Fun City Editions

[jah13]

September 1 is the day.

Originally Posted by Mushi Minion

Can't wait until FCE announces their next release! Is the mysterious TV-movie hint we got last month what's next in line?

[A Tortured Duckling]

SMILE is down to 63 slipcovers!

[A Tortured Duckling]

I can't wait for tomorrow to find out what we're getting next.

I think you guys need a pre-announcement "hint" event, Jah.

[jah13]

Another one? We gave a good one earlier this month, I thought.

Originally Posted by A Tortured Duckling

I can't wait for tomorrow to find out what we're getting next.

I think you guys need a pre-announcement "hint" event, Jah.

[A Tortured Duckling]

Originally Posted by jah13

Another one? We gave a good one earlier this month, I thought.

Oh, damn. I definitely missed it. Was it on Social Media or in this thread?

[jah13]

In this thread and social media.

Originally Posted by A Tortured Duckling

Oh, damn. I definitely missed it. Was it on Social Media or in this thread?

[Keymaster]

Rancho Deluxe arrived at my doorstep yesterday, and I just gave it a spin. Projected at 100 inches, I was ultimately very pleased with the presentation.

The transfer is organic and filmic, with plenty of natural, undisturbed grain. While it's clear that major restoration work didn't go into the project, the print used for the transfer is fairly clean. The grain can be heavy at times but supports a nice image with plenty of fine detail. Colors are a bit faded, but very balanced and natural. I have no complaints with the audio either. Livingston Saturday Night sets an appropriately lighthearted tone as the film opens. Buffett's soundtrack has never sounded better.

As for the film itself, it's both a leisurely, yet somehow biting, satire of cattle thieves and barons, and the myth of the American west itself. The movie isn't perfect as the pace lags at times, but the project ultimately succeeds on the likeability of it's amiable leads and it's quirky array of supporting characters. Bridges and Waterston are perfectly cast in the lead roles, both seem very natural, as do Slim Pickens and Harry Dean Stanton. I recommend this disc to fans of 70's cinema, Jeff Bridges, or wonderful scenery. It must be said that the wide open vistas of Montana are gorgeous throughout.

On a final note, I watched the interview with Jeff Bridges. It's a real highlight. He shares a personal story about how he met his wife on the set of Rancho Deluxe, and about his love for Montana, that I found it very genuine and touching. Plus, he gets into some interesting discussion about the film itself. It's a must watch for fans of Jeff Bridges. I'll dive into the other special features later, but Fun City did a great job with this release overall.

[A Tortured Duckling]

Bring it on. My body is ready.

[jah13]

Glad you enjoyed the release so much, Keymaster, thanks. Happy to hear the Bridges interview is being appreciated, in particular.

A note about the transfer source: this was not scanned from a print. The source was an interpositive, which is a pre-print element, one generation removed from the negative.

Originally Posted by Keymaster

Rancho Deluxe arrived at my doorstep yesterday, and I just gave it a spin. Projected at 100 inches, I was ultimately very pleased with the presentation.

The transfer is organic and filmic, with plenty of natural, undisturbed grain. While it's clear that major restoration work didn't go into the project, the print used for the transfer is fairly clean. The grain can be heavy at times but supports a nice image with plenty of fine detail. Colors are a bit faded, but very balanced and natural. I have no complaints with the audio either. Livingston Saturday Night sets an appropriately lighthearted tone as the film opens. Buffett's soundtrack has never sounded better.

As for the film itself, it's both a leisurely, yet somehow biting, satire of cattle thieves and barons, and the myth of the American west itself. The movie isn't perfect as the pace lags at times, but the project ultimately succeeds on the likeability of it's amiable leads and it's quirky array of supporting characters. Bridges and Waterston are perfectly cast in the lead roles, both seem very natural, as do Slim Pickens and Harry Dean Stanton. I recommend this disc to fans of 70's cinema, Jeff Bridges, or wonderful scenery. It must be said that the wide open vistas of Montana are gorgeous throughout.

On a final note, I watched the interview with Jeff Bridges. It's a real highlight. He shares a personal story about how he met his wife on the set of Rancho Deluxe, and about his love for Montana, that I found it very genuine and touching. Plus, he gets into some interesting discussion about the film itself. It's a must watch for fans of Jeff Bridges. I'll dive into the other special features later, but Fun City did a great job with this release overall.

[bergman864]

I'm not trying to put too much pressure no you guys but you've been knocking it out of the park with the artwork. Here's hoping for another masterpiece.

No pressure though.

[jah13]

Ha! You can feel free to let us know either way after you see it.

Originally Posted by bergman864

I'm not trying to put too much pressure no you guys but you've been knocking it out of the park with the artwork. Here's hoping for another masterpiece.

No pressure though.

[A Tortured Duckling]

Originally Posted by bergman864

I'm not trying to put too much pressure no you guys but you've been knocking it out of the park with the artwork. Here's hoping for another masterpiece.

No pressure though.

I agree! I was so impressed by the first three, and raved about the embossing and spot gloss on the two tiny hearts on the back of Jeremy's slip. Then I received the other three and Rancho Deluxe impressed me even more. The person (or persons) designing these have a keen eye for what goes and what doesn't, and I really enjoy how something like SMILE is subtle yet bold and loud at the same time.

I decided early on that, even if FCE ever releases a film that doesn't interest me whatsoever (which is highly unlikely) I'll still buy it, just to keep up with the slipcovers.

I'd love to see posters of all of these!

[bergman864]

Originally Posted by jah13

Ha! You can feel free to let us know either way after you see it.

Originally Posted by A Tortured Duckling

I agree! I was so impressed by the first three, and raved about the embossing and spot gloss on the two tiny hearts on the back of Jeremy's slip. Then I received the other three and Rancho Deluxe impressed me even more. The person (or persons) designing these have a keen eye for what goes and what doesn't, and I really enjoy how something like SMILE is subtle yet bold and loud at the same time.

I decided early on that, even if FCE ever releases a film that doesn't interest me whatsoever (which is highly unlikely) I'll still buy it, just to keep up with the slipcovers.

I'd love to see posters of all of these!

New business venture FCE posters. I'd buy those.

[repulsed]

Fun City Box Set

[Kleeberg]

Originally Posted by repulsed

Fun City Box Set

What's in it?

[A Tortured Duckling]

Originally Posted by Kleeberg

What's in it?

https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti...-city-editions

[mryrtmrn]

the new box set looks awesome. having the choice between widescreen and 4:3 is a nice touch

[pixote]

OH WOW what a surprise!!! Already added the box to my next shipment. Thanks FCE!!!

[brainofj72]

I’m curious about the difference in framing between the 4:3 and 1.85:1 versions of the TV movies. Are the 4:3 versions full frame and the 1.85:1 cropped, or the other way around? Would I be correct in assuming the 4:3 versions are the intended framing since they were made for TV?

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by brainofj72

I’m curious about the difference in framing between the 4:3 and 1.85:1 versions of the TV movies. Are the 4:3 versions full frame and the 1.85:1 cropped, or the other way around? Would I be correct in assuming the 4:3 versions are the intended framing since they were made for TV?

Correct. The cropped versions have been available on Amazon and iTunes for the last couple of years. Multicom always crops TV movies to 16:9 when they make them available for streaming so I was pleasantly surprised to see the original 4:3 versions will be included in the box set.