French Connection Region Free !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WVbkelley]

My copy from (UK) Amazon just arrived and clearly on the back of the jacket its labeled ABC regions. Just played in my PS3 Region A player.

It features a new hi-def introduction by director William Friedkin and a commentary and another track with stars Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider recorded for a previous DVD and a fine Fox Trivia Track.

The imagery is top notch without any digital grain removal, so the original grain from the film is there with a super sharp image. The soundtrack is GREAT.

The second disc features six new hi-def documentaries with Friedkin giving a walking tour of the famed chase location. New interviews with Hackman, original NYC cop Grosso and a lot more. Also carry over documentaries from previous DVD collection the BBC doc The Poughkeepsie Shuffle.


Excellent price since the US dollar is much stronger for around $25 including shipping.

[Blu Titan]

This is a much anticipated title for me, but no enough to import. I will jsut wait for the US release in a couple of months. Thanks for the info.

[WVbkelley]

The Color timing has been changed completely for the Blu-ray as Friedkin explains on a short documentary on the second disc.

They scanned the original negative and then use a black and white version of the color to be the new base. Friedkin and his digital partner over saturate the color big time and then defocus that version and then blend about 27% of the color into the new black and white base.

It's a completely different look than the original theatrical version or previous DVDs. The contrast has also been adjusted higher so the highlights are wasted out and has a much deeper black in the shadows. The added contrast amplifies the grain.

I'm guessing some viewers will not like the look, but its a creative choice by the director. He says this is the look he would've used in 1970, but couldn't pull off.

[Pyoko]

As long as the director's the one to make the choice. New scan sounds good, can't wait to see what it looks like.

By the way is the original audio track on there as well, or just the 5.1 DTS-HD MA?

[WVbkelley]

The only English track is the DTS HD 5.1

[keithporter]

Originally Posted by WVbkelley

The Color timing has been changed completely for the Blu-ray as Friedkin explains on a short documentary on the second disc.

They scanned the original negative and then use a black and white version of the color to be the new base. Friedkin and his digital partner over saturate the color big time and then defocus that version and then blend about 27% of the color into the new black and white base.

It's a completely different look than the original theatrical version or previous DVDs. The contrast has also been adjusted higher so the highlights are wasted out and has a much deeper black in the shadows. The added contrast amplifies the grain.

I'm guessing some viewers will not like the look, but its a creative choice by the director. He says this is the look he would've used in 1970, but couldn't pull off.

Friedkin has completely murdered the film by doing this. Why can't these directors leave well alone (Lucas, Coppolla, etc) and stop mucking about with perfection!! Move on and find another job!!

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by keithporter

Friedkin has completely murdered the film by doing this. Why can't these directors leave well alone (Lucas, Coppolla, etc) and stop mucking about with perfection!! Move on and find another job!!

What has Coppola done wrong? The Godfather has never looked better, and do you honestly think that he did Apocalypse Now a disservice by reinstalling the OAR? Seriously?

[Sky_Captain]

Maybe he means Dracula, but I'm not getting into that one.

[keithporter]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

What has Coppola done wrong? The Godfather has never looked better, and do you honestly think that he did Apocalypse Now a disservice by reinstalling the OAR? Seriously?

Adamhopelies have you seen the movie I was discussing? If you had, and watched Friedkin's explanation in the accompanying documentary, you would understand my problem with what he has done.

It was a general comment aimed at the directors who constantly find the need to go back and fiddle with what already are, fantastic films. For example, in ET where Spielberg felt the need to 'CGI' in terrible quality shots of ET or remove guns and replace them with walkie talkies. Another is Ridley Scott who seems to have a need to release 10 different versions of the same movie (it's as if he can't make up his mind!), get it right the first time please!.

There is nothing wrong with remastering a movie, but to take it to a level where the final image appears nothing like the original is sacrilege.

I would rather these talents were spent creating new movies, rather than spending months fannying about with editing old movies to look over-worked or odd.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by keithporter

Another is Ridley Scott who seems to have a need to release 10 different versions of the same movie (it's as if he can't make up his mind!), get it right the first time please!.

I'm all for what Sir Ridley has done with Blade Runner (and to a lesser extent his other Director Cut's). My only gripe is that BR hasn't been released on Blu-ray in it's theatrical (or Director's Cut (which wasn't really a DC to begin with)) version in the UK. We only get the Final Cut. He knows that certain films will have more room to breathe on home video and some theatrical versions will be what is basically a truncated version of the picture (Kingdom of Heaven is one which suffered this fate and the theatrical cut did suffer) due to a theatres demands.

I really don't mind a director going back and fixing a movie as long as the original is widely available or part of the same package. Sir Steven Speilberg recently went on record saying he wouldn't want people to mess with War of he Worlds (the '53) and how he loved that he could see the wires and what effect they had on him as a filmmaker. That he would prefer audiences to watch the original versions of his movies over the CGI enhanced versions. That's fine but the '82 version of ET The Extra Terrestrial is quite had to come by on DVD and you would have to pay a preumium to get it.

If Friedkin believes that what audiences saw during the original French Correction's theatrical run wasn't what he intended then I'm glad with the advent of technology he has the opportunity to change it. Some people will like the changes some will loathe them, that's fair enough. As long as we have the original version to go along side it. Especially when it's films that have been so in-grained into our culture as French Connection.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by keithporter

Adamhopelies have you seen the movie I was discussing? If you had, and watched Friedkin's explanation in the accompanying documentary, you would understand my problem with what he has done.

