Grindhouse Releasing Thread

[exolstice]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

But I don't subscribe to that weird nostalgia for bad VHS resolution or scratches just for the "ambience" of it.

I don't either, for the most part, but I don't think Cannibal Holocaust, a "found footage" film from the 70's would benefit from a pristine, crystal-clear HD print. In fact, I'm pretty sure that will take a lot of the edge off. Aside from the filmmakers, most people have only seen a crappy looking version, and I would argue that that is the definitive version. Every movie doesn't need to be on Blu-ray.

[redrunner97]

Even HD wouldn't be as clean and "crystal clear" as the original 35mm Print it was filmed on looked when it first debuted.

I think every film benefits from being presented in the best way possible.

[Z0MBI3]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

even hd wouldn't be as clean and "crystal clear" as the original 35mm print it was filmed on looked when it first debuted.

I think every film benefits from being presented in the best way possible.

+1

[Kentai]

Originally Posted by exolstice

I don't either, for the most part, but I don't think Cannibal Holocaust, a "found footage" film from the 70's would benefit from a pristine, crystal-clear HD print. In fact, I'm pretty sure that will take a lot of the edge off.

I think you might be over thinking this one.

The 16mm "Found Footage" segments have always, and will always, look like thoroughly thrashed-up crap. Short of some heavy-handed digital tinkering nobody wants to see happen, the "main" part of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST should look beautiful in its own right, while the found-footage documentary footage would look just as ugly as it always has.

If Deodato didn't want the bulk of the film to look "good" he wouldn't have shot it on 35mm to begin with.

[BrianS]

Originally Posted by exolstice

Isn't the grungy look part of the appeal of grindhouse films? Why would you want a pristine high-definition version of Cannibal Holocaust? These films are best experienced on worn VHS tapes or battered film prints. Every film does not need to be on Blu-ray.

Cannibal Holocaust needs to be on blu-ray because it's an awesome film and should be treated with respect.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by exolstice

I don't either, for the most part, but I don't think Cannibal Holocaust, a "found footage" film from the 70's would benefit from a pristine, crystal-clear HD print. In fact, I'm pretty sure that will take a lot of the edge off. Aside from the filmmakers, most people have only seen a crappy looking version, and I would argue that that is the definitive version. Every movie doesn't need to be on Blu-ray.

Sounds like you haven't seen it in a while? The 'found footage' segments did always look rough, even in the fresh 35mm print I mentioned I watched a couple of years ago. They were shot that way. The 'present day' narrative, however, looked beautiful, as it should, because it functions as a counterpoint to the found footage, enhancing the documentary feel of the latter. It's a very simple and very effective aesthetic strategy.

[DarknessBDJM]

I actually think it'd be cool to see a second feature on disks like TCM, Last House on the Left, and Cannibal Holocaust, a scan of a grungy unrestored print to give you the option of seeing that "version" of the film or a pristine scan of the negative or interpositive or what have you.

[mcfddj74]

Originally Posted by DarknessBDJM

I actually think it'd be cool to see a second feature on disks like TCM, Last House on the Left, and Cannibal Holocaust, a scan of a grungy unrestored print to give you the option of seeing that "version" of the film or a pristine scan of the negative or interpositive or what have you.

And make sure the print is missing a few frames here and there, especially at the reel changeover, like the projectionist started the next reel a few seconds too early. I really miss 35mm film prints......The best ones are older prints that have been run to death. I saw evil dead 1&2 at a drive in I worked at a few years ago for a halloween show and they were both original prints. Evil dead was really worn and it looked awesome !!!! Scratches and jump cuts galore....I miss that place so much.

[fuzzymctiger]

Originally Posted by mcfddj74

And make sure the print is missing a few frames here and there, especially at the reel changeover, like the projectionist started the next reel a few seconds too early. I really miss 35mm film prints......The best ones are older prints that have been run to death. I saw evil dead 1&2 at a drive in I worked at a few years ago for a halloween show and they were both original prints. Evil dead was really worn and it looked awesome !!!! Scratches and jump cuts galore....I miss that place so much.

I'm not sure if it would be expensive or not, but if I ever got into releasing these sorts of movies, what would be a better extra than an as is scan of a 35mm theatrical print to accompany the regular version?

