Audrey Hepburn on Blu-ray

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Since I've been totally desensitized via watching tons of old horror movies, I didn't find that movie scary in any way, since all the "darkness" is that kind of old stagey darkness where the audience can very clearly see everything on screen at all times and the actors just pretend to be blinded. That famous jump scare doesn't work at all since everything's so darn bright. Unless the version I watched was some weird one with amped-up gamma or something. I still thought the movie was fine, but I don't get attempts to put it on lists of all-time scariest movies or something, it's nearly a stage-play.

The reason why Wait Until Dark feels like a stage play is because it was one and this is the film adaptation. Lee Remick played Hepburn's role on stage in the original production.

I remember first seeing the film on TV in the 70s and it still was scary then, especially as jump scares weren't nearly as common as they are now. Stephen King was the first one to put it on his list of scariest films and he did at a time when the film still had the power to scare. Scares in horror films and thrillers never date that well, because the next generations of films tend to top what came before. The film still works because I care for Hepburn's vulnerable character and don't want her to come to harm and that's where the tension comes from.

[Astro Zombie]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

The reason why Wait Until Dark feels like a stage play is because it was one and this is the film adaptation. Lee Remick played Hepburn's role on stage in the original production.

I remember first seeing the film on TV in the 70s and it still was scary then, especially as jump scares weren't nearly as common as they are now. Stephen King was the first one to put it on his list of scariest films and he did at a time when the film still had the power to scare. Scares in horror films and thrillers never dates that well, because the next generations of films tend to top what came before. The film still works because I care for Hepburn's vulnerable character and don't want her to come to harm and that's where the tension comes from.

Well said. And the final jump scare made me jump big time

[spanky87]

I've seen Wait Until Dark four times and I've jumped from my seat each time.

[The Great Owl]

I ordered Funny Face for $12.71 (and free shipping) with a Barnes & Noble coupon, so it should be at my doorstep in a couple of days.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I ordered Funny Face for $12.71 (and free shipping) with a Barnes & Noble coupon, so it should be at my doorstep in a couple of days.

I've read some mixed things about Funny Face on blu-ray. Let us know what you think.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I've read some mixed things about Funny Face on blu-ray. Let us know what you think.

Will do. I have a smaller television screen than most people who have chimed in about the video transfer, though, so I will probably be satisfied.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Will do. I have a smaller television screen than most people who have chimed in about the video transfer, though, so I will probably be satisfied.

Just saw the BD version the other day and although it's decidedly better than the DVD version, the PQ looks pretty soft. I think some of the more problematic shots involve split screens, freeze frames and special optical effects, which could be blamed on the technology at the time, but I still think the film suffers from a sub par transfer in terms of sharpness overall. The colors are saturated and really pop off the screen which is a huge uptick, so at the very least some of the eye candy will offset some of the other problems.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I've read some mixed things about Funny Face on blu-ray. Let us know what you think.

Don't go by the review on this site, it's a joke. Initially the reviewer gave the image a high score, but then he dropped it to a ridiculous 2.5 stars because someone else told him that the PQ didn't hold up on a larger display. So he ultimately reviewed the PQ via hearsay not his own eyes and judgement, the hight of professionalism. If you don't have a set up you trust, don't go into reviewing Blu-rays. The review should be taken off the site and someone more competent with a decent set up should review it.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

Don't go by the review on this site, it's a joke. Initially the reviewer gave the image a high score, but then he dropped it to a ridiculous 2.5 stars because someone else told him that the PQ didn't hold up on a larger display. So he ultimately reviewed the PQ via hearsay not his own eyes and judgement, the hight of professionalism. If you don't have a set up you trust, don't go into reviewing Blu-rays. The review should be taken off the site and someone more competent with a decent set up should review it.

Wow..

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by spanky87

1963

Which version is better?
The Universal Studios release doesn't have any user reviews.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Which version is better?
The Universal Studios release doesn't have a user review.

I own both, as it's my favorite movie of all time. I couldn't see a difference between the two transfers of the film, but of course the Criterion, while much more expensive, does have some great extras.

