Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

[Ernest Rister]

Robert Harris answered this...thank God...

"Just a quick note to all attending screenings, who have not previously seen the film.

I would highly suggest that the Martin Scorsese piece, which will be run before the film, not be viewed.

This is an extra on the Blu-ray set.

I have no idea why it's being run, as it can be damaging to anyone who has not seen the film.

Suggest taking blinders and earplugs, if necessary.

RAH"

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/30...n-blu-ray/3630

THANK YOU, ROBERT!

[bluesilo]

Really looking forward to seeing this today. I've seen the UK Blu-ray in motion, but I decided not to watch it so I can enjoy the cinema experience. I didn't know there was going to be extras before the showing. That's exciting.

[Ernest Rister]

So, I'm going with my wife and her mother, I guess my wife and I hang in the lobby, and then we ask the mom-in-law (who has seen the movie many times) to call us when the Scorsese piece is finished.

Bad play, Fathom. I know you're using the Scorsese intro as a lure, but really, this movie sells itself.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

I'm going for the earlier showing (1:00 pm) myself. Four and a half hours is much easier to take when it's earlier in the day. I don't want to be getting sleepy during this, and I most certainly would be at around 11 - 11:30pm after four hours.

well I'm going to the Nightmare Before Christmas/Frankenweenie double feature tonight at 10:30pm, so it pretty much negates me to the 1pm showing .... can't wAIt!!

[Kris in CMH]

I'm just leaving the 1pm showing, it was fantastic. I agree - if you've never seen it, you be better served by missing the Scorsese interview. It's the first piece of the supplemental materials and it's a shade over ten minutes. IMO, the best of the extras was the "Lawrence at 50" doc about the 2012 restoration that was playing as I entered the theatre. I'm upset I missed the beginning of it.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Kris in CMH

I'm just leaving the 1pm showing, it was fantastic. I agree - if you've never seen it, you be better served by missing the Scorsese interview. It's the first piece of the supplemental materials and it's a shade over ten minutes. IMO, the best of the extras was the "Lawrence at 50" doc about the 2012 restoration that was playing as I entered the theatre. I'm upset I missed the beginning of it.

and I also caught the tailend of that too -

but as for the presentation - holy moly! it ain't 70mm but for 4K digital cinema - it was truly outstanding.

[garyrc]

I'm confused.

Amazon finally got around to saying that the aspect ratio for the two disk Blu-ray is also 2.20:1 (instead of 2:35:1, thank goodness), but made the two disk version hard to find. It can be found by entering B008Y1YK0I into the search box, and it is nicely marked 2012. But, then, when you get there and click on the dark purple link, you find that this Blu-ray that will be released in November 2012 is marked 1989. If you go to the big collector's edition that Blu-ray is also marked 1989. Why on earth? Did I just miss the 1989 designation before, or was it just put there?

• Did Amazon simply blow it again? Is it just more misinformation?

OR

• Were both Blu-rays made from a 1989 transfer from the negative? If it was the one done by Robert A. Harris, it might be fine, but I don't know if the year that was done was 1989. Harris scanned the negative at 8K, I believe.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by garyrc

I'm confused.

Amazon finally got around to saying that the aspect ratio for the two disk Blu-ray is also 2.20:1 (instead of 2:35:1, thank goodness), but made the two disk version hard to find. It can be found by entering B008Y1YK0I into the search box, and it is nicely marked 2012. But, then, when you get there and click on the dark purple link, you find that this Blu-ray that will be released in November 2012 is marked 1989. If you go to the big collector's edition that Blu-ray is also marked 1989. Why on earth? Did I just miss the 1989 designation before, or was it just put there?

• Did Amazon simply blow it again? Is it just more misinformation?

OR

• Were both Blu-rays made from a 1989 transfer from the negative? If it was the one done by Robert A. Harris, it might be fine, but I don't know if the year that was done was 1989. Harris scanned the negative at 8K, I believe.

I'm a tad confused as to what you're stating. This new disc is the 2012 restoration - the end credits credit both the 1989 restoration AND the 2012 one as well.

[garyrc]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I'm a tad confused as to what you're stating. This new disc is the 2012 restoration - the end credits both the 1989 restoration AND the 2012 one as well.

I don't have any version of the disk yet. I'm assuming the version you saw is from the UK.

I was under the impression that both yet to be released (in America) Blu-rays were brand new restorations from the 65mm original negative (like the British one). Why would the disks released in either country credit both restorations? Did they use some shots from each? I can see that if the OCN had further deteriorated since 1989 they might have used bits and pieces of the 1989 restoration to fill in the gaps.

If you haven't already, take a look at the Amazon listings today. On the most detailed pages for each BD, they have 1989 in parentheses in big letters at the top. 2012 is only mentioned on the feeder page. Still a mystery.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by garyrc

I don't have any version of the disk yet. I'm assuming the version you saw from the UK.

I was under the impression that both yet to be released (in America) Blu-rays were brand new restorations from the 65mm original negative (like the British one). Why then would they credit both restorations? Did they use some shots from each? I can see that if the OCN had further deteriorated since 1989 they might have used bits and pieces of the 1989 restoration to fill in the gaps.

