Man on Fire (1987)

[sanjuro_61]

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Man-o...lu-ray/154766/

Synopsis: An agent newly retired from the CIA agrees to become an Italian businessman's bodyguard in this adventure film. Things fall apart though, when terrorists kidnap the Italian's daughter and the agent must rescue her. NEW 2K RESTORATION.

Region A only.

Let's hope it gets a region B release too!

[Member-222782]

Never knew there was an original Man On Fire. My copy shipped today so will probably watch it in a couple of days. I enjoyed the Tony Scott remake; I'm not expecting the '87 film to be as over the top. Should still be fun.

[StingingVelvet]

I never saw this either, and did not realize the Denzel movie was a remake until this was announced. Watched the trailer and a couple clips though and it looked exactly like the low-budget grim and grimey 70's/80's action movies I love, so I ordered it. Should be here tomorrow.

[Eri831]

woow, totally read this as 'City on Fire' (same year as well)

[javi92]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I never saw this either, and did not realize the Denzel movie was a remake until this was announced.

Yeah, me neither. Interested to hear how the transfer is before I blind buy this. But certainly intrigued.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Can't wait to get this so I may be able to toss out my old, cut German DVD of it.
I do have an uncut VHS rip from an old Swedish rental copy but assuming this will be OK I might just toss that one out as well!

[Member-222782]

The film was good but I think I still prefer the remake lol.

The PQ was fairly decent but there was a strange "milkiness" present throughout pretty much the whole film - mostly evident as the film opens, as if the contrast setting was turned way up. I suppose I could've played around with my TV settings a bit but, frankly, I'd rather not mess around with my preset preferences.

I can see how Martin Scorsese would've been impressed enough with Joe Pesci to cast him in Goodfellas 3 years later. Not sure if Pesci had done much up until Man On Fire in '87 but I thought he was good in this even though his role was kind of smallish.

Overall, a decent film.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by cine74

The film was good but I think I still prefer the remake lol.

The PQ was fairly decent but there was a strange "milkiness" present throughout pretty much the whole film - mostly evident as the film opens, as if the contrast setting was turned way up. I suppose I could've played around with my TV settings a bit but, frankly, I'd rather not mess around with my preset preferences.

I can see how Martin Scorsese would've been impressed enough with Joe Pesci to cast him in Goodfellas 3 years later. Not sure if Pesci had done much up until Man On Fire in '87 but I thought he was good in this even though his role was kind of smallish.

Overall, a decent film.

Pesci had been working for a while before this film. He was nominated for Supporting Actor Oscar for 1980's Raging Bull.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Pesci had been working for a while before this film. He was nominated for Supporting Actor Oscar for 1980's Raging Bull.

Jeez, totally forgot about Raging Bull . My exposure to Joe Pesci has been limited to his appearances in the last two Lethal Weapons films and, of course, Goodfellas playing polar opposite characters. I'm embarrassed to admit to never having seen Raging Bull in its entirety but it's on my bucketlist

[Marv Inc.]

He also has small part in Once Upon A Time In America. Might have go get this Kino release as i cant see it getting a UK release anytime soon.

[mja345]

Pesci also appeared in the Rodney Dangerfield comedy "Easy Money" in a pretty large part and in a supporting role in Nicolas Roeg's "Eureka.

[reaperx187]

I don't think i have ever seen this one before only the remake version which was pretty good from what i remember a bit of an sad ending though.

[Marv Inc.]

Great score on this by John Sott. They even used the piece "We've got each other" at the end of Die Hard when the papers falling like snow and John see's powell for the first time.

[Ruemorgue10]

Originally Posted by Marv Inc.

Great score on this by John Sott. They even used the piece "We've got each other" at the end of Die Hard when the papers falling like snow and John see's powell for the first time.

I recognized that piece from Die Hard immediately when I watched it the other day. Never knew it was lifted from this film.

[StingingVelvet]

I am 99% sure this disc was encoded with the wrong levels. The blacks are all totally grey and the movie looks milky and soft throughout. Like Shout's recent Road House release it screams wrong levels or perhaps a gamma problem. Either way it is unfortunate, though most can probably fix it with their TV/player settings (either change to PC levels or crank the gamma).

It's also a relatively worn print, but with a nice gritty appearance that works fine once you fix the levels. Movie is okay, it starts of really well with a great noirish feel but the revenge stuff later on just doesn't feel exciting or dark enough, and the ending is kind of lame and nonsensical. I collect this genre/time period, so whatever, but others might want to stick with the later adaptation. On the plus side the trailer for Gorky Park put that one right on my wishlist.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I am 99% sure this disc was encoded with the wrong levels. The blacks are all totally grey and the movie looks milky and soft throughout. Like Shout's recent Road House release it screams wrong levels or perhaps a gamma problem. Either way it is unfortunate, though most can probably fix it with their TV/player settings (either change to PC levels or crank the gamma).

It's also a relatively worn print, but with a nice gritty appearance that works fine once you fix the levels. Movie is okay, it starts of really well with a great noirish feel but the revenge stuff later on just doesn't feel exciting or dark enough, and the ending is kind of lame and nonsensical. I collect this genre/time period, so whatever, but others might want to stick with the later adaptation. On the plus side the trailer for Gorky Park put that one right on my wishlist.

Oh, you should definitely watch Gorky Park if you've never seen it. It's a fantastically moody murder mystery. The denouement is a tiny bit of a letdown and subsequent viewings aren't quite as rewarding but I still remember the first time I saw it, I was just gripped.

[dullboy]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I am 99% sure this disc was encoded with the wrong levels. The blacks are all totally grey and the movie looks milky and soft throughout. Like Shout's recent Road House release it screams wrong levels or perhaps a gamma problem. Either way it is unfortunate, though most can probably fix it with their TV/player settings (either change to PC levels or crank the gamma).

What is it with discs getting released this way? Similarly like the recent Transformers The Movie and going back to discs like Santa Sangre and Maniac. How does something like this get overlooked?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by dullboy

What is it with discs getting released this way? Similarly like the recent Transformers The Movie and going back to discs like Santa Sangre and Maniac. How does something like this get overlooked?

Just lazy encoders who use the wrong levels and never check their work, I guess. I know some find the word "lazy" really antagonizing, but I think it's accurate in this case. Like all those "news blogs" with endless typos that prove they don't proof-read.

[Goremeister100]

Originally Posted by dullboy

What is it with discs getting released this way? Similarly like the recent Transformers The Movie and going back to discs like Santa Sangre and Maniac. How does something like this get overlooked?

Yeah, this is a real let down. A real half assed release. At least you can lower the brightness and it's watchable but still....

I really wish a decent release of MANIAC would surface now that you brought it up

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Just lazy encoders who use the wrong levels and never check their work, I guess. I know some find the word "lazy" really antagonizing, but I think it's accurate in this case. Like all those "news blogs" with endless typos that prove they don't proof-read.

The difference is that news blogs are essentially free. You're not paying $15-$20 per article.