Body Double (Powerhouse/Indicator) - October 24th 2016

[MacEachaidh]

I have the previous Australian release of this (which I think uses the same transfer as the TT) -- it has the same extras, bar the isolated score, but I'm obviously curious about the image. I know this is a 4K rescan, but ... I'm not just assuming this will be changed enough to justify a re-buy, when the one I have is eminently watchable. (That is, I was quite happy with it until I thought there was something better! Typical BD-ite. )

Does anyone know of any screen comparisons between that and this new release that could help me judge?

[Lutz]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I have the previous Australian release of this (which I think uses the same transfer as the TT) -- it has the same extras, bar the isolated score, but I'm obviously curious about the image. I know this is a 4K rescan, but ... I'm not just assuming this will be changed enough to justify a re-buy, when the one I have is eminently watchable. (That is, I was quite happy with it until I thought there was something better! Typical BD-ite. )

Does anyone know of any screen comparisons between that and this new release that could help me judge?

I have the AU and the TT of Body Double and the difference between them is night and day. The only thing that I'd give points for on the AU release is that the actors don't all have terracotta skin but there is nothing wrong with the TT colour.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I have the previous Australian release of this (which I think uses the same transfer as the TT) -- it has the same extras, bar the isolated score, but I'm obviously curious about the image. I know this is a 4K rescan, but ...

TT used this 4K scan (they were the first to release it), the Australian Blu is the older DVD master.

[Dene]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I have the previous Australian release of this (which I think uses the same transfer as the TT) -- it has the same extras, bar the isolated score

The Australian release doesn't have the 40m interview with (now deceased) First A.D. Joe Napolitano, does it? Until now that's only been included in the OOP French Carlotta boxset.

I don't think it has the Craig Wasson interview either.

[samdvd1]

Originally Posted by indisposed

I've bought this film four times... twice on DVD and twice on Blu-ray (Twlilight Time and Carlotta releases). I wasn't gonna bother with this release, but I had no idea it had a Craig Wasson interview! He was mysteriously absent from the Special Edition DVD extras. Does he have anything interesting to say about the film and its cult following? I always assumed he regretted being in it.

Okay, sorry to keep you waiting on this. Although it isn't mentioned within the interview (I used google fu), it is an archive one from 13/10/84 when he was interviewed by Bobbie Wygant. It's an interesting little interview where they talk about the film in general, and how intense De Palma comes across. Wasson certainly isn't negative towards the feature in this interview (it focuses more on De Palma as a person than anything).

[Blu MacReady]

Originally Posted by dwk

TT used this 4K scan (they were the first to release it), the Australian Blu is the older DVD master.

Aussie looks much better.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

The AU Blu-ray of Body Double is one of the worst Blu-rays I've ever seen.

Has just about everything that you shouldn't see in a Blu-ray:

Heavy sharpening
Edge enhancement
Boosted contrast
Poor compression
Inaccurate DVD-era colors
Print damage

The 4K remaster is a revelation and is so much better than the old master. It now looks like film instead of heavily processed video with nice colors/contrast and has no DNR, sharpening, EE, etc. If you care about the integrity of film and want to see the most accurate representation of how it should look then stay far away from the AU disc. I initially bought it because the TT disc was OOP and I was told it used the same master. As soon as I put the disc in I knew something was wrong, ended up selling it and paying an inflated price for the TT disc.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by dwk

TT used this 4K scan (they were the first to release it), the Australian Blu is the older DVD master.

Thanks. I was meaning to ask for a chance to see the difference between the Aussie release and this new Powerhouse one, since that's what I'd be double-dipping on. But I guess that probably won't be available until the reviews start appearing.

Originally Posted by Dene

The Australian release doesn't have the 40m interview with (now deceased) First A.D. Joe Napolitano, does it? Until now that's only been included in the OOP French Carlotta boxset.

I don't think it has the Craig Wasson interview either.

