Second Sight Films (UK)

[Matt]

Absolutely unwatchable.

[tavernier]

yikes--I forgot how awful that is

[ellipsis7]

For what it's worth, the critical quotes cherrypicked by Second Sight for this release...

'Modesty Blaise is, like Rolls-Royces,built to last.’ Time out

‘Gloriously camp caper that superbly captures the mod-mad pop art times.’ Film4.com

...so bad, it's good?...

[swo17]

How many times does Matt have to say it?

[ellipsis7]

Yes, it obviously is something of a train crash, but I'll leave the last word to that Film 4 review...

Although intended by highbrow director Joseph Losey to be an arch comment on the crassness of popular culture, Modesty Blaise is just too ridiculously daft, perverse and incoherent to be taken seriously. But for archivists in search of wiggy trash it ranks as a must-see.

[Matt]

Even "wiggy trash" is overselling it. Any Doris Wishman or Andy Milligan film is more entertaining and more competently made.

[domino harvey]

It's pretty bad. Just watch CQ instead

[martin]

I like the film:


It's certainly over the top with Vitti is appering in new outfits in almost every frame - without bringing any luggage with her! The humour is awkward and awfully bad at times, but the film has it's own peculiar charm. And the popart like outfits and designs are quite cool.

[ellipsis7]

The MB film and release by SS is deemed worthy of an OK review by Kate Stables in November ish of Sight and Sound, hence my raising the topic in the first place...

[JeanRZEJ]

I'm not going to vouch for the quality of Modesty Blaise, but I can say that Second Sight seem to have moved onto more promising ventures. I was just checking their page and found that they have announced a restored edition of The Color of Pomegranates, a film with many worldwide editions and all of them lacking. Hopefully this one will prove definitive.

[MichaelB]

I'm not going to vouch for the quality of Modesty Blaise, but I can say that Second Sight seem to have moved onto more promising ventures. I was just checking their page and found that they have announced a restored edition of The Color of Pomegranates, a film with many worldwide editions and all of them lacking. Hopefully this one will prove definitive.

I'll believe it when I see it - the cynic (and realist) in me suspects it'll merely be a clone of the Ruscico edition, and it's probably safe to expect that unless otherwise advised. Unless they've done a deal with Armenfilm for the so-called "director's cut", but this will virtually guarantee that the visual quality will be very poor.

The definitive Pomegranates release would include both versions (in recognition of the inescapable fact that source materials for the Soviet cut are in far better physical condition), but I understand that a serious attempt was made to compile just such an edition a few years back before foundering in the middle of a rights and materials minefield.

But believe me, I'd love to be proved wrong!

[eerik]

Few weeks ago I asked Second Sight about the possible Blu-ray release of Les yeux sans visage and they said it's not planned at the moment But they also said they have Blu-rays of Les enfants du paradis and Carmen scheduled for this year.

[zonk]

Do you possibly own Second's Sights release of "Burnt by the Sun?" And if so, could you tell me how it compares to the awful Sony release.

Thanks Tim

[MichaelB]

Not at all bad, if I remember rightly - the only peculiarity I recall is that the titles were in French, but the transfer was a lot better than the Sony if framegrabs were any indication. It certainly seems to be the best current English-friendly edition.

[skeets kelly]

does anyway have the picnic at hanging rock blu?

my player won't play the special features (i get nothin' but a blank screen), just wondering if this is a known issue.

[rainerc]

does anyway have the picnic at hanging rock blu?

my player won't play the special features (i get nothin' but a blank screen), just wondering if this is a known issue.

I have it and the extras play fine.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Sounds like a standards issue to me. The special features are in PAL so they won't work on all players/displays.

[skeets kelly]

Sounds like a standards issue to me. The special features are in PAL so they won't work on all players/displays.

my player converts PAL, though, which is why i think this strange.

[David M.]

Which player is it? It may play "PAL" DVD but won't necessarily play the 50hz parts of BDs.

[eerik]

Few weeks ago I asked Second Sight about the possible Blu-ray release of Les yeux sans visage and they said it's not planned at the moment. But they also said they have Blu-rays of Les enfants du paradis and Carmen scheduled for this year.

Carmen has been announced for 18th July.

[skeets kelly]

Which player is it? It may play "PAL" DVD but won't necessarily play the 50hz parts of BDs.

wha?

[David M.]

A player that can play "PAL" (720x576) video from a DVD won't necessarily be able to do the same thing when it's playing a Blu-ray Disc.

[MichaelB]

I'm not going to vouch for the quality of Modesty Blaise, but I can say that Second Sight seem to have moved onto more promising ventures. I was just checking their page and found that they have announced a restored edition of The Color of Pomegranates, a film with many worldwide editions and all of them lacking. Hopefully this one will prove definitive.

I'll believe it when I see it - the cynic (and realist) in me suspects it'll merely be a clone of the Ruscico edition, and it's probably safe to expect that unless otherwise advised. Unless they've done a deal with Armenfilm for the so-called "director's cut", but this will virtually guarantee that the visual quality will be very poor.

The definitive Pomegranates release would include both versions (in recognition of the inescapable fact that source materials for the Soviet cut are in far better physical condition), but I understand that a serious attempt was made to compile just such an edition a few years back before foundering in the middle of a rights and materials minefield.

But believe me, I'd love to be proved wrong!

Well, I'm guardedly optimistic that I might indeed be proved wrong - a friend who's seen the new master says that it's a definite advance on the Ruscico edition, and the extras (which include a 75-minute documentary) sound mouthwatering.

[jsteffe]

Realistically, I think there is only so much anyone can do with the The Color of Pomegranates given the state of the physical materials and the available video masters. The film needs a full-scale digital restoration. But if the Second Sight DVD at least looks better than the RUSCICO edition, that will be a plus.

I suspect that Levon Abrahamian will have some fascinating (and hilarious!) stories about the film on the audio commentary track. He was friends with Parajanov and was present for a significant portion of the shoot.

[MichaelB]

Oh, I'm not under any illusions whatsoever that it'll look pristine or anywhere close - but it seems to me that every existing edition has specific defects that are relatively easily correctable.

If Second Sight addresses those problems and genuinely presents the materials in the best possible way that they can, I'll be cheering them from the rafters.