The Message" (1977) & "Lion of the Desert" (1981) 4K UHD - Blu-ray Forum

MifuneFan · 10-30-2021, 09:09 PM

The Message 4K Blu-ray

Lion of the Desert 4K Blu-ray

Shout! Factory will be releasing two Moustapha Akkad films on 4K UHD on July 19th, The Message, and Lion of the Desert. Extras aare currently in progress for both.

The Message Bonus Features

Quote:

DISC ONE (4K UHD) – THE MESSAGE (English Language):

Audio Commentary With Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad

DISC TWO (BLU-RAY) – THE MESSAGE (English Language):

NEW Restoring THE MESSAGE Featurette
Audio Commentary With Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad
The Making Of An Epic: Mohammad – Messenger Of God
Promo Clips
Theatrical Trailer (Original Trailer)
Theatrical Trailer (Re-Release Trailer)

DISC THREE (BLU-RAY) – AR-RISALAH (Arabic Language, No English Subtitles):

Audio Commentary With Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad (In Arabic, No English Subtitles)
Theatrical Trailer (Original Trailer In Arabic)
Theatrical Trailer (Re-Release Trailer In Arabic)

Quote:

It was a movie seven years in the making, filmed in two separate versions with a cast of thousands, and featuring an Oscar®-nominated* score by Maurice Jarre (Doctor Zhivago, Ryan’s Daughter). This is the epic story of the prophet Mohammad, whose holy revelations defied a pagan society and changed the world forever. Two-time Academy Award® winner Anthony Quinn** (Lawrence Of Arabia) stars in this landmark international hit produced and directed by Moustapha Akkad (Lion Of The Desert) which remains the most powerful and acclaimed movie ever made about the birth of Islam.

Lion of the Desert Bonus Features

Quote:

]DISC ONE (4K UHD) – LION OF THE DESERT (English Language):

Audio Commentary With Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad

DISC TWO (BLU-RAY) – LION OF THE DESERT (English Language):

NEW Restoring LION OF THE DESERT Featurette
Audio Commentary With Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad
The Making Of LION OF THE DESERT
Theatrical Trailer (Original Trailer)
Theatrical Trailer (Re-Release Trailer)
TV Spot

DISC THREE (BLU-RAY) – OMAR MUKHTAR (Arabic Language, No English Subtitles):

Audio Commentary With Producer/Director Moustapha Akkad (In Arabic, No English Subtitles)
The Making Of OMAR MUKHTAR (In Arabic, No English Subtitles)
Theatrical Trailer (Original Trailer in Arabic)

Quote:

Two-time Oscar® winner* Anthony Quinn (Lawrence Of Arabia) stars as Omar Mukhtar, the brilliant Bedouin leader who waged a 20-year guerilla war against the invading Italian tank armies led by General Rodolfo 'The Butcher' Graziani (Oliver Reed, Gladiator) and increasingly furious fascist dictator Benito Mussolini (Academy Award® winner** Rod Steiger, In The Heat Of The Night). Oscar® winner*** John Gielgud (Arthur) co-stars with a cast of thousands in this action-packed epic produced and directed by Moustapha Akkad (The Message) that remains one of the most provocative historical dramas of our time.

Original post:

[Show spoiler]

dallywhitty · 10-30-2021, 09:10 PM

Always been meaning to watch Lion of the Desert because the almighty Oliver Reed is in it.

PhonyStark · 10-30-2021, 09:58 PM

Super excited for this release. I've been waiting for a 4K BluRay ever since they announced the movies were restored in 4K. Hopefully the 4K BluRay of The Message will include the English and Arabic versions.

Gacivory · 10-30-2021, 10:17 PM

I’m in for both of these!

StLouisRibs · 10-30-2021, 11:19 PM

Huh, must have been a weird package deal for the Halloween movies.

brainofj72 · 10-31-2021, 12:02 AM

Weird. Never heard of either of these but I’m all in.

Dvd Aficionado · 10-31-2021, 01:19 AM

I have both the UK BD and non-anamorphic UK DVD of Lion of the Desert. The UK DVD has the correct 2.35 aspect ratio, but the blu ray shows the incorrect 1.78:1. Disappointing.

These 4K aren't really worth it unless the aspect ratio is corrected.

Blasst67 · 10-31-2021, 03:01 PM

Both titles show a release date of 1/1/2025.

MifuneFan · 10-31-2021, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blasst67

Both titles show a release date of 1/1/2025.

That's Bullmoose's placeholder date until they get an official one.

Blasst67 · 10-31-2021, 04:08 PM

I was wondering if that was the case, glad for the confirmation as 2025 is a down the road a bit.

MifuneFan · 10-31-2021, 04:10 PM

Yeah, this should be part of their January wave, as the other Shout! leaks that came out the same time are coming in January..of 2022 that is

MifuneFan · 11-09-2021, 07:04 PM

Cover art for The Message

Kyle15 · 11-09-2021, 07:14 PM

Can't wait to watch these in Block-O-Rama!

StopSnitchinStopLyin · 11-09-2021, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Cover art for The Message

Low resolution photoshop shit

That can’t be the art

DukeTogo84 · 11-09-2021, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StopSnitchinStopLyin

Low resolution photoshop shit

That can’t be the art

Looks great to me. What would you want as the cover art?

zekidk · 11-12-2021, 03:08 PM

Lion of the Desert... or "Braveheart in the Desert" better be original aspect ratio this time.
Quinn, Steiger and Reed...all three stellar performances. I read somewhere that they back in '79 even brought Mussolinis old barber in to shave Steigers head. Guess they don't make movies like that any more. A great epic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Looks great to me. What would you want as the cover art?

