Godard on DVD and Blu-ray

[accatone]

King Lear is imo the first DVD release - not sure about Loin du Vietnam - however great news!

[stereo]

Loin du Vietnam had a gorgeous Japanese DVD release; as did Vent d'est; no Eng. subs on either though.

[Sanjuro]

Loin Du Vietnam just reached the top of my rental queue, so it's good to hear the Japanese disc is nice. Anyone know of any English subtitles floating around the net?

[domino harvey]

While diggin for some more Nanni Moretti i just found this to be released in August http://www.ibs.it/dvd/8010312084812/pet ... -lear.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Great!

106 mins?!

[Oedipax]

Has anyone in the U.S. ordered from ibs.it before? Or if not, can anyone recommend a good Italian DVD site for U.S. customers? JLG's King Lear has grown into one of my favorites, and I've been desperate for a DVD for a while now.

Edit: Went ahead and ordered from ibs.it. Pretty straightforward, translate.google.com can help you out if you get confused. They do deliver to the U.S. Total came out to 23.40 euros or about $33.31 US.

Forced subs aren't a concern, there's software to deal with that, but I'll be peeved if the transfer is crap or the subs are burned in (or it's dubbed)... But here's hoping for the best!

[vertovfan]

The subs are burnt in (rather than forced) on the Italian Loin du Vietnam. I made English subs for the Japanese Loin du Vietnam and Vent d'est, though, if anyone is interested.

[justeleblanc]

The subs are burnt in (rather than forced) on the Italian Loin du Vietnam. I made English subs for the Japanese Loin du Vietnam and Vent d'est, though, if anyone is interested.

I would love them!

[Wu.Qinghua]

I'd be interested in the subtitles for both films too. Is it possible to download them someplace?

[Oedipax]

Well, King Lear arrived from ibs.it today. First, the good news: in terms of transfer quality, this is a big improvement over the VHS. It's not a knockout fantastic transfer, but it's perfectly acceptable with good detail and nice colors (and it's progressive). You have the option of either Italian or English menus, as well as an Italian mono soundtrack and an English stereo track, plus Italian or English subtitles (which are not forced). Running time is 87 minutes, which seems correct. Also, while the DVD case states that it's region 2, it appears to be region 0. It's a DVD5.

Now, for the bad news: it's cropped to 1.85:1. Perhaps this is how the film was shown theatrically, but its true ratio is certainly 1.37:1. As cropped widescreen transfers go, this one is at least 16x9 enhanced. But it seems we have another annoying Nouvelle Vague / For Ever Mozart type situation here. If MGM / 20th Century Fox have plans to put this out in the U.S., it's time to start a letter writing campaign.

[Oedipax]

Some screen comparisons for the new King Lear DVD vs. an old VHS copy.

[accatone]

Thanks Oedipax!

Image looks indeed much better (but i have in mind that my "rip" does not look that bad…hhmmm?).
On the other hand the cropping is of course awfull.

[domino harvey]

Dear lord in heaven, if that DVD wasn't cropped it'd be the most important release of the year. Look at that clarity! GODDAMMIT ALL TO HELL, MGM

[dubrosa]

I'm currently looking at purchasing the 2-disc Cahiers du cinéma release of 'Passion' / 'Nouvelle Vague'.

In order to justify the 30 euros and postage and conversion to the Australian dollar what Extras do these discs include?
I already have the Studio Canal Region 2/4 'Passion' release with it's meagre special features.

Can anyone who owns this help me out? I assume it has English subs? Does it include the 2 Passion 'Scenarios'?

Thanks,
V

[Oedipax]

Passion and Nouvelle Vague are both subtitled in English on the Cahiers release. The only extras are PDFs of some interviews/articles on each film taken from various Cahiers issues - all of it in French; video scenario for Passion not included.

Also, Nouvelle Vague is presented in a 16x9 enhanced widescreen transfer, whereas the film is really meant to be (like all post-67 Godard) academy 1.37:1. But it remains, to my knowledge, the only way to see Nouvelle Vague on DVD. It's still worth it, IMO.

[dubrosa]

Thanks for your info. I suspected as much. At least the texts are on a PDF and not crappy on-screen text like the Optimum titles.

