Meet Joe Black (1998)

[mistertoms]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

The length is a non-issue since The Godfather flicks were just as long(or longer in the case of Part II) and looked and sounded great. Plus I have Meet Joe Black on Blu-ray from the UK and I can vouch for it being a solid disc. The extras(assuming the US release includes them) are also no problem since there were so few to begin with and they're in SD anyway. The real question is will Universal include Death Takes a Holiday. I'd like to unload my Ultimate Edition DVD, so I hope it's ported over.

Hi, I currently own a copy of the european version of Meet Joe Black and from the reviews I've read, its supposed to include an SD version of the making of meet joe black as part of the supplements which I can't find anywhere. Can anyone confirm that this extra can indeed be found in the european version and if possible can you tell me specifically how I can find it and where?

Thanks, and is it true that the american new blu ray release of this film is of better quality?

[Eny-]

I wish Universal could re-release this with a new transfer.

Don't want to wait 3 more years for the 20th anniversary edition

[Donnie_Darko]

What's the best transfer between the UK and the US edition? The film really needs a new master from the original negative. Maybe it'll get one next year for the 20th Anniversary Edition!

[Drooch]

It’s about time this film was recognised as the modern classic it is. Criterion or Arrow need to get on it and replace the current halo-fest with a proper transfer.

Finally, Martin Brest needs to come back and save cinema. This and Scent Of A Woman are perfectly crafted films, the likes of which we never see anymore.

[filmbuffTX]

Meet Joe Black is one of my favorite films. It’s such a classy production and all around magical movie. I consider it one of the best roles for both Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins.

[Filmmaker]

A criminally underrated film that truly loves, and isn’t afraid to spend time marinating in the lives of, its characters.

[danny24]

Originally Posted by Drooch

It’s about time this film was recognised as the modern classic it is. Criterion or Arrow need to get on it and replace the current halo-fest with a proper transfer.

Finally, Martin Brest needs to come back and save cinema. This and Scent Of A Woman are perfectly crafted films, the likes of which we never see anymore.

Screw Criterion and Arrow why doesn't Universal just release a UHD of it.

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

A criminally underrated film that truly loves, and isn’t afraid to spend time marinating in the lives of, its characters.

Definitely agree.

Originally Posted by filmbuffTX

Meet Joe Black is one of my favorite films. It’s such a classy production and all around magical movie. I consider it one of the best roles for both Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins.

I agree but Pitt was so good in this film with that 60's Robert Redford look going on. I also loved Claire Forlani in it she was great. No doubt Hopkins role was excellent. I have the Blu-ray and old DVD in deluxe packaging but I would love a UHD from Universal of it. The BD is alright but looks to much like the HD-DVD so definitely needs an upgrade.

[anonymous_024]

Originally Posted by Drooch

It’s about time this film was recognised as the modern classic it is. Criterion or Arrow need to get on it and replace the current halo-fest with a proper transfer.

Finally, Martin Brest needs to come back and save cinema. This and Scent Of A Woman are perfectly crafted films, the likes of which we never see anymore.

Thank you!! Yes, I agree that both Scent of a Woman and Meet Joe Black deserve Criterion releases. I wouldn't mind giving up potential Universal UHD releases for both films, unless Criterion finally adopts the format.

Brest is not really that bad as a director, so long as everyone just forgets about that whole Gigli business. He has a certain flair for making epics (of sorts) out of smaller, intimate dramas.

[sfmarine]

Another fan of this film. Super underrated and would love a UHD release.

[danny24]

Originally Posted by anonymous_024

Thank you!! Yes, I agree that both Scent of a Woman and Meet Joe Black deserve Criterion releases. I wouldn't mind giving up potential Universal UHD releases for both films, unless Criterion finally adopts the format.

Brest is not really that bad as a director, so long as everyone just forgets about that whole Gigli business. He has a certain flair for making epics (of sorts) out of smaller, intimate dramas.

Is he retired? he hasn't made a movie since Gigli which is a good bad movie imo. Lots of great classic films before Gigli, like Midnight Run, Scent Of A Woman, Beverly Hills Cop and of course the movie were talking about in this thread MJB.

Just looked up on wikipedia what happened with Gigli:
"Most recently, Brest wrote and directed Gigli (2003), starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. During filming, production company Revolution Studios took creative control from him, resulting in a radically revised and re-shot version of the original film being released. It became one of the most notorious films of its time, with a scathing critical reception (several critics called it one of the worst movies of all time) and disastrous box office performance. He has not directed another film since Gigli."

