Road Games

[shaysaysHAHA]

Originally Posted by immaterial

I preordered what I assumed was Umbrella's release of Road Games from Amazon.ca, but now see that there's another film with the same title coming out at about the same time -- and, naturally, the Amazon page makes it completely impossible to know what you're getting. Can anyone shed any light on this: https://www.amazon.ca/Road-Games-Blu-ray-Import/dp/B01ENB213U/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1462701715&sr=1-1&keywords=road+games

It's a Scream Factory Blu-ray of an IFC film.

[simonsherry]

From the Umbrella Facebook page - a little update.

https://www.facebook.com/UmbrellaEnt...type=3&theater

[fontcow]

Wow, this is a surprise. So much so I already pre-ordered it!

I saw this many times in the late 80s and early 90s on pay TV but it's probably been over 25 years! I've been looking for it for a while and my DVR recorded it recently on the El Rey Network but, alas, it was in 4:3 SD. Maybe the film won't hold up after all these years but I was always intrigued by it with its Hitchcockian flourishes directed by Richard Franklin before Psycho II.

I am slightly concerned that Umbrella Entertainment's site lists the aspect ratio as 16:9 when it was originally 2.35:1, but I can't imagine doing a 4k scan and then cropping it. (I'm assuming the still below is from the DVD released back in 2003.)

[simonsherry]

Hi all

A little preview over on the Umbrella Ent FB page to give you a taste of the 4k compared to the DVD release.

Click Here

And a few quick screengrabs:







Cheers
Si

[Caustic]

Here's a question for fans of this (and one I've often debated during pub visits): does Road Games qualify as a Giallo?

[AlexIlDottore]

Originally Posted by Caustic

Here's a question for fans of this (and one I've often debated during pub visits): does Road Games qualify as a Giallo?

No.

[shaysaysHAHA]

Originally Posted by Caustic

Here's a question for fans of this (and one I've often debated during pub visits): does Road Games qualify as a Giallo?

No, not really. It's got elements of giallos, though.

[Show spoiler]Especially that murder towards the beginning.

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by Caustic

Here's a question for fans of this (and one I've often debated during pub visits): does Road Games qualify as a Giallo?

No, it's actually watchable.

[shaysaysHAHA]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

No, it's actually watchable.

I'n assuming you haven't seen Dario Argento's filmography... Suspiria, Inferno, Bird With the Crystal Plumage, Opera, etc. are all incredible giallos.

[travisbickle]

What's the release date for this? Blu-ray.com says July, but Umbrella's site says June.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by travisbickle

What's the release date for this? Blu-ray.com says July, but Umbrella's site says June.

Australia uses a DD/MM/YYYY date format (not MM/DD/YYYY like the USA), so the 06/07/2016 release date on Umbrella's website should be read as 6th of July, 2016.

[travisbickle]

Originally Posted by zbinks

Australia uses a DD/MM/YYYY date format (not MM/DD/YYYY like the USA), so the 06/07/2016 release date on Umbrella's website should be read as 6th of July, 2016.

Kooky.... Thanks!

[donthitpause]

Originally Posted by travisbickle

Kooky.... Thanks!

Not as Kooky as Florida....

[travisbickle]

Originally Posted by donthitpause

Not as Kooky as Florida....

There's nowhere else I'd rather be...

[Markgway]

This has me nervous...

"Don't forget it now sounds superb in 5.1 Surround sound!
I personally repaired and enhanced the original mono soundtrack into glorious stereo and 5.1 surround!"

PLEASE include the original mono track as an option (even if it's lossy it's better than nothing).

[simonsherry]

Originally Posted by Markgway

This has me nervous...
PLEASE include the original mono track as an option (even if it's lossy it's better than nothing).

Because you asked nicely, mate, we will

Both the new 5.1 mix and original mono will be available on the Blu-Ray.

I'm also currently working on an image gallery that's accompanying an essay by Fangoria writer and film historian Lee Gambin. AND we've landed a swag of extra material that hasn't seen the light of day before now. Keep an eye on the Umbrella Entertainment FB page for more announcements.

Cheers
Si

[ThisKid]

Originally Posted by simonsherry

[Show spoiler]Hi all

A little preview over on the Umbrella Ent FB page to give you a taste of the 4k compared to the DVD release.

Click Here

And a few quick screengrabs:







Cheers
Si

First of all, I just want to say THANK YOU Umbrella for showing that Aussie blu-rays can be as good, if not better than our international counterparts. It's amazing to see what a local distributor can do with a small business down here.
Second of all, can you please give us, or at least tell us how you restored the film? As in what film source you used, what troubles there were in the restoration etc.

[simonsherry]

Originally Posted by ThisKid

First of all, I just want to say THANK YOU Umbrella for showing that Aussie blu-rays can be as good, if not better than our international counterparts. It's amazing to see what a local distributor can do with a small business down here.
Second of all, can you please give us, or at least tell us how you restored the film? As in what film source you used, what troubles there were in the restoration etc.

Hey there

We're really glad that you guys are getting excited for this one. Aus cinema, and particularly the classic Ozploitation period are close to our hearts here, and we're as excited as you are that we're in the position to be able to produce what we hope will be the definitive release of this landmark Aus thriller!

As for details regarding the restoration process, we've put together a feature with Vincent Monton, the DOP on the film and ROAR digital, the Melbourne-based firm that we've partnered with on the 4k restoration that will be on the disk (the split screen preview I posted previously is taken from that), and it'll shine some light on the process employed. We're hoping to get a bit more info out there about the work that's been put into it (where it's been sourced, the work involved, tech used, etc) in the lead up to the launch as well, so keep your eyes here and on the Umbrella Ent FB page for more there.

We've also had a bit of luck involving some additional material that I think you'll really dig - some new stuff and some things that have been discovered and probably haven't seen the light of day since the original release (the lecture with Franklin et al is a real find), and the essay that Lee Gambin has written is a great overview and exploration of the film and it's connections to Hitchcock, Ozploitation and the reception it received here and abroad.

Oh, and this is only the start - we've got some other stuff in the works that if you dig this, you'll really love!

Cheers
Si

[Glennicio]

Excellent news. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

[donthitpause]

Originally Posted by simonsherry

Oh, and this is only the start - we've got some other stuff in the works that if you dig this, you'll really love!i

By this do you specifically mean Ozploitation Road movies?

By other stuff in the works do you mean a pristine 4k blu-ray release of the hopefully re-acquired rights to the quintessential Ozploitation Road movie Stone?

Can't blame me for trying, Simon....