Mario Bava's Black Sunday

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Higher bit rates do not equate better quality. And especially in this case, the numbers mean absolutely nothing.

Totally agree. I have MP4s that look fantastic at a fraction of the bitrate of blurays.

[RipleyLV426]

Amazon lowest price drop...$14.82

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching Mario Bava's Black Sunday, my introduction to the director's work, for the first time, by way of this Kino Blu-ray.

I love everything about this movie, and I cannot believe that I have not already seen it until now. Black Sunday has its share of creepy images that must have been quite horrifying back in 1960, but it's also an uncannily sexy film. Barbara Steele is one of the most strikingly beautiful actresses in cinema history, and she shines throughout this movie in her double roles. She was at her mesmerizing best in this film, which will sit well on my shelf next Pit and the Pendulum, 8½, and Piranha.

I am fond of overusing the hyperbole that each and every still frame of a movie would make a great poster, but Black Sunday is one such example that justifies the praise. The image quality on this Kino Blu-ray is outstanding to my eyes, and I'm glad that I waited to see this film on Blu-ray, because it deserves being seen in a format conducive to strong black levels. The audio quality is imperfect, but I'll defer to the site review, which states that it's a good restoration of a dubbed track.

I'll have to see more Bava films in the future, although I do not know where to start. The previews on this Blu-ray are all pretty trippy, but Baron Blood looks like a solid flick.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching Mario Bava's Black Sunday, my introduction to the director's work, for the first time, by way of this Kino Blu-ray.

I love everything about this movie, and I cannot believe that I have not already seen it until now. Black Sunday has its share of creepy images that must have been quite horrifying back in 1960, but it's also an uncannily sexy film. Barbara Steele is one of the most strikingly beautiful actresses in cinema history, and she shines throughout this movie in her double roles. She was at her mesmerizing best in this film, which will sit well on my shelf next Pit and the Pendulum, 8½, and Piranha.

I am fond of overusing the hyperbole that each and every still frame of a movie would make a great poster, but Black Sunday is one such example that justifies the praise. The image quality on this Kino Blu-ray is outstanding to my eyes, and I'm glad that I waited to see this film on Blu-ray, because it deserves being seen in a format conducive to strong black levels. The audio quality is imperfect, but I'll defer to the site review, which states that it's a good restoration of a dubbed track.

I'll have to see more Bava films in the future, although I do not know where to start. The previews on this Blu-ray are all pretty trippy, but Baron Blood looks like a solid flick.

Baron Blood is kinda b-list Bava. I'd highly recommend Black Sabbath. Bay of Blood is good, but very gory (it's a prototype for Friday the 13th et al, but is much more stylish. Kill Baby Kill is very good and in the vein of Black Sunday/Black Sabbath, but unfortunately not out on bluray yet. Lisa and the Devil is pretty cool and very surreal/stylish, but not really a classic. I'm looking forward to Kino's Planet of the Vampires, I haven't seen that movie yet but have heard good things.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching Mario Bava's Black Sunday, my introduction to the director's work, for the first time, by way of this Kino Blu-ray.

I love everything about this movie, and I cannot believe that I have not already seen it until now. Black Sunday has its share of creepy images that must have been quite horrifying back in 1960, but it's also an uncannily sexy film. Barbara Steele is one of the most strikingly beautiful actresses in cinema history, and she shines throughout this movie in her double roles. She was at her mesmerizing best in this film, which will sit well on my shelf next Pit and the Pendulum, 8½, and Piranha.

I am fond of overusing the hyperbole that each and every still frame of a movie would make a great poster, but Black Sunday is one such example that justifies the praise. The image quality on this Kino Blu-ray is outstanding to my eyes, and I'm glad that I waited to see this film on Blu-ray, because it deserves being seen in a format conducive to strong black levels. The audio quality is imperfect, but I'll defer to the site review, which states that it's a good restoration of a dubbed track.

I'll have to see more Bava films in the future, although I do not know where to start. The previews on this Blu-ray are all pretty trippy, but Baron Blood looks like a solid flick.

Definitely check out Black Sabbath; It's my favorite Bava film!

If you like atmospheric, creepy, and slowly-escalating horror like Black Sunday, then Black Sabbath is for you.

[Jobla]

BLACK SABBATH is very good, particularly its episode "A Drop of Water."

[The Great Owl]

Thanks to the recommendations in this thread, I just ordered a "Used - Like New" copy of Black Sabbath from Amazon for six dollars. As with Black Sunday, I figure that the Italian version of Black Sabbath will suit me nicely.

