British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[BarnDoor]

I could see Underground getting one, but then that is a limited edition. I suppose the Flipside titles are unlikely. Perhaps they might do one for The Firm, who knows?

[rapta]

Yeah I can see either of the Clarke titles getting one (The Firm more likely), and you're right that Underground is limited but then again so are Night and the City, Black Girl/Borom Sarret, Valentino, Penda's Fen, I Am Belfast and The Wages of Fear...I doubt they'll all get a slipcover!

It could be like you said though - to encourage sales. Maybe it's a little light on extras so they allocated some of the budget to slipcovers? Who knows...but I do like that artwork, so I will try and get a slipcovered copy.

[MechaGodzilla]

There are too many box sets I want this year, and some like the Alan Clarke and Human Condition ones have to be limited too which makes it worse.

[rapta]

I'm intrigued by the Clarke set but it's way too expensive so I'll likely just get Penda's Fen and The Firm and maybe get the set if it falls in price one day. The Human Condition, on the other hand, is the first Arrow box set I can happily say I really do want.

[CouncilSpectre]

I've already got a number of box sets earmarked for picking up soon (Yoshida, AHP, the Godard set) - I pre-ordered the standard release of The Firm and will likely leave it at that.

The Human Condition, Well that's just a top priority at the moment!

[CelestialAgent]

Found a copy of The Epic of Everest in CEX. Worth checking out?

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Found a copy of The Epic of Everest in CEX. Worth checking out?

Definitely.

I watched it about a month or so ago. It's mesmerising.

[javi92]

Originally Posted by rapta

I'm intrigued by the Clarke set but it's way too expensive so I'll likely just get Penda's Fen and The Firm and maybe get the set if it falls in price one day.

The Clarke titles are all being encoded 1080i50, right?

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by Fnord Prefect

I'm holding off buying War Games/Culloden because it doesn't really have much added value content in comparison to the old New Yorker double bill DVD. So you might be onto something there...

Not quite. I'm looking at DVD Beaver here - the new release keeps the commentaries from the New Yorker release; the only thing it might drop is the Patrick Murphy essay, but then it might be reprinted too. Personally seeing 1960s TV in HD is one someone can only dream of, so that's more important to me than an essay.

What it seems to be dropping are these extras from the old BFI DVD of The War Game:

• THE DIARY OF AN UNKNOWN SOLDIER (17:01)
• Featurette - 'The War Game' - The Controversy' (18:37)

Both extras seem substantial; the DVD is a bit costly on eBay but you may be able to find some bargains and double dip.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Not quite. I'm looking at DVD Beaver here - the new release keeps the commentaries from the New Yorker release; the only thing it might drop is the Patrick Murphy essay, but then it might be reprinted too. Personally seeing 1960s TV in HD is one someone can only dream of, so that's more important to me than an essay.

What it seems to be dropping are these extras from the old BFI DVD of The War Game:

• THE DIARY OF AN UNKNOWN SOLDIER (17:01)
• Featurette - 'The War Game' - The Controversy' (18:37)

Both extras seem substantial; the DVD is a bit costly on eBay but you may be able to find some bargains and double dip.

Or alternatively you could buy this, which includes The Diary of an Unknown Soldier in HD:

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by rapta

Or alternatively you could buy this, which includes The Diary of an Unknown Soldier in HD:

So then the only MIA feature is The Controversy, then.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

So then the only MIA feature is The Controversy, then.

Yes, unless these specs aren't final...

[BarnDoor]

I'm not sure if the specs are final yet. Also, the old BFI DVD of Culloden contained another Watkins short film, 'The Forgotten Faces', which again is included on Privilege.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Fnord Prefect

Dissent & Disruption £99.99 at Base.com:

http://www.base.com/buy/product/diss...c-bfib1250.htm

IMO it's worth getting a pre-order in there just to lock it in at such a low price.

For those who like to live dangerously it's also £99.99 at Zavvi...

Curiously, the last two BFI box sets I got from Zavvi arrived in perfect condition with 48 delivery and tracked too (and actually arrived less than 24 after dispatch). And I paid under £20 for each of them.

It must just be for collectors sets from BFI/Arrow/MoC etc. because my Indiana Jones set arrived in a Jiffy bag (at the same time mind, and completely mint as well). So yeah, you could gamble but something tells me for something so high value, they're gonna upgrade the postage to avoid returns (and package it well too).

