The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover - Beyond Genres - April 7, 2021

[DawnShadow]

The Cook serves up gourmet masterpieces in a beautiful restaurant. The thief holds his tyrannical court in the restaurant, terrorising all around him. His wife has a dangerous and illicit passion. Her lover is having the riskiest affair of his life. Peter Greenaway's notorious film is a modern day revenger's tragedy spiked with comedy, starring Michael Gambon (Gosford Park), Helen Mirren (Catherine The Great, The Queen) and Tim Roth (The Hateful Eight, Pulp Fiction).

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Peter Greenaway: A Documentary

Pre-order : https://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray/Th...ver/dp/6223558

[tucker_cleveland]

I'm not sure what to say.

I think the reaction is going to be very interesting once Umbrella announce it.

[rip63]

I do hope Umbrella aren't using the transfer from the UK release...

[hypnotoad8128]

Originally Posted by rip63

I do hope Umbrella isn't using the transfer from the UK release...

Knowing Umbrella, they'll just stump for the cheapest transfer they can licence. No way they'd stump for their own restoration.

[tucker_cleveland]

Originally Posted by hypnotoad8128

Knowing Umbrella, they'll just stump for the cheapest transfer they can licence. No way they'd stump for their own restoration.

You have to give credit to Umbrella for restoring many Australian titles that would have otherwise remained on very sub-standard DVD releases.

However, they do tend to licence whatever they can get their hands on regarding overseas titles and the fact they've chosen 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover' for Beyond Genres is very telling.

[Davidian]

How so?

[Kyle15]

This was recently restored iirc, but don't quote me on that. Will likely be the new master if so. I don't know if it's been released anywhere else.

Criterion has hinted at it coming for them at least.

[Alister_M]

It had a German release last August, no idea if that was a new master or anything. It's always been treated poorly on home video, the DVD was rubbish, so a proper restoration would be extremely welcome.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Universal owns this film worldwide as it was a Polygram production. US rights were previously with Miramax, but recent streaming versions are now under Universal and use their (rather janky) HD master. Criterion/Janus Films had reportedly completed a 4k transfer in conjunction with Universal, so it's only a matter of time until it would be screened or just dumped out on BD.

[LMFAObros]

Hopefully this uses the new 4K scan but I have my doubts.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

This will probably use Universal's HD master if they indeed control the video rights in Australia.

[hypnotoad8128]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

Universal owns this film worldwide as it was a Polygram production. US rights were previously with Miramax, but recent streaming versions are now under Universal and use their (rather janky) HD master. Criterion/Janus Films had reportedly completed a 4k transfer in conjunction with Universal, so it's only a matter of time until it would be screened or just dumped out on BD.

Fair chance that Criterion would be keeping that new 4k transfer up their sleeve until they release their edition. Even if criterion does licence it out to overseas distributors, they won't be doing that cheaply and there is no way in hell that Umbrella will pay more than they can get away with. Umbrella tends to only do 4k transfers on Australian films they own the rights to, not ones that they licence. So expect the janky HD master. If Umbrella amazingly do licence the superior 4k transfer, hell will most likely freeze over.

[jmat91]

Watched it last night (my local JB sold me the stock early) and yikes, this is the old crummy universal master with a lot of print damage. Looks like a DVD upscale.

[Anthony Thorne]

Not a surprise, I've come to expect this sort of half-assed effort from local home video labels.

[gottaget]

That's disappointing

I was planning to buy it tomorrow, but I think I'll hold back and wait for a lower price

[rip63]

Originally Posted by gottaget

That's disappointing

I was planning to buy it tomorrow, but I think I'll hold back and wait for a lower price

Or wait for the rumoured Criterion release...

[peschi]

anyone has seen caps of the UK or german release? is it really that bad?

[AMenard]

The janitor, the toaster, his bread and peanut butter would make a better movie.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by AMenard

The janitor, the toaster, his bread and peanut butter would make a better movie.

This is a great idea: Helen Mirren can come to my house and spread peanut butter all over me, and then clean me up. Afterwards, we can enjoy some toast...or rather we could, if you had remembered the bloody strawberry jam.

Therefore, I give you:

The Janitor, Her Toaster, His Bread and Peanut Butter and Their Strawberry Jam

Please mail my BAFTA, Golden Bear, Golden Globe, Golden Lion, Palme d'Or and Oscar trophies as I refuse to attend the ceremonies or nominate a stand-in.

[Rockercub]

Originally Posted by peschi

anyone has seen caps of the UK or german release? is it really that bad?

I have the UK release. I don't think it's that bad. But it's definitely in need of a new scan. And there's a decent amount of print damage at times, usually just specks here and there, but I seem to a recall a couple more significant splotches. It's not constant though. I guess it comes down to your expectations. If you're expecting reference quality, you'll be bitterly disappointed, but if you're expecting grindhouse quality, you'll be pleasantly surprised.