The more that I ponder on my viewing of Black Sunday from a couple of nights ago, the more I think that it just might have to go into my all-time top 10 horror movie list. It really is an outstanding gem of a movie that I'll watch again and again.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching Mario Bava's Black Sunday, my introduction to the director's work, for the first time, by way of this Kino Blu-ray.

I love everything about this movie, and I cannot believe that I have not already seen it until now. Black Sunday has its share of creepy images that must have been quite horrifying back in 1960, but it's also an uncannily sexy film. Barbara Steele is one of the most strikingly beautiful actresses in cinema history, and she shines throughout this movie in her double roles. She was at her mesmerizing best in this film, which will sit well on my shelf next Pit and the Pendulum, 8½, and Piranha.

I am fond of overusing the hyperbole that each and every still frame of a movie would make a great poster, but Black Sunday is one such example that justifies the praise. The image quality on this Kino Blu-ray is outstanding to my eyes, and I'm glad that I waited to see this film on Blu-ray, because it deserves being seen in a format conducive to strong black levels. The audio quality is imperfect, but I'll defer to the site review, which states that it's a good restoration of a dubbed track.

I'll have to see more Bava films in the future, although I do not know where to start. The previews on this Blu-ray are all pretty trippy, but Baron Blood looks like a solid flick.

I knew you'd like it . It really is beautifully filmed with a great gothic atmosphere throughout. I've only seen a few other Bava films, which are good in their own right, but not on the same level as Black Sunday.

[bigshot]

I'm a bit angry with Kino. Instead of giving us both the Italian and US versions of Black Sabbath and Black Sunday, they gave us the Italian... and now they are releasing a new double feature blu of both of them in the American versions. Three separate blu-rays to get the proper versions of two movies. These two movies are important in the English version for Les Baxter's great score for Black Sunday and for Black Sabbath with Boris Karloff's own voice, instead of dubbed. On top of that, the print they used for the Italian Black Sabbath was in bad condition with terrible color. Boo.

I bought Kino's Black Sunday, but I just might order the European blu-ray with both versions and not give Kino my money.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I'm a bit angry with Kino. Instead of giving us both the Italian and US versions of Black Sabbath and Black Sunday, they gave us the Italian... and now they are releasing a new double feature blu of both of them in the American versions. Three separate blu-rays to get the proper versions of two movies. These two movies are important in the English version for Les Baxter's great score for Black Sunday and for Black Sabbath with Boris Karloff's own voice, instead of dubbed. On top of that, the print they used for the Italian Black Sabbath was in bad condition with terrible color. Boo.

I bought Kino's Black Sunday, but I just might order the European blu-ray with both versions and not give Kino my money.

As I pointed out in the thread for the AIP versions, they didn't have the rights to US versions until this year when they made a distribution deal with MGM.

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Arrow's Black Sabbath has richer color. The US edit is interesting to see once or twice, but the Italian cut is far, far superior. "The Telephone" works better in its original format, and the Italian version's sound effects and music for "The Drop of Water" are considerably more creepy.

[cakefactory]

As I posted in the thread about the alt versions ( https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...6&postcount=25 ), I think the english version of Black Sabbath is worth owning and has a couple definite strengths over the Italian version, but Black Sunday's AIP version is really just a curio.

If you're a big fan of Black Sunday I'd absolutely recommend the Arrow version over buying the two Kino ones, it includes the AIP version, has great extras and the video is the same quality. Plus, it has a whole second movie as an extra (I Vampiri). Their release is one of my favorites in my collection.

Black Sabbath's Arrow version is slightly better than owning the two Kino things, the video's a bit better, it has another great Tim Lucas commentary, and there are a couple other extras like a feature that highlights the differences between the two versions.

They're both Region B unfortunately, I am just able to play them cause I have a panasonic player and thus can just hit "top menu" to bypass the region lock screen. :P

[bigshot]

The European blu-rays have put the last straw on the camel's back. I was already angry about Nosferatu missing frames, but spending $35 to buy the same movies again pissed me off. I ordered a Region Free Oppo and just ordered both of the import versions from Amazon UK for about the cost of the Kino.

I also pre-ordered Caligari and The Gang's All Here. Hello Arrow and Masters of Cinema, goodbye Kino and overpriced Criterion.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by bigshot

Hello Arrow and Masters of Cinema, goodbye Kino and overpriced Criterion.

