The Message" (1977) & "Lion of the Desert" (1981) 4K UHD

[LexInHD]

I'll be the odd Murican and say that I would like to see the Arabic version in 4K, subbed or dubbed.

[Brian81]

For an English language market, it is stupid to release an Arabic language release without English sub track.

[cinemania]

Originally Posted by Cecil B. DeMille

Really looking forward to adding these movies to my collection. I've been wanting to see these two epics for years, so I am very glad they will finally be released on on blu-ray, and in UHD, no less! I am just wondering whether there will be any slipcovers. I really like the artwork for these.

I'm also wondering it Slipcovers are included. Does anyone if Shout Factory usually offer a limited run of releases with Slips?

[emmet otter]

oh please guys.......no slips

[Phillip c. Niethe]

So seeing how the message made a massive $9,510.00 dollars Off a $10,000,000 dollar budget and the Lion of the desert made $1,502,136 dollars (Home video market: $92,925) off a production budget of $35,000,000 dollars, why did these get 4K releases??? How many units are being made and who doing the financials thought this was a good idea lol.
Cool for the hundreds of fans going to buy this I guess… gives me hope that we will get 4K releases of niche off the wall titles thou

[zekidk]

Originally Posted by Phillip c. Niethe

So seeing how the message made a massive $9,510.00 dollars Off a $10,000,000 dollar budget and the Lion of the desert made $1,502,136 dollars (Home video market: $92,925) off a production budget of $35,000,000 dollars, why did these get 4K releases??? How many units are being made and who doing the financials thought this was a good idea lol.
Cool for the hundreds of fans going to buy this I guess… gives me hope that we will get 4K releases of niche off the wall titles thou

Both movies underwent a poor marketing campaign and distribution when first released. Since then the fanbase have grown, especially in the middle east I guess.

Any movie that has more than a 8.0 score on IMDB, deserves to come out in 4K eventually. And personally I am looking forward to retiring my old cropped blu-ray version of Lion of the Desert.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by Phillip c. Niethe

So seeing how the message made a massive $9,510.00 dollars Off a $10,000,000 dollar budget and the Lion of the desert made $1,502,136 dollars (Home video market: $92,925) off a production budget of $35,000,000 dollars, why did these get 4K releases??? How many units are being made and who doing the financials thought this was a good idea lol.
Cool for the hundreds of fans going to buy this I guess… gives me hope that we will get 4K releases of niche off the wall titles thou

Not going to lie, I wondered this myself. I really questioned whether or not these were really coming for a long time. Now that they are, my best guess is that their release was somehow guaranteed as part of securing the Halloween 4K rights.

[GDG-013]

Mine just showed up today in USPS Media Mail. Here's hoping they look as good as the packing. No Slips.

[emmet otter]

Can't wait for the first review. I'm sure it'll be good overall.

[sperezmore]

Just watched Lion of the Desert, great PQ and AQ

Thank you Shout!

Regards,

[DavePS3]

To anyone who's seen The Message... how historically accurate is it? It's not a documentary obviously but how do Muslims feel about the film? Anyone know?

[PissedOffPeoN]

Originally Posted by sperezmore

Just washed Lion of the Desert, great PQ and AQ

Thank you Shout!

Regards,

How dirty was the desert? you mean watched right? .

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by DavePS3

To anyone who's seen The Message... how historically accurate is it? It's not a documentary obviously but how do Muslims feel about the film? Anyone know?

Having watched it a long time ago and spoken to a lot of Muslims about this movie, the answer is that it's complicated. I know people who pretty much became Muslims after watching. But some of their scholars for various reasons (which I won't go into here) don't like the idea at all. Looking at the Wiki page, many people misunderstood the movie, thinking that Anthony Quinn played the Prophet, similar to people thinking that Life of Brian was about Jesus.

As for its accuracy? It is a Hollywood drama, but from what I understand it's not too far off with the broad strokes. As I said above, it's complicated.

[PissedOffPeoN]

I am on the second film now.. and wow its just as good as the first.. really love this type of film.. they definitely don't make them like this anymore.

[emailking]

I've never seen these but tempted to get it.

[laidbacklarkin]

Frequently bought together with 'The Species' 4K CE.

[Duder_Me]

I got both movies in the mail early and got to watch them earlier this week. I don't have a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player yet, but the standard Blu-rays are very well done.

The Message has never looked better! The color grading is great and it has been restored to it's original aspect ratio. I highly recommend picking this up if you have the previous releases. There are a few very brief scenes in Mecca where the picture quality and color isn't consistent with the rest of the movie, but that might have to do with the fact that the film had worn out in storage over time, as mentioned on the restoration featurette on YouTube and on the disc.

I had never seen Lion of the Desert before until this release and I have to say it looks incredible! The colors are very vivid and the picture quality is excellent. I'm really glad that I picked this up too.

[Jonas77]

Originally Posted by Cecil B. DeMille

Really looking forward to adding these movies to my collection. I've been wanting to see these two epics for years, so I am very glad they will finally be released on on blu-ray, and in UHD, no less! I am just wondering whether there will be any slipcovers. I really like the artwork for these.



Apparently the Arabic version was restored simultaneously and rereleased in theaters in the Arabic world. Here is the trailer for this version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAm0AWFy3b0

Unfortunately, these will probably remain the only such restorations of films from the Arabic world. The region has a rich cinematic heritage. Unfortunately though, the money is nowadays mainly located in those Arabic countries which are anti-film, or rather anti-art. In countries with an important film history, such as Egypt or Lebanon, the OCNs are probably currently succumbing to vinegar syndrome and (I assume) nobody cares - not even dedicated organizations like the Film Foundation (or Criterion). What one would actually need is basically a kind of Film Foundation clone for the Arabic countries.
I assume this restoration was funded by Gulf countries, but probably primarily for religious reasons. "The Message" is basically a Muslim Ben-Hur.

There is debate, but most common answer I find is that "The Message" is not allowed in strict Muslim countries. So I doubt that they back up the movie with money. Which is sad, because the makers tried to make it ok by not showing the prophet.
https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/88...ie-the-message

[Brian81]

Since the Arabic versions do not have subs, is there any option out there, subs playable from a flash drive?

[ybinahmadfuz]

Originally Posted by DavePS3

To anyone who's seen The Message... how historically accurate is it? It's not a documentary obviously but how do Muslims feel about the film? Anyone know?

As a muslim i think its pretty accurate. its the same stories as told to every muslim children when we are young. if im not wrong Muostafa Akkad refered the facts with Qardhawi a famous muslim scholar before making the film.

The only problem there might be some muslims who are sensitive with the POV method to portray the prophet. But i believe most mainstream muslim scholars should have no issue with it.