Happiness (1998) - Blu-ray Forum

Capt-Cupcake · 02-18-2015, 05:25 PM

This really needs a release!

mayorofsmpleton · 02-19-2015, 04:35 AM

All of Solondz' early works are missing in HD, sadly. Would love Happiness (the DVD looks pretty dreadful), Storytelling, Welcome to the Dollhouse and Palindromes.

Part of me wonders if it's indifference to the home video medium in general that's kept them low on the priority list. Often with cult films the filmmakers are part of the process getting studios to consider releasing older work. Helping with supplements, etc. He's not exactly pushing to help get them released. I read an interview with him once basically saying he doesn't understand watching DVDs, etc because he feels film is a social experience meant for a theater. It was a neat opinion but he all but said he finds it odd people would rewatch his films repeatedly at home. He also has never really supported extras for his films. I assume he thinks they should speak for themselves.

That said I absolutely love this movie and it really deserves a good HD release. Criterion did Life During Wartime. Wouldn't mind them doing a box of his work.

murphywmm · 02-19-2015, 05:25 AM

This film never even got a proper anamorphic DVD release on this side of the world.

I'd love to see it on Blu but unfortunately Lionsgate owns the rights. Perhaps it will get an overseas release eventually. I'd like to see all of Solondz's works on Blu.

lolwut · 02-19-2015, 12:37 PM

It really does.

Seymour · 02-19-2015, 01:07 PM

Would buy this on BD in a heartbeat. Probably won't happen unless Criterion can pry it from Lionsgate's cold dead hands.

saltythebeast · 03-13-2018, 05:01 AM

One of my most requested films for a Blu Ray upgrade. This and Welcome To The Dollhouse.

adamjankowski · 06-15-2018, 06:53 PM

Would love to see this on blu. As mentioned above, the DVD is horrible.

Cinesimon · 08-13-2018, 11:05 PM

I cannot believe this still hasn't happened. I believe I have over half a dozen DVDs of Happiness, bought from all over the world - none of them are anamorphic widescreen. A couple say they're widescreen, and they are - within a 4X3 frame. This film is such a striking candidate for a second life! And given that Life During Wartime is apparently a kind-of sequel, I and many others chose to wait for what we thought was the inevitable release of a decent copy of Happiness, only to discover years later it still hasn't happened! On either DVD or blu-ray. Bizarre. Come on, Lions Gate. You have an exquisite title/property, there... remaster it and release both films on one blu-ray, even.

Aunt Peg · 08-14-2018, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltythebeast

One of my most requested films for a Blu Ray upgrade. This and Welcome To The Dollhouse.

Apparently, Sony are releasing Welcome to the Dollhouse on Blu Ray next month. The catch: its Blu Ray-R, not a pressed disc and I'll wager that the print will be identical to the one used for the DVD.

Dailyan · 08-14-2018, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aunt Peg

Apparently, Sony are releasing Welcome to the Dollhouse on Blu Ray next month. The catch: its Blu Ray-R, not a pressed disc and I'll wager that the print will be identical to the one used for the DVD.

Sony don't do BD-Rs anymore. It will be a pressed MOD much like Warner Archive Collection.

Aunt Peg · 08-14-2018, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Sony don't do BD-Rs anymore. It will be a pressed MOD much like Warner Archive Collection.

That's good to know. I know this is off topic but but does that mean their previously BD-Rs like Land of Mine are now pressed MODs or does this only apply to recent and new releases?

Knrsa333 · 11-04-2019, 03:44 AM

I want a Criterion box set for Solondz work so bad... at the least a release for Happiness & Storytelling.... wheres the damn love for his movies? :/ I dont think a director has ever effected me as much as him.

bonehica · 11-04-2019, 12:48 PM

Really would love to see this get a release. The 20 year old non-anamorphic DVD is atrocious.

MattGuyOR · 02-16-2020, 11:00 PM

Happiness isn’t even on iTunes. D’oh. But Welcome to the Dollhouse is a great Blu-ray. Looks stellar.

leev66 · 02-18-2021, 03:54 PM

I ordered the Blu-ray a few days ago from MGTV for 15 dollars. I'm expecting that it won't be the best quality, but it's better than nothing.

kwr212 · 02-18-2021, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leev66

I ordered the Blu-ray a few days ago from MGTV for 15 dollars. I'm expecting that it won't be the best quality, but it's better than nothing.

Let us know how it looks. It won’t be hard to beat the ancient DVD.

leev66 · 04-12-2021, 07:00 PM

Well... this is just barely on par with the DVD. I suspect that the source for the DVD was used for this Blu-ray. It's an extremely soft picture that's compressed poorly. It also appears to be taken from a print of the movie that had some minor scratches and dust.

While this is better than not having it, I would love to have a properly authored Arrow/Criterion/Shout Factory version.

CharlieAbs · 08-23-2021, 02:12 AM

Anyone have any idea if there was ever a laserdisc for this? I can't find a listing for it, so I'm wondering what source they used & better yet, how the quality is... I've purchased a few things from them before & have been very satisfied, so I'm tempted!

https://prinzzvladimir.ecrater.com/p...m-lazerdisc-to

bigshot · 01-16-2022, 07:55 AM

I screened the blu-ray tonight. It looks different than I remember the DVD looking. Darker contrast. It definitely wasn't 1080. The sound was really good though. This film is a one of a kind, and I'm happy to have a copy even if it isn't a great copy.

02-18-2015, 05:25 PM	#1
Capt-Cupcake Member Member since:Nov 2014	Happiness (1998) This really needs a release!

