Arsenic and Old Lace (1943)

[tama]

Watched my copy last night. Excellent film and excellent transfer. I'll do some nose 1 inch from the screen pixel peeping tonight as I didn't notice any of the issues mentioned on this site's review. If they are indeed in the blacks as mentioned then it was hard to spot. Which would be my one and only quibble and I'll echo Robert A Harris sentiment in that I would have loved a bit more air in the blacks.

Otherwise great release in my book.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by dig311dug

At 5,000+ discs, I’ve never gone region free with Blu-rays. Glad we’re in the region free 4k era

That’s great for the movies that get 4K releases.

For all those that do not, you’re restricted to region A. If a particular film’s region A release is censored, that’s all you can get. And movies that do not get a region A blu-Ray release are off limits to you.

For the cost of just a few new 4K releases, the entire world opens up to you. Buying a region free player was perhaps the most liberating thing I’ve ever done as a movie lover. Now I’m in control, with every release essentially competing for the right to be on my shelf.

My only regret is that I didn’t buy one earlier.

[Zorba]

I love owning an HD transfer of one of my top 10 favorite films. I LOVE this movie!

For that I am grateful but where are the extras we usually get with Criterion releases?

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

My only regret is that I didn’t buy one earlier.

Mine is the hundreds of dollars I've spent on Criterion and Kino discs I otherwise would not have bought.

I mean, they're nice to have, and there's many releases from both labels that I'd list as must-haves, but there are plenty I'd have not been too bothered about back in my region-locked days that I now just unleash ungodly amounts of cash on because hey, I can play the discs, so why not?

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

A. If a particular film’s region A release is censored, that’s all you can get.

I'm totally with all the other arguments in favor of a region-free player (which is why I have one, since I live in region C and I'd have almost nothing worthwhile to watch if I stuck with that).
That said, is there any example of a film where the region A version was censored / cut while a region B/C version was uncut? It's usually the BBFC in the UK which mandates cuts, especially for violence and animal cruelty. In the US, people can just release a disc unrated.

[BluPat]

My copy just shipped from Amazon finally.

[Killer Meteor]

Can't see anything noticeable amiss with the picture quality myself. Bare in mind I don't have an OLED TV.

[theater dreamer]

I can’t speak to how frequently it occurs industry wide, but when I was trying to decide on which release of Giuseppe Tornatore’s Malena I would purchase, it became clear that both the domestic and region B releases had been heavily cut. In the United States, Harvey Weinstein, as head of Miramax, eliminated 17 minutes from the film in order to attain an R rating. Doing so fundamentally alters the artistic vision of the film, as the scenes with nudity that are eliminated detract from the growing relationship between the two protagonists. The cuts also all but ruins the flow of Ennio Morricone’s fabulous score, and likely cost him an Academy Award win. I ended up importing an uncut release from South Korea.

The practice of cutting films was a frequent occurrence at Miramax. This makes for a pretty good read, if you’re interested.

Being region free allows me the ability to see a film as the director intended. Monica Bellucci’s nudity in the film is not gratuitous, but our society is incredibly uptight where sexuality and nudity are concerned.

Originally Posted by ravenus

I'm totally with all the other arguments in favor of a region-free player (which is why I have one, since I live in region C and I'd have almost nothing worthwhile to watch if I stuck with that).
That said, is there any example of a film where the region A version was censored / cut while a region B/C version was uncut? It's usually the BBFC in the UK which mandates cuts, especially for violence and animal cruelty. In the US, people can just release a disc unrated.

[laidbacklarkin]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

I can’t speak to how frequently it occurs industry wide, but when I was trying to decide on which release of Giuseppe Tornatore’s Malena I would purchase, it became clear that both the domestic and region B releases had been heavily cut. In the United States, Harvey Weinstein, as head of Miramax, eliminated 17 minutes from the film in order to attain an R rating. Doing so fundamentally alters the artistic vision of the film, as the scenes with nudity that are eliminated detract from the growing relationship between the two protagonists. The cuts also all but ruins the flow of Ennio Morricone’s fabulous score, and likely cost him an Academy Award win. I ended up importing an uncut release from South Korea.

The practice of cutting films was a frequent occurrence at Miramax. This makes for a pretty good read, if you’re interested.

Being region free allows me the ability to see a film as the director intended. Monica Bellucci’s nudity in the film is not gratuitous, but our society is incredibly uptight where sexuality and nudity are concerned.

anyone else spotting the irony ? Harvey W lobbying for a friendly rating ?

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

I can’t speak to how frequently it occurs industry wide, but when I was trying to decide on which release of Giuseppe Tornatore’s Malena I would purchase, it became clear that both the domestic and region B releases had been heavily cut.

I had thought of Malena but could not find any reference to a US BD release of the film R-rated or otherwise. Was there actually one?

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I had thought of Malena but could not find any reference to a US BD release of the film R-rated or otherwise. Was there actually one?

I think it was DVD only.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

I got an email from Criterion, from their magazine, and this was one of the articles. It talks about what went into the cover art and its evolution for the release. I think its interesting to see the beginnings of it, and makes me glad we got the cover we did.

[Toxoplasmic]

This was a total hoot! Watched it last night with my gf for Halloween weekend. What a cast of characters, and Cary Grant on another level!

[Winslow Leach]

Originally Posted by ponderingtheuniverse

I got an email from Criterion, from their magazine, and this was one of the articles. It talks about what went into the cover art and its evolution for the release. I think its interesting to see the beginnings of it, and makes me glad we got the cover we did.

Wow! I had no idea the cover had several different versions. The cover we ultimately got is awesome. Thank you for sharing!

[ponderingtheuniverse]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

Wow! I had no idea the cover had several different versions. The cover we ultimately got is awesome. Thank you for sharing!

I wish they'd have article like this for all of their releases, especially Haxan (because its gorgeous and they chose a perfect shots from the film to use on the cover and inner art.) I think I'd like to see the process for the cover art/packaging for Leave Her to Heaven as well. The inner art for it had me going like "whoa" (I found the shot for the inner art more chilling than the cover.)

Whoever or all the people who design the packaging for Criterion really deserve so much praise for how the art/packaging thematically ties into the films and within themselves.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by ponderingtheuniverse

Whoever or all the people who design the packaging for Criterion really deserve so much praise for how the art/packaging thematically ties into the films and within themselves.

This cover is great, but they don't always hit it out of the park...Tom Jones and Citizen Kane are deplorable.

[Winslow Leach]

Originally Posted by ponderingtheuniverse

I wish they'd have article like this for all of their releases, especially Haxan (because its gorgeous and they chose a perfect shots from the film to use on the cover and inner art.) I think I'd like to see the process for the cover art/packaging for Leave Her to Heaven as well. The inner art for it had me going like "whoa" (I found the shot for the inner art more chilling than the cover.)

Whoever or all the people who design the packaging for Criterion really deserve so much praise for how the art/packaging thematically ties into the films and within themselves.

The inner art for LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN is creepy/chilling? I still need to pick that one up.

[Winslow Leach]

A pic of Boris, from the original Broadway production.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

This cover is great, but they don't always hit it out of the park...Tom Jones and Citizen Kane are deplorable.

Yeah, I have to agree with you on those. I'd take the Citizen Kane cover over the Tom Jones one, but they both could be better. The Tom Jones one really puzzled me when I first saw it, because its like what the heck am I looking at? At least the "K" gets the point across and make sense in context of the film, as simple as it is.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

The inner art for LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN is creepy/chilling? I still need to pick that one up.

If you've seen the film and the scene itself that the shot is from, it makes sense why I say its chilling. The film horrified me pretty good for a noir.