The Osterman Weekend (1983) Imprint

[fuzzymctiger]

Originally Posted by PT Ryan

Because the Australia forum of this site loves to assume the absolute worst about every local release.

To be fair, they claimed new masters on Dead Zone and Straight Story and they both appeared to be the same as the prior existing transfers, so I don't always trust them

[PT Ryan]

Originally Posted by DawnShadow

Is it really assuming when they put out a video showing footage from the release?

Might have pulled the clips from a different source just to put this reel together. Might not have. Won't know for sure until the disc comes out.

[PT Ryan]

Originally Posted by fuzzymctiger

To be fair, they claimed new masters on Dead Zone and Straight Story and they both appeared to be the same as the prior existing transfers, so I don't always trust them

To be honest, I don't actually know how one determines how old or new an HD transfer is, or if that really matters in most cases. It's also not like I buy every edition of my favourite movies, either, so I generally couldn't compare.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

It's possible the theatrical cut is indeed the same old HD master. The directors cut is definitely a new transfer as Peckinpah's estate recently found a 35mm copy and got it scanned. Prior to that, the DC was only was thought to exist on a shitty tape transfer as seen on the Anchor Bay DVD.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

It's possible the theatrical cut is indeed the same old HD master. The directors cut is definitely a new transfer as Peckinpah's estate recently found a 35mm copy and got it scanned. Prior to that, the DC was only was thought to exist on a shitty tape transfer as seen on the Anchor Bay DVD.

Apparently the tape version on the Anchor Bay DVD is a flawed Preview Cut and not the same as this Director's Cut that was found.

[edmonddantes]

Im kind of interested but I dont know the quality of the movie itself, any opinions, please?

[DawnShadow]

Originally Posted by PT Ryan

Might have pulled the clips from a different source just to put this reel together. Might not have. Won't know for sure until the disc comes out.

This close to release huh? Tell me, would you be that lazy and honestly stupid if you were trying to market your upcoming "quality" release? It just would be laziness, there's no way they wouldn't have this new transfer in hand and be able to easily extract some clips.

[PT Ryan]

Originally Posted by DawnShadow

This close to release huh? Tell me, would you be that lazy and honestly stupid if you were trying to market your upcoming "quality" release? It just would be laziness, there's no way they wouldn't have this new transfer in hand and be able to easily extract some clips.

Like I said, no way to know for certain until the disc comes out. We can both speculate all we like about whether it is representative of the transfer on the disc, but I don’t work for Imprint (and I assume neither do you) so I can’t say. I already preordered this one when JB had it down to $29.98, so I’ll know soon enough, regardless.

[latehong]

Mike Siegel, the German Peckinpah expert who is deeply involved with this release, just replied to a question about the purplish trailer with this image. I think we are safe now

[grahams76]

Originally Posted by edmonddantes

Im kind of interested but I dont know the quality of the movie itself, any opinions, please?

It's pretty good, not great, and is best approached if you've seen Sam Peckinpah's previous films as this is his last hurrah. I'll definitely be getting this new director's cut blu but not from Imprint due to the price and it's already been confirmed a German release is coming (I think?).

[Rick Grimes]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

It's possible the theatrical cut is indeed the same old HD master. The directors cut is definitely a new transfer as Peckinpah's estate recently found a 35mm copy and got it scanned. Prior to that, the DC was only was thought to exist on a shitty tape transfer as seen on the Anchor Bay DVD.

I thought the same thing. They are pushing the 35mm DC in the promo blurb but less so with the TC.

Originally Posted by grahams76

It's pretty good, not great, and is best approached if you've seen Sam Peckinpah's previous films as this is his last hurrah. I'll definitely be getting this new director's cut blu but not from Imprint due to the price and it's already been confirmed a German release is coming (I think?).

The price is disconcerting and alarming, but if Imprint are genuinely doing new transfers/scans, then they are going to ask for Criterion style prices. I really want to buy this day one, for the DC, but I am a little worried that the Theatrical is Anchor Bay’s transfer. Thus making the price point way too high than it is now, as the TC won’t be much use, except as a drink coaster.

[rip63]

Originally Posted by PT Ryan

Because the Australia forum of this site loves to assume the absolute worst about every local release.

Haha! Oh god, that is so true. And not always completely warranted.

[Rick Grimes]

Originally Posted by rip63

Haha! Oh god, that is so true. And not always completely warranted.

More often then not, a catalogue release by an Australian dizzy isn’t that bad. But compared to the ROTW, Australia does get the shit end of the stick quite often. That combined with Imprint not having a stellar record either, is a definite cause for concern.

[deet]

Originally Posted by edmonddantes

Im kind of interested but I dont know the quality of the movie itself, any opinions, please?

The theatrical release is a mediocre paranoid thriller that features Peckinpah's obsessions (machismo, corrupt bureaucracy, betrayal, and so on) but is missing the machine-gun editing that broke people's brains in The Wild Bunch. The plot mostly follows the book up until the completely-different third act conveniently ejects most of the cast.

Obviously Peckinpah's original cut is a major find, but it's hard to believe it's worth the asking price unless you're already a superfan of the director.

[Raggady_jack]

Just had an email from JB saying that the release date has been pushed back to April 6th. They haven't canceled my cheap pre-order so I'm still hopeful it will ship out.

[iheartdrumsolos]

Originally Posted by Raggady_jack

Just had an email from JB saying that the release date has been pushed back to April 6th. They haven't canceled my cheap pre-order so I'm still hopeful it will ship out.

Same here - when I saw the email, I was expecting something like "we can't fulfil your order", but still alive for now

[Ashley Smith]

Was just going through this thread, dont know what is going on haha
WELL, I think you guys are looking out for ways to watch a movie I guess?
Recently I got to know about Streaming Digitally and now I can watch any of my favorite shows movies series or anything from anywhere. Thought I should help you guys outt

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by iheartdrumsolos

Same here - when I saw the email, I was expecting something like "we can't fulfil your order", but still alive for now

I've been charged and refunded for the VAT, they're not going to cancel these at this stage.

[rip63]

Originally Posted by Raggady_jack

Just had an email from JB saying that the release date has been pushed back to April 6th. They haven't canceled my cheap pre-order so I'm still hopeful it will ship out.

Same here. Legally, they are supposed to honour it, especially when it's their mistake. I remember that happening when Amazon US had incorrect pre-order pricing for a few days on the Lone Wolf & Cub set from Criterion. I ended up with a nice saving on that one.

[mike siegel]

The release will include three versions:
- the old (official) Blu-ray master. Hopefully slightly color-graded.
- a new scan of my 35mm DC (Peckinpah's personal print, the only one that ever existed. Not fully restored)
- a new scan of my 35mm theatrical print

Neither of these are "perfect". The (official) Blu-ray I don't have to comment...

My theatrical print is quite good but of course has dirt & scratches at the reel to reel changes etc.
Same with the DC. A full restoration might happen in the future, depends whether this
release creates a new interest (a full restoration is quite expensive, one can't recoup it with a single
Blu-ray release, not even nearly...)
The colors are pretty good. My theatrical print represents the look of the film from 1983.
The DC is better because it is closer to the negative (2nd or 3rd generation from the negative,
theatrical prints are 5th, 6th or 7th generation of the negative...)



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