Black Balloon, The (Icon)

[The Driver]

Image: http://www.devoteddvd.com.au/shop/pr...ducts_id=55335

Looks looks like a really cool wee film. Seems the Blu-ray has had its ratio changed unfortunately. Anyone seen this? How's the disc/film? Has the director had anything to say about the changed ratio?

Nicely priced too at the moment.

Disc review: http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews...ws.asp?ID=9167

There's a UK DVD -virtually giving it away at £2.99. Looks like it has the correct aspect ratio. Blu-ray would have been nice.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0865297/

http://www.iconmovies.com.au/Movies/...heBlu-ray.aspx (with wrong AR specification listed)

Looks a real gem of a movie.

[youwontknow]

I rented (gasp!) this bluray a few weeks ago and it was gorgeous.

Such a good Australian film. It's so familiar, it feels like growing up in Australian suburbs. I really liked this movie...

[ANDYBALLINA]

This movie is very good. Another great performance from Toni Collette, but the stand out performance was definately Luke Ford (Charlie), he did a pheomanal job playing his character.

I agree with the above post, it feels like growing up in the suburbs. Great film.

[The Driver]

Thanks folks, nice to hear from people in Australia

I'll pick up the UK DVD and then decide if I want it on Blu-ray.

Luke Ford was good in Animal Kingdon which is what brought me to this.

[amoergosum]

There's a very good deal on devoteddvd right now...only $12.18 >>>
https://www.devoteddvd.com.au/black-...ilter_name=the black balloon

I just ordered a copy of the Blu-ray edition and a copy of the DVD edition.

Special Features (DVD) >>>

Audio Commentary - Elissa Down (Co-Writer / Director )

This is a very enthusiastic commentary with hardly a pause from start to finish. Elissa discusses most aspects of the films production, offering great insight into the actual production and the inspiration behind it. She also includes plenty of trivial information along the way and answers many of the questions that audiences have asked her in relation to the film.
Interviews - Cast & Crew (32:34)

Various cast and crew members discuss the film and their involvement in it. The contributors (in order) are Elissa Down, Tristram Miall, Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield, Gemma Ward, Luke Ford and Erik Thomson .
Photographic Slideshow

This slideshow plays automatically, displaying twenty-four still images taken from the film. It plays in conjunction with a sample of Michael Yezerski's music score.

Source:
http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews...ws.asp?ID=8447


There are no special features on the Blu-ray >>>

The main menu is 16x9 enhanced, static and silent, although the menu needs to be selected to appear. The disc loads directly to the film and initially bypasses the menu.

There are no extras on this Blu-ray edition. This will be a big disappointment for those who don't own the previous DVD edition.

Source:
http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews...ws.asp?ID=9167

[amoergosum]

I just received a copy on Blu-ray & a copy on DVD.
So here's a quick comparison regarding the different aspect ratios
(on top: Blu-ray, at the bottom: DVD) >>>

The DVD has the OAR (2.35:1) >>>

[Supernaut]

Open matte, another one for deado's sticky.

[LordCrumb]

I have no problem with Open Matte, especially when you're not losing any information on the sides at all.

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

Open matte, another one for deado's sticky.

I just posted it in his thread.

[amoergosum]

Another comparison >>>

Again;
On top: Blu-ray, at the bottom: DVD (OAR)

[amoergosum]

I just watched the Blu-ray. Very nice transfer (looks A LOT better than the DVD). Since I knew that the OAR was not used I paid close attention to the framing. In some scenes I felt that there was a little bit too much space on top and/or at the bottom. I could tell that it wasn't framed that way originally. But overall I liked it.