Chinatown 4K UHD (1974) (50th Anniversary Edition)

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by SpacemanDoug

Fortunately Paramount's native releases that do include the original mixes have been legit from what I've seen

They're not like Kino with their downmix fetish

Liberty Valance's was a downmix apparently

[stigdu]

I wish a different director had made this. I'd probably buy it, then. I've never seen the film, but hear it's an absolute classic.

[-JKR-]

Originally Posted by stigdu

I wish a different director had made this. I'd probably buy it, then. I've never seen the film, but hear it's an absolute classic.

It's a great movie, despite who the director is.

[SpacemanDoug]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Liberty Valance's was a downmix apparently

I forgot about that one whoops

[Doctor Jack]

Originally Posted by stigdu

I wish a different director had made this. I'd probably buy it, then. I've never seen the film, but hear it's an absolute classic.

If a different director made it, probably wouldn’t be an absolute classic then.

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by stigdu

I wish a different director had made this. I'd probably buy it, then. I've never seen the film, but hear it's an absolute classic.

You can still support the countless other people who have worked on it.

Anyway, preorders for the UK release are up at OrbitDVD for fellow US folks.

[stigdu]

Originally Posted by MovieBuff647

You can still support the countless other people who have worked on it.

Anyway, preorders for the UK release are up at OrbitDVD for fellow US folks.

I won't support anything made by him, regardless. I think I've only seen Repulsion, Macbeth, Death and the Maiden and Carnage. Loved Macbeth, I thought Death... and Repulsion were very good, thought Carnage was OK. I've not seen the 'big three' (Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby, The Pianist).

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by stigdu

I won't support anything made by him, regardless. I think I've only seen Repulsion, Macbeth, Death and the Maiden and Carnage. Loved Macbeth, I thought Death... and Repulsion were very good, thought Carnage was OK. I've not seen the 'big three' (Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby, The Pianist).

I don't know why this needs to be said, but you are not morally superior for refusing to watch good art just because it was made by bad people. If someone who is either a survivor or directly related to/friends with Samantha Geimer doesn't want to watch his work, then I would totally understand, but if neither of those things apply to you, it just comes off as virtue signaling.

Also, funny you mention that last bit considering those are the only three I've seen. CHINATOWN and ROSEMARY'S BABY are both major works, PIANIST is very solid (and definitely one of the better films about the Holocaust, though that's unfortunately not saying much), but kind of overrated in my opinion.

[Doctor Jack]

Originally Posted by stigdu

I won't support anything made by him, regardless. I think I've only seen Repulsion, Macbeth, Death and the Maiden and Carnage. Loved Macbeth, I thought Death... and Repulsion were very good, thought Carnage was OK. I've not seen the 'big three' (Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby, The Pianist).

If you’re taking a moral stand on not supporting things involving people of questionable nature, are you going to get rid of the movies Harvey Weinstein was involved in that are in your collection?

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by stigdu

I won't support anything made by him, regardless. I think I've only seen Repulsion, Macbeth, Death and the Maiden and Carnage. Loved Macbeth, I thought Death... and Repulsion were very good, thought Carnage was OK. I've not seen the 'big three' (Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby, The Pianist).

I do think that those 'big three' you have mentioned are particularly amazing. I have not seen Tess yet but that has been on my to watch list. Knife in the Water is another one I remember enjoying.

But I understand that you wouldn't support anything by this director though. It's hard for me to watch his films with that in mind. I also do think that if we were to stop watching films made by people who have done bad things, then I think we may as well stop watching films all together as there are so many great films made by so many people without a clean reputation (Whether it's been proven or claimed). Same thing can be said to the films made outside of Hollywood. At this point, it shouldn't be a surprise that 99% of actors/directors/film industry people have done something bad or wrong.

In the case of Chinatown, it's one of the greatest films but a lot of the people who are greatly responsible for this film's success are also notoriously bad people.

Stuff like this is why I don't like having to engage with the "separate the art from the artist" discussions because there are no clear winners when everyone's mileage and values are varying and contradictory to each others.

[Dr. T]

Does it make a difference that Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown were made prior to his criminal conduct?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

Stuff like this is why I don't like having to engage with the "separate the art from the artist" discussions because there are no clear winners when everyone's mileage and values are varying and contradictory to each others.

