The Lives of Others (2006)

[tvted]

Any have or seen a review of THE LIVES OF OTHERS yet?

ted

[Josh]

I didn't enjoy the movie itself. It just seemed to be very slow and never really built to anything. But if you've seen this movie before, and enjoyed it, you're going to love this Blu-ray release. Video is not perfect - there are plenty of issues with the master and the picture can appear soft at times. Its definitely a step up, though. Audio is, of course, awesome with the PCM track, but this movie never really utilizes surround sound and is very front heavy.

If you are a fan of this film, or foreign films in general, definitely pick up this release. If you've never seen it, and don't like artsy foreign films, don't even bother.

[Banjo]

Ulrich Mühe who played Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler in the movie died a few weeks ago from stomach cancer.

May he rest in peace.

[pro-bassoonist]

I support BLU primarily (and I mean 90%) because of the attention the BLU studios seem to be paying to foreign cinema and the potential there is with distribs such as Miramax (The Colors Trilogy should be the event of the year when it happens).

So, this being said, The Lives of Others is an automatic buy for me and THE MOST exciting BLU release since Almodovar's Volver.

I do not care about the Pirates, Spidermans, and the likes...

Ciao,
Pro-B

[tvted]

Thanks folks,
I guess I should have specifically said with respect to technical details.

Josh,
Slow? I guess you haven't seen WAVELENGTH by Micahel Snow? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavelength_%281966_film%29
One of my faves. I ain't too speedy meself.
Thanks for the PQ/AQ comments though.

pro-bassoonist,
Though I don't share your feelings with respect to PIRATES et al, VOLVER is on my shelf and I've been wanting to purchase LIVES for a while. I share your desire for non-Hollywood though, I lean toward the non-theatrical (as opposed to cinematic) myself.

Satyajit-Ray, Ozu, - bring em on.

ted

[ryoohki]

I have more import movie in my TOP 10 than US one... I'am getting Lives of Others and Black Book on release for sure..

[DTMoney84]

I agree with you guys a bit. While I still heavily support the Hollywood movies on Blu, I am a true fan of film and love seeing the attention that Blu-ray is paying to foreign films. Volver and Black Book were truely wonderful films and im happy to be adding them to my collection. I have yet to see the Lives of Others but will soon be adding it to the collection as well.

[Josh]

Originally Posted by tvted

Josh,
Slow? I guess you haven't seen WAVELENGTH by Micahel Snow? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavelength_%281966_film%29
One of my faves. I ain't too speedy meself.
Thanks for the PQ/AQ comments though.

No, at it appears I may not want to either

I just felt the film didn't have enough tension or build-up. Things just happened and I really didn't care as to why. It might be my taste, though. Some Japanese films I just can't watch because there is just too much romance. I know that is a cultural thing, but I just can't get used to it.

I knew PQ wasn't going to be great as soon as I saw a dust particle on the opening credits (where the guard is walking down the dark hallway going to the interrogation room). The film just wasn't sharp, and didn't want to pop. Its a good presentation, just nothing that will make you go "wow".

AQ was strong, as usual for a PCM track, but the soundstage was very front heavy. Its mostly dialog, so very little is happening in the background.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by tvted

T

pro-bassoonist,
Though I don't share your feelings with respect to PIRATES et al, VOLVER is on my shelf and I've been wanting to purchase LIVES for a while. I share your desire for non-Hollywood though, I lean toward the non-theatrical (as opposed to cinematic) myself.

Satyajit-Ray, Ozu, - bring em on.

ted

I totally understand, no prob. I am just a bit older I suppose than the average Blu supporter who is currently more interested in films that test the technical muscle of the format. I completely understand that films such as the Pirates, Spiderman, The Fifth Element, etc are more ""exciting" in a way. I understand all that!!

Yet, I and others are more easily "wow"-ed by a stellar presentation of a dialog-driven film than the latest PCM-impressive Blockbuster hit.

As I said, the reason I chose the BLU camp is because I see more potential here for foreign/arthouse cinema to become available on Hi-Def!!