The audio commentary is one of the best I've ever heard. All commentaries should be recorded many years after the film is made, or new commentaries should be recorded to go with the old one, as Atom Egoyan did for The Sweet Hereafter. Director Stanley Donen and writer Peter Stone are entertaining and filled with cool anecdotes about the making of the movie, unlike so many audio commentaries, which seem to be just audio descriptions of the events onscreen for the visually impaired.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I own both, as it's my favorite movie of all time. I couldn't see a difference between the two transfers of the film, but of course the Criterion, while much more expensive, does have some great extras.

The audio commentary is one of the best I've ever heard. All commentaries should be recorded many years after the film is made, or new commentaries should be recorded to go with the old one, as Atom Egoyan did for The Sweet Hereafter. Director Stanley Donen and writer Peter Stone are entertaining and filled with cool anecdotes about the making of the movie, unlike so many audio commentaries, which seem to be just audio descriptions of the events onscreen for the visually impaired.

Rounded off they are $10 and $25. I hate that Criterion is always so expensive, but I'd rather have a great audio commentary than a bad one (or none). Thanks for your help

[dsman71]

We really need Wait Until Dark on blu ray - come on WB !!

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Since I've been totally desensitized via watching tons of old horror movies, I didn't find that movie scary in any way, since all the "darkness" is that kind of old stagey darkness where the audience can very clearly see everything on screen at all times and the actors just pretend to be blinded. That famous jump scare doesn't work at all since everything's so darn bright.

Happy to disagree.

Speaking as a person who was self-taught horror films in the video nasties era, I still find this scary.

One of my musts for Blu-ray from Warner.

Incidentally, Amazon have it for download in HD in the UK. It looks pretty detailed, but very digital due (I suspect) to the compression rate (the file size is only 8GB). It's strange - almost like there's an excellent image under a cloak of frozen grain.

Steve W

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

Don't go by the review on this site, it's a joke. Initially the reviewer gave the image a high score, but then he dropped it to a ridiculous 2.5 stars because someone else told him that the PQ didn't hold up on a larger display. So he ultimately reviewed the PQ via hearsay not his own eyes and judgement, the hight of professionalism. If you don't have a set up you trust, don't go into reviewing Blu-rays. The review should be taken off the site and someone more competent with a decent set up should review it.

The reviewer watched the film on a 72" display, which I'll venture to guess is larger than what most fans of the movie will use to watch the Blu-ray in their own homes. His initial take was good enough for me.

Originally Posted by dsman71

We really need Wait Until Dark on blu ray - come on WB !!

Agreed so darn much. It's ridiculous, man! The Audrey collection that comes out Sept 30 shouldn't just be 3 films, it should be 5 or 6 and should include films we haven't had on BD yet like

Wait Until Dark
Two for the Road
Roman Holiday

It's so strange that these have never been on Blu Ray!

Anybody hear rumblings of info as to future possibilities?

[Arkadin]

one of the most iconic American films still not out is certainly Roman Holiday.
when will it appear??
who knows.
definitely tired of waiting on it that's for sure.

[obscura]

Originally Posted by obscura

Wouldn't it be loverly if they released a completely remastered 50th Anniversary with slipcover and an audio option to play the film with Audrey's vocals this year?

Originally Posted by rollinwith26s

I'd be totally okay with that.

OMFG, ask and you shall receive

As confirmed in the other thread, no option with her vocals though. :P

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/My-Fa...lu-ray/113301/

[James Luckard]

TWO FOR THE ROAD will be released by Eureka/Masters of Cinema in the UK on January 19. I know it's not US, but hopefully this is a sign it will come here eventually. And if not, I know some Americans can play UK discs, and some US players can even apparently play Eureka discs despite being region-locked.



https://www.eurekavideo.co.uk/moc/two-road

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=252772

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-Format-...dp/B00Q8NEC5W/

Fox premiered a new digital restoration at the TCM Fest in Hollywood in 2012. The film was in Fox's online vote that year for release in the 1960s batch, and looked like it would win for a while, but lost out when John Wayne fans discovered the website at the last minute and voted in some of his titles instead.

[James Luckard]

All sorts of old threads keep popping up with people chatting about Black Friday deals, and this one got quickly buried. I wanted to bump this one, so people can see this important news.

Remember, MoC released LIFEBOAT in the UK on BD and Fox has never released it here, so this disc may very well be the only way to get TWO FOR THE ROAD for quite a while.