Zulu (1964) - January 22, 2014 - Limited to 3,000 copies

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Douglas R

I saw ZULU as well when it premiered at the Plaza, London - and yes, the colours were very vibrant - but it was in 35mm. It was not shown as a 70mm blow-up until a 1972 reissue.

That isn't true. It was screened in 70mm in several countries:

http://instereouk.com/Lost_Zulu.html

[mr nostromo]

My mistake, I'm afraid. My first 70mm viewing was at the London Casino on re-issu (early 1970's I believe). Also saw it at the old ABC at Norwich in 70mm. The Plaza showing was a beautiful 35mm Technirama print.

[Geoff D]

Good to see some love for Zulu in a few UK newspapers (albeit right-wing rags) yesterday. It's a shame that Paramount aren't going to acknowledge the 50th anniversary with a special edition release though.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Good to see some love for Zulu in a few UK newspapers (albeit right-wing rags) yesterday. It's a shame that Paramount aren't going to acknowledge the 50th anniversary with a special edition release though.

Any possibility that Michael Caine recorded a new commentary for this release?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Any possibility that Michael Caine recorded a new commentary for this release?

No, he's been too busy doing adverts for Sky broadband.

[punking]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Good to see some love for Zulu in a few UK newspapers (albeit right-wing rags) yesterday. It's a shame that Paramount aren't going to acknowledge the 50th anniversary with a special edition release though.

It's a shame that they're not because there are some extras out there. This is taken from Leigh Tarrant on Facebook (via the Twilight Time page).

"We were aiming to make a documentary for 'blu ray' release via Paramount… pity, as we could have supplied something new for the 'extras' on this particular release. (we've extended interviews never seen before of surviving actors & crew)

we are an independent production company who own the rights to our own unreleased footage. We have filmed extensive interviews with David Kernan (Hitch) and cy Endfields wife (Maureen) among others…and did approach Paramount USA and UK who didn't want any more 'extra's as they announced that they weren't going to issue any more blu ray releases of ZULU. As it stands we have brand new footage ready to go… including the films memorabilia exhibition in Cardiff from two years ago."

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

No, he's been too busy doing adverts for Sky broadband.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by punking

It's a shame that they're not because there are some extras out there. This is taken from Leigh Tarrant on Facebook (via the Twilight Time page).

"We were aiming to make a documentary for 'blu ray' release via Paramount… pity, as we could have supplied something new for the 'extras' on this particular release. (we've extended interviews never seen before of surviving actors & crew)

we are an independent production company who own the rights to our own unreleased footage. We have filmed extensive interviews with David Kernan (Hitch) and cy Endfields wife (Maureen) among others…and did approach Paramount USA and UK who didn't want any more 'extra's as they announced that they weren't going to issue any more blu ray releases of ZULU. As it stands we have brand new footage ready to go… including the films memorabilia exhibition in Cardiff from two years ago."

Yep, that sounds like Paramount. The same studio that refuses to release most of their catalog and the ones they do release go to Olive and are much more expensive.

[Riddler The Slag]

As a proud Welshman, this film will be a welcome addition to my collection!

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Riddler The Slag

As a proud Welshman, this film will be a welcome addition to my collection!

Men of Harlech - YouTube

[Lyle_JP]

Originally Posted by punking

we are an independent production company who own the rights to our own unreleased footage. We have filmed extensive interviews with David Kernan (Hitch) and cy Endfields wife (Maureen) among others…and did approach Paramount USA and UK who didn't want any more 'extra's as they announced that they weren't going to issue any more blu ray releases of ZULU. As it stands we have brand new footage ready to go… including the films memorabilia exhibition in Cardiff from two years ago."

Not sure why they didn't approach MGM in the USA. Paramount USA has no rights to Zulu.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by Lyle_JP

Not sure why they didn't approach MGM in the USA. Paramount USA has no rights to Zulu.

Exactly.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Lyle_JP

Not sure why they didn't approach MGM in the USA. Paramount USA has no rights to Zulu.

Fair enough, but it's not like Metro have chosen to celebrate the 50th anniversary either! Heck, the only reason it's coming out on Blu-ray in the U.S. is because a limited edition label stumped up the cash.

[Jutty]

Originally Posted by Riddler The Slag

As a proud Welshman, this film will be a welcome addition to my collection!

