Room With a View... will it be real 1080p24?

[DaViD Boulet]

A Room with a View Blu-ray

The DVD (the most recent 16x9 DVD) was sourced from a 25fps PAL transfer and used frame-rate conversion to reprocess to 480i60. Results were less-than-ideal for NTSC viewers to say the least.

I'm wondering if the BD disc will be a "phoney" 1080p transfer that's reprocessed or will it use a real 1080p24 HD source.

WB is behind the new release (also to be released on HD DVD).

thanks!

dave

[Arkadin]

looks like the bd of this great film is OOP.
going for $60+ now on amazon marketplace.
I really hope this isn't really OOP, and that Warner will press more copies.
would be a real shame for fans of the film who haven't even made the leap to bd yet.

[The Duke]

Holy thread resurrection!

Sure seems to be OOP. I checked Amazon UK and it's listed as unavailable there as well, with no 3rd party listings, and it's listed as "US Import", so I guess the BBC never released it there, just the Warner US release. And blu-ray.com never reviewed it, and HDD never reviewed the BD or HD DVD.

I used to have the HD DVD and thought it looked very good, but my TV back then was only 1080i so I have no idea if it is 1080p24. I would like to re-buy it on blu-ray, but not at those prices.

[Arkadin]

thankfully I ordered a copy a few months ago, or I would be sol for sure.
I was looking for a "regular" ARWAV official thread, but doesn't look like it ever got one.
this title has always been under the radar imo, and I just don't get why that is.
It's not like it is some unknown film; it was an extremely well received film critically, and is certainly one of the best films of the entire 80's imo.
I guess the "chick flick" factor may have doomed it around here, but it's one of the good ones, and bonham carter was pretty hot at this age imo.
I love well done period pieces, and it's my favorite Merchant Ivory production.

[manicsounds]

DVDTalk review, with a terrible video rating

Wonder if Criterion can get the rights to it, as they have the rights to almost all the Merchant-Ivory productions.

[Arkadin]

personally I didn't think it looked bad at all, but I haven't watched the blu in a while.
imo it looked like many mid 80's films, with lots of grain.
it looked very film-like to me, and the most important thing is it's not dnr'ed to death, but I'm not saying it couldn't have been better.
It's a very early blu-ray.

[Clark Kent]

A Room With A View is a BBC-owned production that Warner merely licenses for distribution in America. I doubt it sold much as a fairly obscure catalog title.

[BBE]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

A Room With A View is a BBC-owned production that Warner merely licenses for distribution in America. I doubt it sold much as a fairly obscure catalog title.

I enjoyed it

[Arkadin]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

A Room With A View is a BBC-owned production that Warner merely licenses for distribution in America. I doubt it sold much as a fairly obscure catalog title.

my question is why wasn't it even released in the UK?
considering it is a British production that seems really strange to me.
Even if it is truly OOP I'm sure it will get released again on blu-ray down the road in some other country, and it will probably be the same encode at that.
Eventually some of the other Merchant Ivory films will come to blu--Howard's End is out on Criterion--and that's when I suspect it will make its reappearance.
it will most likely get that UK release next.

[goodluckchuck]

I think it looks great, probably better than Howard's End. I wish Criterion would release The Remains of the Day!

[OrlandoEastwood]

Best Buy has it for $25 on their site. Check the Blu-ray.com page out. It has the Best Buy link below the Amazon link.

[Arkadin]

on best buy it is listed as "backordered"
meaning they won't ever get it back in stock.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....egories&ks=960

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

A Room With A View is a BBC-owned production that Warner merely licenses for distribution in America. I doubt it sold much as a fairly obscure catalog title.

A Room With A View was a Merchant Ivory production, with Film Four, a division of Channel 4, a direct competitor to the BBC, handled UK distribution. BBC America merely licensed rights to the US, with distribution handled by Warner Home Video. It's rated in the top 250 films at imdb.com with a rating of 8.0/10. It may be an "obscure catalog title" to fans of Saw 99 (or whatever sequel they're up to now, and not saying you're a fan), but to many it's a worthy classic.

Originally Posted by Arkadin

my question is why wasn't it even released in the UK?
considering it is a British production that seems really strange to me.
Even if it is truly OOP I'm sure it will get released again on blu-ray down the road in some other country, and it will probably be the same encode at that.
Eventually some of the other Merchant Ivory films will come to blu--Howard's End is out on Criterion--and that's when I suspect it will make its reappearance.
it will most likely get that UK release next.

The UK DVD was released in 2007 for 4DVD, a division of Film Four/Channel Four, and they don't seem to be big on blu-ray, couldn't find a single blu-ray release by them.

[Arkadin]

good info!
btw: that 4dvd company--they are the company that released "Motorcycle diaries", "touching the void", "east is east" and a few other HD DVDs and then issued the bds.
but yeah, they only have like 6 titles or so total.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brit-Indie-C.../dp/B003PJ6W46

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

good info!
btw: that 4dvd company--they are the company that released "Motorcycle diaries", "touching the void", "east is east" and a few other HD DVDs and then issued the bds.
but yeah, they only have like 6 titles or so total.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brit-Indie-C.../dp/B003PJ6W46

Yep, that's them Motorcycle Diaries, Touching the Void, East is East and In The Shadow of the Moon were their first 4 releases in high-def, exclusively on HD DVD, and they had the misfortune to release just before HD DVD went under. Three of them (without East is East) are available for only £10.99 as True Inspiration Collection. I had all of them except Shadow of the Moon on HD DVD, and might get that BD boxset (can do without East Is East, I thought it was boring). Yeah, only a half dozen or so other blu-ray releases, most notably Shallow Grave & Trainspotting.

[MattDean]

Originally Posted by manicsounds

DVDTalk review, with a terrible video rating

I have the blu, I've watched it 3 or 4 times - it really looks good on my 52'' screen. There are scenes that have depth, detail and vibrant colours but there are soft, washed out scenes also but it's the source that's to blame and not the transfer and I'm happy with that. It's never looked better and I've seen it theatrically and on VHS, LD and DVD incarnations.

I'd recommend it

Matt

[Zen_Amako]

I found a copy of this last week at Borders and was able to use a 50% off coupon to get it for under $15. May be worth checking your local Borders stores if you're still looking for a copy. I believe the coupon expires today.

[Holmes]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

I found a copy of this last week at Borders and was able to use a 50% off coupon to get it for under $15. May be worth checking your local Borders stores if you're still looking for a copy. I believe the coupon expires today.

I also found it at Borders today and bought it, with a coupon, for around the same. To be honest, I didn't know it was OOP. I had recently watched Criterion's Howards End Blu-ray, so I was in the mood to buy another Merchant-Ivory favorite.

Even happier I bought it now.

[Felipenor]

Why is it OOP? Has Warner lost the rights to it or are they just planning a special edition?

[horizonline]

Sir Harry Otway, a landlord: The train service has improved!
Cecil Vyse: I always travel by balloon.

Nooo! Your ruining Super 8!