The Official Odeon Entertainment Thread

[bgart13]

On their FB page, Odeon has posted the following titles coming sometime later this year (no specific dates, so do not ask):

• NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT - Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, directed by Terence Fisher
• THE SORCERERS - Boris Karloff, Ian Ogilvy, directed by Michael Reeves
• ISLAND OF TERROR - Peter Cushing, Edward Judd, directed by Terence Fisher
• CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR (CULT) - Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Barbara Steele, Michael Gough, directed by Vernon Sewell
• THE BLACK TORMENT - Francis De Wolff, Patrick Troughton, directed by Robert Hartford-Davies

[samdvd1]

These are very cool announcements. Odeon aren't really known for extras, so I look forward to hearing news.

[NoirFan]

Great news on The Sorcerers (would make a great double-bill with Being John Malkovich) and Curse of the Crimson Altar (one can never have enough Barbara Steele in HD), although I'm not familiar with the other two.

[the blob]

Nice, I hadn't looked today but saw some of them yesterday on the Facebook page. Didn't mention The Sorcerers or a definite on Island of Terror though.

I'm wondering why Redemption only rereleased Black Torment as a DVD if there's a HD master available.

Night of the Big Heat is really good but you can tell they ran out of money for fx!

[Mr. Thomsen]

The Black Torment!!!

Did not see that coming. I wonder whether it will be uncut and I finally can discard my Italian DVD of it.

I am really excited to see more gothic horror on BD!

[dsman71]

Originally Posted by bgart13

On their FB page, Odeon has posted the following titles coming sometime later this year (no specific dates, so do not ask):

• NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT - Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, directed by Terence Fisher
• THE SORCERERS - Boris Karloff, Ian Ogilvy, directed by Michael Reeves
• ISLAND OF TERROR - Peter Cushing, Edward Judd, directed by Terence Fisher
• CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR (CULT) - Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Barbara Steele, Michael Gough, directed by Vernon Sewell
• THE BLACK TORMENT - Francis De Wolff, Patrick Troughton, directed by Robert Hartford-Davies

I bolded the ones I will get when they come out. Island of Terror is a fantastic gem of a horror film/monster movie, its so creepy. Night of the Big Heat is suspenseful, had a lot of character depth/drama and the monster's appearance is held off until the end which I think worked out really well..

Im not familiar with Black Torment or The Sorcerers (other than it's one of Karloffs last films)

[the blob]

NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT - £13.99 @ Zavvi

http://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/night-o.../10945421.html

[crazyman]

I ordered THE FIRST OF THE FEW and YELLOW SKY by Odeon from zavvi today. Couldn't find any reviews for them so I'm just hoping they're qualtiy releases.

[steve dubbleyoo]

I'm hoping the Curse Of The Crimson Altar will include the footage cut by the BBFC, even just as a bonus feature. It's on the German DVD, along with two Super 8mm condensed versions.

Island Of Terror is also cut in the UK but hopefully, again, the German version will come to the rescue.

[bgart13]

I'm pretty sure the MGM HD remaster running on MGMHD is fully uncut, so it'd be down to the BBFC giving the ok at this point. Since it's not sexual violence, I don't see why they wouldn't allow it in.

[bgart13]

[the blob]

Didn't realise Whip and the Body was out today. No sign of The Sorcerers but Whip was £10.99 and one copy so had to grab it. Be interesting to see if it's as dark as the caps of the Kino disc look.

[mattyl149]

HMV Birmingham had two copies of Whip and the Body, but they didn't have any copies of The Sorcerers on the shelf. I asked and after showing them where it should be, they looked in the stock room and the three copies they had were in there. I presume the other two are now on the shelves

When they were checking the system for it, the person looking was new, so they asked one of the more experienced staff who was convinced it was a Nicolas Cage film I was asking for

[the blob]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

HMV Birmingham had two copies of Whip and the Body, but they didn't have any copies of The Sorcerers on the shelf. I asked and after showing them where it should be, they looked in the stock room and the three copies they had were in there. I presume the other two are now on the shelves

When they were checking the system for it, the person looking was new, so they asked one of the more experienced staff who was convinced it was a Nicolas Cage film I was asking for

I suppose it's quite possible my local had one and sold it. Under Whip was a "New Release" banner though. I'll probably be back later in the week so may ask then.

Quickly threw in Whip. Firstly, it's Region Free. Transfer-wise, the encoding looks good and it's definitely been regraded (a title screen comes up as so by Pinewood) but it still suffers from some of the inherent problems that the Kino did which must be in the master and irretrievable. Definitely doesn't look anywhere near as dark as the Kino grabs I've seen and there is some shadow detail but it's still a little too dark I think. Overly bluish as well. The last DVD I owned was the E-M-S one which had a much richer and warmer palette. Without actually owning the Kino I'd be hesitant to damn it and say this is the better transfer definitively but it's highly likely.

Now, with a booklet, new Commentary from Tim Lucas, generous 1/2 hour or so overview with Jonathan Rigby, three trailers in it's three Languages and an image gallery I'm sure it wipes the floor with the Kino on the extras front. There's also a conversation with Christopher Lee but I'm pretty sure it's the exact same one that was on Curse of the Crimson Altar.

If you can handle the grading, I'd say until a new master ever comes along, this is probably the one to get.

[oddbox83]

Yes, they had it regraded as best they could, but unfortunately the dark and blue grading on the master provided has pretty much obliterated any shadow detail and warm tones.

[charliemaess]

Is the sound lossless or lossy. Also does it have the same audio options as the kino?

[the blob]

I feel like I'm having a conversation with myself but I managed to get in a late night viewing and it's generally very impressive. There is a little blockiness to some of the grainier parts but I honestly didn't find it distracting and for the vast majority it looks excellent. The vivid Lee and Sutherland segments especially look fantastic. On to the colour and brightness, to me this is where screenshot comparisons can fail. It looked bright and boosted compared to the Olive but on my display was well-balanced and absolutely not overly bright at all. Colour-wise, without having seen a comparison I wouldn't have even wondered really. A slight orange push? Maybe but those tones are really only predominant in the carriage scenes and first segment. Overall skin tones especially are more natural so I'm leaning towards style than revision.

Only had time to watch the first five mins of the doc but that looks like it's going to be a cracker. Really glad I stuck with the Odeon disc.

Tested and it's definitely all region as well.

[spawningblue]

Originally Posted by the blob

I feel like I'm having a conversation with myself but I managed to get in a late night viewing and it's generally very impressive. There is a little blockiness to some of the grainier parts but I honestly didn't find it distracting and for the vast majority it looks excellent. The vivid Lee and Sutherland segments especially look fantastic. On to the colour and brightness, to me this is where screenshot comparisons can fail. It looked bright and boosted compared to the Olive but on my display was well-balanced and absolutely not overly bright at all. Colour-wise, without having seen a comparison I wouldn't have even wondered really. A slight orange push? Maybe but those tones are really only predominant in the carriage scenes and first segment. Overall skin tones especially are more natural so I'm leaning towards style than revision.

Only had time to watch the first five mins of the doc but that looks like it's going to be a cracker. Really glad I stuck with the Odeon disc.

Tested and it's definitely all region as well.

Thanks! So just wanted to confirm, the extras are region free as well?

[the blob]

Originally Posted by spawningblue

Thanks! So just wanted to confirm, the extras are region free as well?

I only had a quick look at the doc. They'll all be Region Free as it's the disc coding but I didn't double check to see if there's any 50Hz content that may cause problems although I doubt it. I'll try and get a look later.

[the blob]

Weird, I had mine ordered with a £12 blu-ray for the same reason which I already got and I could cancel no problem.