British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[fdm]

All I see when I look at that packaging (besides a great set of blu-rays I'm really looking forward to watching, that is) is the next dented up package I will be receiving from Amazon. How many crunched sides and/or corners will it be this time...

(Edit: So these are about to ship, finally. Had my order in since February. Once shipped, it will take a week or three to get here...)

(Edit#2: It shipped!)

[rapta]

My set just arrived and I'm happy with it - the packaging leaves more to be desired (the booklet's just slipped in the side I noticed...) but I can live with a couple of creases (on the bottom of the set). Disc trays a bit fiddly but I'm just glad I have these films on blu-ray!

A shame BFI don't go all-out with these sets. They could've easily made the booklet have a block spine (like Eureka's The Passion of Joan of Arc) and a similarly sturdy box to Eureka's Late Mizoguchi/WCF Volume 1/Joan Of Arc sets with amarays inside. That's how I would've done it. That's how they did the double pack of The Great White Silence and The Epic Of Everest.

Perhaps it would've been too fiddly to do separate artworks for each disc/pair of discs in seperate amaray's, and since they were only releasing two of the discs as separate releases (and decided on steelbooks) it probably made more sense to put them all in a digipack layout? Slimline cases could have been an idea if they could find suitable artwork for all 8 discs (much like Artificial Eye do). Besides, they probably put most of the money from the project into the restorations which at the end of the day is the most important thing!

Will be watching a couple of these tonight hopefully!

EDIT: gotta say, having serious second-thoughts about the Kurosawa collection supposedly coming out in a couple of weeks. Anyone else in the same boat?

[edcresdee]

Originally Posted by rapta

My set just arrived and I'm happy with it - the packaging leaves more to be desired (the booklet's just slipped in the side I noticed...) but I can live with a couple of creases (on the bottom of the set). Disc trays a bit fiddly but I'm just glad I have these films on blu-ray!

A shame BFI don't go all-out with these sets. They could've easily made the booklet have a block spine (like Eureka's The Passion of Joan of Arc) and a similarly sturdy box to Eureka's Late Mizoguchi/WCF Volume 1/Joan Of Arc sets with amarays inside. That's how I would've done it. That's how they did the double pack of The Great White Silence and The Epic Of Everest.

Perhaps it would've been too fiddly to do separate artworks for each disc/pair of discs in seperate amaray's, and since they were only releasing two of the discs as separate releases (and decided on steelbooks) it probably made more sense to put them all in a digipack layout? Slimline cases could have been an idea if they could find suitable artwork for all 8 discs (much like Artificial Eye do). Besides, they probably put most of the money from the project into the restorations which at the end of the day is the most important thing!

Will be watching a couple of these tonight hopefully!

EDIT: gotta say, having serious second-thoughts about the Kurosawa collection supposedly coming out in a couple of weeks. Anyone else in the same boat?

second thoughts about buying it or second thoughts about it being released on time? im still interested but want to hear some more about it or see some photos soon. my herzog boxset isn't due to arrive til next thursday now because the card i had pre-ordered with expired between march and now. i suppose it'll be dispatched on tuesday

[rapta]

Originally Posted by edcresdee

second thoughts about buying it or second thoughts about it being released on time? im still interested but want to hear some more about it or see some photos soon. my herzog boxset isn't due to arrive til next thursday now because the card i had pre-ordered with expired between march and now. i suppose it'll be dispatched on tuesday

Oh bummer Ed! My Reichardt set won't arrive 'til then, I'd better crack on with some of these Herzog films! I changed my card too but remembered to update it before it was dispatched. Yeah, having second thoughts about buying the Kurosawa set...no reviews yet so we don't know if they're lacklustre transfers. Might just cancel it and put it on the old Christmas (or birthday) list if it's any good. £40 seems a little steep for 4 discs compared to the 8-disc Herzog set I got for around the same price. I'll decide next week before it's dispatched on the 1st.

[GoldenDaze]

Does anyone know if anymore of these films will be released separately? I'm not sure I want the box set but would quite like to own Fitzcarraldo and Aguirre (not the steelbook) on blu ray.

[OceanBlue]

After being disappointed by the condition of booklets inside the DVD/Blu-ray cases of recent film releases by another UK label, it was refreshing (and surprising) to get the booklet inside the DVD case of new release The Changes (TV series) in virtually perfect condition.

[mattyl149]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

After being disappointed by the condition of booklets inside the DVD/Blu-ray cases of recent film releases by another UK label, it was refreshing (and surprising) to get the booklet inside the DVD case of new release The Changes (TV series) in virtually perfect condition.

