Scanners (1981) , II & III

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by movielib

The Keep was based on a book I think is the best horror novel I have ever read. The movie is an absolute disaster, IMO. The author of the book, F Paul Wilson, was so upset with the film that he wrote Cuts, a short story where a writer got revenge on the director that had ruined his story. The director was unsubtly named Milo Ghirl.

If there is a director's cut we have never seen I'd like to see it although it's hard to see how there's any way it could be saved.

I thought the same about the book and then the movie when I first saw it. Second viewing changed my mind as I could see the merits of Mann's film, and viewed it as a seperate entity. Even a mighty film such as Blade Runner is vastly different to the source material. Also, my understanding was that Wilson has since relaxed his opinion on the film - after adapting his own work into graphic novel form, and realising just how difficult it can be, to heavily streamline a lengthy book.

Edit: Sometimes I wonder about author's opinions of adapted work. The classic one is King complaining about The Shining - after the disaster that was Maximum Overdrive, I think King lost the right to be snooty or critical of other people's films.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

The classic one is King complaining about The Shining - after the disaster that was Maximum Overdrive, I think King lost the right to be snooty or critical of other people's films.

I agreed with King's criticisms of The Shining, but yeah, he had his chance to 'do it right' and didn't. That's not to say I wouldn't buy a Maximum Overdrive BD, despite its absurdities.

[Dickieduvet]

Second Sight have now said All 3 Scanners releases will be region B locked.

Worth remembering the German remaster is region free and looks like a better transfer anyway at least judging by screens and by a poster in the OZ section who has seen the Australian version (same as the SS release).

I've got the German edition and it looks amazing, Not trying to shite on the Second Sight release by any means (Always support domestic releases!!) but there are a fair few US members who were looking forward to this one being region free as originally stated.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by Dickieduvet

Second Sight have now said All 3 Scanners releases will be region B locked.

Worth remembering the German remaster is region free and looks like a better transfer anyway at least judging by screens and by a poster in the OZ section who has seen the Australian version (same as the SS release).

I've got the German edition and it looks amazing, Not trying to shite on the Second Sight release by any means (Always support domestic releases!!) but there are a fair few US members who were looking forward to this one being region free as originally stated.

WTF?! Time to cancel that pre-order. Lame!

[jstxanothrxstory]

Originally Posted by Dickieduvet

Worth remembering the German remaster is region free and looks like a better transfer anyway at least judging by screens and by a poster in the OZ section who has seen the Australian version (same as the SS release).

And Scream Factory will be releasing the second and third later this year for Region A territories.

[Blu MacReady]

Am I the only one who really likes maximum overdrive?

[josuv22]

Originally Posted by benricci

WTF?! Time to cancel that pre-order. Lame!

yup their statement

"SCANNERS REGION CODE UPDATE. We regret to announce that the release of the three Scanners films will now be Region B and not Region Free. We sincerely apologise for this but unfortunately a contractual issue has arisen at the 11th hour which means we are no longer in a position to proceed with a Region Free release as originally intended. We are very sorry indeed for the inconvenience as we know people will have ordered already on this basis and may now need to cancel but unfortunately the coding is something we must now adhere to with this release, as on the majority of releases. Once again apologies, we're extremely disappointed to have to write this post."

the The Brood will also be locked they said.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by josuv22

the The Brood will also be locked they said.

Double lame. Well, the Brood's coming out in May in Region-A friendly Japan - so North American fans might want to take note. And Scanners has been pretty much confirmed for a Region-A release by Criterion in the States.

Would have been nice to grab that Steelbook, though...

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by benricci

And Scanners has been pretty much confirmed for a Region-A release by Criterion in the States.

I'm guessing they were the ones who insisted on Second Sight's region locking - I wonder if The Brood also being region-locked means that it will be receiving a Criterion release as well? Or perhaps Criterion is prepping a four-film 'early Cronenberg' box with Shivers and Rabid?

[benricci]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I'm guessing they were the ones who insisted on Second Sight's region locking - I wonder if The Brood also being region-locked means that it will be receiving a Criterion release as well? Or perhaps Criterion is prepping a four-film 'early Cronenberg' box with Shivers and Rabid?

One can only hope!

[Shawn Elestren]

Originally Posted by Blu MacReady

Am I the only one who really likes maximum overdrive?

I would say so.

[nagysaudio]

I'm 90% certain that Criterion cried like a bunch of losers and forced Second Sight to region lock Scanners and The Brood.

