Manhattan Baby (1982)

[philldesade]

Originally Posted by Brian81

It only got a 2K scan. They'd have to do it over.


I wonder if a 4K would ever happen with this one. If not, I'd take an upscale from that 2K master if the color gamut was wider.

love it

[Cinema84]

Originally Posted by philldesade

need this one in 4k uhd soon lenticular slipcover and all

I think that last Blu-ray is the end of the line for Manhattan Baby. It's an excellent disc for a not-so-great film. I actually enjoy the film and consider it Fulci's last of his classic era. I never understood the meaning of the title Manhattan Baby, though. I always assumed it was Fulci's "homage" to Rosemary's Baby but why did he wait 14 years to make it? The Italians always piggybacked on recent theatrical hits - they never waited years to rip something off

[Dubstar]

wow, first time watch on Amazon Prime last night - and I really dug it ... placed an order for the bluray JUST for the Frizzi soundtrack (... and the supplements).

[philldesade]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

wow, first time watch on Amazon Prime last night - and I really dug it ... placed an order for the bluray JUST for the Frizzi soundtrack (... and the supplements).

that fabio frizzi interview is superb

[DaylightsEnd]

I really enjoy this lesser-known flick from Fulci's heyday, and think it looks terrific on the BU blu. After a couple of viewings, I do feel that all the trademark Fulci elements are here in force, from his bizarre obsession with the human eye, to the creepy exotic settings, ancient artifacts, curses and superstition, outspoken obnoxious children with quasi-psychic abilities, nightmarish incoherent dreamlike sequences stitched together by a thread, gorgeous camerawork of beautiful settings, catchy memorable scoring, sudden random closeups of fearful and disoriented faces, an evil power that penetrates and disrupts routine family goings-on, all pulled together handsomely and artfully with his copious use of rich colors, interesting lighting and fine textures, woven into a increasingly tense, hypnotic atmosphere.....what's not to like? Feels a bit like the Beyond with a slightly weaker plot (and a much less creepy home environment). I still think it's essential viewing, and a must-own, for true Fulci fans. If the blu ray is any indication, the original elements look to be in excellent condition. This would be another Fulci title that would look phenomenal on 4k uhd, and I think it's deserving of the upgrade, although I fear the title is probably obscure enough that it simply would not sell that well, unfortunately. Fans that have not snatched this undeniably Fulci gem up yet on this great looking blu, may want to consider grabbing it before it becomes unavailable. I'm very glad I did.

[philldesade]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

I really enjoy this lesser-known flick from Fulci's heyday, and think it looks terrific on the BU blu. After a couple of viewings, I do feel that all the trademark Fulci elements are here in force, from his bizarre obsession with the human eye, to the creepy exotic settings, ancient artifacts, curses and superstition, outspoken obnoxious children with quasi-psychic abilities, nightmarish incoherent dreamlike sequences stitched together by a thread, gorgeous camerawork of beautiful settings, catchy memorable scoring, sudden random closeups of fearful and disoriented faces, an evil power that penetrates and disrupts routine family goings-on, all pulled together handsomely and artfully with his copious use of rich colors, interesting lighting and fine textures, woven into a increasingly tense, hypnotic atmosphere.....what's not to like? Feels a bit like the Beyond with a slightly weaker plot (and a much less creepy home environment). I still think it's essential viewing, and a must-own, for true Fulci fans. If the blu ray is any indication, the original elements look to be in excellent condition. This would be another Fulci title that would look phenomenal on 4k uhd, and I think it's deserving of the upgrade, although I fear the title is probably obscure enough that it simply would not sell that well, unfortunately.

agree whole heartedly

[snipemonkey]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

I really enjoy this lesser-known flick from Fulci's heyday, and think it looks terrific on the BU blu. After a couple of viewings, I do feel that all the trademark Fulci elements are here in force, from his bizarre obsession with the human eye, to the creepy exotic settings, ancient artifacts, curses and superstition, outspoken obnoxious children with quasi-psychic abilities, nightmarish incoherent dreamlike sequences stitched together by a thread, gorgeous camerawork of beautiful settings, catchy memorable scoring, sudden random closeups of fearful and disoriented faces, an evil power that penetrates and disrupts routine family goings-on, all pulled together handsomely and artfully with his copious use of rich colors, interesting lighting and fine textures, woven into a increasingly tense, hypnotic atmosphere.....what's not to like? Feels a bit like the Beyond with a slightly weaker plot (and a much less creepy home environment). I still think it's essential viewing, and a must-own, for true Fulci fans. If the blu ray is any indication, the original elements look to be in excellent condition. This would be another Fulci title that would look phenomenal on 4k uhd, and I think it's deserving of the upgrade, although I fear the title is probably obscure enough that it simply would not sell that well, unfortunately.

I'd agree with all that. I avoided this one for decades due to its low rating among Fulci fans and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. It feels of a piece with his 80s "living dead" trilogy, minus the outrageous gore, which I'm sure is a reason it's not held in higher esteem. Not a classic but quite enjoyable if you are already on Fulci's wavelength.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by snipemonkey

I'd agree with all that. I avoided this one for decades due to its low rating among Fulci fans and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. It feels of a piece with his 80s "living dead" trilogy, minus the outrageous gore, which I'm sure is a reason it's not held in higher esteem. Not a classic but quite enjoyable if you are already on Fulci's wavelength.

