him to autograph the disc jacket.

PowellPressburger · 02-24-2009, 03:25 PM

***As of release date today 2/24/09

Just a heads up that Target has French Connection for $24.99. Not sure about Part II or Vanishing Point yet... Called store they have it on sale.

(Mentioned Vanishing Point also since it is a classic title being released by FOX also.)

Grubert · 02-26-2009, 08:16 AM

French Connection cinematographer labels the recoloring 'atrocious,' washes his hands off the Blu-ray transfer:

Quote:

Last night renowned French Connection cinematographer Owen Roizman trashed William Friedkin's bleachy, grain-heavy Blu-ray transfer of his 1971 Oscar-winning film, which many DVD and Blu-ray aficionados have already savagely dismissed. Roizman called the transfer "atrocious," "emasculated" and "horrifying." He said that he "wasn't consulted" by Freidkin and he "certainly wants to wash my hands of having had anything to do with [it]."

Roizman was speaking to Aaron Aradillas on a blog-radio show called "Back By Midnight." Thanks to Some Came Running's Glenn Kenny for the tip-off.

Roizman "had only heard about the new Blu-ray version [of The French Connection] when Aaron was booking his appearance," Kenny informs. "He went out and bought a Blu-ray player and the disc and did not at all like what he saw."

I transcribed some of what Roizman said so here's a fuller version: "Billy [Friedkin] for some reason decided to do this on his own. I wasn't consulted. I was appalled by it. I don't know what Billy was thinking. It's not the film that I shot, and I certainly want to to wash my hands of having had anything to do with this transfer, which I feel is atrocious."

He later called it an "emasculated" and "horrifying" transfer, and said "it would be a travesty to see The Exorcist [which Roizman also shot] transferred in this fashion."

Link

Listen

bajor27 · 02-26-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grubert

French Connection cinematographer labels the recoloring 'atrocious,' washes his hands off the Blu-ray transfer

wow. thems some harsh words. Given all this hate, I'm just not sure I can justify picking up the French Connection on Blu.

HKMOVIESAREBEST · 02-26-2009, 09:52 AM

I just finish watching it for the first time. While the print is grain-heavy, I had no problems with the transfer. As far as the film is concerned, now I see what all the fuss was about. The scene where Hackman is chasing the train blew my mind..WOW! Tomorrow I'm gonna check out part 2.

diamondfoxxx · 02-26-2009, 10:55 AM

At least this time RAH over at HTF had the balls to admit the Blu-ray version is different. I thought he was going to pull another Dracula--remember that joke?

#Darren · 02-26-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondfoxxx

At least this time RAH over at HTF had the balls to admit the Blu-ray version is different. I thought he was going to pull another Dracula--remember that joke?

link please

miked924 · 02-26-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bajor27

wow. thems some harsh words. Given all this hate, I'm just not sure I can justify picking up the French Connection on Blu.

I'd put more than faith in Friedkin than his hack of a cinematopgraher. If you're a real fan of the movie you'd buy it regardless

Grubert · 02-26-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miked924

I'd put more than faith in Friedkin than his hack of a cinematopgraher. If you're a real fan of the movie you'd buy it regardless

That 'hack' is a member of the ASC and has five Academy Award nominations for best cinematography (Wyatt Earp, Tootsie, Network, The Exorcist and The French Connection).

Friedkin has gone back and defiled his own work, pure and simple.

Mr. Cinema · 02-26-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miked924

I'd put more than faith in Friedkin than his hack of a cinematopgraher. If you're a real fan of the movie you'd buy it regardless

I am a fan and I already own the real French Connection. It's on DVD. I'm not buying this hack version.

davcole · 02-26-2009, 01:52 PM

I Netflixed it but haven't gotten a chance to watch the full movie, just a few clips. It does seem to be very grain heavy (and i'm not talking in a good way). It sorta reminds me of what was done with the director's version of Payback, that kind of grittiness, almost 16mm looking.

02-23-2009, 06:42 PM	#1
Paint It Blu Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Sandusky, OH Blu-ray collection:36 Blu-ray reviews:1	French Connection - Remastered Edition March 6, 2012 Review The French Connection Blu-ray March 6, 2012 The French Connection Blu-ray Review The French Connection Blu-ray The French Connection Blu-ray Review I just ordered the French Connection on Blu. Has anyone seen the disc or are there any reviews out there? Last edited by Deciazulado; 03-09-2012 at 03:23 AM.

