Chopper (20th Anniversary) Blu-Ray

[Canada]

Damn I didn't realize Chopper was directed by Andrew Dominik

[Jaymole]

This is great news...I am off to sell my DVD

[gottaget]

Seems like the release date is October 14 now
https://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/...versary-bluray

[browny]

can confirm that this bluray release has been pushed to October 14 at the producers request to give the theatrical run a chance in Sydney & Melbourne

[StrayButler91]

Originally Posted by browny

can confirm that this bluray release has been pushed to October 14 at the producers request to give the theatrical run a chance in Sydney & Melbourne

Understandable. I remember hearing there were material issues with this flick and no digital HD master has ever existed, hence why a Blu-ray has never materialised. (Not surprising for Aussie cinema - The Dish never had a HD master until we complained and Roadshow footed the bill for a remaster.) I also recall hearing that it would be costly to restore and remaster.

Of course, I might be misremembering or it could be apocryphal, but I have that memory all the same.

The rights holder would've spent some bucks to remaster this one and create a new archival DCP in the process. Makes sense that they'd want to increase their revenue streams and collect more cash from a theatrical run to cover the costs.

Buuuut cinemas in Sydney and Melbourne won't reopen until November at the earliest.

[glenn2145]

Nice shirt. Do they make them for men?

[rip63]

https://www.amazon.com.au/Chopper-20.../dp/B09CGBNHP7

[Sopranogl]

Does ANYBODY know ANYTHING about the quality of this disc...? Will it look good...? Will it sound good...? Special features are fine and dandy...but I am more concerned with the video and audio qualities of the feature film.

[Alister_M]

Originally Posted by Sopranogl

Does ANYBODY know ANYTHING about the quality of this disc...? Will it look good...? Will it sound good...? Special features are fine and dandy...but I am more concerned with the video and audio qualities of the feature film.

It's sourced from a new scan AFAIK, so it should be as good as it's possible for this intentionally ugly, dirty movie to look.

[PT Ryan]

Originally Posted by Sopranogl

Does ANYBODY know ANYTHING about the quality of this disc...? Will it look good...? Will it sound good...? Special features are fine and dandy...but I am more concerned with the video and audio qualities of the feature film.

It's never been available in HD before, so there's that. Also, Madman doesn't put out shoddy product, so I think you can buy with confidence.

[2351tv]

Cannot report on quality as yet but for those keen will update asap

[Le Grande Blu]

No subs other than CC for the hearing impaired?

[2351tv]

Ok so firstly for a 20 year old film that uses the marketing to the effect of “Digitally Remastered from the original 35mm print”, and this being the first HD release within that time, I do have to wonder at what point when was the aforementioned master created? Personally it doesn’t feel recent. And although not unwatchable, it looks to be that some light to mid level noise reduction cleaning has been applied in post. Personally I also feel bad compression plays a part in end result as can also be quite blocky in reds & blacks. Best way to describe visuals : Did this get a release many years ago where someone found & copy & decided to make smaller version for storage? then many years later an anniversary was happening so a master was needed. Oh no - only one available is the smaller one created years before as we deleted full version. Let’s just make a higher bitrate version of the shrunken master. Such a shame. Wasted opportunity. That’s just initial thoughts. But as I said not unwatchable just disappointing knowing the possibilities.

[rip63]

Originally Posted by 2351tv

Ok so firstly for a 20 year old film that uses the marketing to the effect of “Digitally Remastered from the original 35mm print”, and this being the first HD release within that time, I do have to wonder at what point when was the aforementioned master created? Personally it doesn’t feel recent. And although not unwatchable, it looks to be that some light to mid level noise reduction cleaning has been applied in post. Personally I also feel bad compression plays a part in end result as can also be quite blocky in reds & blacks. Best way to describe visuals : Did this get a release many years ago where someone found & copy & decided to make smaller version for storage? then many years later an anniversary was happening so a master was needed. Oh no - only one available is the smaller one created years before as we deleted full version. Let’s just make a higher bitrate version of the shrunken master. Such a shame. Wasted opportunity. That’s just initial thoughts. But as I said not unwatchable just disappointing knowing the possibilities.

But it's gotta be better than the DVD anyway, surely?

[2351tv]

Originally Posted by rip63

But it's gotta be better than the DVD anyway, surely?

As I said it’s watchable but so was the dvd (as it’s all we had as option). In no way is it a T2 4K or OG Footloose level scenario but just saying how I see it. Re-reading initial post - never meant to go full Karen - but hey is what it is.

[rip63]

Originally Posted by 2351tv

As I said it’s watchable but so was the dvd (as it’s all we had as option). In no way is it a T2 4K or OG Footloose level scenario but just saying how I see it. Re-reading initial post - never meant to go full Karen - but hey is what it is.

Sure. As I have it on order, I guess I was just trying to work out if you thought it was still a worthy upgrade from the DVD despite any issues. But comparatively, I guess it'd have to be to some degree.

[From Beyond]

If the disc is the same as what was shown at the cinema recently then it looked good to me

[Sopranogl]

Originally Posted by Alister_M

It's sourced from a new scan AFAIK, so it should be as good as it's possible for this intentionally ugly, dirty movie to look.

A new scan...? I like the sound of that. Ugly and dirty? For a movie about ugly and dirty criminals? THAT SOUNDS PROMISING! Thank you!

[Sopranogl]

Originally Posted by PT Ryan

It's never been available in HD before, so there's that. Also, Madman doesn't put out shoddy product, so I think you can buy with confidence.

Thank you. I don't own any Madman discs...so thank you for responding. I ordered a copy and I am anxious to see it.

[StrayButler91]

Originally Posted by 2351tv

Ok so firstly for a 20 year old film that uses the marketing to the effect of “Digitally Remastered from the original 35mm print”, and this being the first HD release within that time, I do have to wonder at what point when was the aforementioned master created? Personally it doesn’t feel recent. And although not unwatchable, it looks to be that some light to mid level noise reduction cleaning has been applied in post. Personally I also feel bad compression plays a part in end result as can also be quite blocky in reds & blacks. Best way to describe visuals : Did this get a release many years ago where someone found & copy & decided to make smaller version for storage? then many years later an anniversary was happening so a master was needed. Oh no - only one available is the smaller one created years before as we deleted full version. Let’s just make a higher bitrate version of the shrunken master. Such a shame. Wasted opportunity. That’s just initial thoughts. But as I said not unwatchable just disappointing knowing the possibilities.

Not to sound sceptical, but it's hard to gauge the accuracy of your thoughts without knowing what gear you're running. What TV? 1080p or 4K? Is your TV's noise reduction turned all the way up? Is sharpening turned up? TruMotion? And so on. Did you watch the entire thing, or did you just watch a few minutes with some understandably rough optical shots?

I have no idea what you mean by "smaller version" or "shrunken master," your terminology is a bit skewiff. Are you saying that it looks standard definition? Are you saying they found a 16mm print? With the very specific way the film is shot, it's not meant to look crisp and razor-sharp. I don't doubt that Madman's encoding is less than perfect, and the limited colour space of 1080p introduces problems, but I still can't gauge what exactly you're saying is wrong with the Blu-ray.

Plus, I assure you that it is a recent master. The reason why the release was delayed is that money was spent remastering the movie and creating a HD master for the first time ever - and they wanted to put the new archival master into cinemas for a limited run to get some extra monies before the disc landed.

Anyway, still looking forward to checking out the disc.