The Official Network Thread

[rapta]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

A lot of their film output doesn't interest me, but I'm having both of those. I love John Hurt and silents.

Yeah they're pretty hit-and-miss for me, but Hell Drivers and these two are a bit more interesting than their usual output.

[timeschange]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

A lot of their film output doesn't interest me, but I'm having both of those. I love John Hurt and silents.

To be pedantic , The Naked Civil Servant is a Thames production made for tv.
Perhaps shown in cinemas elsewhere as this new release includes a 16:9 version too. In addition to the original 4:3 hopefully

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by timeschange

To be pedantic , The Naked Civil Servant is a Thames production made for tv.
Perhaps shown in cinemas elsewhere as this new release includes a 16:9 version too. In addition to the original 4:3 hopefully

The 16:9 feature version is listed as a bonus feature. Network know their market well enough to know they'd loose sales if they didn't include the 4:3 broadcast version.

Will probably buy this at some point but the lack of new bonus features other than the alternative edit and a picture galery is a shame, though perhaps inevitable.

[oddbox83]

I'd rather they didn't bother with 16:9 at all. IMO it's a waste of space as it's not as if it's giving more to see like an open matte version of a movie. Still, delighted to have it coming and will just ignore the widescreen option.

[timeschange]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

I'd rather they didn't bother with 16:9 at all. IMO it's a waste of space as it's not as if it's giving more to see like an open matte version of a movie. Still, delighted to have it coming and will just ignore the widescreen option.

To be fair, space really isn't a problem if they use a dual layer disc which I'm sure they will. Even if they used the entire disc for just a single 4:3 version of the movie I doubt there would be any visible improvement over what they will provide. IIRC this is 16mm though so a thorough restoration needed.

Including the original ratio is definitely the main issue but more and more but on a film by film basis I'm enjoying some of these cropped 16:9 versions of films I'm not too familiar with. I do like not having side bars although I couldn't accept it on a regular tv show.

This is a title I shall pick up in a Network sale although to be fair if its under a tenner at release and beats Amazons price by between £3 and £5 which seems standard these days I might go for it on day one. Main problem as usual is Network lack of preordering on their archaic crap website

[Aclea]

It did get a limited theatrical release in some territories, albeit pretty much the festival and arthouse circuit, but the reason for the widescreen version is that a DCP has recently been created for digital projection.

[BigNickUK]

oh the irony. I emailed Network to let them know they are missing some of their new titles from their website ( personally I think their marketing team should be shot) and they have blocked my email address as junk email

[timeschange]

Originally Posted by BigNickUK

oh the irony. I emailed Network to let them know they are missing some of their new titles from their website ( personally I think their marketing team should be shot) and they have blocked my email address as junk email

Network have been around for decades and their website for around 15 years.
It is very unusual for a Network release to be listed on their website before it appears on Amazon or other retailers.
I guess their outlook is that because you've never been able to preorder why bother. You still can't pre-order. You can sometimes pre buy and pay upfront but standard releases are not usually available to order from their site until the day of release.
They need to update it badly

I'm not sure they actually have a marketing team. I think they take the view that the majority of material they release is not mainstream and those who are interested will find it. With the tv shows particularly they seem complacent to the point of arrogance.

[Blu MacReady]

Anyone have any links to reviews on the upcoming release of Jack the Ripper. Zavvi have this at £19.99, I love this TV mini series and want to retire my DVD if this BD is decent enough.

Seems like zero extras, shame as there must be plenty of content about the series and the Ripper. But it's the PQ and why it's got two discs listed but it's only a BD release. Not interested if I have to switch discs half way through.

Any info much appreciated

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Just popped by Network's site and the product page does appear to state that Jack the Ripper will be presented in both the original aspect ratio and the 1.78:1 ratio, the latter is designated a "special feature". No doubt why this is a 2-disc set. This got a whole lot more interesting all of a sudden!

[Blu MacReady]

Just disc reviews then. The German and Spanish disc is shocking, I'm hoping this isn't just the same disc, but think it's very likely.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Wasn't it touted as a new scan though? Should be completely different then, not to mention 1080p24 instead of 1080i50.

[Blu MacReady]

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

Wasn't it touted as a new scan though? Should be completely different then, not to mention 1080p24 instead of 1080i50.

King hope so, I thought it was but I can't find much and it's due out next 2 weeks. Might just lock in zavvi £19.99. Amazon will surely price match, but haven't yet.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Aye

Jack the Ripper is presented here as a brand-new High Definition restoration from original film materials, in its original aspect ratio.

Takes the sting of the lack of commentary track.

I might buy this direct from Network, they list it at £16.25 for me but no order button up yet for it.

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

Aye

Takes the sting of the lack of commentary track.

I might buy this direct from Network, they list it at £16.25 for me but no order button up yet for it.

Only rarely do Network allow pre-orders. Remember you pay using PayPal so pay at time of order and they don't want hassle of people asking for cancellations.

If you order on the Monday release day they usually ship Monday or Tuesday and you get for weekend.

[demented]

This will not bear any resemblance to the awful German disc or Spanish bootleg. Network are a quality operation. The 4:3 version was the original UK broadcast and shows a scene with a tad more nudity. The 16x9 was for the American market, who cofunded the film. Can't wait for this. Saw it when I was 8 years old, the music still creeps me out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[oddbox83]

Shouldn't this be flagged 1080i50 anyway? Meaning would display correct as 1080p25.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by rapta

Some pretty surprising titles for June - in a good way: THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT (1975, Jack Gold) and MOULIN ROUGE (1928, E.A. Dupont).

Both quite exciting titles for Network, I'm sure you'd agree!

Just noticed this, and I'm very much looking forward to the former. Perhaps John Hurt's very best performance, and he gave a fair few.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Yami

Just noticed this, and I'm very much looking forward to the former. Perhaps John Hurt's very best performance, and he gave a fair few.

I wasn't aware of it until I saw a tribute video to him and it was one of the clips shown. Can't remember where I saw it though...

[hammerfan2]

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

Wasn't it touted as a new scan though? Should be completely different then, not to mention 1080p24 instead of 1080i50.

With many filmed UK tv releases Network have gone ahead and released them as 50hz like The Sweeney so it's not certain that won't happen with Jack the Ripper