Reds: Initial thoughts - Blu-ray Forum

spf781 · 11-04-2006, 12:03 PM

I got hold of a Blu-Ray copy of the Warren Beatty film "Reds" this past week and took a quick glance at it on Thursday (I plan on watching it the film today). I have to say that along with "M:I-III", Paramount is really starting to deliver some VERY nice Blu-Ray transfers. Granted, it's not the video and audio experience that "M:I-III" is, but for a 25-year old film, it looks pretty damn gorgeous.

There are a few very grainy scenes I noticed here and there, but that isn't a defect of the disc. The colors are rich, blacks solid and deep and I was hell-bent to see any macroblocking or compression artifacts in the background.

The 5.1 remixed sound is good. It's a mostly front-channel, dialogue-driven track, but it sounds fine. And, the original Mono track has also been included as well (haven't listened to that yet, just the 5.1).

The extras are on disc two and comprise of 70 minutes of interviews with Beatty, Nicholson and a few other cast and crew members and studio execs who were at Paramount back when the film was made. Also included is a pretty lousy, made-for-DVD trailer that is best left skipped.

So, if you are a fan of the film, as I am, you should be quite pleased with the disc. It's a great transfer and the extras are actually worthwhile.

phloyd · 11-04-2006, 04:53 PM

Is it a single or two discs?

spf781 · 11-04-2006, 05:35 PM

Two discs. Disc one has the first half of the film (about 103 minutes) that concludes at the intermission. Disc two is the second half of the film (about 72 minutes) and all of the extras.

EDIT: the second half of the film runs 92 minutes, not 72. My mistake.

Ascended_Saiyan · 11-05-2006, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spf781

Two discs. Disc one has the first half of the film (about 103 minutes) that concludes at the intermission. Disc two is the second half of the film (about 72 minutes) and all of the extras.

EDIT: the second half of the film runs 92 minutes, not 72. My mistake.

Why didn't they just put this on a 50GB disc? They are trying to play it too fair for HD-DVD.

spf781 · 11-05-2006, 02:54 PM

The HD DVD is on two discs as well. It has a forced intermission and Beatty wanted all DVD versions put on two discs. No one got a single disc release. And, after 103 information-crammed minutes, you are going to need a quick break.

GoldenRedux · 11-05-2006, 03:59 PM

This release is part of an order/pre-order I have in at Amazon. As I have the option set to ship all at once, the entire order isn't scheduled to despatch until mid-December or so.

If my Panny finally decides to show up from Abt, however, I may change the option to ship as available, and swallow the higher shipping costs.

I am glad to hear that Reds is a decent release, but I don't understand why with BD-50 available, they would make this a two disc set with intermission - it defeats the purpose. The only acceptable reason, I suppose, is the one given that Beatty wanted it that way across the board, but I still don't have to like it. Too bad he couldn't be convinced otherwise. I don't need an intermission to tell me when I need a break.

KenThompson · 11-06-2006, 03:13 AM

Not interested in this one but why wouldn't they have used a bd 50,changing the disc half way thru would bug me, just like Pearl Harbour in standard dvd did

Chris Beveridge · 11-06-2006, 02:27 PM

It's been discussed elsewhere, but this is the first home video that Beatty has actively participated in. At least, in as strong a role as he has now. With this being one of his films that's close to him, he wanted it to retain the feel of the theatrical and has made sure that the intermission was broken between two discs - on both formats and probably the DVD as well. Agree or not, his intent was to provide the break that you got theatrically to digest what has come before just before going into the second half.

It's not a format issue though. Previous films with intermissions were generally single discs and you could "chapter" through them, which removed the proper effect. This forces it.

Deciazulado · 11-06-2006, 02:43 PM

The disc is in in OTIE then!

(Original Theatrical Intermission Experience

)

But did they put in the closing of the dark red curtains?

One day we'll have BD 5-disc changers too. So it'll just be a few seconds pause away if you want to, instead of that trip to the kool fridge.

theknub · 11-06-2006, 03:21 PM

be like me and have a mini fridge full of beer (and other assorted alcoholic beveridges) and no problem with the disc switch

Gulf Western · 06-24-2010, 03:10 PM

Not much love for this film I guess...Paramount took forever to release it and now it looks like it's OOP. I guess that's why I haven't seen copies of it anywhere.

