British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[djvaso]

http://www.bfimessages.org.uk/t/View...7CCDA886AB700A

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Have double-checked, and Arrow UK released on Blu-ray Les diaboliques, but in terms of the transfer, the Criterion US release apparently edges it over the Arrow UK release.

I think it's pretty much a personal call on that, at least of the two transfers we currently have.

The review on this site for the Arrow one said in the summation:

British distributors Arrow Films' presentation of Henri-Georges Clouzot's legendary Les diaboliques is very good. In fact, I tend to prefer the look of their transfer over the one Criterion have used for their Blu-ray release.

so it's not a conclusive win in either direction.

Personally, I find Criterion releases are often a little too dark for my own tastes, compared to Arrow or MoC.

[Kauno]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I think it's pretty much a personal call on that, at least of the two transfers we currently have.

The review on this site for the Arrow one said in the summation:

so it's not a conclusive win in either direction.

Personally, I find Criterion releases are often a little too dark for my own tastes, compared to Arrow or MoC.

Gary Tooze says:

We can see another big advantage to side-by-side comparisons. Criterion's Blu-ray edition boasts a 'new digital restoration' which has significantly more information in the frame on all 4 edges. Not that we should need too many more points in Criterion's favor as the amount cropped by the Arrow is surprising, but - the Criterion transfer is dual-layered with almost twice the bitrate of the Arrow AND is cleaner.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by Kauno

Gary Tooze says:

Yeah, you're kinda missing the point. I didn't try to give a definitive judgement, just said that it's not all on one side. Real people like a transfer because they like the way it looks, not because someone else said they should.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Kauno

Gary Tooze says:

We can see another big advantage to side-by-side comparisons. Criterion's Blu-ray edition boasts a 'new digital restoration' which has significantly more information in the frame on all 4 edges. Not that we should need too many more points in Criterion's favor as the amount cropped by the Arrow is surprising, but - the Criterion transfer is dual-layered with almost twice the bitrate of the Arrow AND is cleaner.

Not speaking for this specific case, because I have not seen either CC's or Arrow's blus for Diaboliques but Gary's bias for bitrate numbers is known, regardless of whether or not it reflects in the actual presentation quality. He's a nice chap, and Beaver is terrific for the sheer variety of releases they review and put caps for, considering it's for most part a single-man op (with some contributions from Eric Cotenas who normally does a lot of the Second Run releases), but some of his video quality judgements are very questionable.

[tenia]

Even a broken clock gives the right time twice a day.

In any case, I lean towards Gary's view on this one : the Arrow looks zoomed in and much softer than the Criterion, but in both cases, the elements are what they are to being with.

[OceanBlue]

Thanks all for your constructive comments and opinions about the Arrow UK and Criterion US Blu-ray releases of Les diaboliques (yes I went off-topic, but it stemmed from discussion of a Clouzot-directed film, The Wages of Fear, which the BFI are releasing on Blu-ray).

[OceanBlue]

The Glass Shield shipped from HMV today (thanks rapta for letting me know about the lower pre-order price on HMV's website ). Hoping it arrives tomorrow.

[BigNickUK]

German Concentration Camps Factual Survey will be harrowing but a good partner to MoC's Shoah. Despite the content, this is the first BFi documentary blu for some time and I have been hoping for more

[GaryCouzens]

Originally Posted by BigNickUK

German Concentration Camps Factual Survey will be harrowing but a good partner to MoC's Shoah. Despite the content, this is the first BFi documentary blu for some time and I have been hoping for more

It will be a good partner for the BFI's Night Will Fall from two years ago as well, though that was DVD-only.

I will be watching and reviewing this new Blu and reviewing it for The Digital Fix. No doubt it'll be a tough watch - most films with Holocaust footage tend to get 15 certificates (as Night Will Fall did) but this is an 18.

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

The Glass Shield shipped from HMV today (thanks rapta for letting me know about the lower pre-order price on HMV's website ). Hoping it arrives tomorrow.

