Agora

[pro-bassoonist]

Alejandro Amenabar's Agora (2009) has received a preliminary release date for the Gallic markets: May 5, 2010. Nominated for 13 Goya Awards.

Review:


Official English-language site and trailer:
http://www.agorathemovie.com/

Pro-B

[hok007]

It amazes me that films like this (like Creation, from the UK), don't get picked up for distribution in the US more quickly. Maybe it shouldn't amaze me, given the degree of folk-"Christian" chauvinism that most Americans seem to value. But it still does.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by hok007

It amazes me that films like this (like Creation, from the UK), don't get picked up for distribution in the US more quickly. Maybe it shouldn't amaze me, given the degree of folk-"Christian" chauvinism that most Americans seem to value. But it still does.

Well, you have to realize that (even moreso than say, the United Kingdom) the United States is very culturally insulated in most places.

Generally, the Northeast Coast and the West Coast are the main places where international cinema has any chance of being seen and liked. Of course, there are thousands of cinephiles who live more inside the U.S. and don't get chances to see these films until they hit video (if at all), but unfortunately, the majority is either ignorant of great international cinema, or have no desire to see films different that the all-too-typical Hollywood sensory-stimulation extravaganza (Read: Avatar).

Believe me, I feel very lucky to be so close to a movie Mecca like New York City.

[pro-bassoonist]

The pre-order is up. Please see first post.

Pro-B

[donaldheil]

I got the chance to watch this movie, and although it takes historic licenses (mostly in the way it depicts early christians), I think it's really entertaining.

It has great production values, worthy of any big budget hollywood movie.

The title is already available on Blu Ray in Spain. I hope to get my copy soon (maybe 2 weeks or so - it's my first experience ordering from a spanish store).

Unfortunelly Spain doesn't have an Amazon store, which would be easier to use, at least for those who are used to it.

[donaldheil]

Just a few words on the Spanish release:

It's REGION B locked.

PICTURE and AUDIO (English DTS HD master audio) quality is excellent.

The movie itself is obviously english friendly, since it was filmed in english. The only question remaining is about brief texts that contribute to the story, placed at the beginning, in the middle and in the end, that in the screen are in spanish. There are english subtitles available indeed, just for that text, but at least in my blu ray player, they had to be turned on directly from the remote. As far as I could tell, they couldn't be activated in the disc menu.

Extras don't have english subtitles (the only ones that are good without them are trailers and deleted scenes).

I got my copy from fnac.es. I was completely satisfied, except for the shipping price, which is very high, although I must add that it took just 3 days for the BD to arrive to the United States. That's fast !. Obviously, if you are in Europe, it will be cheaper.

[Kynch]

Artwork update:

[Show spoiler]

[Djimon]

Originally Posted by donaldheil

Just a few words on the Spanish release:

It's REGION B locked.

PICTURE and AUDIO (English DTS HD master audio) quality is excellent.

The movie itself is obviously english friendly, since it was filmed in english. The only question remaining is about brief texts that contribute to the story, placed at the beginning, in the middle and in the end, that in the screen are in spanish. There are english subtitles available indeed, just for that text, but at least in my blu ray player, they had to be turned on directly from the remote. As far as I could tell, they couldn't be activated in the disc menu.

Extras don't have english subtitles (the only ones that are good without them are trailers and deleted scenes).

I got my copy from fnac.es. I was completely satisfied, except for the shipping price, which is very high, although I must add that it took just 3 days for the BD to arrive to the United States. That's fast !. Obviously, if you are in Europe, it will be cheaper.

Wow! You got lucky because the French Blu-ray version has simply the same Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps) and 2.0 from the DVD. No HD sound!! A shame for such a recent movie!

[Djimon]

Well after setting the option mixer in my PS3, I found out that the french Blu-ray do actually have Dolby True HD 5.1 and 2.0 on both english and french. No DTS HD on this edition.

[Daytripper]

The "Agora" SD is out in the U.K. on 8/16 but no BD (yet). Any idea why or when?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?url=search...&sprefix=agora

[Daytripper]

Also, on the French BD, can you turn off the French subtitles?

[Blu Titan]

The site's review is up.

Agora.jpg


Agora Blu-ray Review

[Daytripper]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

The site's review is up.

Attachment 21863


Agora Blu-ray Review

Great review guys. Wonderful film! I bought the French release yesterday. Can't wait to get it.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by donaldheil

The movie itself is obviously english friendly, since it was filmed in english. The only question remaining is about brief texts that contribute to the story, placed at the beginning, in the middle and in the end, that in the screen are in spanish. There are english subtitles available indeed, just for that text, but at least in my blu ray player, they had to be turned on directly from the remote. As far as I could tell, they couldn't be activated in the disc menu.

Hello Donald,

Just a quick note - On the French disc all of the text inserts are indeed in English, not Spanish, as they appeared during the Cannes premiere of the film.

Pro-B

[G:Box]

This is a must have for me. Ordered mine

[theonemacduff]

Amazon now lists a North American SD, but still no BR, and not even a page where you can "vote" for one. Sux (latin for sucks).

[ZacharyTF]

I just read elsewhere that the Dutch version of the BD is region-free. Anyone know of an online Dutch store that I can order from?

The movie was released into 17 theaters and grossed just over $600,000 in the U.S. and wasn't even released into theaters in the UK, hence DVD only in both countries.

[Duncan Sinclair]

Just to repeat what I just posted in the "other" Agora thread...

For those of you like me who want to see an American Blu-ray release of this great film, email Newmarket Films and ask them nicely for one!

info@newmarketcap.com

I wouldn't be surprised if it comes later. Especially as more and more people come to hear about this movie, which got almost no theatrical release in the USA.

[BluBonnet]

I'd love it if Newmarket would eventually release a BD of this movie here in the U.S., but I'm not going to hold my breath.

I'm still considering getting a region-free BD player, but in the meantime, I'll just say that you guys who get to watch the French or Spanish BD are really lucky!!

[Beaucamper]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

I'd love it if Newmarket would eventually release a BD of this movie here in the U.S., but I'm not going to hold my breath.

I'm still considering getting a region-free BD player, but in the meantime, I'll just say that you guys who get to watch the French or Spanish BD are really lucky!!

As posted on the other Agora Thread:

Good news Agora Blu-Ray seekers!
I waited till I watched my disc before reporting this.

The Dutch version is Region Free, or more correctly, all 3 regions.
It is superbly rendered, has lossless HD sound, it has the introduction and other text in English,
same as the American theatrical version.
The Dutch subtitles can be turned off.
The documentary on the making-of is in Spanish, but about half of has the actors and the production designer speaking English.
Since the only option for subs is Dutch, if you want the full information of the documentary you'll need to rent the DVD.
I will be doing that because I am fascinated with this subject. All of the bonus material is in HD.

To get your copy easily, go to FreeRecordStore.nl. Enter search for Agora BluRay. You can use a translator
to get through the Dutch instructions, but it is set up like any other shopping cart. The quickest way to check out
is with PayPal. It costs about 30 American dollars with shipping, and takes about a week to arrive in the mail.