Mona Lisa (1986)

[DukeTogo84]

I love this film, but not sure if it's worth another purchase. All of the releases of this film have been pretty good. However, if anyone has never seen this, then this should be an instant purchase. Fantastic film.

[dylrichard02]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I love this film, but not sure if it's worth another purchase. All of the releases of this film have been pretty good. However, if anyone has never seen this, then this should be an instant purchase. Fantastic film.

I couldn't agree anymore!

I love this film and I don't have the Arrow release, so it will be an instant purchase for me.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by meremortal

Unfortunately I've kind of always mentally typecast him as Eddie Valiant

He kicked ass as Eddie Valiant, so that should be a compliment.

One of the biggest cinematic travesties is that we didn't get Hoskins as Capone in The Untouchables. Nothing against De Niro, who I'm an enormous fan of and who lent both fun and credibility to the movie, but Hoskins would have made a terrifyingly definitive Capone. At least he got paid though for not having to work. On another note, I really enjoyed him as the powerful studio mogul in Hollywoodland.

I just recently watched Mona Lisa via a cruddy old DVD and while it wasn't an instant favorite or anything, there's enough that stays with you...especially the exquisite title track. Very likely snatch this up down the line.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

One of the biggest cinematic travesties is that we didn't get Hoskins as Capone in The Untouchables. Nothing against De Niro, who I'm an enormous fan of and who lent both fun and credibility to the movie, but Hoskins would have made a terrifyingly definitive Capone. Hollywoodland.

While a bit short, he still would have been pitch perfect for Capone. His facial features match the real Capone and he can play a character who snaps at a moments notice. Every once in awhile I'll watch a film with him, and just see Al Capone. Apparently he still got his salary for the film, but man I would have loved to have seen him in the role.

Still, he played one of the best gangsters in The Long Good Friday.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

Yes!!! Also a restored blu-ray of Life of Brain would be nice, but I'd rather see a Sony UHD of that and Holy Grail if it gets re-released.

Handmade distributed reissues of Holy Grail and Life of Brian, but they are controlled by the Pythons with certain rights under licence to Sony.

[dylrichard02]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

Handmade distributed reissues of Holy Grail and Life of Brian, but they are controlled by the Pythons with certain rights under licence to Sony.

Yeah, I was implying a license between Criterion and Sony, should Sony not make UHDs.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

Yeah, I was implying a license between Criterion and Sony, should Sony not make UHDs.

I believe Criterion tried getting both a few years ago from Sony but couldn't negotiate a sub-licence as Sony's rights were an exclusive licence from the Pythons.

[captainsolo]

Originally Posted by meremortal

Been meaning to check out more Bob Hoskins. Unfortunately I've kind of always mentally typecast him as Eddie Valiant and sometimes see Phil Collins when I look at him.

This and Long Good Friday are the perfect place to start. Although the Genesis needle drop might not help you distinguish him from Phil!!
He could’ve won the Oscar for either film. And honestly should have.

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

Yes!!! Also a restored blu-ray of Life of Brain would be nice, but I'd rather see a Sony UHD of that and Holy Grail if it gets re-released.

Oh please please please let Bwian get a new scan! The current DNRd crap master is an old Lowry hack job and unwatchable with a not very good 5.1 remix. I always wind up watching my old Criterion LD.


Here I thought I was good with my Arrow disc. I think I still am but it’s great to see Criterion do a beautiful jacket cover again finally.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by captainsolo

Oh please please please let Bwian get a new scan! The current DNRd crap master is an old Lowry hack job and unwatchable with a not very good 5.1 remix. I always wind up watching my old Criterion LD.

Life of Brian was originally mono, but I think CIC (original UK distributor) or Orion (US distributor) had the filmmakers do a rush job Dolby Stereo mix that was said to have had narrow mixing problems (similar to Superman's Dolby Stereo track). This mix was only heard during the very early premiere runs and abandoned by the general release (the US and 1980 UK posters don't mention Dolby Stereo at all). Most video releases should have the mono mix, while one of the Anchor Bay or Canadian CTHV DVDs had the early premiere Dolby Stereo mix (the latter also believed to have a 5.1 discrete version with a blank LFE channel). Criterion did a new 2.0 surround mix on the LD (which was also ported over to their 1999 DVD) made from the original D/M/E stems and the soundtrack.

When Sony got the rights, they did a totally new 5.1 mix from the master recording stems, but had the typical "whisper dialog, blaringly loud music/SFX" mixing that near field remixes tend to do. The 5.1 mix of Labryinth is a massive offender in this category.

[captainsolo]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

Life of Brian was originally mono, but I think CIC (original UK distributor) or Orion (US distributor) had the filmmakers do a rush job Dolby Stereo mix that was said to have had narrow mixing problems (similar to Superman's Dolby Stereo track). This mix was only heard during the very early premiere runs and abandoned by the general release (the US and 1980 UK posters don't mention Dolby Stereo at all). Most video releases should have the mono mix, while one of the Anchor Bay or Canadian CTHV DVDs had the early premiere Dolby Stereo mix (the latter also believed to have a 5.1 discrete version with a blank LFE channel). Criterion did a new 2.0 surround mix on the LD (which was also ported over to their 1999 DVD) made from the original D/M/E stems and the soundtrack.