It's almost certain that some sort of a box set is coming from Criterion this year which will include They Came From Within, Rabid, The Brood, and Scanners. As per this picture posted by Criterion themselves:



I hate region locking. I hate crying. I hate these sorts of tactics. Not sure yet if I should now import out of principle...

[thewerepuppygrr]

Agreed, I'm not a huge fan of the way Criterion operate, and I wouldn't be surprised if they'd gone whining to Second Sight. Criterion region-lock everything, whether they 'have to' or not.

[BAKA]

I always assumed that of them. Scream Factory / Shout too. Despite their claims they lock everything due to being forced by the licensor, I find it hard to believe so many of the titles they've released which were previously released by other companies region free need to be locked now. Not to mention Arrow being forced out of nowhere to region lock future pressings of The Funhouse, when existing copies were region free, and then hey, look who announces The Funhouse.

The sad thing is neither company really needs to perpetuate region locking, as their output stands in such high regard.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by thewerepuppygrr

Agreed, I'm not a huge fan of the way Criterion operate, and I wouldn't be surprised if they'd gone whining to Second Sight. Criterion region-lock everything, whether they 'have to' or not.

Originally Posted by BAKA

The sad thing is neither company really needs to perpetuate region locking, as their output stands in such high regard.

I'm not a fan of region locking either. I understand it but hate it! It's not like Tesco's can start selling Criterion Blu-rays. It would be illegal to sell them as they don't have BBFC certificates on them, that's deterrent enough along with consumers having to import them and pay VAT on most releases. Locking their discs seems overkill!

I wouldn't mind as much if we had comparable releases but half the time we don't even get a release at all! I guess it could be worse (for people who have multi-region players) Criterion could put a restriction on exports or stop them completely!

Rant Over.

[movielib]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

I thought the same about the book and then the movie when I first saw it. Second viewing changed my mind as I could see the merits of Mann's film, and viewed it as a seperate entity. Even a mighty film such as Blade Runner is vastly different to the source material. Also, my understanding was that Wilson has since relaxed his opinion on the film - after adapting his own work into graphic novel form, and realising just how difficult it can be, to heavily streamline a lengthy book.

Edit: Sometimes I wonder about author's opinions of adapted work. The classic one is King complaining about The Shining - after the disaster that was Maximum Overdrive, I think King lost the right to be snooty or critical of other people's films.

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

I thought the same about the book and then the movie when I first saw it. Second viewing changed my mind as I could see the merits of Mann's film, and viewed it as a seperate entity. Even a mighty film such as Blade Runner is vastly different to the source material. Also, my understanding was that Wilson has since relaxed his opinion on the film - after adapting his own work into graphic novel form, and realising just how difficult it can be, to heavily streamline a lengthy book.

Edit: Sometimes I wonder about author's opinions of adapted work. The classic one is King complaining about The Shining - after the disaster that was Maximum Overdrive, I think King lost the right to be snooty or critical of other people's films.

I am a huge fan of Wilson's, including his Repairman Jack series and his Adversary series (which begins with The Keep). The two series eventually merge. While Wilson has sold decently he has never made the big time and his great accomplishments are seemingly one of the best kept secrets of modern fiction. I also love his early LaNague Federation libertarian science fiction books (Healer, Wheels Within Wheels and An Enemy of the State). His weakest work is his medical thrillers (some co-written) but even they are not bad.

As such, maybe Wilson can somewhat forgive Mann but I can't. But then, I've never written a novel, much less a novel that was made into a movie.

Incidentally, I was in a Michael Mann film. I was an extra in Public Enemies. I'm the Senator to the right (as you are facing the screen) of the Chair of the committee grilling J Edgar Hoover. I resisted the urge to tell him what I thought of The Keep.

[tru blu]

Getting the Steelbook. Meanwhile the U.K are killing it with their steelbook releases

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by movielib

As such, maybe Wilson can somewhat forgive Mann but I can't. But then, I've never written a novel, much less a novel that was made into a movie.

No love for the moment where the two nazi soldiers run towards the glowing "cross", whilst Tangerine Dream plays? It's a wonderful sequence.

[derek_1999]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

No love for the moment where the two nazi soldiers run towards the glowing "cross", whilst Tangerine Dream plays? It's a wonderful sequence.

Nickel. Yes, nickel... but, not this one!

Silver!

The Keep Nazi Stealing cross scene - YouTube

I know some hate the movie - but I love it

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by nagysaudio

As per this picture posted by Criterion themselves:

I'm not sure Criterion posting an old Cronenberg photo counts as any confirmation of anything. They post all kinds of photos.