120 / BD 46 Die Nibelungen

[peerpee]

Tell us about it! - I postponed a late 2006 release of the SD master because this HD master was in the works. If I could go back in time, I'd obviously have pushed forward with the SD master on DVD.

[Der Spieler]

What's taking so long? You're waiting for Germany to move?

[peerpee]

The initial wait was the HD restoration, now the delay is waiting for Germany to release it. They don't want anybody to release it before them -- which I can understand, because they still haven't released METROPOLIS in Germany.

[Der Spieler]

What the hell are they waiting for?

[peerpee]

They're yet to release anything under the terms of a new distribution deal (that I know nothing about). So they're probably having to put a production team in place or something -- no idea.

[Der Spieler]

Well thanks for the update anyhow. I hope we get this soon!

[Dick Laurent]

The Metropolis blu is comming soon in germany, maybe Niebelungen is following soon.
here

[zola]

HD restored version will be broadcast on Arte tomorrow for those who don't want to wait 6+ months to check :)

starts @ 20h40, and the movie is followed by a documentary @ 1h15am

[Mozart]

The HD restauration of the 2 films starts at 8:15pm MEZ on Arte Germany, it is televised on Arte France at 8:40pm MEZ.

What an surprising highlight. My digital videorecorder is programmed!

...and later substituted by the MoC BRs!

Cinema showing with live piano was already on 21.09.2011 in Strasbourg, France:

[zola]

the first 4 shots after credits (live dsl capture, cropped black/jpg 90% compression with shotwell) :)

[rwaits]

Holy smokes. That is beautiful.

[LouieD]

Any update on this?

[TMDaines]

It's coming in time for Christmas, I believe.

[swo17]

Yep.

[Calvin]

Out in October in separate 2-disc Blu-Ray and 2-disc DVD editions.

[Minkin]

Gosh damn, finally. Feels like it's been waiting all my life to come.

Now, if they will only include the Gaylord Carter organ score, I will be forever content. (Pssst, MOC, just include it, you know you want to).

[TMDaines]

My most anticipated release of the year! Cannot wait for this! MoC and Weimar cinema is a great combination.

[Minkin]

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Long-awaited HD restoration of the film by Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung, with its original frame-rates and in its original aspect-ratio, in 1080p on the Blu-ray
• Newly translated optional English subtitles for the original German intertitles
• New one-hour documentary on the restoration of the film
• Lavish 56-page booklet with new and vintage writing, rare archival stills, and more!

Well, that's rather disappointing. Perhaps it was the years of hype, but I expected a lot more of this release. I know the booklet will be excellent, but only a restoration documentary? No interviews or discussions on the film (one could have a field day with the Nazi links)? What about that missing scene that was uncovered (where Brunhilde shows up at the end with a spear)? Yeah, I know it was a longshot, but no Carter organ score? (he uses a more Wagner rendition, which makes for an interesting issue - especially in regards to its' later implications a few years later - still it's sad to see the man get continuously shafted over the years. Yeah, original score exists, but Criterion included the Glass score on Beauty and the Beast, and it seems most silents have several scores - one could even look to the latest dvd release of Metropolis).

Last complaint- it does seem odd to not give any special edition to this release. I mean, Testament of Dr. Mabuse gets a steelbook, but nothing here? Sure, this film doesn't have the popularity of Metropolis, but I would have at least expected something.

Yeah, I should be happy with the new restoration and the booklet, but this hardly seems to be the release we were all waiting for.

/ranting

And yes, I'll still buy several copies of this thing, cause I love the film enough.

[Matt]

In a way, the fact that it is finally coming out is the special edition.

[Dick Laurent]

Yes, can't wait for this, this will be glorious. One of the biggest releases this year.
The 1 hour docu is more then enough for me. I just want this baby in HD.
Thanks MOC

[MichaelB]

I can't fathom how someone could regard a one-hour documentary and a 56-page booklet as short change.

Especially given the length of the main feature (or rather features).

[Bürgermeister]

I don't even think they've announced the score for this yet? So I don't see why someone could be angry about that.

I can't fathom how someone could regard a one-hour documentary and a 56-page booklet as short change.

I guess because it doesn't come in a steelbook, you know packaging is more important than content these days.

[TMDaines]

I know what Minkin is getting at. It's nice to have the film at last but it's not exactly a stacked package in terms of extras. Not too many MoCs seem to be though nowadays. I would love to get some interviews or video essays, which don't seem to be as frequent anymore.

[Tommaso]

Like with "Metropolis", FWMS/Transit may have more extra material than they were willing to give to MoC. That one hour documentary is a good one, though. It has already been shown on German TV, and apart from the "Nibelungen" material there were tantalising excerpts from the unreleased resto of Gerlach's "Grieshuus"...

[HJackson]

I can't fathom how someone could regard a one-hour documentary and a 56-page booklet as short change.

Especially given the length of the main feature (or rather features).

I think Minkin would be happy with an hour long documentary if it was about the film and its content rather than the restoration effort. I'm not that concerned about extras personally (I'll watch them, but it's never make-or-break and they just seem like a bonus rather than a necessity), but I don't think a long video about restoring the film is of much interest to lots of people.