385 Army of Shadows

[arsonfilms]

Was this ever released in a digipak or just in a regular keepcase?

It's always been a keepcase.

[swo17]

Now it's being released in a Blu-ray case.

[HistoryProf]

I wonder if they'll start lowering the prices of 2 discers like this one now that they are on Blu ray - or if that will only apply to future releases.

[zedz]

Those of us who remember the good old days of the full-price, bare bones, non-anamorphic High and Low have an idea. (Actually, are those bare bones Leans still $39.95?)

[Napier]

Those of us who remember the good old days of the full-price, bare bones, non-anamorphic High and Low have an idea. (Actually, are those bare bones Leans still $39.95?)

Ah, the good old days. And yes, those Leans are still $39.95. I've actually come to grips with the fact that 90% of the Criterion catalog will be upgraded. I have yet to have a problem actually selling the SD DVD's. Someone even bought my non-anamorphic Charade just last week, from this very forum.

[HistoryProf]

Well the Blob was reduced to $29.95 without an upgrade...so who knows what their plans are. They are the only dvd company in the U.S. that has never lowered the price of their DVDs though. they should do it after 5 years at the least. At some point they aren't doing themselves any favors by keeping boxes of General Idi Amin Dada in the warehouse. drop em to $19.95 and watch them fly!

[movielocke]

Well the Blob was reduced to $29.95 without an upgrade...so who knows what their plans are. They are the only dvd company in the U.S. that has never lowered the price of their DVDs though. they should do it after 5 years at the least. At some point they aren't doing themselves any favors by keeping boxes of General Idi Amin Dada in the warehouse. drop em to $19.95 and watch them fly!

that may have to do with print runs, the price change. They say that dvd replicating costs have fallen, so if they're out of dvds and have print a new run they may as well price them similarly. perhaps that will happen with other catalog dvds that they run out of stock on.

[MitchPerrywinkle]

I'm really glad to hear this is coming out on Blu-ray. I watched about a good half of it (never got around to finishing it, sadly), but what I saw was electrifying and haunting. I was amazed at just how new this film looks. It could have been made last week.

Either way, I find that this is as good an excuse as any to finish it come January.

[daniel p]

One that I have most been waiting for on Blu-ray, can't wait to revisit in HD!

So is this the only Melville that Studio Canal didn't 'snatch away'? I know Le Cercle Rouge and Bob Le Flambour, but how about Le Samourai? Is that still a possibility for Criterion Blu?

[knives]

Le Samurai and Le Deuxieme Souffle are from Editions Rene Chateau, not SC. Army of Shadows is still a bit of a question mark, though. It's officially licensed via Rialto (and this Blu does suggest that things are out of SC's hands), but several others fit that same situation. Some one with the DVD might be able to read the fine print.

[Brian C]

While it is licensed from Rialto, the copright is attributed to "StudioCanal Image/Fono Roma (Italie)", and there's a StudioCanal logo stamped on the bottom. It's unquestionably an SC-held title.

I can only assume that Rialto's license extends far enough into the future that Criterion decided a BD release was worthwhile. Regardless of the reason, though, I didn't think it would happen and perhaps because of that, I'm irrationally thrilled to see it given an upgrade. This is one of my very favorite films, and as terrific as the Criterion DVD is, I'm more than happy to double-dip.

[captveg]

While it is licensed from Rialto, the copright is attributed to "StudioCanal Image/Fono Roma (Italie)", and there's a StudioCanal logo stamped on the bottom. It's unquestionably an SC-held title.

I can only assume that Rialto's license extends far enough into the future that Criterion decided a BD release was worthwhile.

Ditto. That simply has to be the situation with the licensing.

[Adam X]

and damnit, of course I only just bought the DVD. curse my need to remove the shrink wrap when getting it in the mail - I could've just returned it!
ah well, if they release Crash on BD, all will be forgiven... [-o<

[dad1153]

...if they release Crash on BD, all will be forgiven...

It's out on Blu already:



(wink, wink)

[rrenault]

One that I have most been waiting for on Blu-ray, can't wait to revisit in HD!

So is this the only Melville that Studio Canal didn't 'snatch away'? I know Le Cercle Rouge and Bob Le Flambour, but how about Le Samourai? Is that still a possibility for Criterion Blu?

Le Cercle Rouge is still in print. Only Bob Le Flambeur seems to have been snatched away by Studio Canal.

[Minkin]

Beaver on the Blu upgrade

[souvenir]

Beaver on the Blu upgrade

Interesting that the color timing has been tweaked from the DVD transfer.

[HistoryProf]

wow....that looks like a huge improvement due to the infinitely more natural color timing. so glad I ditched the sDVD to upgrade this one.

[Finch]

I just finished the Blu: it's the third time I've seen this film now (firmly established as my second favourite Melville) and it remains as indelible and emotionally draining as ever. I don't agree though that the Blu represents a huge improvement over the DVD (which in turn was itself only marginally superior to the BFI): colour and finer grain reproduction are the only real noticeable/significant benefits, other than having the film AND the extras all on one disc. If you are not hugely passionate about the film and not the most ardent videophile, you'd probably be just as happy with the DVD. I don't mean to sound negative though: it's still a good release to have, especially for Melvillians like me, but I can't see this getting too many end of year votes.

[cdnchris]

Blu-ray

[swo17]

Forum members rate this film 5/10?

[Napier]

Forum members rate this film 5/10?

The user ratings don't seem to be working properly.

[cdnchris]

THought I fixed that. It's an issue where the Blu-ray and DVD's film scores aren't being averaged together (since theoretically they should be the same film) It looks like only one person voted for the Blu-ray and didn't care for it much.

[Brian C]

Question about the film:

I'm listening to the Vincendeau commentary, and it seems that she gets one plot point very wrong. It's something I feel I've read in a couple of other places, too (don't recall where), and have always thought was wrong. And now watching it again, I'm convinced that I'm right, but since it seems a somewhat common belief I thought I'd ask for other takes. Maybe I'm just seeing things wrong. Anyway, she says a couple times that

Spoiler

Jean François never learns that his brother is in the Resistance. But this isn't true - he ferries his brother to the submarine that is going to London right before we (the audience) learn that Luc is the Chief.

I always felt like this made Jean François's later sacrifice all the more meaningful, because not only would he be thought of as a deserter by Gerbier and Mathilde, but his own brother - who he idolized - would not only never know what he did but also probably think less of him.

It also, while re-watching the film, comes across as a kind but phenomenally risky move by Gerbier to put them together in that boat, although I suppose it's possible that he simply doesn't know that Jean François and Luc are brothers.

[Sloper]

Spoiler

I never thought that Jean-François knew it was St. Luc with him in the boat; his interior monologue implies otherwise, and it would make sense for the 'top man' in the Resistance to disguise his identity except with those he most trusted. When Jean-François says, 'The top of the pyramid meets its base; interesting mathematics; I must discuss it with St. Luc after the war', this might possibly be a subtle hint that he recognises his brother, but I find that a bit 'cute' and think it's much more dramatically satisfying to see it as ironic. It contributes to the sense of alienation that pervades all the relationships in the film - it's a situation where two brothers can be working side by side and not know each other, where the leader of the Resistance seems to be the person most completely detached from worldly cares, where the most heroic figures can be regarded as traitors, and where the Resistance end up killing one of their own just in case she gives them away; and of course, they think they 'know' that Mathilde would want to be gunned down, but her reaction when they encounter her on the street clearly indicates that she doesn't. But the moment in the boat is certainly open to interpretation.