British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[EddieLarkin]

I'm tellin ya, Yojimbo and Sanjuro will look great and far better than the Criterions, whilst Hidden Fortress and Throne of Blood (and as we already know, Seven Samurai), will look quite poor compared to the Criterions.

You watch.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

I'm tellin ya, Yojimbo and Sanjuro will look great and far better than the Criterions, whilst Hidden Fortress and Throne of Blood (and as we already know, Seven Samurai), will look quite poor compared to the Criterions.

You watch.

And I'm guessing Yojimbo and Sanjuro being the shortest features will be on the fourth disc together? BFI up to their tricks again...I would buy just that disc on its own if that's the case.

[mattyl149]

Amazon have just shipped mine. It'll be here tomorrow

[edcresdee]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

Amazon have just shipped mine. It'll be here tomorrow

Same, was expecting a delay really. Got to cancel my zavvi preorder which was only marginally cheaper, hopefully they haven't dispatched yet. Does this have any booklets?

[mattyl149]

Originally Posted by edcresdee

Same, was expecting a delay really. Got to cancel my zavvi preorder which was only marginally cheaper, hopefully they haven't dispatched yet. Does this have any booklets?

It should do. Probably one combined booklet. I've not known a BFI release to not include some sort of booklet

[rapta]

Originally Posted by edcresdee

Same, was expecting a delay really. Got to cancel my zavvi preorder which was only marginally cheaper, hopefully they haven't dispatched yet. Does this have any booklets?

I ordered from both places and cancelled both. Might regret it later on. If either of you can get a better photo of the set and/or tell me about the transfers I'd appreciate it!

Weirdly both Zavvi and TheHut have it as 'sold out', and you can't search for it...on TheHut it was only £39.99 too...

[aewb]

Originally Posted by rapta

And I'm guessing Yojimbo and Sanjuro being the shortest features will be on the fourth disc together? BFI up to their tricks again...I would buy just that disc on its own if that's the case.

What tricks are those?

Originally Posted by mattyl149

It should do. Probably one combined booklet. I've not known a BFI release to not include some sort of booklet

From the BFI website:

•Fully illustrated booklet with contributions from Philip Kemp and Nigel Andrews, and full film credits

[bwcgrx]

US Postal Service delivered my mint condition Herzog box on Thursday. Only took five days including weekends to arrive. I think Amazon may have bought it a seat on a transcontinental flight because that is hands down the fastest I've ever received a package from the U.K.

Can't wait to crack it open... the only question which one to watch first?

[rapta]

Originally Posted by bwcgrx

US Postal Service delivered my mint condition Herzog box on Thursday. Only took five days including weekends to arrive. I think Amazon may have bought it a seat on a transcontinental flight because that is hands down the fastest I've ever received a package from the U.K.

Can't wait to crack it open... the only question which one to watch first?

Aguirre, Fitzcarraldo, Nosferatu, Cobra Verde, Woyzeck...start with a Kinski!

[mattyl149]

I just received my Kurosawa set. I'm off out now so I can't take any pictures yet. Just to say though that the set opens out with the booklet in a compartment on the left and there's two discs in each section. It's one of those cardboard cases where the top disc clips in over the bottom disc

As for which two films are on the same disc, that'd be Yojimbo and Sanjuro

If nobody else has posted pictures before I'm back, then I'll put some up

[edcresdee]

Mine arrived this morning, the booklet looks much better than the Herzog one, thicker with what looks like writing on each film. Packaging is fairly similar to Herzog but with a different holder for the booklet. Just checked out all the discs except Seven Samurai. Here's what I'd score them from what Ive seen so far, baring in mind that I dont have any fancy audio set up.

The Hidden Fortress - 4/5 video 4/5 audio
Throne of Blood - 3/5 video 3/5 audio
Sanjiro - 3.5/5 video 3.5/5 audio
Yojimbo - 4/5 video 4/5 audio

Images (sorry for the poor quality): http://imgbox.com/g/BbAClm3MZk

Pretty happy with it overall!

[rapta]

Originally Posted by edcresdee

Mine arrived this morning, the booklet looks much better than the Herzog one, thicker with what looks like writing on each film. Packaging is fairly similar to Herzog but with a different holder for the booklet. Just checked out all the discs except Seven Samurai. Here's what I'd score them from what Ive seen so far, baring in mind that I dont have any fancy audio set up.

