The Studio Canal Collection, September 23 - JB exclusive Options

[matthewa]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

And the fashion

Cliff Robertson's comb-over and coat being prime examples!

Saw them in jb in Sydney this morning, thought the cover art / cases looked ordinary for a collector's series. Each to there own. I must ask though I have read many threads in which people rate RAN would love it if you guys could either provide some insight I to these movies either here or in yoracs review thread

[Daniel P]

So how does the Deer Hunter release stack up against the other Blu-Ray release for PQ? I bought that one a few months back, don't want to upgrade. Don't care about extras, just PQ and AQ - are they any different?

Am interested in Belle de Jour also, and possibly Le Mepris.

Also, how does the Marienbad release stack up with the Criterion Blu for PQ?

[Daniel P]

So how does the Deer Hunter release stack up against the other Blu-Ray release for PQ? I bought that one a few months back, don't want to upgrade. Don't care about extras, just PQ and AQ - are they any different?

Am interested in Belle de Jour also, and possibly Le Mepris.

Also, how does the Marienbad release stack up with the Criterion Blu for PQ?

bump for my questions above, can nobody comment?

[SDL]

Haven't seen them, but having watched both 3 Days of the Condor and RAN, I wouldn't be expecting too much from this collection. RAN is better than 3 Days in PQ and AQ but nothing special. I don't think this collection appears to be any more than some movies that have been put on Blu-Ray due to their cinematic or director impact, they don't appear to have had any special treatment from the two I have seen. I probably won't get anymore especially. However at $22+ I guess I may pick up Elephant Man just as something to have, not expecting it to be a great copy.

This post has been edited by SDL: Sep 30 2009, 11:18 AM

[ajm]

Haven't seen them, but having watched both 3 Days of the Condor and RAN, I wouldn't be expecting too much from this collection. RAN is better than 3 Days in PQ and AQ but nothing special. I don't think this collection appears to be any more than some movies that have been put on Blu-Ray due to their cinematic or director impact, they don't appear to have had any special treatment from the two I have seen. I probably won't get anymore especially. However at $22+ I guess I may pick up Elephant Man just as something to have, not expecting it to be a great copy.

I'm afraid I have to agree with SDL on this. Doesn't seem like any love has been put into these beyond the packaging - which I could live without.

[Daniel P]

I had thought as much, but I think I read somewhere that Belle de Jour + Le Mepris were surprisingly great, and that Deer Hunter was at least on par with the Universal release forPQ/SQ plus extras... same goes for Elephant Man compared to the HDDVD...

Might just buy Belle or Elephant anyway, and see how it is for myself... not gonna buy more than one of them without reading more about their quality tho, cz like you guys I am a bit skeptical...

[cinemanfan123]

It doesn't seem to be like the Criterion blu-rays unfortunately, which you really can blind-buy in terms of PQ/SQ. I bought Ran and the picture is pretty disappointing for a blu-ray especially when projected. At least we aren't restricted to importing these from the U.K I guess which was an initial concern.

Going by the comments this series really does seem to be one where you should wait for the reviews first.

This post has been edited by gooball: Sep 30 2009, 01:04 PM

[ajm]

I had thought as much, but I think I read somewhere that Belle de Jour + Le Mepris were surprisingly great, and that Deer Hunter was at least on par with the Universal release forPQ/SQ plus extras... same goes for Elephant Man compared to the HDDVD...

Might just buy Belle or Elephant anyway, and see how it is for myself... not gonna buy more than one of them without reading more about their quality tho, cz like you guys I am a bit skeptical...

Fair enough. At $23 I'd be prepared to take a punt on the PQ and AQ if the movie is something I really want to own.

[Daniel P]

Well that is the thing, the pricetag is very tempting. I just am a bit tight on cash at the moment, and there are a couple of other titles I am after also :S

I really want to read a review on Elephant Mand and Belle de Jour, but can't find any yet.

EDIT - found this on the HDdigest forum, the best info I have come across so far:

Ran: plays fine on the regio A player. Can't compare the pic to what's already out there but it's very soft in the long shots, and looks like it comes from a print that was definitely a few steps removed from an original source: some scenes are fine, but it hardly qualifies as BD, more like an upscale of a not very nice print. The pic also doesn't fully fill out the left side of the screen, which is the first time I've seen this with a BD: normally the full width of the screen is used (full hd plasma setting on no overscan).
image 4/10

Elephant Man: plays fine on the region A player. Image is very good, but it comes from a not pristine print, definitely an older master. Edge enhancement is visible, but grain is preserved. This pic also doesn't fully fill out the left side of the screen.
image 7/10

The Deer Hunter: plays fine on the region A player. Image is a quantum leap over the existing Universal region 1 dvd, with terrific colour detail and preserved natural looking grain. Some scenes in the mountains are just stunning. However, lots of edge enhancement which gives the picture a slightly digital look that surely can be bettered.
image 8/10

Belle De Jour: although it doesn't seem to play at first on the region A player, and returns to the BD screensaver, once I hit the top menu button on my remote it starts normally like all the other discs. Seems to have a glitch finding the start menu by itself. Once you're in the menu everything works like it should. Pic is outstanding, a little contrasty and drained of colour, but that may als be a stylistic choice. Grain is fully present, and the 1.66:1 ratio is fully adhered too.
image 9/10


**and 2 reviews from dvdtimes.co.uk:

http://dvdtimes.co.uk/content/id/71544/le-mépris.html

http://dvdtimes.co.uk/content/id/71584/the...arina-blum.html



This post has been edited by Daniel P: Sep 30 2009, 02:48 PM

[XxDeadlyxX]

Interested in Elephant Man, the HD-DVD only had a DTS-HD stereo mix that had cracks and pops... I'm assuming the DTS-HD 5.1 mix on this BD is much better?

