British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by jordan-r

Announcements for the new year.

Among other things some quality old school BBC on DVD and blu-ray, another Flipside (not an exciting choice to honest) and more Jarman, plus a previously missing in action Peter Sellers and as expected Orphée...

My wallet is quite angry with the BFI at this moment.

[Cremildo]

In for Orphée and Maurice (there's the Cohen, yes, but as strange as it sounds, it's much better for me to import from the UK than from the U.S.).

[floor pie]

I watched An Actor's Revenge tonight. I'm curious, did anyone else who has seen the BFI release experience any macroblocking, especially in the opening half of the film? I'm not a hundred percent sure I'm using the correct term (not a technical expert in any way), but for example it was very noticeable in some transitions between scenes, with waves or halos of pixels occurring with changes in brightness.

And I believe similar problems were in the Beauty and the Beast release, so it's not a one off thing for BFI? Really disappointing for me, as otherwise the picture looked absolutely gorgeous.

[GaryCouzens]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

was excited for pinter until I saw it was dvd only

I can live with that, given that the originals would have been 405-line or 625-line video, possibly surviving as 16mm telerecordings if the tapes were wiped. We don't know the lineup yet, but I can guess some of them (and if I'm right, I saw some of them on broadcast in the 80s) and I think they were all or mostly studio productions.

I don't know if Langrishe, Go Down will be included - that was shot on film, but that's probably the exception. But I can't see most of the contents of this set lending themselves to Blu-ray.

[Aunt Peg]

Very happy about the Jarman Vol. 2 set but disappointed that it doesn't appear to include Edward II, which IMO is Jarman's best work. Guess I'll grab the Film Movement edition. Must be a rights issue that the BFI couldn't sought out.

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by Aunt Peg

Very happy about the Jarman Vol. 2 set but disappointed that it doesn't appear to include Edward II, which IMO is Jarman's best work. Guess I'll grab the Film Movement edition. Must be a rights issue that the BFI couldn't sought out.

If its any help it does say in the announcement that the full line up hasn't been finalised yet. So you may want to hang on for a bit as it might include Edward II

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

very excited for jarman vol 2
was excited for pinter until I saw it was dvd only

As GaryCouzens said considering the vintage and possible less than ideal archive status of the plays a DVD set should do fine. If nothing else we'll probably save a good £10 or so against what you'd pay for a blu-ray release.

[Si Parallel Universe]

Am I the only one who when seeing that there's a vintage James Mason release from the 60s , on Blu Ray, is hoping that they can persuade Studiocanal to let them include the documentary The London That Nobody Knows In HD ?

Just me then ?

[rapta]

Definitely pre-ordering Orphée and might go for Maurice as well (price dependent). The Bergman doc has my attention, as do the Mason and O'Toole films, but I will probably pick those up at a later date. A shame the Mifune doc is DVD-only, but I suppose they decided it wasn't worth pressing onto Blu-ray.

A shame to hear An Actor's Revenge might have some issues, as I hadn't go around to watching my copy yet...

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by rapta

...A shame to hear An Actor's Revenge might have some issues, as I hadn't go around to watching my copy yet...

I haven't watched mine either .. What are the 'issues' now ?

[drb124]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

I haven't watched mine either .. What are the 'issues' now ?

I just got a copy from base so I would like to know as well.

[HotRats]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

Am I the only one who when seeing that there's a vintage James Mason release from the 60s , on Blu Ray, is hoping that they can persuade Studiocanal to let them include the documentary The London That Nobody Knows In HD ?

Just me then ?

Definitely, a great documentary and an instant preorder from me if ever listed. I was thinking of it the other night when I watched Michael Bentine's amiable wander around London, The Sandwich Man

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

Am I the only one who when seeing that there's a vintage James Mason release from the 60s , on Blu Ray, is hoping that they can persuade Studiocanal to let them include the documentary The London That Nobody Knows In HD ?

Just me then ?

Not sure if the makers set out to make one but if there's a better British mondo film out there I've never seen it, and oddly for a genre notorious for death, violence, decadence and sexual degeneracy it's a film that would regularly turn up as weekday afternoon filler on various ITV stations. Probably wouldn't get shown in such a time slot now due to the meth drinkers scene.

If BFI can't licence it then StudioCanal should pair it with a few London themed shorts and do their own blu-ray. Till then my StudioCanal double bill DVD will do just fine.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by drb124

I just got a copy from base so I would like to know as well.

Check the posts from yesterday.

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by HotRats

Definitely, a great documentary and an instant preorder from me if ever listed. I was thinking of it the other night when I watched Michael Bentine's amiable wander around London, The Sandwich Man

It's annoying and frustrating in equal measure that it hasn't happened yet.

Originally Posted by Fnord Prefect

Not sure if the makers set out to make one but if there's a better British mondo film out there I've never seen it, and oddly for a genre notorious for death, violence, decadence and sexual degeneracy it's a film that would regularly turn up as weekday afternoon filler on various ITV stations. Probably wouldn't get shown in such a time slot now due to the meth drinkers scene.

If BFI can't licence it then StudioCanal should pair it with a few London themed shorts and do their own blu-ray. Till then my StudioCanal double bill DVD will do just fine.

Well I kept hoping it would show up every time SC launched a new Blu of a London based story and it still hasn't happened despite about six opportunities in the last year or more to do so.

I have the London Collection DVD from Optimum that features that and
Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Reluctant to spend £9 on the DVD so I can save shelf space on the old London box set.

[Aclea]

Surprised at the lack of enthusiasm for Rogue Male, which was a major TV event in its day but hasn't been seen in the UK for decades because of issues with the TV unions and has only been available in dubious PD DVD versions in the States. Peter O'Toole always cited it as his favourite work, and it makes an admirable companion piece (and in many ways is superior to) the earlier adaptation, Fritz Lang's Manhunt.

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by floor pie

I watched An Actor's Revenge tonight. I'm curious, did anyone else who has seen the BFI release experience any macroblocking, especially in the opening half of the film? I'm not a hundred percent sure I'm using the correct term (not a technical expert in any way), but for example it was very noticeable in some transitions between scenes, with waves or halos of pixels occurring with changes in brightness.

And I believe similar problems were in the Beauty and the Beast release, so it's not a one off thing for BFI? Really disappointing for me, as otherwise the picture looked absolutely gorgeous.

Another macroblocking issue ? *sigh*

Anyone else confirm please ?

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by Aclea

Surprised at the lack of enthusiasm for Rogue Male, which was a major TV event in its day hasn't been seen in the UK for decades because of issues with the TV unions and has only been available in dubious PD DVD versions in the States. Peter O'Toole always cited it as his favourite work, and it makes an admirable companion piece (and in many ways is superior to) the earlier adaptation, Fritz Lang's Manhunt.

I honestly didn't know what it was but the fact that it stars Peter O'toole and the BFI see fit to give it a blu-ray release is enough to get me interested. May even be a day one blind buy depending on what else is coming out that week.

[floor pie]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

Another macroblocking issue ? *sigh*

Anyone else confirm please ?

Still to clarify, I'm not the type to nitpick on minor technical things and I do not have the most high end set up, but this is the first time I can think of seeing macroblocking (just lots of pixels in scenes that had varying levels of black), at least on such a glaring level, on a film I own.

[Si Parallel Universe]

My *sigh* was directed at the possible instance of any issue not at you.

I'm just asking others to chip in .