Peter Weir on blu-ray

[James Luckard]

EDIT - 6/15/25
User jonathanjao, who started this thread originally, has graciously allowed me to take it over and turn it into a regularly updated database of Weir's films on disc.

Many of the best editions are not American, and some of his films are not on BD, so I think a chronological listing by film is best:

1974 - THE CARS THAT ATE PARIS
This film was restored in 4K last year, but there's no disc yet.

For now, the existing BDs are:

This French BD is the only one still in print:


This Japanese BD is OOP, but seems reasonably priced used:


The film is also in this OOP German boxset, which I own. It's also reasonably priced used:


1975 - PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK
The old Criterion BD contains the shorter director's cut, with the original color timing:


The newer Criterion UHD contains a radically revised "restoration" that divided fans. It was digitally degrained and color timing was changed. The set also contains the old un-"restored" BD. Note that both are the shorter director's cut


The UK UHD contains UHDs of both the director's cut and the original Australian theatrical cut, longer even than the original international theatrical cut. Both cuts are the new restoration. It also contains the amazing documentary "A Dream Within a Dream," which isn't on the Criterions.


1977 - THE LAST WAVE
BD:


UHD:


The BD and UHD use the same 4K restoration.

1979 - THE PLUMBER
BD:


Also in the OOP German boxset:


1981 - GALLIPOLI

There's an older, OOP Aussie BD that uses an older home video master.

1982 - THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY
Shockingly, this isn't on BD anywhere. The Spanish BD is a bootleg, ripped from an HD broadcast, cropped to 1.78. There's an HD version available for purchase digitally, but I've held off for years, hoping against hope for a disc.


1985 - WITNESS
UHD:


BD:


Avoid the old Paramount BD, it's an ancient HD master.

1986 - THE MOSQUITO COAST
Another Weir title Warners holds inexplicably locked in their vault. OOP even on DVD, but available digitally.


1989 - DEAD POETS SOCIETY


1990 - GREEN CARD


1993 - FEARLESS


1998 - THE TRUMAN SHOW
UHD
Avoid the US UHD, which uses the new 4K master, but has a hideous compression error, causing it to look no better than a nice BD. Buy the Italian, Spanish or Scandinavian UHDs, which all have corrected compression:


BD
Sadly, there's no BD with the new remaster, the old BD uses an ancient and ugly master, and every release of it is OOP to boot. It is, however, included with the UHD.


2003 - MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
UHD
Coming this year

BD
The BD uses the ancient HD master created in 2003 for the DVD. It also drops most of the amazing bonus features from the legendary 2-disc DVD set. All US BD editions are also OOP.


2010 - THE WAY BACK