British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

The Valley; More; Herostratus; Anti-clock; the other side of underneath; GAZWRX--films of jeff keene;
(more important recommendation is to get a region free player asap; you'll never look back and wonder why you waited so long)

Thank you for the recommendations. I am planning to buy a region free blu ray player. I also bought two titles from Eureka Murnau's "Sunrise" and Melville's "the silence of the sea". Sunrise looks amazing for a 1920s film. Again no distributor offers this great film in states. Lost weekend by Wilder on blu ray now that is epic.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by Yami

The Bill Douglas titles are the best the BFI have ever released in my opinion and I think they're region free

Yep, both Comrades and the Bill Douglas Trilogy are region free. Must owns.

[Arkadin]

Originally Posted by Yami

The Bill Douglas titles are the best the BFI have ever released in my opinion and I think they're region free

I'm still waiting on the re-release of that title.
It's long OOP in the blu only version, and I never managed to get it before it was gone.
maybe it's already been re-released; not sure; it wasn't the last time I checked.

[Yami]

They were re-released just this week I think.

[Fellini912]

A couple of days ago I ordered Institute Benjamenta. I saw some clips and it looked very interesting. Anyone saw the whole film? I am hoping BFI releases the Brothers quay second film. There are mix reviews about their second film.

[Arkadin]

Originally Posted by Yami

They were re-released just this week I think.

nice!
I'll have to put that on my amazon.uk wish list for ordering soon.

[manicsounds]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

A couple of days ago I ordered Institute Benjamenta. I saw some clips and it looked very interesting. Anyone saw the whole film? I am hoping BFI releases the Brothers quay second film. There are mix reviews about their second film.

You mean "Piano Tuner Of Earthquakes"? Yeah, I had the Artificial Eye DVD and it was ok. I wasn't crazy about it, and my disc also had some skipping errors near the end, so I had to get rid of it. Since the AE DVD is still in print, I don't see BFI releasing it anytime soon.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by manicsounds

You mean "Piano Tuner Of Earthquakes"? Yeah, I had the Artificial Eye DVD and it was ok. I wasn't crazy about it, and my disc also had some skipping errors near the end, so I had to get rid of it. Since the AE DVD is still in print, I don't see BFI releasing it anytime soon.

Thanks. I will just rent it for now. Is the Bill Douglas trilogy somewhat like 400 blows? 400 blows is an awesome French New Wave film that I enjoyed a lot. If it is anywhere as good, I will venture a buy.

[Yami]

Well it's a similar in the fact it's an autobiographical account of childhood/adolescence but the story is different. I would really recommend you pick it up, all three films are compelling.

[Bailterspace]

http://film.thedigitalfix.com/conten...ollection.html

Faces, Shadows, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, A Woman Under the Influence and Opening Night

[Ctzalman]

Originally Posted by Bailterspace

http://film.thedigitalfix.com/conten...ollection.html

Faces, Shadows, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, A Woman Under the Influence and Opening Night

that's awesome news. too bad criterion hasn't beaten them to the punch and released their box set on blu.

[Deciazulado]

Her Private Hell Blu-ray Review

[mattyl149]

In recent releases, there is a insert highlighting that Anti-Clock, Separation and The Other Side Of The Underneath are getting dual format releases. This is great news as this was the reason I was holding off buying them. I can't seem to find any details on when they are likely to be released

I'm just hoping that The Leopard (with a new print), A Zed And Two Noughts, Nighthawks/Strip Jack Naked and The Edge Of The World get the same treatment, as they are now the only remaining ones that have separate DVD and blu ray releases. Apparently The Innocents isn't going dual format so I bought that, and also GAZWRX - The Films Of Jeff Keen as that one probably won't

All we need then is upgrades for the Kurosawa and the Dreyer films

I've also very nearly completed my BFI collection and only need 38 titles, but the majority of these are the older titles which have long since been deleted

[Yami]

I'd love to see some Kurosawa, Dreyer and Davies. The BFI know I would too - I've told them often enough!