It was a general comment aimed at the directors who constantly find the need to go back and fiddle with what already are, fantastic films. For example, in ET where Spielberg felt the need to 'CGI' in terrible quality shots of ET or remove guns and replace them with walkie talkies. Another is Ridley Scott who seems to have a need to release 10 different versions of the same movie (it's as if he can't make up his mind!), get it right the first time please!.

There is nothing wrong with remastering a movie, but to take it to a level where the final image appears nothing like the original is sacrilege.

I would rather these talents were spent creating new movies, rather than spending months fannying about with editing old movies to look over-worked or odd.

Yes I have. That, nor anything in the chunk of text you just posted explains what Coppola has done wrong though.

This is what you originally said;

"Why can't these directors leave well alone (Lucas, Coppolla, etc) and stop mucking about with perfection!! Move on and find another job!!"


I understand perfectly where Friedkin and Lucas fit in to your point, but not Coppola, who has done only great things with modern technology.

So, I'll ask again, what has Francis Ford Coppola done wrong?

[Templar]

I got my copy of The French Connection on Monday, and watched it last night. I have to be honest and say i'm a little disappointed in it. I don't have a problem with the colour timing, it's just the grain - it really distracts from the movie. I reckon a little DNR would have helped, just a little.

I'm going to watch the extras, and part II tonight, and if that is just as bad, i'll sell it on eBay.

[Pyoko]

The grain is actually the one thing they got right as they didn't touch it. The problem is that the extreme contrast and processing has greatly enhanced it. I don't think the grain would have appeared anywhere near as problematic if they had left the natural colours in.

[peacekeeper]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

The grain is actually the one thing they got right as they didn't touch it. The problem is that the extreme contrast and processing has greatly enhanced it. I don't think the grain would have appeared anywhere near as problematic if they had left the natural colours in.

+1
You've summed it up perfectly!

[antimatter]

Hey i know this thread is titled french connection region free...And i know someone says that it clearly shows ABC region code on it...I was wondering if the blu set with fc 1&2 on it region free aswell....b/c on here it says it is but on amazon it says region 2....I only ask cuz amazon says thin red line is region 2 and i emailed them and they said it was region 2 not region free...Are they wrong on amazon...or is there a region free and strict region 2 copy of thin red line...just asking...now back to my main question I would like to know if bluray set of FC 1&2 is region free or region 2 b/c amazon has it as r2 and just for further purchases is this a common mistake of amazon mislisting region free discs...Thanks

[keithporter]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

So, I'll ask again, what has Francis Ford Coppola done wrong?

Wow! why so tetchy?!!?! Relax a little will you! It's not life or death - it's just an opinion!

He hasn't done anything wrong, other than the fact that he continues to faff about with his old films, rather than directing any new projects. This in itself is a sin! Directing less than 4 films in a decade; one wonders what masterpieces he may have created, had he not spent all his time revisiting old works......

(Looking forward to the director's cut of 'Jack' by the way )

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by keithporter

Wow! why so tetchy?!!?! Relax a little will you! It's not life or death - it's just an opinion!

He hasn't done anything wrong, other than the fact that he continues to faff about with his old films, rather than directing any new projects. This in itself is a sin! Directing less than 4 films in a decade; one wonders what masterpieces he may have created, had he not spent all his time revisiting old works......

(Looking forward to the director's cut of 'Jack' by the way )

He didn't. He created one different cut from a movie he directed, and that's Apocalypse Now Redux. Oh, and the chronological version of the Godfather saga. That's 2. That's not much, is it?

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by keithporter

Wow! why so tetchy?!!?! Relax a little will you! It's not life or death - it's just an opinion!

He hasn't done anything wrong, other than the fact that he continues to faff about with his old films, rather than directing any new projects. This in itself is a sin! Directing less than 4 films in a decade; one wonders what masterpieces he may have created, had he not spent all his time revisiting old works......

Not tetchy at all, I was just interested in what you were claiming. Tying Coppola in to a rant on digital manipulation seems a little unfair thats all.

Coppola is still very much actively making movies. Last years Tetro was fantastic, and Twixt Now and Sunrise is in post-production as we speak. He's also producing On The Road, which is a project he's shepherded for the best part of 35 years. Lets not forget that he's also producing his daughters very successful work too, as well as overseeing some sublime restoration work on his own classics.

Four films in a decade is not a bad thing. Paul Thomas Anderson has only made 3 films over the last decade. Darren Aronofsky has only done 4 films in the past ten years. In fact, none of the directors nominated for this years Oscar for Best Director have made 4 films over the last decade, aside from the Coen's. For a 72 year old Coppola is actually fairly prolific (and this isn't even taking in to account his other businesses).

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by KubrickFan

He didn't. He created one different cut from a movie he directed, and that's Apocalypse Now Redux. Oh, and the chronological version of the Godfather saga. That's 2. That's not much, is it?

Indeed. The Godfather TV saga was cut alongside the third film too, almost 20 years ago. And Apocalypse Now Redux was over ten years ago now too (which makes me feel old!).

Hardly continuing "to faff about with his old films" like the ill-informed OP put it.

[Templar]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

The grain is actually the one thing they got right as they didn't touch it. The problem is that the extreme contrast and processing has greatly enhanced it. I don't think the grain would have appeared anywhere near as problematic if they had left the natural colours in.

^ Nicely said.
I put the DVD on to have a look the other night, and while there is plenty of grain in it, it just doesn't distract you as much as the grain on the BR. I was going to sell the set, but Part II is not as bad, and the extras are good, but i am going to keep the DVD though!