Snowden (2016)

[javi92]

For those who've seen both this and Citizenfour, is this worth checking out?

[agoofykindasuperman]

Originally Posted by javi92

For those who've seen both this and Citizenfour, is this worth checking out?

IMO, yes. I enjoyed Snowden a lot, and gives you more to the surrounding story, rather than just him in a hotel room.

[FilmBufffff]

No slipcovers at either BB near me while Target did.

[supaet]

so the commentary is itunes digital exclusive now? always thought the physical will have the most extras, now there is no reason to buy the blu-ray when you can buy the digital code that provides more for less $

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by javi92

For those who've seen both this and Citizenfour, is this worth checking out?

Wondering the same. Don't see how CitizenFour can possibly be improved upon.

[javi92]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

Wondering the same. Don't see how CitizenFour can possibly be improved upon.

My thoughts exactly. Probably will pick this up - just not immediately.

[MovieBuffBeth]

What is the deal with slipcovers for this release? I ordered from Amazon and didn't get one. Usually Universal is really good with slips.

[balthazar_bee]

I think this is easily Stone's best in years. I'm quite fond of W. (I could watch Scott Glenn's Rumsfeld eat pecan pie and spout nonsense all day) and have a near masochistic fixation on Alexander (yes, I bought all four versions) but I think you'd have to go all the way back to Any Given Sunday for something comparable.

While it's true that Citizenfour covers many of the same points, it's nice to see Stone go back to making breathless, busy entertainment without breaking the test tube. Something like The Savages should have been slam dunk, not to mention Money Never Sleeps, but they felt like he was treading water a bit. They weren't tough enough, maybe.

Anyway, I really liked it.

[cynatnite]

Originally Posted by FilmBufffff

A true return to form for Oliver Stone in my opinion. This was the only movie this year besides Hacksaw Ridge to move me to tears at the end. It's just a very well-done and respectful take on a man who's still going through it. It's probably one of the most realistic and un-flashy biopics I've ever seen. It really makes you question the difference between a traitor and a patriot and how we've lost our privacy rights and are perfectly okay with it. Definitely in my top ten films of 2016.

Also love this song that plays at the end, Peter Gabriel the man! Peter Gabriel - The Veil (Official video) - YouTube

I've been debating on whether or not to buy this one. I have strong feelings about the real-life Snowden and what he did despite his stated reasons. Stone is an amazing filmmaker and I want to watch this objectively without my biased perceptions. Not sure if I can, although, it's possible I can be swayed, too.

Usually, I wait until Oscar nominations are out before deciding on some movies. Although the Academy hasn't been at their best at nominations for a while now.

[IXOYE1989]

Originally Posted by bookcase

The listing of this in iTunes says it includes an exclusive director's commentary.

I checked it on iTunes and it indeed does come with a director's commentary. I can't find anywhere that states it being an "exclusive" but does state "Feature Commentary with Director Oliver Stone" if I click on iTunes extra. Has anyone played around with the blu-ray menu to see if there is a way to possibly turn the feature commentary on? Otherwise it's disappointing that studios are putting more features on digital than on the physical media itself.

[wormraper]

A very good return to form for Oliver Stone. I was hesitant due to his last few mediocre films, but this was very solid (despite his massive lionization of Snowden... I swear the guy had a halo on his head and was on Jesus level almost)

[MagellanvsHimself]

Yet another release that I'm hesitant to purchase because I do not want to double dip on a 4k release....I'm becoming convinced that this format is already on its way out!

[civiclx]

Dad picked this up at BB on Friday and his came with a slip. We watched it last night and both enjoyed it. I'm on the fence about Snowden. I can see both arguments. I would like to see Citizenfour. I get the impression from agoofykinda... that the C4 is just Edward in his hotel room. Is that true?
Have not watched the bonus features for Snowden yet but do look forward to doing so.

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by wormraper

(despite his massive lionization of Snowden... I swear the guy had a halo on his head and was on Jesus level almost)

Yeah, I really thought the film's only significant misstep was the decision to

[Show spoiler]end with the real Ed Snowden and the golden light and swelling music. I think Snowden's actions are genuinely heroic, but geez, we get it.