No, you're right. I meant that the Aussie one had the same extras as the TT release -- besides, as I said, the isolated score. I've seen the Wasson interview -- I think I might have the DVD tucked away in a shipping carton somewhere -- and as I remember it he didn't seem happy to even be there, let alone to have been in the film. My impression is that his career all-but disappeared shortly after that, anyway.

Speaking of the isolated score, I wonder if thie Powerhouse one includes Frankie Goes to Hollywood? I understand the TT one doesn't (for licensing issues, presumably).

[Tech-UK]

The TT and the French Carlotta releases are from the same 4K scan. The Carlotta release features the superior encode, but both look superb.

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go...=80761&i=9&l=0

Look at that grain structure in the Carlotta release. I hope Powerhouse got David M to do the compression for their release.

[indisposed]

Originally Posted by samdvd1

Okay, sorry to keep you waiting on this. Although it isn't mentioned within the interview (I used google fu), it is an archive one from 13/10/84 when he was interviewed by Bobbie Wygant. It's an interesting little interview where they talk about the film in general, and how intense De Palma comes across. Wasson certainly isn't negative towards the feature in this interview (it focuses more on De Palma as a person than anything).

Interesting. It does make me wonder why no one has tracked him down in recent years, though... Maybe he's fed up of being associated with Bill Maher.

[indisposed]

Originally Posted by Tech-UK

The TT and the French Carlotta releases are from the same 4K scan. The Carlotta release features the superior encode, but both look superb.

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go...=80761&i=9&l=0

Look at that grain structure in the Carlotta release. I hope Powerhouse got David M to do the compression for their release.

I concur that the Carlotta looks a lot nicer. The Twilight Time has some ugly compression that is only really noticeable in motion on a larger screen ; the first time I watched it was on a 42in screen in 720p and it didn't pick up the compression issues. Hopefully, the Powerhouse goes the way of the Carlotta, though it has more on the disc, so that might make the difference (the single Carlotta disc had little extras).

[StingingVelvet]

Twilight Time have compression issues relatively often I have realized, which is especially annoying since they charge $30 a pop.

[MJD64]

Dvdcompare.net just posted their highly favorable Body Double review.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by indisposed

Interesting. It does make me wonder why no one has tracked him down in recent years, though... Maybe he's fed up of being associated with Bill Maher.

Craig Wasson was fine in Body Double, but I prefer him in Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death.

[indisposed]

I just found this...

http://barrenspace.com/112263/interviews/craig-wasson/

He looks a bit different nowdays... he's sporting a beard!

[indisposed]

And I don't know if I should post the link, but that Bobbie Wygant/Craig Wasson interview that's on the Powerhouse disc is pretty easy to find online. I just watched it.

[SolidStateSociety]

Originally Posted by MJD64

Dvdcompare.net just posted their highly favorable Body Double review.

An error in that review. They say it's 2.35:1.

[samdvd1]

Originally Posted by SolidStateSociety

An error in that review. They say it's 2.35:1.

My bad. I did write the correct ratio when I posted the specs here and in my notes I took as I watched the film. Was writing up two reviews at once and somehow wrote the incorrect ratio for both.

I've corrected it.

[StephenFS]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Craig Wasson was fine in Body Double, but I prefer him in Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death.

I've only ever seen Craig Wasson in Ghost Story. I didn't think he was all that fine to be honest, but hey I'm willing to give him a second chance with Body Double, which I've pre-ordered

[MJD64]

Originally Posted by StephenFS

I've only ever seen Craig Wasson in Ghost Story. I didn't think he was all that fine to be honest, but hey I'm willing to give him a second chance with Body Double, which I've pre-ordered

As his character in Body Double is too credulous for his own good and susceptible to romantic fantasy, Wasson is actually ideally cast. A lot of critics over the years have questioned De Palma's judgement in giving the lead to this sweet-faced actor with a touch of blandness about him, but in the film's terms he's perfect for the part.