[Daniel P]

Well, I bit the bullet on Belle de Jour, and man it looks gorgeous! Full of texture detail throughout, and incredibly clean and sharp. A layer of grain, to be expected, and the colours looked pretty good. At times there was a bit of saturation flickering, but that was the only flaw.

Although, a menu pops up asking which country you are from, and selecting Australia I couldn't get any English subs to work. I thought it didn't have them, but went back to the top menu and selected England, and that fixed it. The audio was great, although I only listened to the core dts on my PS3 (no HDMI on receiver).

Definitely worth the $23 for such a brilliant film looking fantastic. Haven't checked the extras yet.

Now I have to decide if I will buy Le Mepris, or hope that Criterion will be releasing it some time soon.

[SDL]

Although, a menu pops up asking which country you are from, and selecting Australia I couldn't get any English subs to work. I thought it didn't have them, but went back to the top menu and selected England, and that fixed it. .

LOL, it didn't offer German did it? The French know we are the country on the other side of Switzerland to them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Daniel P]

LOL!!

Nah it had an English audio dub and no subs at all... I couldn't select English subs from the pop up menu either, the only way it worked was to select England!

[GrantleyBuffalo]

EDIT - found this on the HDdigest forum, the best info I have come across so far:

Ran: plays fine on the regio A player. Can't compare the pic to what's already out there but it's very soft in the long shots, and looks like it comes from a print that was definitely a few steps removed from an original source: some scenes are fine, but it hardly qualifies as BD, more like an upscale of a not very nice print. The pic also doesn't fully fill out the left side of the screen, which is the first time I've seen this with a BD: normally the full width of the screen is used (full hd plasma setting on no overscan).
image 4/10

That's really, really disappointing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

The Deer Hunter: plays fine on the region A player. Image is a quantum leap over the existing Universal region 1 dvd, with terrific colour detail and preserved natural looking grain. Some scenes in the mountains are just stunning. However, lots of edge enhancement which gives the picture a slightly digital look that surely can be bettered.
image 8/10

Slightly more heartening, but I'll need to see/hear some opinions on the audio before taking the plunge.

Also: is anyone else a little peeved that the titles on the spine are 'upside-down'? Or am I the only anal-retentive around here? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Daniel P]

I own the Universal Deer Hunter, not sure if the reported pitch problem is on that one also... I never notice these kind of things... but the PQ is fantastic, and this new release is identicle apparently.

I hadn't noticed the spine, I am with you it $hit$ me when they do that!

This post has been edited by Daniel P: Oct 1 2009, 11:57 AM

[roger_the_lodger]

Well, I bit the bullet on Belle de Jour, and man it looks gorgeous! Full of texture detail throughout, and incredibly clean and sharp. A layer of grain, to be expected, and the colours looked pretty good. At times there was a bit of saturation flickering, but that was the only flaw.

Although, a menu pops up asking which country you are from, and selecting Australia I couldn't get any English subs to work. I thought it didn't have them, but went back to the top menu and selected England, and that fixed it. The audio was great, although I only listened to the core dts on my PS3 (no HDMI on receiver).

Definitely worth the $23 for such a brilliant film looking fantastic. Haven't checked the extras yet.

Now I have to decide if I will buy Le Mepris, or hope that Criterion will be releasing it some time soon.

Le Mepris transfer looks great, take the plunge.

[roger_the_lodger]

I hadn't noticed the spine, I am with you it $hit$ me when they do that!

Every french import from Studio Canel i have ever had has had the spine reversed like that... and since this is a french manufactured multi country release its not that surprising they did this.

But i agree very annoying.

[Daniel P]

I ahve a few DVDs like that too, it always annoyed me, and I put the DVD upside down on my shelf lol

Even The Terminator Region 4 DVD was like that from memory! wtf?!?

Le Mepris transfer looks great, take the plunge.

Yeah, I am very tempted, especially after watching Belle de Jour... I just wonder if Criterion will release it, I don't want to start double dipping on Blu-Rays :S


EDIT - Contempt is OOP from Criterion, so they will not be releaseing it on Blu unless they get the rights back. Studio Canal it is then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

This post has been edited by Daniel P: Oct 1 2009, 02:28 PM

[SimonB]

I've just finished watching 3 Days of the Condor. In my opinion, great PQ especially given the age of the film (1975, making it 34 years old). However, the DTS-MA soundtrack is totally wasted. It sounded to me almost like a mono soundtrack. But, that said, it was not a bad movie and interesting to see the bleeding edge technology used (such as an analogue telephone exchange and an acoustic coupler).

Interesting to watch, but I would recommend as a rental.

[crey014]

The idea is good, but the quality of the cases might be hard to maintain. Studiocanal release, eh... Amelie soon perhaps? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)