Unless you've used special delivery HMV will be send it using Royal Mail 48 so if it shipped today it'll reach you Tuesday. Expecting my copy Monday.

HMV.com are always worth price checking for BFI pre-orders as of late they are nearly always the cheapest, often as in the case of the Glass Shield £10.99 postpaid. As it's coming with a book (which probably means a slipbox as well) German Concentration Camps Factual Survey could be one of the bargains of the year if we can lock it down at that price a la the Quay Brothers collection.

Originally Posted by BigNickUK

German Concentration Camps Factual Survey will be harrowing but a good partner to MoC's Shoah. Despite the content, this is the first BFi documentary blu for some time and I have been hoping for more

On an intellectual level I'm looking forward to this release though I'm expecting a tough and harrowing watch. As Gary points out above the 18 rather than 15 cert makes me wonder what we're in for as does the fact the BFI are providing extended contextualizing buffer intro and outro videos. This information needs to be out there the BFI and Imperial War Museum Archives are probably the best folk to compile, comment on and curate it.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Fnord Prefect

Unless you've used special delivery HMV will be send it using Royal Mail 48 so if it shipped today it'll reach you Tuesday. Expecting my copy Monday.

HMV.com are always worth price checking for BFI pre-orders as of late they are nearly always the cheapest, often as in the case of the Glass Shield £10.99 postpaid. As it's coming with a book (which probably means a slipbox as well) German Concentration Camps Factual Survey could be one of the bargains of the year if we can lock it down at that price a la the Quay Brothers collection.

I think OceanBlue was implying it was shipped yesterday, so should arrive on Monday.

As for pricing, yes HMV are great for BFI titles in particular. I might get The Glass Shield or El Sur using up some PureHMV points (but then again I might see if I can get 10 Rillington Place and The New Centurions in the 2 for £25 offer instead). Still, I will definitely get both of those as soon as possible, just had a lot of pre-orders recently (mainly Arrow).

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Fnord Prefect

Unless you've used special delivery HMV will be send it using Royal Mail 48 so if it shipped today it'll reach you Tuesday. Expecting my copy Monday.

HMV.com are always worth price checking for BFI pre-orders as of late they are nearly always the cheapest, often as in the case of the Glass Shield £10.99 postpaid. As it's coming with a book (which probably means a slipbox as well) German Concentration Camps Factual Survey could be one of the bargains of the year if we can lock it down at that price a la the Quay Brothers collection.

It's not because I'm used to pre-ordering a title on Amazon UK (selecting Standard Delivery speed) and it arriving (by courier) on either a Saturday or Sunday. I'd got into my head that The Glass Shield was going to arrive on Saturday, as it had been dispatched on Friday (I selected the 2nd Class post, free of charge option, so based on past pre-orders when items have been dispatched by 2nd Class post (from 88 Films and Arrow UK), they've taken two days to arrive normally. I'd received the shipping notification email on Friday afternoon). I posted about it on what I still call Friday night (late Friday night), when it was Saturday.

The Quay Brothers Collection Blu-ray is a BFI title I've been thinking about getting, along with the 1928 film Underground.

Originally Posted by rapta

I think OceanBlue was implying it was shipped yesterday, so should arrive on Monday.

As for pricing, yes HMV are great for BFI titles in particular. I might get The Glass Shield or El Sur using up some PureHMV points (but then again I might see if I can get 10 Rillington Place and The New Centurions in the 2 for £25 offer instead). Still, I will definitely get both of those as soon as possible, just had a lot of pre-orders recently (mainly Arrow).

You are correct (see explanation above). The Glass Shield arrived in the post today.

[rapta]

The Quay Brothers set is...quay.

Despite switching to 48 hour delivery instead of 24 hour, I can't fault HMV's packaging nor dispatch times. An HMV pre-order that was released today arrived on release day, whilst an Amazon pre-order that was released today hasn't even been dispatched yet (not 'til tomorrow, actually) and won't arrive 'til later this week, and I expect I may even have to return it (as I did with the Quay set).

