Gesù di Nazareth 4K (Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth)

[steveinaustin]

I wondered what happened to this project? Is it still going to be released? I sure hope it is.

Also, I hope that the aspect ratio is 16:9 and not 4:3. The current Jesus of Nazareth Blu-Ray is in 4:3. See https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Jesus...lu-ray/133116/

I hope they go back to the original film negative and get the full widescreen picture. Similar to what 1995 TV miniseries Pride and Prejudice did. That was originally broadcast in 4:3. However, they went back to the original film negative and created a Blu-Ray in 16:9. They expanded the picture horizontally, instead of cropping off the top and bottom of the picture to create the 16:9 aspect ratio. See https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Pride...lu-ray/228293/

[oddbox83]

Not all film has a ton of room at the sides.

Given the era it was shot, I guess it was full aperture 4-perf 35mm and so I'd imagine a 16:9 version would feature a tiny sliver extra at the sides, and a lot chopped off the top and bottom. 4:3 is the proper ratio. Critics praised the cinematography and composition at the time, why ruin it with cropping?

Pride and Prejudice was shot Super16, a different format with wider aspect ratio exposed on the negative. It was a popular format for filmed UK TV shows in the 90s because of the flexibility during the switchover to widescreen.

[emw107]

Originally Posted by steveinaustin

I wondered what happened to this project? Is it still going to be released? I sure hope it is.

My wife and I finished watching Jesus of Nazareth on blu (Jesús de Nazareth (2011, Mexico)) last night in observance of Holy Week. While this bluray is much better than my Artisan DVD copy, I cannot wait to see the restoration. I keep checking FXLAB's facebook page in anticipation of seeing another update on the project. I hope that it is released for Lent 2025 - and that it's region-free. That's a lot to ask for - but one can wish.

[yetanotherone]

Originally Posted by steveinaustin

I wondered what happened to this project? Is it still going to be released? I sure hope it is.

It should be. They posted stills from the new VFX they did back in December.

https://www.facebook.com/Pierfilippo...mspJUdrgdnuyml

https://www.facebook.com/Pierfilippo...Tr5TrwxNQYmrRl

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception with an exclusive frame of Franco Zeffirelli's "Jesus of Nazareth" with Robert Powell that we restored and color corrected in almost a year of patient work to produce a 4K HDR edition.

In this frame, actress Olivia Hussey (Maria) listens to Archangel Gabriele's voice announcing her upcoming pregnancy. Originally, the supernatural presence was realized with a simple light hanging on a wire outside the window of Gianni Quaranta’s stage construction.

In the new version, besides the color, we improved the light beam and covered the bulb with an invisible digital effect but more magical and elaborate.

Another little preview taken from the 4K HDR edition of Franco Zeffirelli's "Jesus of Nazareth". Because the digital scans of the film with the scene of Joseph and Mary's arrival in the cave where the baby Jesus will be born were too ruined, due to the presence of the original optical effects with starry skies that already degrade the quality, it became necessary to recreate the night scenes from scratch. Here are six tests of masks made by our artist Pino Gengo and the original starting frame!

I don't think someone hired them for a year and had them do new VFX to throw away all that work.

[The Mole]

Originally Posted by steveinaustin

I wondered what happened to this project? Is it still going to be released? I sure hope it is.

Also, I hope that the aspect ratio is 16:9 and not 4:3. The current Jesus of Nazareth Blu-Ray is in 4:3. See https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Jesus...lu-ray/133116/

I hope they go back to the original film negative and get the full widescreen picture. Similar to what 1995 TV miniseries Pride and Prejudice did. That was originally broadcast in 4:3. However, they went back to the original film negative and created a Blu-Ray in 16:9. They expanded the picture horizontally, instead of cropping off the top and bottom of the picture to create the 16:9 aspect ratio. See https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Pride...lu-ray/228293/

Jesus Christ, I hope they preserve the original 4:3 aspect ratio.

[benhoppel]

Heavy degraining?

[oddbox83]

Doesn't look all that promising, does it? New effects and DNR usually go hand in hand. What's wrong with just a good transfer of the original finished programme?

[Deciazulado]

Degraining is the new black
AI is the new white

[Don Corleone]

I have the Spanish blue ray version , ver 2.0. Is still worth picking up the artisan DVD version, does it have anything missing from the Spanish blu ray version

[steveinaustin]

Originally Posted by yetanotherone

It should be. They posted stills from the new VFX they did back in December.

https://www.facebook.com/Pierfilippo...mspJUdrgdnuyml

https://www.facebook.com/Pierfilippo...Tr5TrwxNQYmrRl





I don't think someone hired them for a year and had them do new VFX to throw away all that work.

Any updates on this project? It’s been almost a year now since we heard anything new about it.

[Akrocine]

Any news for this one ?

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by Don Corleone

I have the Spanish blue ray version , ver 2.0. Is still worth picking up the artisan DVD version, does it have anything missing from the Spanish blu ray version

Think the Spanish or Mexican BDs are as complete as it got on BD. Some odd stuff still missing from other versions though.

[ilenewoodsfan99]

I was just wondering what became of this. Hopefully it's not a mess.

[suddendeath]

hope this comes soon

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by drush9999

Think the Spanish or Mexican BDs are as complete as it got on BD. Some odd stuff still missing from other versions though.

Spain v2.0 and subsequent reissue, yes. The Mexican release was the shorter version.

[Harper66]

Originally Posted by Gojira-96x

Cult Media will release Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth in 4K UHD ( Dolby Vision )

They also said that they were working on a new Atmos mix for the Italian track.

Release : TBA


Attachment 293916

Official 4K blu-ray cover?

[hagios]

I would like to get the 4K of one of my fav films!

[rebbirds]

For those interested, here you find some information about the miniseries history, according to the site only the Spanish and the Australian blurays include the complete uncut 382 minute version (four episodes)

https://jcofnazareth.wixsite.com/jes...h/about1-c18px

[sicoe]

Oh, wow. How did I miss this? This is amazing news! I only have the German Blu-ray, and I wanted to buy the American edition as well, but I wanted to hold on in the hopes that a 4K version would come out.


Is the release date still unknown?

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by rebbirds

For those interested, here you find some information about the miniseries history, according to the site only the Spanish and the Australian blurays include the complete uncut 382 minute version (four episodes)

https://jcofnazareth.wixsite.com/jes...h/about1-c18px

Even the longest version is missing snippets found in the Theatrical film version.