I'm not really sure why you have this either/or mentality. I buy Arrow, Criterion, MoC, and Kino titles. In other words, the quality of the release determines which I get, not whether it's from one country or another. More times than not, the Criterion package will be superior to the one from MoC so good luck with shunning those Criterion releases. Also with regards to Criterion's being overpriced, I'd wager you'd pay about the same for Criterion's during a B&N 50% off sale, if not less, then you are for most MoC releases of the same title.

[The Great Owl]

Thanks again for all of the feedback!

Since I'm staying Region A by choice, the Arrow Blu-rays are not an option.

My research on both films, thanks in part to some of the above posters, has led me to believe that the initial Kino releases of these films with the original Italian versions are the ones to own for Region A folks like me. I've got no complaints whatsoever about the original Kino release of Black Sunday, that's for sure.

[bigshot]

My favorite comedy short of all time, W. C. Fields "The Dentist" was released on laserdisc with music added by the person who owned the print to try to claim copyright on it. A lot of people complained to Criterion about it, but they went ahead and released the adulterated version again on DVD. Flicker Alley is the first release of the film that does it right. The $9.99 blu-ray of "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World" looks just as good as the Criterion. But Criterion tripled the price claiming that they had restored the road show version. They hadn't done that. They just spliced in a bunch of borderline unwatchable outtakes, some of which consisted of picture without sound and some sound without picture. A complete ripoff. Criterion is no better than any other video company. They just over package and charge more. I've gotten stung by several of Kino's duds too.

I'll take Warner Archive or Flicker Alley over Criterion or Kino any day.

[MifuneFan]

Ignorance is bliss

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by bigshot

My favorite comedy short of all time, W. C. Fields "The Dentist" was released on laserdisc with music added by the person who owned the print to try to claim copyright on it. A lot of people complained to Criterion about it, but they went ahead and released the adulterated version again on DVD. Flicker Alley is the first release of the film that does it right. The $9.99 blu-ray of "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World" looks just as good as the Criterion. But Criterion tripled the price claiming that they had restored the road show version. They hadn't done that. They just spliced in a bunch of borderline unwatchable outtakes, some of which consisted of picture without sound and some sound without picture. A complete ripoff. Criterion is no better than any other video company. They just over package and charge more. I've gotten stung by several of Kino's duds too.

I'll take Warner Archive or Flicker Alley over Criterion or Kino any day.

As far as Blu-ray goes, you're denouncing a whole company for 1 out of their 400+ titles not being given the maximum effort, even when that may be all they could have done given the history of the film and the long thought lost elements that were probably in ugly condition? I'm sure had they found a better print, they would have made it look the best they could have. Criterion go so far as to put all of the vintage featurettes in 1080p, many studios would simply just leave them in SD. Have you seen the reviews for the titles this year? Nearly every one that comes up, bam, 5/5 pq and aq or close to. They're an amazing company.

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I've gotten stung by several of Kino's duds too.

And I got stung by Arrow's BD for Bava's Bay of Blood. Kino's is much better.

To echo MifuneFan, the best quality release is the way to go. I'll import or buy locally based on quality.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My research on both films, thanks in part to some of the above posters, has led me to believe that the initial Kino releases of these films with the original Italian versions are the ones to own for Region A folks like me. I've got no complaints whatsoever about the original Kino release of Black Sunday, that's for sure.

Kino's Black Sabbath is probably an all right presentation, but given how badly it mucked up the colors, I simply had to get the Arrow release, one of the first Region B-locked titles I bought. This is one of my favorite films, so I absolutely had to have that colorful lighting done right, and the AIP cut was a nice bonus.

There are some comparison screenshots on this site's reviews. The Kino release just looks drab by comparison.

Kino
Arrow

[Eibon]

Originally Posted by bigshot

The European blu-rays have put the last straw on the camel's back. I was already angry about Nosferatu missing frames, but spending $35 to buy the same movies again pissed me off. I ordered a Region Free Oppo and just ordered both of the import versions from Amazon UK for about the cost of the Kino.

I also pre-ordered Caligari and The Gang's All Here. Hello Arrow and Masters of Cinema, goodbye Kino and overpriced Criterion.

I just stumbled on this thread, and I didn't realise that KINO are putting out the AIP versions, but I have the ARROW version of BLACK SABBATH and I believe the AIP version included, is an SD upscale. It's much softer and less detailed than the main feature on the disc. If KINO are releasing these AIP versions, is there a chance they're proper transfers rather than bonus fare?