Spartacus (1960) (Restored Edition)

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Wow. Just started watching this. Absolutely STUNNING.

Remarkably, the one and only time I ever saw this was about 15 years ago on VHS.

Makes me kind of happy that I held off on revisiting it until such a gorgeous version was available. This is definitely a beauty.

[pmac33]

This has been 7.99 at BJ's with instant coupon. Not sure if it is still going, I picked it up several days back.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by Aragorn the Elfstone

Wow. Just started watching this. Absolutely STUNNING.

Remarkably, the one and only time I ever saw this was about 15 years ago on VHS.

Makes me kind of happy that I held off on revisiting it until such a gorgeous version was available. This is definitely a beauty.

It truly is a staggeringly beautiful restoration. One of the best I've ever seen.

And hey, if the last time you watched it was on VHS, the image you had probably wasn't much worse than the 2010 BD.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Funny that Universal's best and worst Blu-rays are both Spartacus.

[Sky_Captain]

The Family Man laughs at that statement.

[Nada]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

The Family Man laughs at that statement.

Also Tremors.

[Oblivion138]

I think the fact that Spartacus is a great piece of our cinematic heritage makes the badness of its transfer even worse. When a movie is mediocre, or just mindless popcorn fun, it takes a bit of the sting out of an awful presentation. Because hey, at least they didn't do that to a GREAT film. Then you see the original Spartacus BD, and it's just tragic.

Spartacus, Patton, and The French Connection are the three remasters/restorations for which I'm most thankful. Because our very best films deserve nothing short of the very best presentations.

[bluskiff]

Has anyone in canada got a copy yet? Nothing at best buy walmart or amazon.ca. All out of stock Hmmmmm.

[Saucerful]

Originally Posted by bluskiff

Has anyone in canada got a copy yet? Nothing at best buy walmart or amazon.ca. All out of stock Hmmmmm.

It looks like it's in stock at amazon.ca? I got shipping confirmation for mine over the weekend.

[L'armée des ombres]

Finally got this......WOW
To get this at last in this quality is awesome....UPHE and Mr. Robert A. Harris can be proud.
Did not buy last Blu for obvious reasons.
Release of the year in my opinion.

[abudgell]

Originally Posted by bluskiff

Has anyone in canada got a copy yet? Nothing at best buy walmart or amazon.ca. All out of stock Hmmmmm.

I got my copy from Amazon Canada on release day.

[tezster]

Originally Posted by abudgell

I got my copy from Amazon Canada on release day.

It's listed as out of stock when I checked a minute ago

[Basil_Of_Baker_St]

Does anybody know what the score is with the attempted European release of the restored Spartacus. I keep hearing tales of the 2010 disc being thrown in a box with the 2015 artwork, and there being a recall/replacement. German Amazon have taken it out of circulation, but Spanish Amazon are still rockin' copies for sale. Can anybody confirm if Spain have a kosher version, or if they're just selling the crap one in the new box too?

[Hatman]

I can't speak for Spain but my initial German disc, which I ordered online from a retailer that sold it a week before release, was the 2010 disc. I complained to Universal and got an apology as a feedback and a contact address for my replacement disc. Got the info yesterday that I'll receive the replacement disc next week.

[Basil_Of_Baker_St]

Hmmm, in that case, I might just get that Spanish one anyway. If it's the proper one, great, if not I can go for the replacement option which will likely get here quicker than waiting for a u.s. copy.

[Bolty]

When I watched this disc I had to manually push my gapping jaw closed over and over.
Every close up of the actors faces are breathtaking. The detail is stunning.
I feel like I met Ustinov, Douglas, Laughton, Olivier, Strode and Curtis in person.

One aside about the movie itself....

I always thought it was funny that virtually ALL of Spartacus' "generals" ( except Crixus) survive the final battle. Those escaped gladiators from the school became his advisors and comanders. Before the final battle they appear to be leading differents formations of soldiers.
But at the end they are all close together and even are chained in the last group to be crucified.
What did they all do/say, "darn, my entire division is dead--I SURRENDER!" and throw down their swords?
When the roman anounced they would not be killed--they all looked shocked--as if they expected to be executed.
So if you are fighting and you assume that if you survive you will be tortued and executed---why throw down your sword and surrender?

Then at the end, all the "generals" were chained together. How would the romans know to save that group for last unless the knew they were the leaders?
And if they knew they were the leaders then surely they would try to force them to identify Spartacus.

Lastly those Roman guards at the end didn't notice Varinia virtually kissing Spartacus' feet?

I could imagine Crasus, after finding Varinia and the baby gone interogating the guards and one dude saying, "Well there was one beutiful lady holding an infant kissing the feet and talking to that last crucified guy!"

Crassus--"You are mistaken Centurian that is the second to last man to be crucified."

[applemac]

Universal responded to my email about the digital copy being the older master:

"Thank you for contacting us. The Digital Copy of this title is only available in older version. Unfortunately it’s not available in the restored version. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused.

Thank you.
Universal Digital Copy Support"

[Page14]

Has anybody ordered this from Barnes & Noble? And if you have, did you receive it yet?

Just curious as I ordered this back on October 8th before it went into "backorder" mode. I'm still waiting. (FWIW, I saw this in-store at B&N, but held off on buying it because I'm hoping to find one with a slip cover while they're still available).

[MEB]

Originally Posted by applemac

Universal responded to my email about the digital copy being the older master:

"Thank you for contacting us. The Digital Copy of this title is only available in older version. Unfortunately it’s not available in the restored version. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused.

Thank you.
Universal Digital Copy Support"

Solution: Rip Blu-ray to hard drive!

Mark

[Doctor Jack]

Originally Posted by Bolty

When I watched this disc I had to manually push my gapping jaw closed over and over.
Every close up of the actors faces are breathtaking. The detail is stunning.
I feel like I met Ustinov, Douglas, Laughton, Olivier, Strode and Curtis in person.

One aside about the movie itself....

I always thought it was funny that virtually ALL of Spartacus' "generals" ( except Crixus) survive the final battle. Those escaped gladiators from the school became his advisors and comanders. Before the final battle they appear to be leading differents formations of soldiers.
But at the end they are all close together and even are chained in the last group to be crucified.
What did they all do/say, "darn, my entire division is dead--I SURRENDER!" and throw down their swords?
When the roman anounced they would not be killed--they all looked shocked--as if they expected to be executed.
So if you are fighting and you assume that if you survive you will be tortued and executed---why throw down your sword and surrender?

Then at the end, all the "generals" were chained together. How would the romans know to save that group for last unless the knew they were the leaders?
And if they knew they were the leaders then surely they would try to force them to identify Spartacus.

Lastly those Roman guards at the end didn't notice Varinia virtually kissing Spartacus' feet?

I could imagine Crasus, after finding Varinia and the baby gone interogating the guards and one dude saying, "Well there was one beutiful lady holding an infant kissing the feet and talking to that last crucified guy!"

Crassus--"You are mistaken Centurian that is the second to last man to be crucified."

Stop watching cinemasins everything wrong with videos and enjoy the movie. No movie stands up when picked apart.