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Yami

I'd love to see some Kurosawa, Dreyer and Davies. The BFI know I would too - I've told them often enough!

I'd love to see BFI tackle the "Post War" Kurosawa films...all of the films in the current Criterion Eclipse set would be welcome!

EDIT: BTW...as I just noticed it for £8.49 on Amazon UK...I finally bought A Day in the Life. I don't know if this is the cheapest that's it ever been, but I've wanted to add it and the Humphrey Jennings films as well. Waiting a bit to see if they drop in price as well.

EDIT#2: I really wish they would release their Naruse DVD boxset films on blu. I know they didn't sell really well...but it appears that MoC will not likely release their Naruse box on blu, because they didn't sell very well. At least Mizo is starting to get move love on blu...

[mattyl149]

Is there something about Naruse? I like his films having both the BFI and MOC releases, but nobody else wants to release any more of them, and the chances of him appearing on blu seem less and less everyday. There is a Criterion release of silent Naruse which has five of his films not released over here

We have got Ozu on blu, but even he has been relegated to DVD. I'm hoping that the BFI release more of his films on blu, and that the Student Comedies and the Melodrama collection are the only ones on DVD, and only because the prints would not be good enough for blu

At least we are getting Mizoguchi on blu, and am hoping that the two MOC Mizoguchi blus sell well enough to allow the other two to be released

[rkish]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

Is there something about Naruse? I like his films having both the BFI and MOC releases, but nobody else wants to release any more of them, and the chances of him appearing on blu seem less and less everyday. There is a Criterion release of silent Naruse which has five of his films not released over here

We have got Ozu on blu, but even he has been relegated to DVD. I'm hoping that the BFI release more of his films on blu, and that the Student Comedies and the Melodrama collection are the only ones on DVD, and only because the prints would not be good enough for blu

At least we are getting Mizoguchi on blu, and am hoping that the two MOC Mizoguchi blus sell well enough to allow the other two to be released

I have both the MoC and BFI DVD boxsets...plus the Silent Naruse Criterion Eclipse set. The only release I don't own "When A Woman Ascends the Stairs", is, that it's included on the BFI set and I really feel that ONE DAY, this might be the only Naruse film to get a release on blu...but I might weaken sometime before that, as it has a GREAT commentary by Donald Ritchie!

I'm as disappointed as you are about the two current Ozu releases that are DVD boxsets, but I'm glad we have them...I still fear that Tokyo Twilight will never be released on blu, as Criterion had it on an Eclipse set as well. The Student Comedies has the first of his films that is surviving, plus a great 20 minute "talk" by Asian film expert and filmmaker Tony Rayns, which is reason alone to buy it...I learned a lot about Ozu, that I didn't know. The Melodrama set also has a rare silent film that has never been released...it's a nice plus.

I want to get at least one of the MoC Mizos...probably Ugetsu to start...might weaken and buy Sansho sooner than later.

Watching the Man City / Sunderland game right now...VERY exciting!

[Show spoiler]WOW...Man City comes back from being behind by two and ties the game to salvage one point...what a great f***ing game!

[Yami]

We can hope that some company will take a chance and release Naruse on Blu. His films really don't get the attention they deserve.

[pro-bassoonist]

DVD

To coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations the BFI presents a wealth of rare royal films on two double-DVD sets:

A Royal Occasion and The Queen on Tour

The BFI celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee with the release of two DVDs packed with rare and previously unavailable footage of the British royal family spanning a period of 75 years. A Royal Occasion: From Victoria to Elizabeth II and The COI Collection Volume Seven: The Queen on Tour, both released on 14 May 2012, will delight anyone with an interest in the monarchy, British history or the development of cinema. In addition to the wealth of remastered films on the discs themselves, both DVDs come complete with illustrated booklets containing comprehensive film notes and essays.

A Royal Occasion: From Victoria to Elizabeth II

BFI curator Jan Faull has conducted an extensive search through the BFI National Archive to unearth a wealth of fascinating footage on a range of royalty-related subjects beginning as far back as 1896. The footage creates a comprehensive historical survey of the royal family on film, from the late Victorian era to the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.

