Kiss of the Spider Woman - What a disappointment....

[AaronSCH]

I just want to post again in case someone at City Lights is reading. I am truly disappointed to see the long wait for "Kiss of the Spider Woman" go on even longer. Why don't you guys just let Criterion do their magic?

[Sushisake]

The only way I could find to state displeasure with the release is a phone number:212-679-4400

As for why the laser disc was better - let me retract that and say it was simply on par with what they have release on Blu Ray. AND back in the days of laser discs - it was quite a welcome upgrade - but now, with all that can be done with bluray - THAT is the disappointment

[KamiAmaya]

Everyone is saying how disappointing this film is on Blu-ray. Am I the only one that enjoyed it?

So it didn't look as good as some of your other Blus, and yes there were scratches and I noticed some white dots once in a while, guess you call them "artifacts" huh? But the film is over 20 years old.

Well, I enjoyed it very much, and I feel like I'm going to get flamed so I'll run away now...

[Sushisake]

Not at all Kami - you are entitled to your opinion - no flames from me.

However, let me say - that in viewing the THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT blurays - featuring clips from films as far back as 80 some odd years ago - those clips were PRISTINE by comparison.

So - I do not go for the age of a film being an excuse for a shoddy transfer.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by KamiAmaya

So it didn't look as good as some of your other Blus, and yes there were scratches and I noticed some white dots once in a while, guess you call them "artifacts" huh? But the film is over 20 years old.

When there are specks and dirt and blotches it is a sign of one of two things:

1. very few of the original prints are in tact and they are not of good quality
2. laziness from the people handling the transfer b/c they did not find the best elements and ensure that they were ready for an hd transfer.

I don't know which this would fall under but it seems unlikely that a film of this age would fall under the first heading.

[Sushisake]

I have to say something here - yet again -

While I agree that it was probably due to laziness - we all need to keep in mind that City Lights is a VERY small company and this is their first bluray release. Apparently they have limited resources to do a major restoration (similar to that we are receiving for The Godfather) - however, they really should have sold the rights to a company that would give this wonderful film the transfer it deserves. Perhaps CRITERION?

[KamiAmaya]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

When there are specks and dirt and blotches it is a sign of one of two things:

1. very few of the original prints are in tact and they are not of good quality
2. laziness from the people handling the transfer b/c they did not find the best elements and ensure that they were ready for an hd transfer.

I don't know which this would fall under but it seems unlikely that a film of this age would fall under the first heading.

Ah ok, didn't know that.

And Sushisake thanks for no flaming

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by KamiAmaya

Ah ok, didn't know that.

It's like scanning a picture onto your computer but it's covered in dust and you didn't wipe it clean.

[Clark Kent]

While I haven't seen the Blu-ray in question, it sounds very likely that City Lights used an older HD master for the transfer. I think many companies think they can get away with releasing a BD from sub-par masters (heck even Disney has been guilty of this).

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

It's like scanning a picture onto your computer but it's covered in dust and you didn't wipe it clean.

Well if the element is in that state, cleaning up takes a lot of work, as it's 172,800 frames to clean up. Scratches have to be minimized by wet gate proccess or digital retouching sometimes on a frame by frame basis.

[Robert Harris]

There is nothing earthshakingly bad here. There is damage to the element, mostly just good, honest wear. Other than that, color, densities, etc are all fine.

There are really two problems.

1. The studios have generally done a wonderful job of digitally cleansing their product of damage and detritus. And the public is now used to not seeing dirt and digs.

2. The film is being presented by an entity calling themselves Independent Cinema Restoration Archive, and the amazon notes carry the line:

"Notice: This full-length feature film has been digitally remastered and restored."

If one is going to preach film restoration...

[PowellPressburger]

Cool great reply Robert!

I don't mind some debris if that is best the film can look. I would think the level of detail is up to par for this release. I will still order it.

Thanks Robert!

I think people still need schooled on film grain etc with transfers. Everyone wants their blu rays to pop. Not all films pop.

[Sushisake]

I will look forward to reading what you think of this when you receive it.

[xradman]

Saw this last night. Although the image did have some dirt, it is superb and definitely highdef. The flashback sequences (recollection of the movie scenes) are deliberately soft and out of focus, but the rest of the movie is very sharp and in focus. The 2 hr feature is encoded in AVC and uses DL BD-50. The color has a nice pop. Audio options include original mono and very nice DD 5.1 remix in English and DD stereo in Spanish and French.

Highly recommended.

[AaronSCH]

I just may pick it up. I have resisted this release for a few weeks. Any other feedback?

[abintra]

The price on this is quite reasonable if anyone is still on the fence. I finally ordered a copy since it was in my range now. Haven't seen it in a long, long time but always remembered it fondly.

Apparently the seller literaturopolis on Amazon is actually the official distributor for the film, and the producers son, so that was a nice bonus (I emailed to make sure of the items condition given past history with some marketplace sellers and knowing that inetvideo likely had the Canadian edition with bilingual cover art).

[Arkadin]

I have been wanting this bd for a long time.
I have never seen it in a store even though it is supposedly not an amazon exclusive anymore.
this was a fairly early bd release, and I'm not really surprised that it doesn't look all that great if it was some small company's first bd release from an old print.

[BluPat]

Just bought this from an Amazon seller for $4.99 brand new, factory sealed. Hope it comes with the slipcover. Wanted to see this for a while and at that price, couldn't pass it up. Sounds like a great film.

[James78]

You don't need to buy an inferior disc as there is a newer quality release from Carlotta Films which is region free:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Kiss-...Blu-ray/17680/

[Donnie D]

Originally Posted by James78

You don't need to buy an inferior disc as there is a newer quality release from Carlotta Films which is region free:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Kiss-...Blu-ray/17680/

Thanks for the link. This is an exceptional movie. Made such an impression on me when I first saw it (in secret) in my teens.

Had no idea there was a better version available. William Hurt was simply perfection.