08-23-2021, 02:12 AM	#18
CharlieAbs Active Member Member since:Sep 2018 Location:Grunge City,USA 4K collection:239 Blu-ray collection:1751 DVD collection:262 MA collection:31 Digital collection:60 Trading Score:12	BD-R release Anyone have any idea if there was ever a laserdisc for this? I can't find a listing for it, so I'm wondering what source they used & better yet, how the quality is... I've purchased a few things from them before & have been very satisfied, so I'm tempted! https://prinzzvladimir.ecrater.com/p...m-lazerdisc-to

02-19-2015, 04:35 AM	#2
mayorofsmpleton Special Member Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Blu-ray collection:654 DVD collection:179 Blu-ray reviews:1	All of Solondz' early works are missing in HD, sadly. Would love Happiness (the DVD looks pretty dreadful), Storytelling, Welcome to the Dollhouse and Palindromes. Part of me wonders if it's indifference to the home video medium in general that's kept them low on the priority list. Often with cult films the filmmakers are part of the process getting studios to consider releasing older work. Helping with supplements, etc. He's not exactly pushing to help get them released. I read an interview with him once basically saying he doesn't understand watching DVDs, etc because he feels film is a social experience meant for a theater. It was a neat opinion but he all but said he finds it odd people would rewatch his films repeatedly at home. He also has never really supported extras for his films. I assume he thinks they should speak for themselves. That said I absolutely love this movie and it really deserves a good HD release. Criterion did Life During Wartime. Wouldn't mind them doing a box of his work.

02-19-2015, 05:25 AM	#3
murphywmm Special Member Top contributor Member since:Jul 2014 Location:Edmonton, Canada 4K collection:370 Blu-ray collection:3721 DVD collection:63 Blu-ray reviews: 7 Trading Score:2	This film never even got a proper anamorphic DVD release on this side of the world. I'd love to see it on Blu but unfortunately Lionsgate owns the rights. Perhaps it will get an overseas release eventually. I'd like to see all of Solondz's works on Blu.

02-19-2015, 12:37 PM	#4
lolwut Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Dec 2011 Location:Virginia, US 4K collection:386 Blu-ray collection:1643 DVD collection:445 MA collection:257 Digital collection:292 iTunes collection:347 Prime collection:210 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:202	It really does.

02-19-2015, 01:07 PM	#5
Seymour Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Jan 2011 Blu-ray collection:3231 DVD collection:360	Would buy this on BD in a heartbeat. Probably won't happen unless Criterion can pry it from Lionsgate's cold dead hands.

03-13-2018, 05:01 AM	#6
saltythebeast New Member Member since:Jul 2017	One of my most requested films for a Blu Ray upgrade. This and Welcome To The Dollhouse.

06-15-2018, 06:53 PM	#7
adamjankowski Senior Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2017 4K collection:207 Blu-ray collection:486 DVD collection:60	Would love to see this on blu. As mentioned above, the DVD is horrible.

08-13-2018, 11:05 PM	#8
Cinesimon Member Member since:Aug 2014	I cannot believe this still hasn't happened. I believe I have over half a dozen DVDs of Happiness, bought from all over the world - none of them are anamorphic widescreen. A couple say they're widescreen, and they are - within a 4X3 frame. This film is such a striking candidate for a second life! And given that Life During Wartime is apparently a kind-of sequel, I and many others chose to wait for what we thought was the inevitable release of a decent copy of Happiness, only to discover years later it still hasn't happened! On either DVD or blu-ray. Bizarre. Come on, Lions Gate. You have an exquisite title/property, there... remaster it and release both films on one blu-ray, even.

11-04-2019, 03:44 AM	#12
Knrsa333 Active Member Member since:Oct 2019 Location:Santa Clarita, CA 4K collection:244 Blu-ray collection:1323 DVD collection:652 MA collection:1 Trading Score:26	I want a Criterion box set for Solondz work so bad... at the least a release for Happiness & Storytelling.... wheres the damn love for his movies? :/ I dont think a director has ever effected me as much as him.

11-04-2019, 12:48 PM	#13
bonehica Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Nov 2018 Location:Flint, MI 4K collection:1179 Blu-ray collection:4744 DVD collection:319 Trading Score:1	Really would love to see this get a release. The 20 year old non-anamorphic DVD is atrocious.

02-16-2020, 11:00 PM	#14
MattGuyOR Active Member Member since:Mar 2009 Blu-ray reviews:2	Happiness isn’t even on iTunes. D’oh. But Welcome to the Dollhouse is a great Blu-ray. Looks stellar.

02-18-2021, 03:54 PM	#15
leev66 New Member Member since:Aug 2014 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:-	I ordered the Blu-ray a few days ago from MGTV for 15 dollars. I'm expecting that it won't be the best quality, but it's better than nothing.

04-12-2021, 07:00 PM	#17
leev66 New Member Member since:Aug 2014 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:-	Well... this is just barely on par with the DVD. I suspect that the source for the DVD was used for this Blu-ray. It's an extremely soft picture that's compressed poorly. It also appears to be taken from a print of the movie that had some minor scratches and dust. While this is better than not having it, I would love to have a properly authored Arrow/Criterion/Shout Factory version.

01-16-2022, 07:55 AM	#19
bigshot Blu-ray Knight Member since:Aug 2010 Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:82 Blu-ray reviews: 3 Trading Score:3	I screened the blu-ray tonight. It looks different than I remember the DVD looking. Darker contrast. It definitely wasn't 1080. The sound was really good though. This film is a one of a kind, and I'm happy to have a copy even if it isn't a great copy.

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