British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[Areopagita]

Yeah, improved Seven Samurai would be cool, but frankly I would prefer the films previously available only on the BFI Kurosawa DVD sets. The Samurai Collection was already upgraded, so how about the Crime Collection (Drunken Angel, Stray Dog, High and Low, The Bad Sleep Well) or the Classic Collection (Ikiru, The Lower Depths, I Live in Fear, Red Beard and Dodes'ka Den) now?

[Dan8700]

Originally Posted by qw0aszx

The Japanese blu-ray by Shochiku is the old 2011 restoration, same as the Criterion blu-ray, I think only the French boxset has that 2017 restoration.

I don't know if the French set sports the newer resto, but comparing it with the CC, it does seem a different master. Anyway, there's actually very lil difference between the two. Moreover, even though the newer one is in 1.36,5:1 and the older one in 1.32,5:1 (more or less), the former looks very oddly zoomed-in, which I don't like at all... If the BFI will be the same, I don't think I'll upgrade.
Maybe, the newer one is cleaner, tho...

ps. new (left) / old (right)

[johnpaul2]

Criterion used the 2011 restoration, also used by Carlotta in France (albeit with a weird sepia tone).
I've seen the new Carlotta disc, which uses the 2017 restoration, and it's a visible upgrade. It's not only better at fine details and delineation, but it's also much cleaner and more stable. It is however very slightly zoomed in, but since the 2013 restoration left in the round corners, I doubt we were supposed to see that much info in the first place. It's also a tad too dark in places, but then, the older restoration had clipped highlights.

[Hawkmonger]

Thats a superb slate of announcements. Year of the Sex Olympics, Kitano Box Set, Funeral Parade of Rose, and the COI set for me!

[kristoffer]

Originally Posted by Dan8700

I don't know if the French set sports the newer resto, but comparing it with the CC, it does seem a different master. Anyway, there's actually very lil difference between the two. Moreover, even though the newer one is in 1.36,5:1 and the older one in 1.32,5:1 (more or less), the former looks very oddly zoomed-in, which I don't like at all... If the BFI will be the same, I don't think I'll upgrade.
Maybe, the newer one is cleaner, tho...

ps. new (left) / old (right)

The new transfer looks a bit more processed / DNRed to my eyes...

[johnpaul2]

It's not.
Here is comparisons between the 2013 Carlotta disc and the 2019 Carlotta one, the 2013 using the same 2011 restoration than Criterion (except for some reason, it's sepia). I found it on a French website that reviewed the Ozu set.

Old :


New :


You can see : the old restoration was showing too much info (showing the upper right round corner), it had clipped highlights, it's less defined (see the clothes' patterns on cap 3), and it's dirtier and less stable (I own the older release and the boxset myself - I'm quite an Ozu fan - and have compared those myself too). The new restoration isn't DNRed (see the visible fine 4K grain on all 5 caps), is more stable and cleaner, but is also a tad too dark (see the grand-parents' clothes on cap 2, which have lost their details in the shadow).

[jackranderson]

Originally Posted by jackranderson

Quickly bought this from amazon - hopefully arrives with a booklet

Finally opened and BAIT did arrive with booklet

[malakaheso]

re:Kitano set. Are they new restorations? Those films didn't look crash hot on dvd.

I'd love an upgrade of The Draughtman's Contract. They plan on releasing it eventually, but they haven't committed.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by jackranderson

Finally opened and BAIT did arrive with booklet

I got Bait from Amazon in the end and it arrived with booklet. Everyone who got it from Base seem to have not got the booklet. Guess it’s occasionally worth siding with the devil.

[Modman]

Originally Posted by rapta

I got Bait from Amazon in the end and it arrived with booklet. Everyone who got it from Base seem to have not got the booklet. Guess it’s occasionally worth siding with the devil.

Another crap shoot as all first prints (with exclusive extras) seem to be, I don't think having an expectation that you would receive the first print if ordered in the first week of release is unreasonable, by BFI standards this appears to be popular but it's hardly mainstream or cult.

Anyhoo I am not going to cry in my cornflakes about not getting a booklet even if slightly peeved.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

re:Kitano set. Are they new restorations? Those films didn't look crash hot on dvd.

I'd love an upgrade of The Draughtman's Contract. They plan on releasing it eventually, but they haven't committed.

Should be the same restorations released by Film Movement in the US.

[LAPrice]

Originally Posted by nitin

Should be the same restorations released by Film Movement in the US.

I wonder what the chances of an individual edition of Sonatine might be? I have the film movement Kitano box, but hesitant to sell it as it has Hana Bi (instead of Sonatine), and the PQ is a bit better than the UK one.

[L'armée des ombres]

Any thoughts on this release...Picture, audio, extras ?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by L'armée des ombres

Any thoughts on this release...Picture, audio, extras ?

I'd like to know as well. I might consider a double dip as I found the mono track on the TT release to be mastered really quiet.

[johnpaul2]

Originally Posted by L'armée des ombres

Any thoughts on this release...Picture, audio, extras ?

Most certainly the same master than the TT disc. Extras are :
• Newly recorded audio commentary by film historian Jim Hemphill
• The Guardian Interview: Maximilian Schell (1971, 86 mins, audio only): the actor in conversation
• Trailer
• Image gallery

And on a dedicated DVD :
• A Tribute to Stanley Kramer (2004, 14 mins): a celebration of Stanley Kramer's life and career, featuring interviews with screenwriter Abby Mann and Karen Sharpe, Kramer’s widow
• The Value of a Single Human Life (2004, 6 mins): screenwriter Abby Mann discusses his Oscar-winning screenplay
• In Conversation with Abby Mann and Maximilian Schell (2004, 20 mins): the actor and writer reminisce about Stanley Kramer and working on the film
• Resistance (2008, 13 mins): the story of a group of ‘defectives’ and their lives within the walls of an institution as part of the Nazi’s Aktion-T4 – a programme of mass murder through involuntary euthanasia
• Heredity in Man (1937, 14 mins): a chilling insight into the brave new world of pre-Holocaust eugenics
• These Are the Men (1943, 12 mins): Ministry of Information propaganda short featuring narration written by poet Dylan Thomas
• Man – One Family (1946, 17 mins): a propaganda short made for the Ministry of Information by Ivor Montagu at Ealing Studios
• Berlin Air-Lift The Story of a Great Achievement (1949, 11 mins)

• Illustrated booklet (***first pressing only***) containing an essay and a biography of Stanley Kramer by historian Jennifer Frost, a message from William Shatner, notes on the special features and film credits

Can't say about the audio.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

I'd like to know as well. I might consider a double dip as I found the mono track on the TT release to be mastered really quiet.

I also will be interested in knowing this. I missed out on the TT version but later grabbed the Kino version which I assumed was the same as the TT version. Might have to make a double dip if the BFI version is improved.

[crazybeats]

I'm thinking of buying The Devil's but not sure I would like it. I've seen trailers and it just comes across as very British and a bit panto. I don't know Ken Russell but it's like with books, as soon as you see the author's name attached to the name of a book I think....there's history here lol. It's always Ken Russell's The Devils and that's a bit off putting because it makes me think I'm right in that it's going to have that British panto thing going on and it's going to be a bit theatrical and my suspension of disbelief will go right out the window.


It's that or I may get Bait, that's my choices.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by crazybeats

I'm thinking of buying The Devil's but not sure I would like it. I've seen trailers and it just comes across as very British and a bit panto. I don't know Ken Russell but it's like with books, as soon as you see the author's name attached to the name of a book I think....there's history here lol. It's always Ken Russell's The Devils and that's a bit off putting because it makes me think I'm right in that it's going to have that British panto thing going on and it's going to be a bit theatrical and my suspension of disbelief will go right out the window.


It's that or I may get Bait, that's my choices.

The Devils is Ken Russell's masterpiece.

[KJones77]

Originally Posted by crazybeats

I'm thinking of buying The Devil's but not sure I would like it. I've seen trailers and it just comes across as very British and a bit panto. I don't know Ken Russell but it's like with books, as soon as you see the author's name attached to the name of a book I think....there's history here lol. It's always Ken Russell's The Devils and that's a bit off putting because it makes me think I'm right in that it's going to have that British panto thing going on and it's going to be a bit theatrical and my suspension of disbelief will go right out the window.


It's that or I may get Bait, that's my choices.

Panto? Suspension of disbelief (boy do I hate that term)?

The Devils is a masterpiece.

[sjt]

Ken Russell was never "a bit panto".

He was frequently totally panto, and The Devils is no exception. In fact, like his The Music Lovers, it pretty much redefines what panto taken to its exteme is capable of. And if that doesn't appeal, there are Derek Jarman's remarkable designs to admire.

But it sounds to me like you'd be happier with Bait anyway......