Highlander (1986) November 2nd.

[TheWildWhelk]

So Russell Mulcahy's Highlander film finally catches up with the rest of the international market and get's released on november the 2nd. The same transfer has been used across the board for the presently available release, so who thinks that Lionsgate will use this top notch (but grain heavy) transfer of an 80's classic, or create a new transfer for the US market?

Btw, the images shown on this website tend to exacerbate the amount of filmgrain in the movie. With a decent HD screen, kick-ass contrast ratio and a Full HD resolution, Highlander has never looked better. Yes, the film is grain heavy, but the grain blends into the image, lending a grittiness to the required scenes and look of age to some of the flashback sequences.

Or if you have a 37" 720p/768p screen with crap contrast ratio the film is going to look like shit regardless of what you do. Bummer.




Highlander Blu-ray

Highlander Blu-ray Review

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by SonOfTorah

So Russell Mulcahy's Highlander film finally catches up with the rest of the international market and get's released on november the 2nd. The same transfer has been used across the board for the presently available release, so who thinks that Lionsgate will use this top notch (but grain heavy) transfer of an 80's classic, or create a new transfer for the US market?

Btw, the images shown on this website tend to exacerbate the amount of filmgrain in the movie. With a decent HD screen, kick-ass contrast ratio and a Full HD resolution, Highlander has never looked better. Yes, the film is grain heavy, but the grain blends into the image, lending a grittiness to the required scenes and look of age to some of the flashback sequences.

Or if you have a 37" 720p/768p screen with crap contrast ratio the film is going to look like shit regardless of what you do. Bummer.

Gimmie the original grain over DNR any day of the week!

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by SonOfTorah

So Russell Mulcahy's Highlander film finally catches up with the rest of the international market and get's released on november the 2nd. The same transfer has been used across the board for the presently available release, so who thinks that Lionsgate will use this top notch (but grain heavy) transfer of an 80's classic, or create a new transfer for the US market?

I liked the transfer on the UK release. I don't why people were ragging on it so much. Sure it's grainy, but it also blew away every DVD version or HDTV broadcast I'd ever seen. Plus we're talking about a relatively low budget cult movie that's nearly a quarter of a century old.

[SixSpeedSamurai]

I'd say "there can be only one..." but this is one of those films that gets released over and over and over.

[DNinja]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

I liked the transfer on the UK release. I don't why people were ragging on it so much. Sure it's grainy, but it also blew away every DVD version or HDTV broadcast I'd ever seen. Plus we're talking about a relatively low budget cult movie that's nearly a quarter of a century old.

I liked the transfer as well. Considering how crappy it always looked on DVD and on television, I was pleasantly surprised by the UK release. Grainy for sure, but it looked natural and the detail was excellent for a low-budget early 80s title.

[zardoz]

i hope the soundtrack will be heavily restored.

this has been the weak spot of all the DVD editions i have seen untill now

[#Darren]

I love the UK transfer. Apparently the US release will have "new" extras...

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by SonOfTorah

The same transfer has been used across the board for the presently available release, so who thinks that Lionsgate will use this top notch (but grain heavy) transfer of an 80's classic, or create a new transfer for the US market?)

I bet Lionsgate will just use the same transfer. I don't think they'll put any money into changing it.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

The US Director's Cut that has been available on DVD among other formats since the late 90s have some changes to it from how the European theatrical cut appears that Peter Davis might like to keep for a Blu-ray release. Using the same transfer they would lose some of that unless they have treated it to some wire-removal.

New extras, possibly lifted some of the extras from the European BD. They're by and large new to the average American anyway.

That said I'd give my right nut for an isolated score in lossless. I'd welcome the US theatrical cut as a bonus.

[miller_time22]

I'm not sure why the news article on blu-ray.com about Highlander being announced didn't mention it as well, but according to other websites, Lionsgate has stated Highlander 2 will street the same day as the first film.

[#Darren]

I thought the US directors cuts was exactly the same as the European theatrical cut.

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

The US Director's Cut that has been available on DVD among other formats since the late 90s have some changes to it from how the European theatrical cut appears that Peter Davis might like to keep for a Blu-ray release. Using the same transfer they would lose some of that unless they have treated it to some wire-removal.

New extras, possibly lifted some of the extras from the European BD. They're by and large new to the average American anyway.

That said I'd give my right nut for an isolated score in lossless. I'd welcome the US theatrical cut as a bonus.

[#Darren]

I just checked out the specs on the US release and indeed it does seem to have far less quality extras than the UK edition.

[#Darren]

Wish they would release both theatrical and renegade edition.

Originally Posted by miller_time22

I'm not sure why the news article on blu-ray.com about Highlander being announced didn't mention it as well, but according to other websites, Lionsgate has stated Highlander 2 will street the same day as the first film.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by iDarren

I thought the US directors cuts was exactly the same as the European theatrical cut.

Well, all scenes are accounted for but some dialogue has been excluded in the US Director's Cut. They also added the buzz-sound whenever another immortal was around, something they originally cooked up for the TV-series.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by iDarren

Wish they would release both theatrical and renegade edition.

I'd be game for the 90-minute US theatrical, 100-minute UK/European theatrical, Renegade and the 2004 Special Edition in one nice box set. The realist in me says it will be the latter only. If there is a US release of Highlander 2 I hope it isn't the same transfer that was used for the Dutch Blu-ray.

[Walts Ghost]

Finally going to be able to get a copy of this! I love Highlander, one of my favorite movies. Nice to see it finally getting a state side release And I hope that Highlander 2 is the renegade edition....

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by pj_campbell

Finally going to be able to get a copy of this! I love Highlander, one of my favorite movies. Nice to see it finally getting a state side release And I hope that Highlander 2 is the renegade edition....

Going from one site Highlander 2 is the 2004 Special Edition (basically Renegade with new CGI), which is logical since that is what Lionsgate currently has on DVD.

Highlander reportedly only has the producers and director's commentary plus the deleted scenes (expanded scenes really w/o audio) previously issued on the European Blu-ray.

[csdot]

i already have the UK Highlander blu-ray and am quite happy with it, but ive never even seen the second one. hopefully its one of those cheap-o lionsgate titles that ends being in the 10 dollar range, im curious enough to blind buy it.

[WJWS Channel 13:Amity]

Wish they(amazon) would go ahead and put up the preorder for Highlander 2 allready iam really wanting them to ship in the same order on release day.

I went ahead and pre orderd the first one just to lock in the 13.99 price.

[Jeff Kleist]

There should be additional new features on this beyond the UK version