Anchor Bay: Alejandro Jodorowsky

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Lino · #201 Post by **Lino** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:17 am

And I'm already in love with the artwork:

Time to move/close this thread/discussion into the Anchor Bay one?

dx23 · #202 Post by **dx23** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:28 pm

Great news. I just hope that the subtitles are in white and not the traditional Anchor Bay yellow.

jmj713 · #203 Post by **jmj713** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:32 pm

Anchor Bay will release a special limited edition collector's box set, The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky, on DVD on 5/1 (SRP $49.98). The set will contain El Topo, The Holy Mountain and Fando Y Lis on DVD, fully restored and remastered from new HD transfers in anamorphic widescreen video, with Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 audio. The box set will also include 2 music CDs containing the soundtracks for El Topo and The Holy Mountain, as well as a DVD of Jodorowsky's never-before-released first film, La Cravate. El Topo and The Holy Mountain will also be available separately (SRP $24.98 each). The El Topo DVD will contain audio commentary by the director, the original theatrical trailer (with English voice-over), a 2006 on-camera interview with the director as well as an exclusive new interview, a photo gallery and original script excerpts. The Holy Mountain DVD will include audio commentary with the director, deleted scenes with commentary, the original theatrical trailer (with English voice-over), the Tarot short with commentary, a restoration process short, restoration credits, a photo gallery and original script excerpts. Fando Y Lis will include audio commentary with the director and the La Constellation Jodorowsky documentary. Subtitles on the discs will be available in English, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.

(Via Digital Bits.)

Anonymous · #204 Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:35 pm

Midnight Movie Glory. I'm very happy to see this finally getting released.

Michael · #205 Post by **Michael** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:49 pm

Amazing! But where's Santa Sangre?

Gigi M. · #206 Post by **Gigi M.** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:02 pm

Ashirg wrote:I hope they don't drop the ball like they did with recent Argento titles and will transfer films progressively.

I think they will do a wonderful job, same as they did with the recent Wenders films. This is the best news for me since Ugetsu was announced over a year ago. What a shame that Santa Sangre is not included, it has the best score by Jodo. But what a price!!!

jt · #207 Post by jt » Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:04 pm

For those of us who are unfamiliar with Jodorowsky, would this set be a good start?

jmj713 · #208 Post by **jmj713** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:25 pm

I'm also unfamiliar, but I'm a great fan of surrealist cinema. Reading up about the films incuded, I've concluded that his best films are collected here, and for the price you can't beat this. This news has really excited me.

Cobalt60 · #209 Post by **Cobalt60** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:30 pm

Best news of 2007 so far, and something that I have personally been anticipating for a long, long time. This should be strong contender (IMO) for DVD of year and a slam dunk for cult DVD of the year (if such a catagory exists) Also, check Creation books site they are now taking pre-orders for a limited edition of their new Jodorowsky book, signed and numbered (1-50) by the man himself.

And ABCKO has dates listed on their site for theaters that are showing El Topo and/or Holy Mountain in 2007. I am gonna have to drive 3 hours to Austin but it will be well worth it.

Its FINALLY going to be a great year for Jodorowsky fans.

Cobalt60 · #210 Post by **Cobalt60** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:43 pm

Michael wrote:Amazing! But where's Santa Sangre?

I also wish that Santa Sangre was included, however I would recommend the 2-disc Region 2 as a nice subsisitute until a nice Region 1 is available. Its very reasonably priced, anamorphic, includes the "La Constellation Jodorowsky" documentary, commentary and a short film by one of his sons. Its a great value for the money and gets Santa Sangre on your shelf.

toiletduck! · #211 Post by **toiletduck!** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:59 pm

Jodorowsky sounds like the sort of thing I should, in accordance with my other tastes, love but that will actually leave me cold. But anyone with a working relationship with Arrabal can't be all bad, and both El Topo and Holy Mountain are coming to Chicago next month, so my fingers are crossed. I would really like to enjoy this.

-Toilet Dcuk

vogler · #212 Post by **vogler** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:16 pm

toiletduck! wrote:Jodorowsky sounds like the sort of thing I should, in accordance with my other tastes, love but that will actually leave me cold. But anyone with a working relationship with Arrabal can't be all bad, and both El Topo and Holy Mountain are coming to Chicago next month, so my fingers are crossed. I would really like to enjoy this.

Jodorowsky's films are incredibly entertaining and very enjoyable. I think some people may not like them because they try to over-analyse them. There's a lot of stuff in these films that just doesn't make sense but that's the beauty of it. I got the impression that on the commentary track on the Fando & Lis dvd Jodorowsky was making up a lot of the symbolic meanings as he went along (I could be wrong though - and please inform me if you think I am). I think it more likely that these films are largely filled with imagery that defies logic and exploded from Jodorowsky's subconscious and imagination in a totally intuitive, non-academic fit of creativity. Those seeking perfect intellectually considered symbolism will likely be disappointed, but those who want to see breathtaking imagery and the unbridled and pure creativity of one mans wild imagination and psyche will be amazed. Actually I think Jodorowsky is in many ways very close to the spirit of true surrealism.

Having said that I don't quite rank him alongside Fernando Arrabal but he's not far off and this box set will sit very nicely on the shelf next to the Cult Epics Arrabal set.

Michael · #213 Post by **Michael** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:34 pm

For those of us who are unfamiliar with Jodorowsky, would this set be a good start?

I'm also unfamiliar, but I'm a great fan of surrealist cinema. Reading up about the films incuded, I've concluded that his best films are collected here, and for the price you can't beat this. This news has really excited me.