Guessing that must have really left a bad taste in his mouth to go this long without directing another film. I would love to see a Director's Cut of Gigli the way he intended before Revolution Studios ruined his vision.

[Drooch]

Originally Posted by anonymous_024

Thank you!! Yes, I agree that both Scent of a Woman and Meet Joe Black deserve Criterion releases. I wouldn't mind giving up potential Universal UHD releases for both films, unless Criterion finally adopts the format.

Brest is not really that bad as a director, so long as everyone just forgets about that whole Gigli business. He has a certain flair for making epics (of sorts) out of smaller, intimate dramas.

Brest is a genius. I love directors who step out of the way and let the actors fly with a great script, like Rob Reiner. It's a travesty that Brest doesn't make any more films. I think he got burned by the studios - firstly he had to fight like crazy to keep MJB 3 hours long, then he made Gigli which was taken from him, recut, and became a legendary critical and commercial flop.

I guess it just wasn't worth all the effort any more, and audiences are much worse off for it.

[Drooch]

Originally Posted by danny24

Screw Criterion and Arrow why doesn't Universal just release a UHD of it.

Sod UHD, there aren't any 4K TV's that can match plasma for quality, and UHD does not guarantee a proper transfer - for that you need a reliable studio like Arrow. Universal cannot be trusted to deliver.

[anonymous_024]

Originally Posted by danny24

Is he retired? he hasn't made a movie since Gigli which is a good bad movie imo. Lots of great classic films before Gigli, like Midnight Run, Scent Of A Woman, Beverly Hills Cop and of course the movie were talking about in this thread MJB.

Just looked up on wikipedia what happened with Gigli:
"Most recently, Brest wrote and directed Gigli (2003), starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. During filming, production company Revolution Studios took creative control from him, resulting in a radically revised and re-shot version of the original film being released. It became one of the most notorious films of its time, with a scathing critical reception (several critics called it one of the worst movies of all time) and disastrous box office performance. He has not directed another film since Gigli."

Guessing that must have really left a bad taste in his mouth to go this long without directing another film. I would love to see a Director's Cut of Gigli the way he intended before Revolution Studios ruined his vision.

Yes, unfortunately he’s pretty much retired after Gigli. But it would be really interesting if he comes up with his own cut of the film, so many years after its infamous release. It would also be great if Brest can deliver a new film of his own that is somewhere along the lines of Scent and MJB.

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by Drooch

Sod UHD, there aren't any 4K TV's that can match plasma for quality, and UHD does not guarantee a proper transfer - for that you need a reliable studio like Arrow. Universal cannot be trusted to deliver.

[Drooch]

OK it’s time we got a UHD of this, the sumptuous photography demands a suitably classy presentation.

‘Oh you’re the big shot Joe, you’re the biggest shot of all’

[Pumbo]

I give this a 50/50 chance of making it onto UHD. Hopkins and Pitt are still mega-stars and it has quite a loyal following. If Universal don’t botch the transfer (hello Jurassic Park) this could be a top tier demo disc for how UHD can bring out film.

Far more random films have already made it to the format, maybe we’ll see MJB UHD in a year or two…

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by Pumbo

I give this a 50/50 chance of making it onto UHD. Hopkins and Pitt are still mega-stars and it has quite a loyal following. If Universal don’t botch the transfer (hello Jurassic Park) this could be a top tier demo disc for how UHD can bring out film.

Far more random films have already made it to the format, maybe we’ll see MJB UHD in a year or two…

I absolutely love MEET JOE BLACK but where, pray tell, is this alleged loyal following? I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered another soul in the flesh who likes it.

[Pumbo]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

I absolutely love MEET JOE BLACK but where, pray tell, is this alleged loyal following? I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered another soul in the flesh who likes it.

It’s got an audience score of 81% on RT. Critics dismissed it but people love it, there was quite a fan club on the old IMDb boards (which have been preserved on other sites now) where it also has a respectable 7.2 rating, and if you search for the film on Reddit and YouTube lots of people praise it in the comments.

I saw it in the cinema and knew I was watching a classic. Perhaps critics objected to the sympathetic portrayal of rich people I’m glad it’s now getting the recognition it deserves.

[SGFfilmfan]

Anthony Hopkins' speech at the end is brilliant in its delivery and simplicity.

[Aunt Peg]

I was a big fan of the original film Death Takes a Holiday and this really took me my surprise because I went in thinking I wouldn't like it but loved it.

Thomas Newman's music is also on of the very best scores of the 1990s.