Ciao,
Pro-B

[tvted]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I totally understand, no prob. I am just a bit older I suppose than the average Blu supporter who is currently more interested in films that test the technical muscle of the format.

Pro-B,

I'm betting that you are a whippersnapper compared to me. I can't remember the 60's - nor yesterday for that matter.

Josh,

Snow, being a sculptor and painter makes the type of films that are shown in Art Galleries. My tastes start at film shorts (looking forward to the PIXAR release) inculcated when I first saw the films of Maya Deren (for some reason shown to children at Friday night film nights at our local community centre) when I was 11 or so.

One of my most recent purchases is La Jette by Chris Marker http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Jet%C3%A9e (a French film, Pro-B, btw)
which I will be floored if it ever makes it to HDM. Its a thought provoking film made entirely from stills and should be in any collection of fans of both Art and Sci Fi films.

Unfortunately much of what strikes me deep is unlikely to be available on BD, but I'm lucky enough to have reasonably eclectic tastes which means there are still things to collect.

ted

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by tvted

Pro-B,

I'm betting that you are a whippersnapper compared to me. I can't remember the 60's - nor yesterday for that matter.

Ok, you win!...I am not there yet!

Pro-B

[Blu-Style]

It seems like you can now (or in course of the day) download a trailer from the PS Store...

[tvted]

Originally Posted by Blu-Style

It seems like you can now (or in course of the day) download a trailer from the PS Store...

Thanks for that info but the BD is en route. Now I have to put it in my watch queue which just keeps growing since in the summer I've little time other than working for the man.

ted

[The_Basterd]

I refused to see this film in theaters since it beat Pan's Labyrinth at the Academy Awards. I never would have thought in my wildest dreams El laberinto del fauno would lose the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. My hate for it grew, so I never even watched it when it came to DVD/Blu-Ray.

Now I am finally over it and from what I read it's a very good film.

Is The Lives of Others Blu-ray worth a Blind Buy?

[SleeperAgent]

Originally Posted by The_Basterd

I refused to see this film in theaters since it beat Pan's Labyrinth at the Academy Awards. I never would have thought in my wildest dreams El laberinto del fauno would lose the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. My hate for it grew, so I never watched it when it came to DVD/Blu-Ray.

Now I am finally over it and from what I read it's a very good film.

Is The Lives of Others Blu-ray worth a Blind Buy?

Most definitely. It's a powerful film.

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by The_Basterd

I refused to see this film in theaters since it beat Pan's Labyrinth at the Academy Awards. I never would have thought in my wildest dreams El laberinto del fauno would lose the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. My hate for it grew, so I never watched it when it came to DVD/Blu-Ray.

Now I am finally over it and from what I read it's a very good film.

Is The Lives of Others Blu-ray worth a Blind Buy?

If you ever watched Enemy of the State, it's idea is similar to it, but without all the explosions, Will Smith and MTV editing.

The Lives of Others talks about what the East German government is spying on people, when at the end of it's communism ran government and near the time of the Berlin wall. The film was loved by many, including the right wingers that would have hated it, even Rush Limbaugh himself said he loved it. I thought it was worth seeing it, but Sebastian Koch was the reason to see it.

[ewsjr]

I would grab it as soon as you can. This is a great, great film with one of the best last lines in motion picture history. Deserved that oscar and it's a film you will never get tired of watching. The blu-ray is very nice but the dvd is also excellent if you want to save some money.

[bsweetness]

Without a doubt yes. I too was shocked when it won best picture over Pan's Labyrinth and thought there was no way it could be the better film.

Then I watched it and found that it was indeed the better film, which I didn't expect at all. I started the movie with a grudge against it, but that grudge was severely misplaced.

[jhiggy23]

Not a single person on this site would disagree that this is an absolute must own. Several major critics listed it as the best film of the 2000s, another critic listed it as the best film of the past 25 years. It makes Pan's Labyrinth look like a C movie, it's that good.

[The_Basterd]

Ok... I bought and watched it. It was overall a fantastic film, but I still like Pan's Labyrinth a bit more.