Carl Theodor Dreyer box set (BFI)

[David M]

Originally Posted by tenia

I think it's because we're used to new restorations bringing most of the upgrade with it (and I still agree to this). And while poor encodes certainly can ruin or at least limit the beauty of a restoration, it certainly won't transform any turd in gold.

Yes, exactly. As a compressionist my job is to keep the new restoration work looking 99% as good as it did on the master. Good encoding can't make a bad master look good *. But bad encoding can make a new restoration look sludgy and compromised. Since we're talking about thinning out details in the frequency domain, the effect of bad encoding is actually not too different to those old masters that were NR'd during telecine. Good encoding keeps great masters looking great.

(* although there are some cases where a sketchy master can be improved via video processing, but that comes before the encoding process. In any case none of that applies to this set because the source material was very good).

[tenia]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

This might help:

http://www.pictureshowman.com/articl...negsprints.cfm

Bookmarked !
Thanks for this one.

[Marcus Aurelius]

My copy arrived from Moviemail today in a large padded envelope. Undamaged as well.

[Vakulinchuk]

Mine arrived as well!

[Yami]

There's no English subtitles but you can see the only Dreyer short not included in the boxset, Water from the Land, for free on the DFI's terrific Dreyer site

[Arkadin]

patiently waiting on my copy to arrive.
BFI has been crushing Criterion lately with the two recent box sets.

[nitin]

Having gone through my set, I do think that Day of Wrath and Ordet could look better with new restorations, although both are noticeably better than the Criterion dvds (particularly Ordet). But there is a softness and flicker present that I dont think would exist after a modern restoration. Gertrud on the other hand looks pretty great.

Obviously a little spoilt with all the new restorations, but that's how I see it.

Also, I tried to post something similar on the Criterionforum but Mod disapproved because apparently "it didnt contribute to the ongoing discussion". I find that baffling since it's a simple opinion based on viewing the discs as opposed to a lot of comments on there.

[Yami]

I watched the Danish version of Master of the House last night and was very impressed. As is perhaps to be expected, some shots look far better than others - undoubtedly due to there being a mixture of sources used for the restoration - but it's a wonderful presentation overall. And I really had no problem reading the subtitles for the Danish intertitles so I do wonder what on earth Criterion we're talking about on that front in their excuse for not including them.

As for the film, it's an extremely enjoyable watch today but it speaks volumes about the 90 years that have passed since it's release that I can't really envisage how it could have ever been considered a comedy (aside from intertitles about spanking that caused me to double take - perhaps saying more about me than anything else!).

Hopefully the BFI or another intrepid distributor will consider a box set of Dreyer's other silent films (excluding his already released masterpiece Joan of Arc) and a release of Two People.

[David M]

Originally Posted by nitin

Having gone through my set, I do think that Day of Wrath and Ordet could look better with new restorations, although both are noticeably better than the Criterion dvds (particularly Ordet). But there is a softness and flicker present that I dont think would exist after a modern restoration.

You'd be mistaken re any softness - that's down to the film element used (presumably the best available). In other words, it's not a fault of the transfer.

[rapta]

Yay, my set arrived...with dents galore on the outer box. So frustrating that the BFI continue to produce flawless interiors (discs, booklets) with troublesome outers. Just make hard boxes like Eureka and Arrow have been doing, or use better materials (e.g. my Jarmusch Collection set isn't damaged). Considering sending this back for a replacement (or refund, and ordering it elsewhere), but also considering keeping it as I'm sure the next one will have similar problems (I'm guessing nobody has a damage-free Herzog set, for example).

[EddieLarkin]

My Herzog set is fine, despite it coming in a bubble mailer. I think how useless the postman is plays the most important part in these matters.

[rapta]

True that, it's hit and miss - I've had steelbooks and digipacks arrive with no damage in jiffy packs before. Either way, I've been told to return it for a replacement so fingers crossed (though I don't think I'd have the patience to return it a second time).

[HuggyBear73]

Waiting for my set to come in from Amazon. Anyone seen the short films in this set? I mainly bought it for the features.

[Marlow27]

Mine arrived today. So excited to delve into it.

[kuro_sawa]

Still waiting to get my copy, but noticed this set is missing from Base. Hopefully this is a sign it has sold well.

[Dr_Bedlo]

Arrived today! Can't wait to dig in!

[FatherMalone]

Only to share some pics of mine:




More in spoiler mode...

[Show spoiler]

[oddbox83]

Gorgeous. That's how the Herzog set should have been...

Thanks for listening and making changes to your box set packaging, BFI!

[rapta]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Gorgeous. That's how the Herzog set should have been...

Thanks for listening and making changes to your box set packaging, BFI!

That's exactly what I was thinking when I got it. A shame they can't go back and rectify it! The best-designed set they've produced to date, though, is the Bill Morrison one (in terms of packaging).

[Judex]

Originally Posted by FatherMalone

Only to share some pics of mine:




More in spoiler mode...

[Show spoiler]

For me it's easily the best box set of the passed year or so.

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Gorgeous. That's how the Herzog set should have been...

Thanks for listening and making changes to your box set packaging, BFI!

It'll be interesting to see if BFI use that kinda of packaging on the new Rossellini set. Or make it the digi style which the War Trilogy has.