BaronVH · 06-24-2010, 04:25 PM

Somehow I have never seen this movie. Question for those that have: does everybody in the film speak English or do we get Russian with subtitles at appropriate places?

Beta Man · 06-24-2010, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaronVH

Somehow I have never seen this movie. Question for those that have: does everybody in the film speak English or do we get Russian with subtitles at appropriate places?

There is Russian w/ subs, in addition to English.

Kory · 06-24-2010, 04:50 PM

Does anyone who owns this happen to have one of the gold Academy Awards slipcovers for it?

DJ Manyak · 06-24-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kory

Does anyone who owns this happen to have one of the gold Academy Awards slipcovers for it?

it doesn't exist

Clark Kent · 06-24-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gulf Western

Not much love for this film I guess...Paramount took forever to release it and now it looks like it's OOP. I guess that's why I haven't seen copies of it anywhere.

Paramount did not put a lot of effort into releasing it. It is not the drastic upgrade some BDs are from DVD, and I believe it contains lossy audio.

gd16 · 08-07-2011, 12:57 AM

Is this now OOP?

HonestJohn · 08-07-2011, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gd16

Is this now OOP?

At these prices, it better be .....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000IOM0YC/sr=/qid=/ref=olp_tab_new?ie=UTF8&coliid=&me=&qid=&sr=&selle r=&colid=&condition=new

JohnCarpenterLives · 09-19-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gd16

Is this now OOP?

Jumped on here to find this out. I'll check BestBuy, and if they have it i'm grabbing it. Along with Collateral

nelly_platinum · 02-25-2012, 03:33 AM

for those looking for this oop film its pretty cheap on amazon and 3rd party sellers aswell

http://www.amazon.com/Reds-Anniversa...0144324&sr=1-1

11-04-2006, 12:03 PM	#1
spf781 Power Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:742 Evergreen Terrace Springield, USA 4K collection:520 Blu-ray collection:793 MA collection:200 Digital collection:5 iTunes collection:315 Trading Score:4	Reds: Initial thoughts I got hold of a Blu-Ray copy of the Warren Beatty film "Reds" this past week and took a quick glance at it on Thursday (I plan on watching it the film today). I have to say that along with "M:I-III", Paramount is really starting to deliver some VERY nice Blu-Ray transfers. Granted, it's not the video and audio experience that "M:I-III" is, but for a 25-year old film, it looks pretty damn gorgeous. There are a few very grainy scenes I noticed here and there, but that isn't a defect of the disc. The colors are rich, blacks solid and deep and I was hell-bent to see any macroblocking or compression artifacts in the background. The 5.1 remixed sound is good. It's a mostly front-channel, dialogue-driven track, but it sounds fine. And, the original Mono track has also been included as well (haven't listened to that yet, just the 5.1). The extras are on disc two and comprise of 70 minutes of interviews with Beatty, Nicholson and a few other cast and crew members and studio execs who were at Paramount back when the film was made. Also included is a pretty lousy, made-for-DVD trailer that is best left skipped. So, if you are a fan of the film, as I am, you should be quite pleased with the disc. It's a great transfer and the extras are actually worthwhile. Last edited by spf781; 11-04-2006 at 12:05 PM. Reason: Missed some info from the back of the DVD jacket. D'oh!

11-04-2006, 05:35 PM	#3
spf781 Power Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:742 Evergreen Terrace Springield, USA 4K collection:520 Blu-ray collection:793 MA collection:200 Digital collection:5 iTunes collection:315 Trading Score:4	Two discs. Disc one has the first half of the film (about 103 minutes) that concludes at the intermission. Disc two is the second half of the film (about 72 minutes) and all of the extras. EDIT: the second half of the film runs 92 minutes, not 72. My mistake. Last edited by spf781; 11-05-2006 at 01:21 AM.

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
Input on my initial setup	Newbie Discussion	canuckle	3	11-19-2008 06:51 PM
Initial D	Blu-ray Movies - North America	J_Lee87	15	02-26-2008 05:05 PM
Initial D?	Blu-ray Movies - North America	ToDieFor	6	02-19-2008 08:42 PM
Bill Hunt's initial thoughts on Star Trek HD DVD	General Chat	sj001	13	11-15-2007 02:24 PM

11-04-2006, 04:53 PM	#2
phloyd Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2003 Location:California Trading Score:5	Is it a single or two discs?

