Snowpiercer (Lionsgate)

[LMFAObros]

The parasite effect has likely led to the UK finally getting a release of this. The host is finally getting an Australian release too

[johnlennon696]

It's been on TV over here (Film 4) before it's even got a BD release.

[Razorhead]

Great it's finally getting a physical release, but can't help feel slightly disappointed it's not getting a more deluxe treatment. Clearly been too spoiled by the boutique labels!
Hopefully it develops more of a cult following with people re-examining Joon-Ho's previous films.

[Mr X]

It's nice we're getting most of the bonus content, but what I really want to know is the tech specs. What I'm hoping for and what I expect here are drastically different things.

I hope we'll get:

correctly-framed 1.85:1 with good picture quality and a reasonable bitrate (at least as good as the French BD)
+
7.1 24-bit DTS-HD Master Audio mix like the original South Korean BD

... but I expect:

either cropped 1.78:1 like in the US or pants bitrate since it's 1 disc with bonus content, potentially with an iffy visual presentation since some of them seem to be a tad dodgy around the world
+
5.1 (most likely 16-bit) DTS-HD MA, again because it's only 1 disc with bonus content

Fingers crossed, though. At least it's finally getting a release for the English market in Europe, presumably with the appropriate selective Korean-to-English subtitle track (the one on the US BD isn't great but it does the job and is the only one going around AFAIK).

[Sky_Captain]

Lionsgate put effort in?

lol

[CrockettandTubbs]

Disc details (from dvdcompare.net - UK disc is at the bottom of page):

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparison....php?fid=28519

Subtitles: English HoH
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Picture Format: 1080p 24fps AVC MPEG-4
Soundtracks: English / Korean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1


Extras-wise, it looks like there's two featurettes which have been shortened (hopefully a mistake...) -

'Snowpiercer: The Birth of Snowpiercer' 2013 featurette (4:19), instead of 15 minutes; and -

'Characters' 2013 featurette (5:05), instead of 13 minutes.

And there's no extended animated prologue of over 4 minutes, just a minute long one.

Plus no commentary. The Australian disc has the critics' commentary and the 'Snowpiercer Austin Q&A' - 2013 featurette (8:08).

[jimidini]

I already own the steelbook from Germany, the Limited Collector's Edition including steelbook from South Korea, the 2 or 3 or whatever Limited Editions from France plus even the original French comic or whatever it is called.

If this has nothing additionally to offer, I won't bite, still I'm happy that it's finally released over here.

I love this movie, very highly recommended.

[johnlennon696]

Originally Posted by jimidini

I already own the steelbook from Germany, the Limited Collector's Edition including steelbook from South Korea, the 2 or 3 or whatever Limited Editions from France.

If this has nothing additionally to offer, I won't bite, still I'm happy that it's finally released over here.

5 releases?

[Paul237]

Might consider this. It's a great film.

I noticed it's streaming on Prime Video, too.

[88mph]

I watched this on Amazon Prime the other day. It had some pretty bad black crushing, particularly early on in the scenes in the tail end.

Is this how the movie has always looked?

[Mr X]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

Disc details (from dvdcompare.net - UK disc is at the bottom of page):

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparison....php?fid=28519

Subtitles: English HoH
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Picture Format: 1080p 24fps AVC MPEG-4
Soundtracks: English / Korean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1


Extras-wise, it looks like there's two featurettes which have been shortened (hopefully a mistake...) -

'Snowpiercer: The Birth of Snowpiercer' 2013 featurette (4:19), instead of 15 minutes; and -

'Characters' 2013 featurette (5:05), instead of 13 minutes.

And there's no extended animated prologue of over 4 minutes, just a minute long one.

Plus no commentary. The Australian disc has the critics' commentary and the 'Snowpiercer Austin Q&A' - 2013 featurette (8:08).

So, essentially, it's currently looking like a further botched version of the Australian BD, which was itself a further botched version of the 2-disc US BD (compressing the audio and video more to fit on one disc without fixing any of the issues), which was itself botched by cutting the sides off to frame at 1.78:1 and only using 5.1 rather than 7.1 audio (despite the Korean BD having both 1.85:1 framing and 7.1 audio).

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

If these specs are right, then it looks like they cut the US commentary (which had been kept for the Australian release) possibly to free up a little bit of space for the 24-bit 5.1 as opposed to the 16-bit the other releases (e.g. Australian, French, German) got. Alternatively, that might be incidental, and the real reason is either to do with sync (e.g. different logos at the start of the film this time around) or something else entirely. And I don't think it's a mistake that some of the bonus content is cut, because the BBFC shows the shorter runtimes.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by Mr X

If these specs are right, then it looks like they cut the US commentary (which had been kept for the Australian release) possibly to free up a little bit of space for the 24-bit 5.1 as opposed to the 16-bit the other releases (e.g. Australian, French, German) got. Alternatively, that might be incidental, and the real reason is either to do with sync (e.g. different logos at the start of the film this time around) or something else entirely. And I don't think it's a mistake that some of the bonus content is cut, because the BBFC shows the shorter runtimes.

Maybe it’s down to licensing, or maybe Lionsgate (or Lantern/TWC) thinks we’ll be alienated by American critics talking about the film. I’d say this has no credence except that the Icon release of It Follows (another RADiUS-TWC release) dropped the American critics commentary to include a localised one with British ones.

[Foggy]

Looks like the listing has been taken off Amazon.

[Mr X]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Maybe it’s down to licensing, or maybe Lionsgate (or Lantern/TWC) thinks we’ll be alienated by American critics talking about the film. I’d say this has no credence except that the Icon release of It Follows (another RADiUS-TWC release) dropped the American critics commentary to include a localised one with British ones.

That had occurred to me as well, yes. To be fair, it is a slightly irritating commentary, unless you're already a fan of the speakers, I reckon. Still, for completeness, it's worth having.

[jimidini]

Originally Posted by johnlennon696

5 releases?

I just checked.
I think I own 4.

Wanted to get the Italian steelbook as well, but I missed it.

[laz305]

Can someone get me this and ship to the U.S please????? In trade or can send cash just lmk