The fact that it's pretty impossible to do consistently and with real knowledge is a big reason I try not to worry about it.

[stigdu]

Originally Posted by MovieBuff647

I don't know why this needs to be said, but you are not morally superior for refusing to watch good art just because it was made by bad people. If someone who is either a survivor or directly related to/friends with Samantha Geimer doesn't want to watch his work, then I would totally understand, but if neither of those things apply to you, it just comes off as virtue signaling.

Also, funny you mention that last bit considering those are the only three I've seen. CHINATOWN and ROSEMARY'S BABY are both major works, PIANIST is very solid (and definitely one of the better films about the Holocaust, though that's unfortunately not saying much), but kind of overrated in my opinion.

Oh dear... No, of course I don't think I'm morally superior at all, I've done some horrible, horrible things in my life and always full of guilt. I'm also hypocrites gal, not going to deny it, as yes I buy and watch films that Weinstein produced. That's just me, I certainly don't expect everyone else to behave the same at all!

I can be a total **** so I don't want you thinking I'm getting on my high horse. I just don't want to watch his.films since I found out he raped a kid is all. Same as Victor Salva. Personal reasons.

[stigdu]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

The fact that it's pretty impossible to do consistently and with real knowledge is a big reason I try not to worry about it.

100 percent agreed, Mr. Velvet. If we all avoided films that had someone behaving badly behind the scenes, I'm sure half of the movies I've watched would be tainted!

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by stigdu

Oh dear... No, of course I don't think I'm morally superior at all, I've done some horrible, horrible things in my life and always full of guilt. I'm also hypocrites gal, not going to deny it, as yes I buy and watch films that Weinstein produced. That's just me, I certainly don't expect everyone else to behave the same at all!

I can be a total **** so I don't want you thinking I'm getting on my high horse. I just don't want to watch his.films since I found out he raped a kid is all. Same as Victor Salva. Personal reasons.

Fair enough, I apologize for my condescension.

[Charlie U]

I'm thinking of pre-ordering this, but I don't really care about having The Two Jakes.
For that reason, I'm on the fence about the $39.99 price tag. Do you guys think that price will come down a bit prior to the release date, or is it a locked in pre-order price? I've never pre-ordered before.

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by Charlie U

I'm thinking of pre-ordering this, but I don't really care about having The Two Jakes.
For that reason, I'm on the fence about the $39.99 price tag. Do you guys think that price will come down a bit prior to the release date, or is it a locked in pre-order price? I've never pre-ordered before.

It's going be in the $30 range for sure, but if you would rather an included 2K disc of CHINATOWN (even if it is recycled and not remastered) and a bunch of goodies (slipbox, poster, etc.,), there's a UK one with all of that around $50 at most places, which is not bad all things considered (including the importing part).

[mindset]

Originally Posted by stigdu

I won't support anything made by him, regardless. I think I've only seen Repulsion, Macbeth, Death and the Maiden and Carnage. Loved Macbeth, I thought Death... and Repulsion were very good, thought Carnage was OK. I've not seen the 'big three' (Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby, The Pianist).

How very dare you ignore The Fearless Vampire Killers!

I'd rather be entertained by that than anything else Polanski has ever made, other than Chinatown. I may or may not be morally vacuous and superficial, but I know a good time when I see one

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Charlie U

I'm thinking of pre-ordering this, but I don't really care about having The Two Jakes.
For that reason, I'm on the fence about the $39.99 price tag. Do you guys think that price will come down a bit prior to the release date, or is it a locked in pre-order price? I've never pre-ordered before.

If the MSRP is $39.99 I'd expect a release day price around $27.99ish.

[nekohunter]

If anyone is curious, Chinatown is available as a 4K version on iTunes. Haven't seen it in a while, so I'll have to revisit it, but the reviews I've read and seen on YouTube generally say the color grading is wrong and the HDR upgrade is negligible. Then again, maybe the bluray or previous versions were actually the inaccurate ones? It's always to say, and I've never seen the original print either. That said, it does look pretty good from what I remember. Will have to check it out again on Apple TV before ordering the 4k bluray.

Wish there was information about whether this was a true restoration or just an upscale. Will probably buy it anyway just to have a physical copy of the 4K, even though I already own the bluray.