When Sony got the rights, they did a totally new 5.1 mix from the master recording stems, but had the typical "whisper dialog, blaringly loud music/SFX" mixing that near field remixes tend to do. The 5.1 mix of Labryinth is a massive offender in this category.

That’s truly interesting and would explain a lot. The criterion 2.0 matrix stereo simply says from the magnetic stereo master and is sooo much better than the 5.1 remix though it still feels very mono in origin. I presumed it was the original Dolby Stereo mix all these years. Similarly Jabberwocky I always thought would be mono but is always presented in seemingly from a dolby stereo source or a 5.1 remix.

[FragnitoM]

Originally Posted by beamish13

The original television serial of Dennis Potter’s Pennies from Heaven is an absolute must. I also recommend Atom Egoyan’s Felicia’s Journey. He was fantastic as Iago in a 1981 BBC production of Othello, too. I also recommend his very unique directorial outing, The Raggedy Rawney

felicias journey is super high on my wishlist. it’s a shame there’s never been a Blu-ray (as far as i know)

[dylrichard02]

Originally Posted by captainsolo

Oh please please please let Bwian get a new scan! The current DNRd crap master is an old Lowry hack job and unwatchable with a not very good 5.1 remix. I always wind up watching my old Criterion LD.


Here I thought I was good with my Arrow disc. I think I still am but it’s great to see Criterion do a beautiful jacket cover again finally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMto...ature=youtu.be

It's definitely one of the worst Blu rays I've seen, it's bested by Echo Bridge presentations which says a lot. I would hope the Python's would understand the process of remastering and allow it to be restored with a 4K scan.

I don't have the Arrow release of Mona Lisa and I was very close to getting it and I still might. I love the film enough to stand having two editions. The Criterion artwork is top notch, though. Up there with my favorites they've had on their releases like The Elephant Man and Badlands.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by captainsolo

That’s truly interesting and would explain a lot. The criterion 2.0 matrix stereo simply says from the magnetic stereo master and is sooo much better than the 5.1 remix though it still feels very mono in origin. I presumed it was the original Dolby Stereo mix all these years. Similarly Jabberwocky I always thought would be mono but is always presented in seemingly from a dolby stereo source or a 5.1 remix.

It's possible the "magnetic stereo master" Criterion used was a Dolby Stereo mix Handmade created for one of the 1980s re-release versions. I did hear somewhere the element for the "original" Dolby Stereo mix was considered "unusable" (probably referring to the 1979 one with more narrow mixing) and the reason they did the 5.1 remix. But, if Handmade did the later DS mix and Sony weren't aware of it or couldn't get access to it, then it would also explain quite a lot.

Jabberwocky was definitely mono across the board in it's initial release and overseas versions. The producers and Sony did a new Dolby Digital 5.1 remix (made from the M/D/E stems and the OST) for a late-90s reissue version under Rainbow International Pictures and the DVD releases.

Curiously, the original mono was left off most BDs and all have the 5.1, though the recent French Carlotta Films release has the mono in addition.

[captainsolo]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

It's possible the "magnetic stereo master" Criterion used was a Dolby Stereo mix Handmade created for one of the 1980s re-release versions. I did hear somewhere the element for the "original" Dolby Stereo mix was considered "unusable" (probably referring to the 1979 one with more narrow mixing) and the reason they did the 5.1 remix. But, if Handmade did the later DS mix and Sony weren't aware of it or couldn't get access to it, then it would also explain quite a lot.

Jabberwocky was definitely mono across the board in it's initial release and overseas versions. The producers and Sony did a new Dolby Digital 5.1 remix (made from the M/D/E stems and the OST) for a late-90s reissue version under Rainbow International Pictures and the DVD releases.

Curiously, the original mono was left off most BDs and all have the 5.1, though the recent French Carlotta Films release has the mono in addition.

If the 79 mix was narrower than what we have then OT must’ve been really narrow! The Criterion has some space in the music cues but that’s about it.

Thanks for the confirmation on Jabberwocky. I’ve been interested in the mono for a while because I’ve wondered if anything might have been changed in the remix. I was surprised Criterion did a 5.1 track only. That’s very interesting about the French disc. I wonder if the mono quality is worth purchasing the disc for?

[Wtdk]

Here’s hoping The Long Good Friday is next. Hoskins was a terrific actor.

[Herry Dunston]

Curious: why doesn't Criterion also release this on DVD? I notice there's only a Blu-Ray option for this release.

[AdmiralNoodles]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

100% agreed. I watched this on a whim without knowing anything about it recently and it's now one of my favorites. Hopefully this means Withnail and I and The Long Good Friday are still possibly coming to Blu ray from CC!

Originally Posted by Wtdk

Here’s hoping The Long Good Friday is next. Hoskins was a terrific actor.

I'll just keep the below and skip this.

[Rizor]

Originally Posted by Herry Dunston

Curious: why doesn't Criterion also release this on DVD? I notice there's only a Blu-Ray option for this release.

It's interesting they didn't announce a DVD version of this. Of course, they already released it on DVD which I believe is OOP. Maybe they didn't make a deal for the DVD rights? Or they figured what the heck. With the recent 4K announcements, they seem to have officially given up on DVD releases.

[DukeTogo84]

Decided to order this after being on the fence for a bit. The screenshoots look great. I hope the wait for The Long Good Friday isn't too long.

[dtower182]

My acting teacher played Jeannie in this. Haven't watched it since she lent me her copy of it years ago. Thinking I might give it another go!