If you haven't already, take a look at the Amazon listings today. On the most detailed pages for each BD, they have 1989 in parentheses in big letters at the top. 2012 is only mentioned on the feeder page. Still a mystery.

yes, and it's the same credits that are on the DCP of the film that was shown this afternoon/evening.

I think, but don't quote me, that the 2012 restoration used notes and templates on what Robert Harris was trying achieve in the 1989 restoration, but further enhanced and improved with newer technical state of the art equipment.

I hope someone who's at the 7pm screening and caught the 2012 restoration featurette can shine a little more light on what was said and detailed.

[Josh5890]

I wish I didn't have economics class tonight or I would go see this. At least I can look forward to next month's blu-ray.

[42041]

The 1989 restoration involved much more than just striking a new print. RAH's thread on it over at Home Theater Forum goes into considerable detail about all that was done, and I think the new one incorporates a lot of the work done then.

[obriensg1]

I saw it this afternoon for the first time. I saw Marty speak about the picture. I didn't think it was all that spoilery but I did realize certain scenes were coming because of it. Plus I just wanted the film to start! There was so much cool stuff, but behind the scenes stuff is always better afterwards. They should have just said 'Stay tuned after the film'. Only the Omar Sharif intro beforehand would have been good.

[metal134]

I had to miss this and I'm pretty upset. I was on my way to the 2 Pm showing when my car misfired. Luckily, my mechanic was across the street from where it happened. I was hoping it would be done in time to go to the 7pm showing, but he didn't get to it today. I was looking forward to this for 5 months and now, I may never get the chance to see in the theaters ever again.

[obriensg1]

Why not just go while your car was in shop?

[metal134]

Originally Posted by obriensg1

Why not just go while your car was in shop?

I had no way to get there. That's the whole problem. No car=no transportation. It's 10 miles from my house. Too far to walk (especially on the way home at almost midnight). I must be honest, though, things could have been a lot worse. For one, it happened one block from my mechanic; can't get much luckier than that. Also, since I'm on vacation, I don't have to worry about having no way to get to work tomorrow,

[Illy Scorsese]

Went to the 1pm Showing...

HOLY FREAKIN CRAP

It was truly amazing... Just amazing... As someone who has only seen "Lawrence" on TCM over the years(atleast 4 times)... This restoration & 4K Screening was a utter Revelation. I'm sorry 70mm people, but I can't imagine it having looked any better...

I knew it would be beautiful... But I was really taken aback by how astonishing it looked on the big screen... Just an experience I soaked up as much as I possibly could, and one I'll never forget.

This was pure Cinema.

The Image on the Screen was Unreal... Too good to be true.

To anyone who did not go for fear of the Fathom Events issue or whatever... I sincerely feel bad for you... You really missed out on something special.

Thank you to Grover Crisp... All the people at Sony... Robert Harris... ANYONE involved in bringing "Lawrence" to us in this way... The wait these years has been worth it.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by Illy Scorsese

Went to the 1pm Showing...

HOLY FREAKIN CRAP

It was truly amazing... Just amazing... As someone who has only seen "Lawrence" on TCM over the years(atleast 4 times)... This restoration & 4K Screening was a utter Revelation. I'm sorry 70mm people, but I can't imagine it having looked any better...

I knew it would be beautiful... But I was really taken aback by how astonishing it looked on the big screen... Just an experience I soaked up as much as I possibly could, and one I'll never forget.

This was pure Cinema.

The Image on the Screen was Unreal... Too good to be true.

To anyone who did not go for fear of the Fathom Events issue or whatever... I sincerely feel bad for you... You really missed out on something special.

Thank you to Grover Crisp... All the people at Sony... Robert Harris... ANYONE involved in bringing "Lawrence" to us in this way... The wait these years has been worth it.

+100000000 on everything you said. Dear god, this was jaw-dropping.

Fathom Events raised their game with this presentation. I was floored. This was one of the most breathtaking movie going experiences I've ever had. Nobody who loves this movie should have passed up this opportunity. I will cherish the memory of today for as long as I live.

Simply amazing.

[punisher]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

+100000000 on everything you said. Dear god, this was jaw-dropping.

Fathom Events raised their game with this presentation. I was floored. This was one of the most breathtaking movie going experiences I've ever had. Nobody who loves this movie should have passed up this opportunity. I will cherish the memory of today for as long as I live.

Simply amazing.

the blu ray reflects perfectly what you saw..wish it was playing by me. I only ever saw it once in the theaters as a kid on a huge screen in Manhattan.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by punisher

the blu ray reflects perfectly what you saw..wish it was playing by me. I only ever saw it once in the theaters as a kid on a huge screen in Manhattan.

Yes, I've glimpsed the Blu-ray since I got it in the mail a couple weeks ago (UK version). It is indeed extraordinary, and the detail on display in the theater today is perfectly reflected on that BD (as you say). But the sheer size of the presentation on the big screen blew that away. I've heard for years that you haven't seen Lawrence of Arabia until you've seen it on the big screen, and that was proved true today. Just WOW.

I'm just really thrilled that Fathom Events didn't drop the ball on quality like they typically do. This was an insanely high quality presentation (4K, I believe).