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Fnord Prefect

Dissent & Disruption £99.99 at Base.com:

http://www.base.com/buy/product/diss...c-bfib1250.htm

IMO it's worth getting a pre-order in there just to lock it in at such a low price.

For those who like to live dangerously it's also £99.99 at Zavvi...

I was excited to see that, especially since base removes VAT, but the £39.99 shipping to North America is a little steep.

[Aunt Peg]

Originally Posted by drdoinel

Does anyone know where I could buy identical (or very similar) replacement cases for BFI blu-rays? I got a couple in the mail (cracked and broken) and I'd like to switch the cases out. Thanks!

I don't know if you can buy replacement covers from the BFI but back in 2005 when I purchased Gallivant via Amazon and encountered great difficulty opening the cardboard cover the film was in and it tore.

I email BFI to complain about the bad design of the packaging and request that in the future that they have packaging that was easier to open without causing damage to the packaging.

They were kind enough to resend me a replacement packaging for the film.

This was over 10 years ago and different circumstances but you could should email and ask them.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Aunt Peg

I don't know if you can buy replacement covers from the BFI but back in 2005 when I purchased Gallivant via Amazon and encountered great difficulty opening the cardboard cover the film was in and it tore.

I email BFI to complain about the bad design of the packaging and request that in the future that they have packaging that was easier to open without causing damage to the packaging.

They were kind enough to resend me a replacement packaging for the film.

This was over 10 years ago and different circumstances but you could should email and ask them.

Think they meant just clear Amarays, in which case eBay is probably the answer...

[ravenus]

For a short time yesterday, BFI's release of Night & The City was going for 13.38, I was lucky to grab it. Looks like the price has gone back up to MSRP.

[fdm]

Night and the City has been in my cart for quite some time now, but yeah that £19.99 price means it's just going to stay there. But also now I just put a price watch on it, just in case there's a repeat performance I won't miss it again. (Then I'll decide if I really need it or not. )

[rapta]

I just saw the press release for Farewell My Concubine, which is a bit thin on extras (I imagine there isn't much out there but they could've produced a commentary or something), but at least we know it's not getting delayed any further:

Special feature:

• The Making of Farewell My Concubine (2003, 24 mins) - documentary charting the making of the film, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and the director

Also, the extras for Bande à part in case anyone hasn't seen them yet:

Special features:

• The Outsiders: alternative presentation of UK theatrical release credits
• Original trailer
• Feature-length audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin
• Anna Karina interviewed onstage at the BFI Southbank (2016, 31 mins) - a conversation with the critic Jason Solomons about Bande à part
• Anna Karina on Jean-Luc Godard (2016, 10 mins)
• An introduction to Bande à part by Ginette Vincendeau (2016, 20 mins)
• An interview with Raoul Coutard (2003, 11 mins)
• JLG/AK - an interview with Anna Karina (2010, 39 mins)
• JLG/CC - an interview with Claude Chabrol (2010, 26 mins)
• JLG/ADB - an interview with Antoine de Baecque (2010, 16 mins)
• JLG/DB - an interview with Denitza Bantcheva (2012, 22 mins)
• JLG/AA - an interview with Alexandre Astruc (2012, 19 mins)
• Les fiancés du pont Mac Donald (Agnes Varda, 1961, 5 mins) - Delightful silent film starring Jean-Luc Godard and Anna Karina
• Fully illustrated booklet featuring new writing by Andy Miller and full film credits.

And lastly, a modest amount of extras for Shooting Stars too:

Special features:

• Pathé’s Screen Beauty Competition (1920, 2 mins)
• Around the Town: British Film Stars and Studios (1921, 2 mins)
• The Lovely Hundred (1922, 25 secs)
• Secrets of a World Industry – The Making of Cinematograph Film (1922, 8 mins)
• Meet Jackie Coogan (1924, 11 mins)
• Starlings of the Screen (1925, 15 mins)
• Opening of British Instructional Film Studio (1928, 4 mins)
• Stills and Special Collections Gallery (2016, 6 mins)
• Original screenplay (downloadable PDF, DVD only)
• Illustrated booklet with essays by Bryony Dixon, John Altman, Henry K Miller and Chris O’Rourke, and full film credits

I think I'm set for Bande à part myself, but Farewell My Concubine will depend on price (and I'd like to see a review first, if possible). Shooting Stars is definitely going on the wishlist though!