Running Times From DVD to Blu-Ray

[dean1700]

I just picked up Blackhawk Down in the Sony "Magnificent Movies Magnified" series and found the running time of 144 minutes is shorter than the 146 minutes on the extended DVD version.

Is the movie actually shorter on Blu-ray or is it just because of the different format of the disc?

[LordCrumb]

Different format. PAL = 25fps, BLU = 24fps

You'd be surprised at the time difference it can make.

I always thought the Blu-Ray was the Theatrical Cut.. I've had my copy for years but have still not watched it LOL.

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by LordCrumb

Different format. PAL = 25fps, BLU = 24fps

You'd be surprised at the time difference it can make.

I always thought the Blu-Ray was the Theatrical Cut.. I've had my copy for years but have still not watched it LOL.

The Blu-ray edition is the theatrical cut at 144 mins. The extended cut runs for 152 mins, which is reduced to 146 mins when played on a PAL DVD.

[dean1700]

Why the bloody hell did they put the theatrical version on Blu-ray when the extended version was available?

[gettodamoofies]

Originally Posted by LordCrumb

Different format. PAL = 25fps, BLU = 24fps

You'd be surprised at the time difference it can make.

True, true. In this case that would make the Blu run time longer though.

Studios don't help though as they're still often using the same run time on both new release DVD and Blu-ray cover art specs making the run time of the Blu-ray art significantly shorter than what it is.

I always thought the Blu-Ray was the Theatrical Cut.. I've had my copy for years but have still not watched it LOL.

That's a bingo!

Not to weigh into it too much but I actually find the theatrical of this film to be far superior. Interestingly, with most Ridley Scott films I tend to agree with the director as to which cut is the best. The only exception for me is Gladiator. For all other Scott films I prefer his preferred versions.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by dean1700

Why the bloody hell did they put the theatrical version on Blu-ray when the extended version was available?

I wish they would make more multi-version Blu-rays available, as they did with Close Enounters. So many Blus have been released with only one version included, when they could so easily have included more.

It's not even as if they always choose the director's own preferred version. Are they just setting things up for double-dips later on?

Originally Posted by atexp80

Not to weigh into it too much but I actually find the theatrical of this film to be far superior. Interestingly, with most Ridley Scott films I tend to agree with the director as to which cut is the best. The only exception for me is Gladiator. For all other Scott films I prefer his preferred versions.

I think I agree with you (and Ridley), also with the exception of Gladiator – in that instance, I definitely prefer the "extended" cut. (I recently rewatched Gladiator, and chuckled out loud at the intro by Ridley – he sounds so damned grumpy about the whole thing!! )

What's the go with Kingdom of Heaven, do you know? As far as I know, there's only the extended version available on Blu-ray – but which does Scott prefer?

[dean1700]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

What's the go with Kingdom of Heaven, do you know? As far as I know, there's only the extended version available on Blu-ray – but which does Scott prefer?

The Blu-ray version is THE one Ridley prefers.

When the 4 disc version was released he introduces the movie telling the viewer about the changes being "organic" and not just entrances and exits of scenes. He goes on to say that the one thing that should NOT have come out is the story of Sybilla's son and that the Studio thought it went off on a tangient.

The theatrical version was released by the Studio prior to him having completed his vision of the film. As a consequence the film did not rate very well. Personally, the film seems extremely disjointed and is not very fluid. Yet, when the Director's Cut was given a limited release it was received better by critics and audiences alike.

It is the rare time when a Director's cut is far superior to the original theatrical release. The DC version is by far one of my most favourite movies.

[MacEachaidh]

Thanks for the info, dean.

I remember seeing KoH at the flicks, and finding it pretty unsatisfying, and then seeing the extended version, and suddenly a whole lot more of the film fell into place. It still doesn't completely work for me, however – it's a while since I've seen it, but as I remember it there are still aspects of the plot and of character motivations that seem quite arbitrary and not well-told, but I don't recall the details now. Maybe I simply missed understanding some aspects of it.

[dean1700]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

The Blu-ray edition is the theatrical cut at 144 mins. The extended cut runs for 152 mins, which is reduced to 146 mins when played on a PAL DVD.

Another movie in the Sony Magnificent Movies Magnified range that I had questions about was The Patriot. The extended DVD runs for 168 mins but the BD runs for 175 mins. However, I did check The Patriot tonight and it is the extended version on BD. Goodie.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by dean1700

Another movie in the Sony Magnificent Movies Magnified range that I had questions about was The Patriot. The extended DVD runs for 168 mins but the BD runs for 175 mins. However, I did check The Patriot tonight and it is the extended version on BD. Goodie.

Hiya dean,
The difference in those running times is exactly what you'd expect when you take away the PAL speed-up of 4% on the DVD. (4% of 175 minutes is 7 minutes.) There aren't any scenes in the Blu-ray version of the film that weren't on the extended cut on DVD.

[StrayButler91]

Just on the topic of the Black Hawk Down Blu-ray, it baffles me that so many extras were omitted. The now extremely rare 3-Disc Collector's Edition - of which I am a proud owner - is stuffed with LOTS of extras which cover everything you could possibly want.

Is it that much to ask for all the extras to be transferred over, and for the disc to include both the theatrical and extended versions via seamless branching?

Double dip on the horizon, I guess. After all, it was one of the earliest BD titles.

[adamclark83]

I've noticed something similar on the Star Wars Saga Blu-ray. The running times listed on the Blu-rays are different from the DVDs.

[dean1700]

Originally Posted by StrayButler91

Just on the topic of the Black Hawk Down Blu-ray, it baffles me that so many extras were omitted. The now extremely rare 3-Disc Collector's Edition - of which I am a proud owner - is stuffed with LOTS of extras which cover everything you could possibly want.

I've actually got three copies of Black Hawk Down.

BD theatrical release
DVD extended version
3 disc DVD edition

The 3 disc set is one you definitely want to keep forever.