I've always found BFI DVD booklets to never be damaged inside. Recently, the booklets in Arrow and MOC Blu-rays have been fine as well. Saying that now, I've probably jinxed it for myself

[David M]

Interesting, because they are all manufactured at the same factory.

[tenia]

Just received this morning my BFI Herzog set, fortunately in quite a mint state.

Hopefully, I'll be able to give it a spin very soon.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by tenia

Just received this morning my BFI Herzog set, fortunately in quite a mint state.

Hopefully, I'll be able to give it a spin very soon.

Where did you order from, if I may ask?

Haven't ordered a copy myself yet, because I want to order from the vendor from where I have the best chance to receive it undamaged.

[tenia]

I ordered from Amazon.co.uk, very simply.

[edcresdee]

Mine arrived in good shape yesterday from Amazon. Going to watch one tonight, pretty excited!

[rapta]

Originally Posted by edcresdee

Mine arrived in good shape yesterday from Amazon. Going to watch one tonight, pretty excited!

Glad you finally got it Ed! Waiting for my Reichardt set too - never saw all of Wendy & Lucy and never saw Old Joy so looking forward to that too (plus gonna try see Night Moves at the cinema ASAP).

Which ones you gonna start with? I dunno where to go next after seeing Heart Of Glass (probably the weirdest feature film I've seen of his...so haunting. I forgot that the cast were hypnotised at first). I might watch one I've already seen (Aguirre, Fitzcarraldo, Nosferatu), or dive right into Stroszek or even Cobra Verde.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

I've always found BFI DVD booklets to never be damaged inside. Recently, the booklets in Arrow and MOC Blu-rays have been fine as well. Saying that now, I've probably jinxed it for myself

It's only been with some recent titles where the booklets have had some damage to them (creases and folds, with one booklet having a fold through all the pages in one corner). Before that, the condition of booklets from the other UK label had been much better. On the one hand I feel like I should voice a complaint about the condition of the booklets, but I also think that I'm not entitled to voice a complaint about a damaged booklet.

You hope that DVDs/Blu-rays and boxsets arrive in perfect or near perfect condition, but sometimes it doesn't always happen. It's not worth sending back the whole item because of a damaged booklet (and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way).

[malcy30]

Amazon are still claiming that the "Kurosawa - The Samurai Collection" boxset is being released on Monday 1st but have removed the guaranteed Monday delivery from my order and are saying date unavailable.

Looks like there has been a delay in them receiving copies

[rapta]

Originally Posted by malcy30

Amazon are still claiming that the "Kurosawa - The Samurai Collection" boxset is being released on Monday 1st but have removed the guaranteed Monday delivery from my order and are saying date unavailable.

Looks like there has been a delay in them receiving copies

I thought they'd cocked this up...I thought it was out late September (22nd or 29th I think), then they send an email saying it's coming out September 1st and somewhere else said the original release date was August 25th. Dunno what's going on! Either way I cancelled mine the other night...gonna see about a review before I decide to buy this one.

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by rapta

I thought they'd cocked this up...I thought it was out late September (22nd or 29th I think), then they send an email saying it's coming out September 1st and somewhere else said the original release date was August 25th. Dunno what's going on! Either way I cancelled mine the other night...gonna see about a review before I decide to buy this one.

It seems no one knows when this is actually being released.
The BFI online shop claims it was released on 25th August but have no stock. Both Amazon and Moviemail claim 1st September, but as I said Amazon have said they will not have stock to deliver next Monday.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by malcy30

It seems no one knows when this is actually being released.
The BFI online shop claims it was released on 25th August but have no stock. Both Amazon and Moviemail claim 1st September, but as I said Amazon have said they will not have stock to deliver next Monday.

Absolute madness. Hopefully if it's any good I can still get it not much over £40 (I had it pre-ordered for £40.77 or something from Amazon). I reckon it'll get delayed though - the Herzog set was delayed by about 6 weeks in the end!

[EddieLarkin]

Some already have it:

https://twitter.com/shittydeath/stat...122112/photo/1

It might be a review/promo copy but it's the full package.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Some already have it:

https://twitter.com/shittydeath/stat...122112/photo/1

It might be a review/promo copy but it's the full package.

Hmm, can't really tell but I'm guessing a digipack of the Robbe-Grillet size? A shame there are NO reviews of the discs with screenshots...I'm quite surprised actually. Knowing my luck it'll shoot up in price next week and the transfers will be great.