At Play in the Fields of the Lord/Apostle - 09/26/23 - Blu-ray Forum

harpua2626 · 08-11-2023, 08:36 PM

At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991), last released on laserdisc over 30 years ago, has quietly been listed for release on DVD by Mill Creek in a combo release with The Apostle.

https://www.millcreekent.com/collect...ds-of-the-lord

Many sites list this as a 2 DVD set but if the specs on the Mill Creek site are correct (they are the ones actually releasing it), this is going to be over 5 hours of video compressed onto ONE (1) DVD disc.

Assuming the rights issues that delayed any further home video releases have been resolved for APITFOTL, how is it possible that this atrocity is the first modern release of the film that comes out?

Sillydillo · 08-11-2023, 08:39 PM

Are you certain the site's specs aren't inaccurate?
The cover render on the page says '2 Disc Set' on the spine.

harpua2626 · 08-11-2023, 09:35 PM

That's a good catch and I'm relieved to see that Mill Creek just has a typo on their listing (for their own release).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sillydillo

Are you certain the site's specs aren't inaccurate?
The cover render on the page says '2 Disc Set' on the spine.

SpaceBlackKnight · 08-11-2023, 11:35 PM

At Play in the Fields of the Lord was produced by The Saul Zaentz Company with Universal distributing. Saul Zaentz licenced several titles, including this one, to Warner as part of a package for New Line's LOTR rights.

It seems that Warner only controls US TV/digital and worldwide distribution rights Universal owns US home video and theatrical (explaining how Mill Creek was able to get this one). Being DVD only means it has no HD master and probably a old SD transfer. However, that's not to say another label got BD rights with plans for their own HD remaster.

dkelly26666 · 08-13-2023, 02:44 AM

I'm getting this, anyway.

It's the first official release of 'At Play' since the Laserdisc/VHS era. I have it on VHS all these years.

And I don't have "The Apostle" at all (I saw it in the theater in 1997 and not since).

I still watch plenty of DVDs (especially when there's no other option), and this is only around 10 bucks for both films, so I'm sold.

Pre-ordered, already.

harpua2626 · 08-22-2023, 06:36 PM

Heads up:

According to the back of the case, this is going to be a "full screen 1:33:1" release and not in the original 1:85:1 aspect ratio. Only The Apostle is 1:85:1 anamorphic widescreen.

I knew this would be from the old master but the initial descripton for the release (for both films) said anamorphic widescreen however they clearly just ported the VERY tired pan & scan.

I've cancelled my pre-order.

Shane Rollins · 01-20-2025, 06:20 PM

Gotta bump.

Did anyone get this DVD? How is it? How many discs? Any pictures of it in motion? (Caps, pics of your TV, doesn't matter.)

I'm still working off a VHS so I'd like to see what this brings to the table.

dr. wai · 01-22-2025, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

Gotta bump.

Did anyone get this DVD? How is it? How many discs? Any pictures of it in motion? (Caps, pics of your TV, doesn't matter.)

I'm still working off a VHS so I'd like to see what this brings to the table.

Going by the reviews on Amazon, Lords is indeed 1.33:1 and is said to look like garbage.

OilyManiac · 06-02-2025, 11:20 PM

For what it's worth, I recently watched a full screen rip on YouTube. Liked it enough to gamble on the WB Japanese version on YouTube for 750¥. It's SD but appears to be the correct 1.85:1 framing with more information on the side. For instance, in the opening minutes when the 5 men come outside the guy on the right in the yellow shirt is fully in frame.
Did a quick search for a Japanese DVD or blu-ray but no luck.

08-11-2023, 08:36 PM	#1
harpua2626 Junior Member Member since:Jun 2014 Blu-ray collection:122 DVD collection:19	At Play in the Fields of the Lord/Apostle - 09/26/23 At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991), last released on laserdisc over 30 years ago, has quietly been listed for release on DVD by Mill Creek in a combo release with The Apostle. https://www.millcreekent.com/collect...ds-of-the-lord Many sites list this as a 2 DVD set but if the specs on the Mill Creek site are correct (they are the ones actually releasing it), this is going to be over *5 hours of video compressed onto ONE (1) DVD* disc. Assuming the rights issues that delayed any further home video releases have been resolved for APITFOTL, how is it possible that this** atrocity is the first modern release of the film that comes out?

08-11-2023, 08:39 PM	#2
Sillydillo Senior Member Top contributor Member since:May 2022 4K collection:42 Blu-ray collection:292 DVD collection:285	Are you certain the site's specs aren't inaccurate? The cover render on the page says '2 Disc Set' on the spine.

08-11-2023, 11:35 PM	#4
SpaceBlackKnight Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2018 4K collection:25 Blu-ray collection:346 Digital collection:20	At Play in the Fields of the Lord was produced by The Saul Zaentz Company with Universal distributing. Saul Zaentz licenced several titles, including this one, to Warner as part of a package for New Line's LOTR rights. It seems that Warner only controls US TV/digital and worldwide distribution rights Universal owns US home video and theatrical (explaining how Mill Creek was able to get this one). Being DVD only means it has no HD master and probably a old SD transfer. However, that's not to say another label got BD rights with plans for their own HD remaster.

08-13-2023, 02:44 AM	#5
dkelly26666 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2012	I'm getting this, anyway. It's the first official release of 'At Play' since the Laserdisc/VHS era. I have it on VHS all these years. And I don't have "The Apostle" at all (I saw it in the theater in 1997 and not since). I still watch plenty of DVDs (especially when there's no other option), and this is only around 10 bucks for both films, so I'm sold. Pre-ordered, already.

01-20-2025, 06:20 PM	#7
Shane Rollins Banned Top contributor Member since:Jun 2020 Location:In James Cameron's Mother's Basement 4K collection:8 Blu-ray collection:93	Gotta bump. Did anyone get this DVD? How is it? How many discs? Any pictures of it in motion? (Caps, pics of your TV, doesn't matter.) I'm still working off a VHS so I'd like to see what this brings to the table.

06-02-2025, 11:20 PM	#9
OilyManiac New Member Member since:Jul 2020	For what it's worth, I recently watched a full screen rip on YouTube. Liked it enough to gamble on the WB Japanese version on YouTube for 750¥. It's SD but appears to be the correct 1.85:1 framing with more information on the side. For instance, in the opening minutes when the 5 men come outside the guy on the right in the yellow shirt is fully in frame. Did a quick search for a Japanese DVD or blu-ray but no luck.

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