11-05-2006, 02:54 PM	#5
spf781 Power Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:742 Evergreen Terrace Springield, USA 4K collection:520 Blu-ray collection:793 MA collection:200 Digital collection:5 iTunes collection:315 Trading Score:4	The HD DVD is on two discs as well. It has a forced intermission and Beatty wanted all DVD versions put on two discs. No one got a single disc release. And, after 103 information-crammed minutes, you are going to need a quick break.

11-05-2006, 03:59 PM	#6
GoldenRedux Power Member Member since:Sep 2006 Blu-ray reviews:1	This release is part of an order/pre-order I have in at Amazon. As I have the option set to ship all at once, the entire order isn't scheduled to despatch until mid-December or so. If my Panny finally decides to show up from Abt, however, I may change the option to ship as available, and swallow the higher shipping costs. I am glad to hear that Reds is a decent release, but I don't understand why with BD-50 available, they would make this a two disc set with intermission - it defeats the purpose. The only acceptable reason, I suppose, is the one given that Beatty wanted it that way across the board, but I still don't have to like it. Too bad he couldn't be convinced otherwise. I don't need an intermission to tell me when I need a break.

11-06-2006, 03:13 AM	#7
KenThompson Power Member Member since:Sep 2006 Location:B.C. Canada	Not interested in this one but why wouldn't they have used a bd 50,changing the disc half way thru would bug me, just like Pearl Harbour in standard dvd did

11-06-2006, 02:27 PM	#8
Chris Beveridge Moderator Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Hudson, MA Blu-ray reviews:3	It's been discussed elsewhere, but this is the first home video that Beatty has actively participated in. At least, in as strong a role as he has now. With this being one of his films that's close to him, he wanted it to retain the feel of the theatrical and has made sure that the intermission was broken between two discs - on both formats and probably the DVD as well. Agree or not, his intent was to provide the break that you got theatrically to digest what has come before just before going into the second half. It's not a format issue though. Previous films with intermissions were generally single discs and you could "chapter" through them, which removed the proper effect. This forces it.

11-06-2006, 02:43 PM	#9
Deciazulado Site Manager Top contributor Member since:Aug 2006 Location:USiberia Home Theater Gallery:6 4K collection:1160 Blu-ray collection:7047 DVD collection:4044	The disc is in in OTIE then! (Original Theatrical Intermission Experience ) But did they put in the closing of the dark red curtains? One day we'll have BD 5-disc changers too. So it'll just be a few seconds pause away if you want to, instead of that trip to the kool fridge.

11-06-2006, 03:21 PM	#10
theknub Blu-ray Guru Member since:May 2006	be like me and have a mini fridge full of beer (and other assorted alcoholic beveridges) and no problem with the disc switch

06-24-2010, 03:10 PM	#11
Gulf Western Member Member since:Jun 2010 Location:New York, NY Blu-ray collection:130	Not much love for this film I guess...Paramount took forever to release it and now it looks like it's OOP. I guess that's why I haven't seen copies of it anywhere.

06-24-2010, 04:25 PM	#12
BaronVH Power Member Member since:Oct 2007	Somehow I have never seen this movie. Question for those that have: does everybody in the film speak English or do we get Russian with subtitles at appropriate places?

06-24-2010, 04:50 PM	#14
Kory Banned Member since:Nov 2009 Location:Michigan Blu-ray collection:1060 Trading Score:7	Does anyone who owns this happen to have one of the gold Academy Awards slipcovers for it?

08-07-2011, 12:57 AM	#17
gd16 Junior Member Member since:Sep 2010 4K collection:586 Blu-ray collection:4186 DVD collection:278 Digital collection:1298	Is this now OOP?

02-25-2012, 03:33 AM	#20
nelly_platinum Banned Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Location:??? Blu-ray collection:438 Trading Score:19	for those looking for this oop film its pretty cheap on amazon and 3rd party sellers aswell http://www.amazon.com/Reds-Anniversa...0144324&sr=1-1

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals