'Art' films on Blu-ray

[Grubert]

I posted this for Bill Hunt on the insider thread:

Originally Posted by Grubert

Big studios should stop snubbing their smaller new releases
As a film lover (of the less mainstream and more arthouse side), it angers me that Fox sees it fit to release Alvin and the Chipmunks on BD, but not the latest Wes Anderson movie, The Darjeeling Limited. Same thing for New Line's Rendition or Warner's Otis. Sony is doing the best job with that.

I am aware that this will come when the overall user base is bigger. But please encourage them to do it sooner better than later.

His honest (though a bit disappointing) reply was:

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

As for smaller releases, some of the so-called "art" films have smaller audiences, and given that we're so early in the life of Blu-ray, that would translate to very small sales. Even the DVDs don't sell huge numbers. It's also wht Criterion hasn't joined the Blu-ray fray yet. So it's more cost-effective for the studios to focus on more mainstream titles for now. But as the market grows, this will change. I'm guessing next year you'll see more of these 2nd tier releases on BD too.

So it's a long time before I'll be able to watch in hidef some of my favorite films such as Sean Penn's The Pledge, Atom Egoyan's The Sweet Hereafter, David Lynch's Blue Velvet or Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves.

In the meantime, I'll have to make the best of what's around: the Coen brothers' No Country for Old Men or Terry Gilliam's Tideland (yes, I have the German disk!).

Other 'art' titles in your BD collection or wish list?

[HDJK]

^^

Can you comment on Tideland? I've never seen it, but I was wondering how the PQ/AQ is. Might be a blind buy (even though I don't like 50% of the Gilliam movies). Thanks.

[HDJK]

And on topic:

+1 for The Pledge and Blue Velvet.

Plus I really want 'The Man Who Wasn't There'.

[Secretagentnumber6]

I broke down and bought ONCE on Standard DVD because I knew it would likely be a long time before I ever see it on Blu Ray. Shame, because it was one of the best movies of last year and truly deserved a best picture nomination.

[onyxx]

Other 'art' titles in your BD collection or wish list?

'The assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford' was the best art house movie of the year if you ask me...

[HDJK]

- 'Les Triplets de Belleville'
- 'Requiem For A Dream'

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by HDJK

^^

Can you comment on Tideland? I've never seen it, but I was wondering how the PQ/AQ is. Might be a blind buy (even though I don't like 50% of the Gilliam movies). Thanks.

It's still on the shelf waiting to be watched. According to reviews, I should be in the appropriate frame of mind to watch it and not wishing to commit suicide afterwards.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by Grubert

It's still on the shelf waiting to be watched. According to reviews, I should be in the appropriate frame of mind to watch it and not wishing to commit suicide afterwards.

Thanks Sounds like a rental after all

[Blaumann]

Originally Posted by HDJK

^^

Can you comment on Tideland? I've never seen it, but I was wondering how the PQ/AQ is. Might be a blind buy (even though I don't like 50% of the Gilliam movies). Thanks.

I have it as a german HD DVD, but the BD is exactly the same. The quality varies between breathtaking (the scenes outside, great background detail) and some not so good scenes. Especially the black level seems to be messed up sometimes, resulting in some very greyish interior scenes during the evening/night. That might be source related though, i have seen this on a few other discs by the distirbuter as well. So i can't rule out a botched mastering either. The great scenes more than make up for it though.

The film is very disturbing, a horror-film without any horror. But let's just say, if you do have a little girl of your own, the film strikes some of your deepest fears. I think it is a great film, one of Terry's best imo.

Oh and some "art" films i have:

400 coups
triplettes des belleville
la sciènce des rêves
Caramel
Lola rennt

Sorry to hear The Darjeeling Limited might not get a Blu-release yet, i love Wes Anderson's films.

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by HDJK

- 'Les Triplets de Belleville'
- 'Requiem For A Dream'

+1.

To add insult to injury, in January 2007 Lionsgate announced said Requiem for a Dream (and Pi) were coming up.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by Grubert

+1.

To add insult to injury, in January 2007 Lionsgate announced said Requiem for a Dream (and Pi) were coming up.

'Monster's Ball' was mentioned too. Another great movie directed by a Swiss guy

So what's causing the delay? Bean counters?

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by onyxx

'The assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford' was the best art house movie of the year if you ask me...

That's not an art house movie. "Wild Strawberries" is an art house movie. Some of Fellini's films could be called art house movies. Movies that take storytelling to different extremes and focus on the psychology of the protagonist are what I consider art house movies. The quintessential art house movies are the Orphic trilogy by Cocteau.

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by HDJK

'Monster's Ball' was mentioned too. Another great movie directed by a Swiss guy

So what's causing the delay? Bean counters?

Probably the same mindset Universal Home president voiced yesterday: “We are taking great care in mining our library for those properties we feel precisely hit that high-def ‘sweet spot’ and best deliver on the promise of providing consumers with the state-of-the-art home-viewing experience.”

Bad luck for those of us who sit outside the high-def sweet spot.

[Riff Magnum]

I agree completely. The studios need to throw us snobs a bone too. We need all of David Lynch's movies released on BD asap. However, i read an interview with him where he professed his love for the digital world, but kinda frowned on the idea of HD. I'm pretty sure he has quite a bit of control over his releases, so i'm not sure how soon this dream will be realized. Most of his movies look fantastic upconverted from standard dvd's anyways, so i can hold out if i have to.

I'd also love to see "Dead Man" on blu-ray.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Bad luck for those of us who sit outside the high-def sweet spot.

The thing is alot of the weirder movies would substantially benefit from a blu-ray transfer. So maybe there's not an explosion every 5 seconds or a bunch of fancey CGI business, but alot of the movies i like are very dark, shadowey, and moody with lots of big wide shots and deep focus going on. These movies are just begging for a quality transfer. I'm tired of seeing people rave about the PQ quality of "Water Horse" and the like. You can't polish a turd. And yes i have kids and even they didn't like that movie. We had to go home and watch 2001: A space odyssey just to cleanse those dirty eyes.

[ryry]

here's some i'd like to see:

the diving bell and the butterfly
in the mood for love
l'avventura
the piano teacher
dogville
aguirre, the wrath of god
blue velvet! (mentioned above)

[onyxx]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Movies that take storytelling to different extremes and focus on the psychology of the protagonist are what I consider art house movies.

Isn't that exactly what they did with 'The Assassination of Jesse James'? Call it an art house western if that's what you prefer, but art house it is.

Top Ten Reviews writes: Opening for the art-house set and for possible Oscar consideration is The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, a title that will...

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by onyxx

Isn't that exactly what they did with 'The Assassination of Jesse James'? Call it an art house western if that's what you prefer, but art house it is.

Top Ten Reviews writes: Opening for the art-house set and for possible Oscar consideration is The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, a title that will...

Yeah, because a slow-paced western with narration is a revolutionary idea.

The called it an art house movie simply to keep away those people who were expecting an action packed western with gunfights and chases. Top Ten Reviews isn't stupid they knew what people's preconceptions might be for a Jesse James filmed and wanted to temper those who were smart enough to go to them for advice.

[FilmFiend]

I don't know if considered arthouse, but I own the Fountain on blu and it looks really good... mind you its one of those movies that you get and love or don't get and hate... i loved it...

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by FilmFiend

I don't know if considered arthouse, but I own the Fountain on blu and it looks really good... mind you its one of those movies that you get and love or don't get and hate... i loved it...

I would call most Aronofsky films art house films.