Originally Posted by MagellanvsHimself

I'm becoming convinced that this format is already on its way out!

Nah, don't sweat it. First of all, "already" doesn't really apply, since it's been around for over ten years -- that's ten years in which people have been enjoying blu-rays and amassing blu-ray collections. For this reason (and others) I think any fears that blu-ray is going to fold in the face of a new format are pretty overblown.

This has been hashed out in other threads, but the primary obstacles to any post-blu format (besides streaming, illegal or otherwise) are the often negligent improvement in PQ quality, and the reluctance to reinvest/repurchase an entire library of titles.

Blu-ray came along at a very special time, when many of us had shelves of DVDs we loved dearly, but could clearly see the advantages of the new format. And I think most people would argue that the PQ gulf between DVD and blu-ray is pretty freaking vast compared to blu-ray and <insert new format here>.

In other words, we were already collectors, and hey, here's this newer, awesomer format we can invest in before we're all watching holograms or streaming things directly to our brains. Now, this community of people was already relatively small, but the community-within-the-community that will make the move?

I can't see it. Hell, some of us (including moi) haven't even bothered going region-free yet, for various reasons.

[bookcase]

Originally Posted by MovieBuffBeth

What is the deal with slipcovers for this release? I ordered from Amazon and didn't get one. Usually Universal is really good with slips.

Just picked this up at Target for $10, no slip. I have yet to see a slip for this in the wild, as a matter of fact.

Originally Posted by IXOYE1989

I checked it on iTunes and it indeed does come with a director's commentary. I can't find anywhere that states it being an "exclusive" but does state "Feature Commentary with Director Oliver Stone" if I click on iTunes extra. Has anyone played around with the blu-ray menu to see if there is a way to possibly turn the feature commentary on? Otherwise it's disappointing that studios are putting more features on digital than on the physical media itself.

When I first reported this, it was an early digital deal and it did say "exclusive," probably as a way to entice potential buyers.

[SpaceMind]

$12.99 Now on Amazon.com

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by civiclx

Dad picked this up at BB on Friday and his came with a slip. We watched it last night and both enjoyed it. I'm on the fence about Snowden. I can see both arguments. I would like to see Citizenfour. I get the impression from agoofykinda... that the C4 is just Edward in his hotel room. Is that true?
Have not watched the bonus features for Snowden yet but do look forward to doing so.

CitizenFour is an incredible documentary that plays like a thriller. The filmmaker is there with Snowden in his hotel room getting the play-by-play as he decides to go public, and then what happens after. Incredibly interesting. I can't imagine that Stone's film could even come close to the intensity of the raw reality captured in the documentary.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

I'm so glad there is a thread for this. Snowden was the best film of 2016 for me. Its a shame that it practically went unnoticed in the theater and nothing for awards season. I also think this is Oliver Stone's best film since Natural Born Killers. I really want to check out CitizenFour as well. Edward Snowden is a hero. Something really needs to be done about our government.

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by MovieBuffBeth

What is the deal with slipcovers for this release? I ordered from Amazon and didn't get one. Usually Universal is really good with slips.

Originally Posted by bookcase

Just picked this up at Target for $10, no slip. I have yet to see a slip for this in the wild, as a matter of fact.

Slips are hit or miss on this, and from what I see around me, more miss. Best Buy has never had a slip in the store, nor has Wal-Mart or Meijer or any other place except Target. I nabbed one at Target since they were the only ones to have the whole package. Saw one copy left today (for $10) which still had a slip. Of course I grabbed mine 3 weeks ago and can only return or PM 2 weeks. Such is life.

EDIT: ended up having to run to WM today and now they have copies with slips. Last week, 3 copies, no slips. This week, 3 copies, 2 slips.

It does piss me off to learn the ****ing digital has a commentary and they couldn't bother to put it on the damn disc. Strike one Universal, 2 more and you can join Sony on my boycott for shitty practices list. I don't do digital but would certainly listen to the comm if I could. All Stone's commentaries have been worth the time to listen to so far.

[SpaceMind]

Not sure how I missed it but I had not heard about Citizenfour until participating in the thread. I just finished watching Citizenfour.

I wouldn't choose one over the other. Snowden and Citizenfour compliment each other. I recommend watching both.