This superb collection features previously unseen material, such as silent Topical Budget newsreels and early colour productions, which illustrate the development of British filmmaking techniques. This unique release contains many firsts: the first ever footage of a British monarch on film (Queen Victoria at Balmoral, which is newly restored), the first big British ceremonial event (Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897) and the first colour film of Trooping the Colour (1937).

These surprising films also offer rare glimpses of touching royal moments including the birth of Princess Elizabeth, the Royal Family at home during World War II, and a behind-the-scenes film made by Daimler of the 1947 royal tour of South Africa.

The COI Collection Volume Seven: The Queen on Tour
Volume Seven in the BFI’s DVD series celebrating the films made by the Central Office of Information (COI) presents wonderful colour footage of the Queen and the Royal Family travelling the world on official visits between 1953 and 1971. The COI – with unprecedented access to the royals – produced the 'official' record of royal tours and state visits and also commissioned and supervised a variety of retrospectives of the Queen and her family.

Highlights from this extraordinary collection of films, many of which were shot in exotic locations, include: Royal Destiny (1953), a look at the Queen's early life, made in her coronation year; The Queen's State Visit to Iran (1961), a fascinating film of the royal visit to Iran eight years after a British-and American-backed coup installed the Shah; Sierra Leone Greets the Queen (1962), a colourful account of the Queen's visit in the year of independence; and Britain Welcomes the Emperor and Empress of Japan (1971), a record of the controversial state visit from Emperor Hirohito and his wife.

A Royal Occasion: From Victoria to Elizabeth II
Queen Victoria
Includes Scenes at Balmoral (1896) and Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee (1897)
Edward VII & Queen Alexandra
Includes Edward VII at Queen Victoria’s Funeral (1901), Edward VII’s Coronation (1902), King Edward VII launches HMS Dreadnought from Portsmouth Dockyard (1906) and Queen Alexandra’s Drive through London (1916)
George V & Queen Mary
Includes The Queen and the Land Lassies (1918), Queen’s Visit to the East End (1917) and Silver Jubilee (1935)
George VI & Queen Elizabeth
Includes Wedding Cake for Duke of York’s Bride (1923), The Royal Wedding (1923) and Britain’s Baby Princess (1926).
Elizabeth II
Includes Long to Reign Over Us (1953) and Lambeth Rejoices: Coronation Television (1953)

Plus special features including Buckingham Palace Allotment (1918)

RRP: £19.99 / cat. no. BFIVD953 / Cert E / 2-disc set
UK / 1896-1953 / black & white, tinted and colour / English language and silent with music / 287 mins / DVD-9 x 2 / Original aspect ratio 1.33:1 / Dolby Digital mono audio (320kbps)

The COI Collection Volume Seven: The Queen on Tour
Disc One
Royal Destiny (1953, 17 mins)
Southward with Prince Philip (1957, 12 mins)
Princess Margaret in Mauritius and East Africa (1959, 16 mins)
Life of a Queen (1960, 15 mins)
The Queen’s State Visit to Iran (1961, 13 mins)
Royal Children (1961, 19 mins)
Queen Elizabeth II in Pakistan (1961, 23 mins)
Disc Two
Sierra Leone Greets the Queen (1962, 21 mins)
Britain Welcomes the President of India (1963, 15 mins)
The Royal Tour of the Caribbean (1966, 28 mins)
Britain Welcomes the President of Pakistan (1966, 15 mins)
A State Visit to Turkey by Queen Elizabeth II (1971, 23 mins)
Britain Welcomes the Emperor and Empress of Japan (1971, 12 mins)

RRP: 19.99 / cat. no. BFIVD945 / Cert E / 2-disc set
UK / 1953-1971 / black & white and colour / optional English hard-of-hearing subtitles / 234 mins / DVD-9 x 2 / Original aspect ratio 1.33:1 / Dolby Digital mono audio (320kbps)

Pro-B

[Le Grande Blu]

Wish the BFI could give us Gregory's Girl. A british classic, which only exists on a cruddy pan & Scan DVD.