02-23-2009, 10:12 PM	#7
graf1k Active Member Member since:Aug 2008 Blu-ray collection:4 Trading Score:17	The color job Friedkin did on the movie looks really strange, especially in darker scenes where there is also red on the screen as the red bleeds like crazy. The best example I can think of off hand is a scene with a door man outside a building a night. It looks like he's wearinga glowing neon red outfit. Same with Popeye's Santa outfit early on. I really don't want to support this version but The French Connection is probably my all time favorite American film so I'll most likely get it anyway, but I'm praying for a re-release with a more regular transfer. Pioneer PDP-5020FD \| Denon AVR-2809CI \| B&W 683s/HTM61/686s Sony Playstation 3 80GB \| Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite \| APC AV H15

02-24-2009, 03:25 PM	#11
PowellPressburger Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Mpls, MN Blu-ray collection:658 DVD collection:243 Blu-ray reviews: 50 Trading Score:1	***As of release date today 2/24/09 Just a heads up that Target has French Connection for $24.99. Not sure about Part II or Vanishing Point yet... Called store they have it on sale. (Mentioned Vanishing Point also since it is a classic title being released by FOX also.) Stop the Replacing of original Studio Opening / Closing logos! These are becoming endangered and should be kept intact. They are part of film history. Panasonic Viera 50" TH-50PZ80U Pioneer Elite SC-65 LG BD550 Region Free Sony PS3 JackDVD78@gmail.com Seller Thread http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=218680

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02-23-2009, 06:53 PM	#3
miked924 Expert Member Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Queens, NY Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:557 DVD collection:21 PS3 collection:8 Blu-ray reviews:1	Just got a shipping confirmation from Amazon this morning. I'm not expecting much from this because it's a gritty movie by nature. Love the movie though so no review would keep me from buying. Looks like some of the special features are even in HD. DVD Beaver had a review if you're interested http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...on_blu-ray.htm

02-23-2009, 08:48 PM	#4
Paint It Blu Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Sandusky, OH Blu-ray collection:36 Blu-ray reviews:1	Thanks. That review doesn't sound too positive. I guess I'll have to see for myself.

02-23-2009, 08:50 PM	#5
jaytone New Member Member since:Dec 2008	Amazon says release date of Feb 24th, but they are for sale on Ebay some new, some used. How can that be ?

02-23-2009, 10:13 PM	#8
Clark Kent Blu-ray Baron Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:27	Some are upset that the director has gone back and changed the overall look of the film on the new Blu-ray. It still looks good, but different from what it has looked like in the past.

02-23-2009, 11:34 PM	#9
mel2 Active Member Member since:Aug 2007	I am all for how the director wants it to look. I loved the adjustment made to bram stoker's dracula for blu-ray even though a lot of people complained about it. "director's intent" is the key phrase that people should understand.

02-23-2009, 11:41 PM	#10
spf781 Active Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:Melrose, Massachusetts Blu-ray collection:136 Trading Score:4	I picked up the disc last Friday at Best Buy (God bless stores that don't follow street date!) and watched it Saturday monring. It does look different to be sure, but I was okay with what Friedkin did. It's his movie, after all. The best part was that Saturday night the Harvard Film Archive was showing Friedkin's 'Sorcerer' with Friedkin in person to do a Q&A. After he was done, I got him to autograph the disc jacket.

02-26-2009, 09:52 AM	#14
HKMOVIESAREBEST Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:NJ Blu-ray collection:345	I just finish watching it for the first time. While the print is grain-heavy, I had no problems with the transfer. As far as the film is concerned, now I see what all the fuss was about. The scene where Hackman is chasing the train blew my mind..WOW! Tomorrow I'm gonna check out part 2.

02-26-2009, 10:55 AM	#15
diamondfoxxx Senior Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:San Francisco Blu-ray collection:45 Blu-ray reviews: 36	At least this time RAH over at HTF had the balls to admit the Blu-ray version is different. I thought he was going to pull another Dracula--remember that joke?

02-26-2009, 01:52 PM	#20
davcole Special Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Cincinnati, Oh Blu-ray collection:166 Blu-ray reviews:140 Trading Score:6	I Netflixed it but haven't gotten a chance to watch the full movie, just a few clips. It does seem to be very grain heavy (and i'm not talking in a good way). It sorta reminds me of what was done with the director's version of Payback, that kind of grittiness, almost 16mm looking.