The original movie poster:

Maximux · 11-12-2021, 03:34 PM

will pick up both 4k as I'm big fan of Oliver Reed who's gonna be in Lion, will pick the other as it look interesting

DukeTogo84 · 11-12-2021, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zekidk

Lion of the Desert... or "Braveheart in the Desert" better be original aspect ratio this time.
Quinn, Steiger and Reed...all three stellar performances. I read somewhere that they back in '79 even brought Mussolinis old barber in to shave Steigers head. Guess they don't make movies like that any more. A great epic.

The original movie poster:

That's a pretty cool poster for sure and wouldn't mind that. However, in most territories, the original movie poster was the waving of the flag art, which is present on the 4K cover though modified.

MifuneFan · 11-12-2021, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zekidk

Lion of the Desert... or "Braveheart in the Desert" better be original aspect ratio this time.
Quinn, Steiger and Reed...all three stellar performances. I read somewhere that they back in '79 even brought Mussolinis old barber in to shave Steigers head. Guess they don't make movies like that any more. A great epic.

The original movie poster:

You do realize you're showing a poster for Lion of the Desert, and not The Message, right? The cover used for The Message isn't significantly different from some theatrical posters. It is using a newer one that was made to coincide with the 40th anniversary 4K restoration.

laidbacklarkin · 11-16-2021, 05:59 PM

Fantastic film, shot on location in Libya and Italy. Apparently it was a huge undertaking getting in all the war vehicles, gear and man power onto the location which contributed to the ballooning budget of the film back in the pre-CGI days. Its shot on a massive scale. Oliver Reed hams it up but Quinn is very restrained as the revolutionary leader. I was like 10 years old when I watched it on the big screen and was quite scared with the violent scenes but it did leave a lasting memory that retained quite a bit of the impact when I watched it again years later on the botched AB Bluray disc. Keenly look forward to adding this 4K to my collection for a nostalgic experience.

10-30-2021, 09:10 PM	#2
dallywhitty Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Aug 2009 Location:Temple of Isis 4K collection:319 Blu-ray collection:1679 DVD collection:178	Always been meaning to watch Lion of the Desert because the almighty Oliver Reed is in it.

10-30-2021, 09:58 PM	#3
PhonyStark Junior Member Member since:Dec 2019	Super excited for this release. I've been waiting for a 4K BluRay ever since they announced the movies were restored in 4K. Hopefully the 4K BluRay of The Message will include the English and Arabic versions.

10-30-2021, 10:17 PM	#4
Gacivory Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Apr 2016 Location:Los Angeles, California 4K collection:1120 Blu-ray collection:5610 DVD collection:183 Digital collection:25 Trading Score:1	I’m in for both of these!

10-30-2021, 11:19 PM	#5
StLouisRibs Special Member Top contributor Member since:May 2009 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- Trading Score:6	Huh, must have been a weird package deal for the Halloween movies.

10-31-2021, 12:02 AM	#6
brainofj72 Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Location:USA 4K collection:1030 Blu-ray collection:3604 DVD collection:817 Digital collection:149 iTunes collection:139 Trading Score:152	Weird. Never heard of either of these but I’m all in.

10-31-2021, 01:19 AM	#7
Dvd Aficionado Senior Member Top contributor Member since:Jan 2012 4K collection:50 Blu-ray collection:1044 DVD collection:703	I have both the UK BD and non-anamorphic UK DVD of Lion of the Desert. The UK DVD has the correct 2.35 aspect ratio, but the blu ray shows the incorrect 1.78:1. Disappointing. These 4K aren't really worth it unless the aspect ratio is corrected.

10-31-2021, 03:01 PM	#8
Blasst67 Active Member Member since:Jul 2017	Both titles show a release date of 1/1/2025.

10-31-2021, 04:08 PM	#10
Blasst67 Active Member Member since:Jul 2017	I was wondering if that was the case, glad for the confirmation as 2025 is a down the road a bit.

10-31-2021, 04:10 PM	#11
MifuneFan Blu-ray Emperor Top contributor Member since:Mar 2012 Location:New York City 4K collection:27 Blu-ray collection:1143 Trading Score:69	Yeah, this should be part of their January wave, as the other Shout! leaks that came out the same time are coming in January..of 2022 that is

11-09-2021, 07:04 PM	#12
MifuneFan Blu-ray Emperor Top contributor Member since:Mar 2012 Location:New York City 4K collection:27 Blu-ray collection:1143 Trading Score:69	Cover art for The Message

11-09-2021, 07:14 PM	#13
Kyle15 Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:Jan 2011 Location:Alabama 4K collection:151 Blu-ray collection:393 DVD collection:8 Trading Score:5	Can't wait to watch these in Block-O-Rama!

11-12-2021, 03:34 PM	#17
Maximux Expert Member Member since:Jul 2020 Location:Canada	will pick up both 4k as I'm big fan of Oliver Reed who's gonna be in Lion, will pick the other as it look interesting

11-16-2021, 05:59 PM	#20
laidbacklarkin Special Member Member since:Jul 2011 Location:Southern California 4K collection:335 Blu-ray collection:6343 DVD collection:1659 Blu-ray reviews:20 Trading Score:17	Fantastic film, shot on location in Libya and Italy. Apparently it was a huge undertaking getting in all the war vehicles, gear and man power onto the location which contributed to the ballooning budget of the film back in the pre-CGI days. Its shot on a massive scale. Oliver Reed hams it up but Quinn is very restrained as the revolutionary leader. I was like 10 years old when I watched it on the big screen and was quite scared with the violent scenes but it did leave a lasting memory that retained quite a bit of the impact when I watched it again years later on the botched AB Bluray disc. Keenly look forward to adding this 4K to my collection for a nostalgic experience.

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