Im half welsh,,,hope that counts ( half english too,with a bit of south african thrown in)lol

[BENNIE QUINCY SHAFT]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Having no grain is one thing, but to my eyes the textures look very strange indeed. Faces look incredibly smooth, bizarrely so, like they've had some of the Son'a's skin-stretching treatments from Star Trek Insurrection.

The image does pop, boy does it pop, but once that superficial wow factor is overcome I just can't stop thinking about how off-kilter it looks.

Hopefully TT's transfer will retain the detail whilst also restoring a modicum of true filmic quality.

YOU ARE RIGHT! You have a great "eye."

Bertha Zelda and I were just looking at the 1080P screen prints, and we both commented that the actors look as if they were wearing latex masks. Our S-VHS copy of this movie shows grain. Regardless of whether it was 35mm or 70mm, as a professional photographer, I can assure you that film SHOULD have grain.

[Geoff D]

Anyhoo, Screen Archives has just dispatched my copy of the TT edition! Huzzah!

I fished out the Par Blu-ray just the other day, too. I watched a few scenes. The colour's there, and quite beautiful it is too, not as overbearing as I remember - but that's still not enough to overcome the incredibly weird look that it's got. It's almost paradoxical how it retains so much detail AND looks so smudgy and smeared at the same time. Spotted some mild ringing, too.

The fake stereo sound mix is fairly shitty, though. Can't wait to hear the true stereo mix on the TT!

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Anyhoo, Screen Archives has just dispatched my copy of the TT edition! Huzzah!

I fished out the Par Blu-ray just the other day, too. I watched a few scenes. The colour's there, and quite beautiful it is too, not as overbearing as I remember - but that's still not enough to overcome the incredibly weird look that it's got. It's almost paradoxical how it retains so much detail AND looks so smudgy and smeared at the same time. Spotted some mild ringing, too.

The fake stereo sound mix is fairly shitty, though. Can't wait to hear the true stereo mix on the TT!

Can you post some screen caps when it comes in? Maybe match these two I did below comparing the U.S. Amazon exclusive to the U.K. disc?

http://www.screenshotcomparison.com/...n.php?id=10782
http://www.screenshotcomparison.com/...n.php?id=10783

[Blades1370]

Since I am really lazy tonight and don't feel like reading the previous "x" pages, is this a new transfer that TT is using, or the same one with hopefully less digital manipulation.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Can you post some screen caps when it comes in? Maybe match these two I did below comparing the U.S. Amazon exclusive to the U.K. disc?

http://www.screenshotcomparison.com/...n.php?id=10782
http://www.screenshotcomparison.com/...n.php?id=10783

Didn't even know that there was a US release (I *think* it's in the public domain, so any Joe Schmoe could produce a version) but it looks like they've simply tweaked the UK transfer. I don't really 'do' caps though. I've got the means to rip discs, but I'm not sure about all that colour space stuff and the last thing I'd want to do is put out incorrect caps.

Originally Posted by Blades1370

Since I am really lazy tonight and don't feel like reading the previous "x" pages, is this a new transfer that TT is using, or the same one with hopefully less digital manipulation.

I dunno about the 'new' part, but it's supposed to be a different transfer because it was supplied to TT by Metro, not Paramount.

[hansolo]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Can you post some screen caps when it comes in? Maybe match these two I did below comparing the U.S. Amazon exclusive to the U.K. disc?

http://www.screenshotcomparison.com/...n.php?id=10782
http://www.screenshotcomparison.com/...n.php?id=10783

Oh man. Years ago I remember reading how crappy UK version was and even checking few screen captures myself. But this bad ?! These are just horrendous. Those screen captures look nothing like a film medium (in this case 65 mm) would capture during shooting. Digital manipulation all over. DNR, you name it. Shots look like some weird photographic aquarelles. I really hope that TT version looks more like a film shot on film. At least it will feature the true stereophonic audio but it does not matter a much if overall look is similar to UK version. There was somebody commenting a page or two back (quotes from another forum maybe) that for the most part TT looks like UK version but there is maybe slightly more grain. Indistinguishable is the word they used. Colors were also told to be different. That does not sound promising.

Please but TT screen captures here asap or at least comment how it looks.

EDIT: correction. It's not 65 mm. Zulu was shot on 8-perf 35mm.