[mattyl149]

I picked up The Glass Shield in HMV yesterday and I had the receipt in my bag. Good job I checked it today as they charged me £19.99 rather than £10.99

I'll be going back to get that rectified. I'll probably phone them up first. I haven't got the item on me, and I still have the plastic packaging at home in case I need it

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by rapta

The Quay Brothers set is...quay.

Despite switching to 48 hour delivery instead of 24 hour, I can't fault HMV's packaging nor dispatch times. An HMV pre-order that was released today arrived on release day, whilst an Amazon pre-order that was released today hasn't even been dispatched yet (not 'til tomorrow, actually) and won't arrive 'til later this week, and I expect I may even have to return it (as I did with the Quay set).

Amazon are oddly inconsistent - I preordered (ages ago) the two Floyd LPs that were released last Friday, using free shipping. They were posted on release day and I wasn't expecting them till today at the earliest but they showed up on Saturday morning! They seem to send LPs priority for some reason...

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

Amazon are oddly inconsistent - I preordered (ages ago) the two Floyd LPs that were released last Friday, using free shipping. They were posted on release day and I wasn't expecting them till today at the earliest but they showed up on Saturday morning! They seem to send LPs priority for some reason...

I reckon that's just a case of wanting to shift unwieldy items rather than hang on to them for long periods of time. I actually considered ordering something bulky along with my recent pre-order just so it would arrive quicker, but it has just been dispatched on its own.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by rapta

The Quay Brothers set is...quay.

Despite switching to 48 hour delivery instead of 24 hour, I can't fault HMV's packaging nor dispatch times. An HMV pre-order that was released today arrived on release day, whilst an Amazon pre-order that was released today hasn't even been dispatched yet (not 'til tomorrow, actually) and won't arrive 'til later this week, and I expect I may even have to return it (as I did with the Quay set).

I've read very good things about the Quay Brothers Collection Blu-ray, and this animation title is at the front of the queue with regards to the animation titles I've been wanting to get for a while. There are some anime titles I was thinking about getting as well. Do you recommend any other animation titles similar to the Quay Brothers Collection?

I don't mind it when a Blu-ray or DVD title is shipped in a bubble-backed envelope/mailer, but if it is a boxset or has a slipcase or slipcover, I prefer the cardboard packaging. The Glass Shield was packaged in secure cardboard, but I wouldn't have minded if the title had been shipped in a bubble-backed envelope/mailer. Amazon UK are getting more erratic with how long it takes them to ship out pre-order titles.

Which other UK labels have similar pre-order prices to some BFI titles on HMV's website?

[rapta]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I've read very good things about the Quay Brothers Collection Blu-ray, and this animation title is at the front of the queue with regards to the animation titles I've been wanting to get for a while. There are some anime titles I was thinking about getting as well. Do you recommend any other animation titles similar to the Quay Brothers Collection?

I don't mind it when a Blu-ray or DVD title is shipped in a bubble-backed envelope/mailer, but if it is a boxset or has a slipcase or slipcover, I prefer the cardboard packaging. The Glass Shield was packaged in secure cardboard, but I wouldn't have minded if the title had been shipped in a bubble-backed envelope/mailer. Amazon UK are getting more erratic with how long it takes them to ship out pre-order titles.

Which other UK labels have similar pre-order prices to some BFI titles on HMV's website?

There is a lot of decent animation available from the BFI. I'd definitely get Alice and The Adventures of Prince Achmed if I were you, and I would also consider Jan Svankmajer: The Complete Short Films and Lotte Reiniger: The Fairy Tale Films, both of which are DVD only at the moment (with no sign of being upgraded).

HMV's prices are the best in general, I find. The only frustration I have is not knowing if something will be in their 2 for £25 offer a week after release, making it pointless to pre-order sometimes as obviously you could just wait a week and save yourself a few quid each time.

[malakaheso]

So, most of you cancelled your pre-order for El Sur then? For me it's a beggars-can't-be-choosers situation, and even if the transfer is flawed, it is a considerable improvement over the dvd I saw almost 10 years ago.