And if you've been licensed a shitty HD scan, you can offer you're damaged, but better detailed one as an alternative, so it's win win

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by mcfddj74

And make sure the print is missing a few frames here and there, especially at the reel changeover, like the projectionist started the next reel a few seconds too early. I really miss 35mm film prints......The best ones are older prints that have been run to death. I saw evil dead 1&2 at a drive in I worked at a few years ago for a halloween show and they were both original prints. Evil dead was really worn and it looked awesome !!!! Scratches and jump cuts galore....I miss that place so much.

35mm is the best!

I feel quite lucky. Not only does our national film museum show classic exploitation/ sexploitation/ horror at least once a month, like a Bava double-feature or some Carpenter movies, but we also have a small theater that started a dedicated 35mm horror/ exploitation festival this year. They have been showing genuine prints of movies like Pieces, Re-animator, Invasion of the Blood Farmers etc. etc. - even some of the last surviving prints of the SS Ilsa movies.

[dsman71]

Id rather have Cannibal Ferox which I hope is soon

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

35mm is the best!

I feel quite lucky. Not only does our national film museum show classic exploitation/ sexploitation/ horror at least once a month, like a Bava double-feature or some Carpenter movies, but we also have a small theater that started a dedicated 35mm horror/ exploitation festival this year. They have been showing genuine prints of movies like Pieces, Re-animator, Invasion of the Blood Farmers etc. etc. - even some of the last surviving prints of the SS Ilsa movies.

Me am jelly. The main theater here that plays cult flicks recently got renovated, and for whatever reason they scrapped the 35mm projector. No more prints, no more reason for me to step foot in there ever again. That was certainly the appeal of going out to a midnight movie: seeing a print, and hopefully an old scratchy one at that.

But yeah, on Blu-ray, films should be scanned from the negative wherever possible and touched up to look its best while remaining true to the film's original look. Cannibal Holocaust is a well-shot movie and I'd hate to see it get poor treatment on Blu-ray. It should be preserved like any film regarded as a classic.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by Kriztoffer Swank

Me am jelly. The main theater here that plays cult flicks recently got renovated, and for whatever reason they scrapped the 35mm projector. No more prints, no more reason for me to step foot in there ever again. That was certainly the appeal of going out to a midnight movie: seeing a print, and hopefully an old scratchy one at that.

Scrapping the 35mm projector? That sounds terrible.

The little cult cinema, I wrote about, has also shifted focus to digital projection, in some instances even going so far as just showing a DVD (I am looking at you, Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Nights!). So I don't really go there unless I am absolutely certain they have a real print.

Luckily, a couple of the people behind the theater are big fans of celluloid, too, and collect prints themselves. One of them is Jack Stevenson, an American expat who has written numerous articles and a couple of books on cult cinema. He will often do special shows with 16mm, 35mm movies, advertisements, old public service films etc. E.g. he might show a double-feature of drugs-related movies and then show an old US army film about the dangers of using LSD when you have duty the next day, as a filler in-between.

I am really looking forward to see what they do for Halloween this year. Last year, Jack showed his print of The House on Haunted Hill and had rigged up the original William Castle gimmick with a skeleton that came flying in above our heads on a string at the appropriate moment in the movie.

[Member-222782]

Did anyone order American Hippie In Israel from Diabolik and gotten a shipping confirmation? I thought it was supposed to be released on the 10th (tomorrow)?

[zafisher94]

All I want to know is when is Cannibal Holocaust, Cannibal Ferox, and The Beyond coming out on blu-ray, and I will be perfectly content.

[sethdlh]

I just put up my review for HIPPIE, it is an odd journey and I loved every second of it.

http://celluloidterror.blogspot.com/...l-blu-ray.html

[Z0MBI3]

Originally Posted by sethdlh

I just put up my review for HIPPIE, it is an odd journey and I loved every second of it.

http://celluloidterror.blogspot.com/...l-blu-ray.html

Nice review. Thanks for posting! Looking forward to this one.

[wicky_J]

Originally Posted by cine74

Did anyone order American Hippie In Israel from Diabolik and gotten a shipping confirmation? I thought it was supposed to be released on the 10th (tomorrow)?

No. They don't usually ship until release date or until they have the product in-hand which sometimes is after release date.

[sethdlh]

Originally Posted by Z0MBI3

Nice review. Thanks for posting! Looking forward to this one.

Thanks for checking out the review!

[nymets138]

Just an FYI, Family Video has Corruption available for pre-order at $16.99. Amazon has been stuck at $26.96 for the past two months...doubt they will drop the price much more, if at all.