Picnic at Hanging Rock - 8/2/14 - both cuts

[McCrutchy]

I wish Happinet had pitch-corrected the 16:9 SD version and tossed the extras onto a second Blu-ray in HD or SD. I just don't like needing DVDs.

Maybe if/when the price drops, I will get this, as the 4:3 version piques my interest.

[Raphdude]

Originally Posted by moviemaker

According to my Blu-ray menu this is what the Japanese version offers:

Blu ray
3 Versions of the film
1) Director’s Cut Remastered in HD (1:47:03)
2) Theatrical Cut (1:55:41)
3) Home Video/Laserdisc Version (1:50:41) ***
4) Trailer (4:52)

***NOTE: The description on the box does not include this 3rd version but the running times are different

DVD

1) A Dream Within a Dream: The Making of Picnic at Hanging Rock” FULL VERSION (1:53:18)
2) A Recollection – Hanging Rock 1900 (25:56)
3) Interview with Joan Lindsay (15:01)
4) Hanging Rock: Then and Now (5:43)
5) The Day of Saint Valentine by Anthony S. Ingram (3:45)
6) Excerpt of Hanging Rock Read by Helen Morse w/Stills (7:29)
7) Interview w/Karen Robson (14:55)
8) Deleted Scenes from Director’s Cut (8:25)

All Japanese Subtitles are Removable.

An amazing collection that I think rivals the Criterion Blu-ray Version which I also own. I actually prefer the Japanese Blu-ray over the Criterion.

I totally agree. I just got the Japan version and I like it much better than the criterion(which I also own), mainly because you get two extra versions of the film, along with the shorter director's cut. I also like having the complete dream within a dream documentary, and more extras. I think it's a much better package overall. I only have a 40" TV, so it's hard for me to tell if there are major differences in the Japan HD transfer vs the Criterion, but I'm glad I waited for the Japan version Very pleased with it!
And I the Black Amray case much better.

[PGW]

I like having all of the extras as well, but there's no comparison picture-wise. The Criterion is supervised and approved by Peter Weir, and is clearly a cleaner, more stable transfer than the other one. Take a look at the end credits on the Japanese disc, for example.

Ugly.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by PGW

I like having all of the extras as well, but there's no comparison picture-wise. The Criterion is supervised and approved by Peter Weir, and is clearly a cleaner, more stable transfer than the other one. Take a look at the end credits on the Japanese disc, for example.

Ugly.

So the Japanese disc's HD transfer of the film is not identical to the Criterion's, and is inferior? That's disappointing. I haven't seen any comparison caps yet.

[jaredofmo]

To be absolutely sure, the Japanese edition would play fine in a Region A locked player? And how much does it cost in USD?

I was thinking that if one owned both the Japanese and the Criterion Blu-Ray, you could swap out the DVDs in the Criterion Set and put in the Japanese discs if you wanted just one set on the shelf.

... I really wish black Blu-Ray cases were easier to find.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jaredofmo

To be absolutely sure, the Japanese edition would play fine in a Region A locked player? And how much does it cost in USD?

I was thinking that if one owned both the Japanese and the Criterion Blu-Ray, you could swap out the DVDs in the Criterion Set and put in the Japanese discs if you wanted just one set on the shelf.

... I really wish black Blu-Ray cases were easier to find.

Japan is Region A, so you can be about as sure as you would about a disc released in the states that it will play in a Region A player.

[James Luckard]

Anyone able to offer a review of how the Criterion and Japanese transfers of the main feature compare? Someone said the Japanese one was inferior, so I'm holding off buying until I hear more or see some caps.

[James Luckard]

Anyone seen any caps form the Japanese disc? I'm still waiting to order this till I see a legit comparison between it and the Criterion.

[PGW]

Caps won't tell the whole story, James.

A lot of the problem I had with the Japanese disc is with the amount of white specks and instability - neither of which is likely to show up on a screen cap.

On the other hand, if you love the film, you'll want the Japanese disc for the original cut - even if it IS full frame and doesn't look nearly as good. There's really no other option.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by PGW

Caps won't tell the whole story, James.

A lot of the problem I had with the Japanese disc is with the amount of white specks and instability - neither of which is likely to show up on a screen cap.

On the other hand, if you love the film, you'll want the Japanese disc for the original cut - even if it IS full frame and doesn't look nearly as good. There's really no other option.

Do you have the Criterion as well? Are those imperfections not on the Criterion transfer? Might have to get both eventually then.

[PGW]

Yes, I have the Criterion and the imperfections aren't there. It's a cleaner, more stable, better transfer - virtually flawless.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by PGW

Yes, I have the Criterion and the imperfections aren't there. It's a cleaner, more stable, better transfer - virtually flawless.

Guess I'll pick up both eventually, but I'll start with the Criterion during the 50% B&N sale next month. Been years since I saw the film and, though I love Weir, I can't honestly remember my feelings about it.

[James Luckard]

FYI - a new 4K remastered UHD of BOTH cuts of the film was announced recently, making most of the discussion here academic.

[mizo69]

I just got my Japanese Collector's Edition and I concur with the comments above. I would just add here that the 4:3 letterboxed theatrical version (1:55 mins) looks very nice if kind of greenish-tinted. The only problem for me is that the image isn't stable (as noted above), but I think I could get over that as I get into the film. The widescreen version of the same looks just horrible and is really soft (why 1:50?). So I'd say the Japanese is worth getting, but I'll report back when I've watched the whole thing. Comparing the laser disc theatrical version on the Japanese Blu-Ray to the Second Sight theatrical version on DVD, the SS is almost as bad as the widescreen laserdisc version but isn't as soft.

[James Luckard]

New UHD of both cuts, both remastered in 4K from the original negative, with the cooperation of Weir and the DP, coming soon:

Originally Posted by Akrocine

Second Sight gonna realease a BD UHD HDR with both versions restored from the original negative on 4K, and original mono

A 3 years project, with the involvement of Peter Weir and Russel Boyd.

You can have a look of the differences @6:20
Case study: Restoring Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock - YouTube
Interesting to know that Boyd and Weir didnt agreed on the grading and the ratio. After investigation it's 1:66.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

New UHD of both cuts, both remastered in 4K from the original negative, with the cooperation of Weir and the DP, coming soon:

Is it estimated for 2023?

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

Is it estimated for 2023?

Presumably. Second Sight hasn't announced a date yet.

It was unofficially announced in the linked video, by the producers of the project, at a convention in Italy.

[mizo69]

Just to add that I have the Japanese Collectors Edition (Blu Ray and DVD) now, and everything PGW states checks out. Definitely worth it for the 4:3 original theatrical version. The image is a bit it unstable and the whole has a greenish tint, but I think it's worth getting. I haven't watched the whole thing, but will report back.

[DawnShadow]

Yeah, but he also says there’s no other option to view the theatrical cut and that’s why it’s worth owning. That’s about to change. And who wants to buy an expensive Japanese disc just for it to be rendered essentially worthless in less than a year?

[bonddm]

https://twitter.com/secondsightfilm/...RKAZ131wMph4Kg

“*PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK UPDATE*
Happy Valentine’s Day! Pre-orders and full details for our new restoration of Peter Weir’s seminal slice of Australian cinema coming later this week, including our 4 disc 4K / Blu-ray Limited Edition and standard editions.“