I've found a decent US source for this with better bang for my Aussie $ so I'll bite the bullet and get this package. Only because 'Nouvelle Vague' might fall off the edge of the DVD world much like 'For Ever Mozart' seems to have.

Also the 16:9 aspect cropping is highly infuriating in all cases but after watching the new Italian MGM 'King Lear' release (www.ibs.it did fantastic job getting it too me BTW) I realised that it isn't completely hopeless and better than my 3rd gen VHS dub and the chance of another release by a good studio like Criterion or MoC is very unlikely in the near to far future.

Cheers, V

[dubrosa]

Madman Australia look to be re-packaging old titles in the new designed "Director's Suite" format

'Vivre Sa Vie' being the first instance in their Godard titles:
http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalo ... ethod=view

Nice, I still like the older version too though. Looks to be exactly same disc contents (from memory) and the 2006 release date quoted would confirm this. A very nice PAL edition BTW.

[James]

Why not just hold out for the inevitable Criterion? I would have to guess it is even going to be released on Blu-ray.

[dubrosa]

Unless Criterion actually release some post-'68 Godard I don't give a damn about Criterion releases IMHO. Especially Region-coded Blu-Ray discs.

Madman's 'Vivre Sa Vie' is simply lovely. The transfer is perfectly fine and the subs and translation excellent. I don't need another disc of extras which will invariably only be a Colin MacCabe introduction and an essay and some interviews. And I don't need it in Blu-Ray either (especially not in the wrong Region).

Here's few essential non-obvious Godard films Criterion NEED to release to get me excited:

- A Dziega Vertov Project boxset
- Ici Et Ailleurs
- Numero Deux
- Soft And Hard
- King Lear (w/ Meetin' WA)
- Soigne Ta Droite
- Nouvelle Vague
- JLG/JLG
- For Ever Mozart
- Moments Choisis

That's what I would love to to expect Criterion will "inevitrably" release. Instead it will be another '60's film probably. Hopefully 'Weekend' if anything.

.V

[justeleblanc]

I'd be happy with a new MY LIFE TO LIVE as long as it contains ANTICIPATION. I'd also be happy with a new ALPHAVILLE as long as it contains SLOTH and GERMANY YEAR 99 ZERO.

ECM, who already produced a DVD/Book with four of his later video shorts, apparently owns the rights to many of his other films, or at least can get the rights from Godard without too much trouble being that a) they have a close relationship with Godard and b) they own the rights to the music he uses in those films. This also includes NOUVELLE VAGUE.

[accatone]

ECM, who already produced a DVD/Book with four of his later video shorts, apparently owns the rights to many of his other films, or at least can get the rights from Godard without too much trouble being that a) they have a close relationship with Godard and b) they own the rights to the music he uses in those films. This also includes NOUVELLE VAGUE.

Sorry Juste, but where do you have this info from? I never heard something like ECM is holding rights to JLGs films? What films by the way? The cooperation on the sound is exeptional (just take a look on who wrote the opening text to the 40 years of ECM book Horizons Touched and what Eicher himself is pointing out in the following text…). Gimme some kind of proove for your suggestions - because even though i have been in contact with someone from ECM - none of these rumors occured to my ears…

[justeleblanc]

I emailed ECM a while ago, maybe in 2007, and I asked about whether or not they would release other shot films of his, and I mentioned Nouvelle Vague by name. ECM's response was that while they had 'access' to these films that they do want to release another set, they aren't working on it anytime soon.

I thought I mentioned this already, but I might have been mistaken.

[Petty Bourgeoisie]

I'm really undecided whether to purchase the Italian DVD of King Lear. On one hand, this could be the only release to appear for several years. On the other hand a region 1 or 2 might be announced tomorrow.

Some late Godard is "inevitable" on Criterion????? What titles have been bandied about? I've never heard about this. (Edit: I see now that it was Vivre Sa Vie which was said to be inevitable. Not any later Godard works.)

[dubrosa]

Some screen caps of the Cahiers Du Cinema/Why Not Productions 2-disc Godard releases to compare:

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/vie ... 72#p262972

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/vie ... 82#p262982

.V

[dubrosa]

Comparison screen caps of 'Passion' DVD releases:

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/vie ... 70#p263270" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

.V

[accatone]

The Fleischer doc.: http://www.amazon.fr/Morceaux-Conversat ... 05&sr=8-14" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;