The Hidden Fortress - 4/5 video 4/5 audio
Throne of Blood - 3/5 video 3/5 audio
Sanjiro - 3.5/5 video 3.5/5 audio
Yojimbo - 4/5 video 4/5 audio

Images (sorry for the poor quality): http://imgbox.com/g/BbAClm3MZk

Pretty happy with it overall!

Cheers Ed! Slightly regret cancelling my Amazon order now (£40.77 was it?) but I'm sure I can get it for a similar price (Base have it for £41.99 but I might see if TheHut get it in stock again). Gonna have a think on it. I already have Throne Of Blood and Sanjuro on DVD, but you say the two I don't have have the better AV. The set itself looks a little better than the Herzog set if I'm honest - my guess is the booklet on the Herzog set was an afterthought and they couldn't really add an extra panel to hold the booklet.

My replacement Reichardt set arrived just now and it's a great set - not too dissimilar to what the BFI have done recently, just a little nicer finish to the card. I'd recommend getting it if you're interested in her films!

[Vakulinchuk]

Can't wait for beaver caps, this needs to be under serious scrutiny. Especially since I caved in last year and bought the Seven Samurai steelbook.

Also, not looking good the fact that they crammed the two supposedly better looking transfers into one disc. Criterion Yojimbo is 37gb and Sanjuro 31...

[aewb]

Originally Posted by Vakulinchuk

Also, not looking good the fact that they crammed the two supposedly better looking transfers into one disc. Criterion Yojimbo is 37gb and Sanjuro 31...

Surely the encoding is just as important? Criterion's Tess has a considerably smaller file size than the BFI but the consensus is it looks a lot better. Similar thing with Tokyo Story.

[theprestige85]

Received my copy of The Innocents. This is a blind buy so hopefully it's as good as everybody says it is.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

Received my copy of The Innocents. This is a blind buy so hopefully it's as good as everybody says it is.

im waiting for the criterion release that features a new 4k restoration

[rapta]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

Received my copy of The Innocents. This is a blind buy so hopefully it's as good as everybody says it is.

I got mine a while back from LinkEntertainment on Play Marketplace - 2 for £17 on selected BFI blu-rays (and a few DVD's). Got it with An Autumn Afternoon, and got another couple the other day (The Leopard and Chronicles Of A Summer). Pretty good deal on certain titles!

[theprestige85]

Well, you guys are lucky to have a label like Criterion who has the money and resources to put forth amazing blu rays..and at a high volume too.

[edcresdee]

Originally Posted by rapta

Cheers Ed! Slightly regret cancelling my Amazon order now (£40.77 was it?) but I'm sure I can get it for a similar price (Base have it for £41.99 but I might see if TheHut get it in stock again). Gonna have a think on it. I already have Throne Of Blood and Sanjuro on DVD, but you say the two I don't have have the better AV. The set itself looks a little better than the Herzog set if I'm honest - my guess is the booklet on the Herzog set was an afterthought and they couldn't really add an extra panel to hold the booklet.

My replacement Reichardt set arrived just now and it's a great set - not too dissimilar to what the BFI have done recently, just a little nicer finish to the card. I'd recommend getting it if you're interested in her films!

Going to see how much Fopp have got reichardt for today, might go for it. May get some artificial eye releases too if they're still on sale.

I watched Stroszek from the herzog box the other day, was really cool. What a strange ending. Also saw a trailer for Heart of Glass, one of the most bizarre trailers I've ever seen!

[rapta]

Originally Posted by edcresdee

Going to see how much Fopp have got reichardt for today, might go for it. May get some artificial eye releases too if they're still on sale.

I watched Stroszek from the herzog box the other day, was really cool. What a strange ending. Also saw a trailer for Heart of Glass, one of the most bizarre trailers I've ever seen!

Yeah go for it man, I'd like to see what you think of Meek's Cutoff in particular (I've not seen the other films, only a bit of Wendy & Lucy). I'm gonna try get to Fopp soon to see about Artificial Eye titles as quite a lot are only six quid.

I might watch Stroszek right now actually, I was gonna watch another Herzog today anyway. Heart Of Glass is absolutely batshit, even for Herzog - it took me about 20 minutes to remember the cast were hypnotised, hence the strange delivery of lines (almost Lynchian) and slightly bizarre body language. All makes for something nonsensical and unsettling...similar in tone to Nosferatu and maybe Kaspar Hauser (but I've not seen all of that yet).