I have the blu-ray, but I haven't gotten around to watching it yet. I need to correct that. I last saw the movie about 19-20 years ago via the old Anchor Bay DVD.

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by snipemonkey

........was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. It feels of a piece with his 80s "living dead" trilogy....... Not a classic but quite enjoyable if you are already on Fulci's wavelength.

Absolutely. Fulci's style was very particular and consistent in this period, as were some of his casting regulars, and his whole bag of usual tricks are on display here. There are even numerous sounds and images incorporated into Manhattan Baby from the other trilogy movie materials. The freaky marbleized eyes of the "Egyptain spirit woman" are exactly the same in appearance as the eyes of the woman from the Beyond. Some small portions of the musical scoring are also borrowed directly from the other movies. If you don't mind seeing some of the same actors, Manhattan Baby's subliminal Fulci Familiarity makes a terrific double feature played back to back with any of the Beyond, House by the Cemetery, or Gates of Hell.

Now I have to go revisit The Black Cat, which I haven't seen in over a decade, and see if it has any tie-ins with Fulci's other works of this time period. This is starting to become my "It's Hot as Fulci this Summer" movie meditation marathon....Thank you Blue Underground!!!! Their fine work on many of these recent hi-def releases has made these movies fresh, effective and exciting all over again, some full 40 years after their release. And August promises to be filled with even more Fulci 4k uhd upgrade madness. Bring it!

I fully understand how Argento took kindly to Fulci. One can only assume he clearly recognized the broad, stark talent of his contemporary, and took pity on him when his personal life fell askew and his health left him. Frankly, although this may be blasphemy in some circles, I find myself enjoying Fulci's grittier, more visceral, less coherent, and perhaps more ethereal/nightmarish films, more than Argento's works, personally (putting on flame-retardant suit and hiding in haunted, zombie-infested basement now)

[philldesade]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

Absolutely. Fulci's style was very particular and consistent in this period, as were some of his casting regulars, and his whole bag of usual tricks are on display here. There are even numerous sounds and images incorporated into Manhattan Baby from the other trilogy movie materials. The freaky marbleized eyes of the "Egyptain spirit woman" are exactly the same in appearance as the eyes of the woman from the Beyond. Some small portions of the musical scoring are also borrowed directly from the other movies. If you don't mind seeing some of the same actors, Manhattan Baby's subliminal Fulci Familiarity makes a terrific double feature played back to back with any of the Beyond, House by the Cemetery, or Gates of Hell.

Now I have to go revisit The Black Cat, which I haven't seen in over a decade, and see if it has any tie-ins with Fulci's other works of this time period. This is starting to become my "It's Hot as Fulci this Summer" movie meditation marathon....Thank you Blue Underground!!!! Their fine work on many of these recent hi-def releases has made these movies fresh, effective and exciting all over again, some full 40 years after their release. And August promises to be filled with even more Fulci 4k uhd upgrade madness. Bring it!

fully agree with you and it also brings the fact of the matter that fulci lives and we are truly grateful for any and all restored fulci films

[DaylightsEnd]

It's a bit off-topic, but speaking of being grateful for updated Fulci on blu ray, Arrow's 2016 release of The Black Cat, which I did just revisit along with Manhattan Baby, and which no one seems to have started a discussion thread about on this forum, also looks surprisingly great on blu ray, far better than my horrid dvd copy suggested it might. I enjoyed it quite a bit more on blu this time around. Now bring on those new Severin blu's for Demonia and Aenigma!!! More Fulci Summerfest 2020, please.

[misanthrope17]

Waiting 4k UHD.

[LanceL]

Is the latest 2022 Blu-ray a 2K scan, as was the other which this thread is dedicated to?

[Mark E. Desade]

Originally Posted by LanceL

Is the latest 2022 Blu-ray a 2K scan, as was the other which this thread is dedicated to?

It's the same BD. The package is just missing the DVD, CD, and booklet from the 2016 release.

[DaylightsEnd]

Bumpy. Just watched this again, and it kept me well entertained.

Hey BU....please put some funds aside for your acquisitions team to scoop a 4k license for Manhattan Baby, and please consider working this Fulci release into your uhd work slate in the near future. City of the Living Dead on 4k just rolled out with strong sales interest, and if you hustle and drop this soon, before Grindhouse can get The Beyond 4k to market, Fulci fans starving for more Lucio content on uhd will be scooping this like a pacifier, in the loooooong wait for the Beyond uhd. Seems like nice timing. Just sayin'......

[Walter Kafka]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

It's a bit off-topic, but speaking of being grateful for updated Fulci on blu ray, Arrow's 2016 release of The Black Cat, which I did just revisit along with Manhattan Baby, and which no one seems to have started a discussion thread about on this forum, also looks surprisingly great on blu ray, far better than my horrid dvd copy suggested it might. I enjoyed it quite a bit more on blu this time around. Now bring on those new Severin blu's for Demonia and Aenigma!!! More Fulci Summerfest 2020, please.

I'm lukewarm on MB, but BC is aces.

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by Walter Kafka

BC is aces.

I won't lie...while I'm being greedy for all the better Fulci on 4k that I can get, I'd certainly bulk Black Cat in with his better titles, and would snap it up on uhd as well, in two shakes of a rat's tail.

As the boutiques start scraping their way down to the bottom of the barrel looking for more horror content for future 4k releases, hopefully they won't overlook the rest of Fulci's catalog, which still has some solid bangers in the lot.