Tale of Tales (2015)

[Socko]

Disc specifications:
Disc size: 39.0GB
Movie size: 24.3GB
Video: MPEG-4 AVC
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, Italian DTS-HD MA 5.1, English DD5.1 640kbps, Italian DD5.1 640kbps
Subtitles: Italian or English
Runtime: 2 hours 13 minutes and 46 seconds
Region B

Bonus features:
Making of Tale of Tales (HD, 54:02)
Backstage: (HD, 18:35)
- The Sea Dragon (HD, 2:01)
- The Heart of the Dragon (HD, 1:34)
- The Purple Flight (HD, 1:55)
- The Creatures (HD, 2:13)
- The Flea (HD, 1:15)
- The Purple Song (HD, 1:30)
- The Twins (HD, 1:36)
- Dora and the King (HD, 2:56)
- Cave in the Streets (HD, 1:41)
- The Queen (HD, 1:54)
Interviews: (HD, 18:54)
- Stacy Martin (HD, 3:34)
- John C. Reilly (HD, 2:44)
- Bebe Cave (HD, 4:11)
- Lees Twins (HD, 2:58)
- Vincent Cassel (HD, 2:08)
- Toby Jones (HD, 3:19)

[rewak]

Does anyone know if the extras are English friendly?

[Aunt Peg]

Originally Posted by rewak

Does anyone know if the extras are English friendly?

I had a quick peek at the extras and can confirm that the interviews with the actors are in English.

Gorgeous picture quality by the way.

There is also a Blu Ray of Tales of Tales coming out in Australia in May, though I don't know what, if any, extras are included. It's coming through Madman.

[rewak]

Thanks! This seems pretty comprehensive so I'll probably import this one, cheaper and easier than getting it from Oz.

[bigshot]

I just got my copy. Going to watch it tonight. I'll report back.

[bigshot]

Last night I screened the fantasy/horror film Tale of Tales, and it was fantastic. I had ordered the Italian region B blu-ray on the recommendation of a friend, and I'm very glad I did. It's three fairy tales interwoven into a gripping and sometimes horrifying narrative... But it isn't Disney style fairy tales or Princess Bride. It's more like the original folk tales. All the rough edges are left intact... there is sex and gore and monsters and betrayal and longing and painful struggle. It's definitely for adults, not children.

The cinematography is breathtaking with amazing locations in deep forests and real castles. The real locations are seamlessly supplemented by digital environments, which for once are presented in a filmic way, much like matte paintings. No roller coaster flying cameras drawing attention to themselves. The monster effects are basic CGI but effective, and the story doesn't linger on them. The focus of the film is on the characters, and the acting is excellent, providing real personalities and points of view you can identify with, not just a cardboard cutout prince and a formula evil queen. The three stories are wonderful and they intertwine perfectly, setting up and playing out each story with clarity and perfect pacing.

The blu-ray presents both English and Italian soundtracks in 5.1 DTS Master Audio and both English and Italian subtitles. This was an Italian/American co-production, so both are "original" and both include dubbing on some characters. The picture is definitely reference quality with perfect color and contrast and lots of detail, even in the shadows. The musical score is effective, with an Italian opera sort of sound to the strings. In fact, the film felt a bit like Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung.

I minored in Folklore when I went to UCLA, and I recognized a lot of themes from this film from my studies. There were a few deviations... concessions to the modern place of women in society... but overall, this film is true to the spirit of Romantic Era fairy tales like Perrault. I'm generally not a fan of "knights in armor fighting dragons" fantasy films (with the exception of Monty Python and the Holy Grail). But this film had the human passion, specific characters and edge that is too often lacking from that genre.

I'll definitely be watching this one again... and again. If you can play region B, I recommend it.

[bigshot]

By the way, today I put in a Region B disk and my Oppo had been set to Region A when I watched Tale of Tales. Someone might want to confirm this, but I suspect the disc may be region free.

[Dan8700]

I just tested it, it's ABC. This Blu is a work of art, perfection!

[Corny Collins]

Originally Posted by Aunt Peg

I had a quick peek at the extras and can confirm that the interviews with the actors are in English.

Thanks! What about the "Backstage" set of featurettes? Are those in English?

[Dan8700]

Originally Posted by Corny Collins

Thanks! What about the "Backstage" set of featurettes? Are those in English?

They're very brief excerpts (2-3' each) and generally without dialogues. The interviews are in English with Italian subtitles, while the making of (54') features both Italian and English spoken parts - no Eng subs for the Italian parts, anyway.

[Corny Collins]

Originally Posted by Dan8700

They're very brief excerpts (2-3' each) and generally without dialogues. The interviews are in English with Italian subtitles, while the making of (54') features both Italian and English spoken parts - no Eng subs for the Italian parts, anyway.

Thank you so much!