I've seen all Jodorowsky films and love every one of them but Santa Sangre is easily my favorite. This film may not reach the visual splendor of Jodorowsky's 70s films but it's the only one in his oeuvre that has a beating heart. I own two copies of Anchor Bay UK's Santa Sangre DVD (utterly gorgeous transfer and everything) and that was released quite a while ago so I can't figure out why it's taking so long for Anchor Bay US to release Santa Sangre. It's making me think maybe Eclipse will release it someday.

Barmy · #214 Post by **Barmy** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:41 pm

WARNING: the touring edition of "El Topo" is projected digitally. I don't know whether it is from a DVD or some other form of digital projection. It looks very good, for digital projection. But it is not "film", and, particularly for a movie of this type, something is inevitably lost in translation.

Regarding "Holy Mountain", this screened at NYFF in a very good, but not pristine, 35mm print. Unlike "El Topo", "Holy Mountain" did not tour to New York. So I am not sure whether the touring "Holy Mountain" will be projected digitally or not.

Quot · #215 Post by **Quot** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:37 pm

Michael wrote:Amazing! But where's Santa Sangre?

I contacted Anchor Bay last year about this. They said that they had secured UK rights only and had no immediate plans for North America. However, I could see the success of this box set changing those plans.

vogler · #216 Post by **vogler** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:51 pm

Michael wrote:
For those of us who are unfamiliar with Jodorowsky, would this set be a good start?
I've seen all Jodorowsky films and love every one of them but Santa Sangre is easily my favorite. This film may not reach the visual splendor of Jodorowsky's 70s films but it's the only one in his oeuvre that has a beating heart.

For me personally Santa Sangre doesn't even come close to the three films featured in this set - for me they are the three great Jodorowsky films. I understand that quite a few people feel Santa Sangre is his best though. It certainly has a more coherent narrative but for the most part it leaves me cold. I find that it is too close to being a horror genre film and therefore lacks much of Jodorowsky's personal visionary artistic style. To me it feels that Jodorowsky was restricted with this film and unable to express many of the ideas that run through what I consider to be his best work and it feels very conventional in comparison. I think Fando & Lis, El Topo and The Holy Mountain are the definitive Jodorowsky films and make a very nice set of three. The single dvd of Santa Sangre is a great disc though and I'm very glad to own it.

Lino · #217 Post by **Lino** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:54 pm

Quot wrote:
Michael wrote:Amazing! But where's Santa Sangre?
I contacted Anchor Bay last year about this. They said that they had secured UK rights only and had no immediate plans for North America. However, I could see the success of this box set changing those plans.

The ming boggles as to why they decided against including it on this set. I would rather have it as part of it than those 2 soundtrack CDs. Easily.

And vogler, I agree that this set will make a nice little companion to the Arrabal one. But be sure to book yourself in advance to a rehab Hospital because you just won't be the same after this kind of experience!

Cinephrenic · #218 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:19 pm

Santa sangre? Severed Heads short??

DrewReiber · #219 Post by **DrewReiber** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:40 pm

Cinephrenic wrote:Santa sangre? Severed Heads short??

And Tusk?

Is it me, or does anyone else get the feeling that these titles might still reside with Criterion? I seem to recall them all being specifically mentioned as being prepared through the label back when they had the Jodorowsky films now slated for release by Anchor Bay.

solaris72 · #220 Post by **solaris72** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:35 pm

Cinephrenic wrote:Santa sangre? Severed Heads short??

La Cravate is the Severed Heads short. See here.

THX1378 · #221 Post by **THX1378** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:54 pm

Best news so far this year. I'm headed to San Fran for the 9:30 screening of El Topo tonight. Wish to hell that I had time to stick around til Sunday to see Holy Mountain. Also, someone over on DVDtalk said that Santa Sangre is owned by MGM here in the states? Does that make sence to anyone?

DrewReiber · #222 Post by **DrewReiber** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:19 am

THX1378 wrote:Also, someone over on DVDtalk said that Santa Sangre is owned by MGM here in the states? Does that make sence to anyone?

I don't know, but I looked up the old VHS copy from 1990 and apparently Republic Pictures was distributing it. The Republic library rights issue is so complicated I got confused, lost and bored pretty quickly. Last thing I remember was that Paramount and Lionsgate were duking it out over the catalogue. Anyone know what's going on with that?

And who owns the R1 rights to Tusk? Anyone?

zombeaner · #223 Post by **zombeaner** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 3:44 am

Cobalt60 wrote:And ABCKO has dates listed on their site for theaters that are showing El Topo and/or Holy Mountain in 2007. I am gonna have to drive 3 hours to Austin but it will be well worth it.

Its FINALLY going to be a great year for Jodorowsky fans.

I'm considering driving the 3 hours to Austin as well, are you in Dallas by any chance?

Cobalt60 · #224 Post by **Cobalt60** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:49 pm

zombeaner wrote:
Cobalt60 wrote:And ABCKO has dates listed on their site for theaters that are showing El Topo and/or Holy Mountain in 2007. I am gonna have to drive 3 hours to Austin but it will be well worth it.

Its FINALLY going to be a great year for Jodorowsky fans.
I'm considering driving the 3 hours to Austin as well, are you in Dallas by any chance?

Yeah, I'm in Dallas. And I am really surprised that it is not scheduled at the Inwood, Magnolia or Angelika.

zombeaner · #225 Post by **zombeaner** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:00 am

Cobalt60 wrote:Yeah, I'm in Dallas. And I am really surprised that it is not scheduled at the Inwood, Magnolia or Angelika.

This city has no culture that isn't manufactured. I'm disappointed that it isn't playing here, but not surprised by any means.

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Anchor Bay: Alejandro Jodorowsky