Artificial Eye / Curzon Film World

[sevenarts]

Just noticed that AE has released a box set collecting their two Ozus and their two Mizoguchis. I know their transfers on these aren't optimal, but is there any possibility that this is a new remaster, or just a repackaging job?

[Apu]

And in addition to that: Does anyone know if it's the four keepcases in a box?

[Rsdio]

Slim cases according to DVD Times, it's a good deal even though I have the Criterion of Floating Weeds already.

[Michael Kerpan]

Slim cases according to DVD Times, it's a good deal even though I have the Criterion of Floating Weeds already.

These are all bad to marginal transfers.

[Rsdio]

I didn't say they weren't, I was just answering Apu's question. At £4 per film it's still good value, it's the only way to go for the two Mizoguchi films at the moment isn't it?

[Michael Kerpan]

I didn't say they weren't, I was just answering Apu's question. At £4 per film it's still good value, it's the only way to go for the two Mizoguchi films at the moment isn't it?

I think these (mediocre at best) DVD are (unfortunately) the only English-subbed versions of the two Mizoguchi films. But since the two Ozu DVDs are near worthless, you are actually paying about £8.50 per Mizoguchi film. ;~}

[Awesome Welles]

I think these (mediocre at best) DVD are (unfortunately) the only English-subbed versions of the two Mizoguchi films. But since the two Ozu DVDs are near worthless, you are actually paying about £8.50 per Mizoguchi film. ;~}

£8.50 for the Mizoguchi's is still quite good and you do get two bad Ozu's free.

The only thing (I own this set too) is that if I ever decide to buy one of the films else where I can't really get rid of the duplicate as it's a slim case and will be worthless on it's own. Something to consider when purchasing. And just to confirm these are not new masters it's a repackaging job. I don't think AE do remasters.

[MichaelB]

This isn't a particularly big deal, and certainly shouldn't put anyone off buying the third Kaurismäki volume - but I've just noticed that Artificial Eye's copy of the Jonathan Ross documentary runs more than five minutes shorter than my old taped-off-the-telly version.

Closer examination reveals that all the clips from I Hired A Contract Killer have been removed, along with the surrounding context.

I suspect rights clearance problems - which would also explain why that film is the only one missing from Artificial Eye's otherwise admirably comprehensive sets.

[Tim]

Has the subtitling problem at the end of Ariel been fixed?

[MichaelB]

Has the subtitling problem at the end of Ariel been fixed?

Neither of the lengthy reviews I've read (DVD Times/DVD Outsider) has mentioned it, so I'm guessing yes - it's really painfully obvious on the Swedish disc, so it's unlikely either Artificial Eye or the reviewers would have missed it.

(I don't have the first AE Kaurismäki box, so I can't check myself - I only have a review copy of the third).

[zedz]

Thanks for the correction (I'd read that it was documentary-style and misremembered it) and recommendations - I might well splash out on this if it gets reduced at some point. Anyone seen Germany in Autumn?

I've now seen the ad for this and I have to correct my "correction". The extra film is a documentary, but it's not by Fassbinder. It's the confusingly-titled I Don't Just Want You to Love Me, and I think it's various collaborators reminiscing. On the plus side, you won't have to buy the set to get a great missing Fassbinder film, on the minus side, I Only Want you to Love Me remains AWOL.

[foggy eyes]

Has the subtitling problem at the end of Ariel been fixed?

I'm guessing yes - it's really painfully obvious on the Swedish disc, so it's unlikely either Artificial Eye or the reviewers would have missed it.

What was this problem? I don't have the AE disc at hand to check, but no significant problem jumped out at me whilst viewing...

[MichaelB]

What was this problem? I don't have the AE disc at hand to check, but no significant problem jumped out at me whilst viewing...

On the Scandinavian DVD of Ariel (distributed by Sandrew Metronome), the subtitles slip out of sync towards the end - if I remember rightly, they appear one subtitle earlier than required. And in a film with such sparse dialogue, this really sticks out like a sore thumb (especially as one of the affected areas is the bit where 'Over the Rainbow' is sung in Finnish).

I'm guessing that the Artificial Eye DVDs were sourced from the same masters, but it seems that they've either generated their own English subtitles or fixed the Ariel problem.

[foggy eyes]

I'm guessing that the Artificial Eye DVDs were sourced from the same masters, but it seems that they've either generated their own English subtitles or fixed the Ariel problem.

Yes, it's been fixed.

[Don Lope de Aguirre]

It seems that the AE DVD of Alain Resnais Coeurs does not include the interview featured on the French R2 DVD...I very much hope I am mistaken but if true this is a rather deflating omission.

[What A Disgrace]

Commence girlish squealing now.

Les Vampires

[denti alligator]

Commence girlish squealing now.

Les Vampires

Finally!!! But, still a long, long wait.

[domino harvey]

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

[denti alligator]

Such a response would only be appropriate if we saw some Feuillade heitherto unavailable on DVD finally make an appearance.

[HerrSchreck]

Has anyone really waited all these years and said NO to LES VAMPIRES? Theres not much difference between the discs, and the Gaumont is untinted also. There's no diff in PQ at all-- there was no "new restoration" visible.

This is going to be a subbed port of the Gaumon discussed here, but without the book I'd imagine. I didn't see any specs listed in the above link. But i'd imagine in terms of PQ & overall pre entation of the film/transfer, it's the transfer talked about here by Rosenbaum. Unless you want to read the electronic French subs in particular.. (In Denti's-- and French-speakers-- terms I can fully understand.)

Reminds me where *cough* SOMEONE said over on another thread that those who waited all this time to buy Dreyer's JOAN don't deserve it now.

[domino harvey]

lol luv u guys

I waited because I knew Artificial Eye would be coming and then I waited and waited and now my wait is over. Pardon my enthusiasm, I think it was that 82nd YES that really pressed everyone's buttons!

[tavernier]

No, I think it was the 217th.

[Petty Bourgeoisie]

Well, speaking for myself, I had to wait about one year to purchase Les Vampires because it was OOP in R1 and the French R2 wasn't subtitled (as well as being $90). The Image version has only been available again for a few weeks. Prior to that, sellers of used copies were skewering fans who would pay top dollar to get it.

Having said that, I won't spring for the AI because I'm halfway through the Image set (quite addictive) and I've grown accustomed to the tinting. Excellent essay ("The Public is My Master") in the Image edition as well.

I did recently purchase AI's Fantomas at herrschreck's command but I haven't gotten around to watching it yet.

[denti alligator]

Schreck, you sure the Gaumont is untinted? Why?

Isn't the Gaumont/AI Fantomas tinted? (I believe it is.)

[HerrSchreck]

GAUMONT


SHEPARD/IMAGE


GAUMONT


SHEPARD/IMAGE

Based on Kisayders caps, who has the Gaumont. I can't see why they'd leave these two interiors untinted... though one never knows.

Sure, the FANTOMAS absolutely is tinted.