New Australian DVD and BD Releases

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Geoff · #276 Post by **Geoff** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 1:22 pm

Does anyone have more info on the Region 4 release of Zhang Yimou's Raise The Red Lantern and Ju Dou,

http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Discs/Disc.asp?ID=19870

It's being released by Rajon Vision

http://www.rajon.com.au

I'm hoping the transfers will be better that the shocking recent "Razor" reissue, but after a little research I believe that the releases will be direct copies of the Razor releases, just with different cover art.

devlinnn · #277 Post by **devlinnn** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 9:52 pm

Solaris wrote:What are the exact extras on each Bergman disc? I can't find any info online, not even the coverart. According to ezydvd they are "non-orderable".

Also, any news on Hail Mary?

Exact extras for the Bergmans -

Smiles... - 'Ingmar Bergman' by Peter Cowie; Photogallery; Filmography
C&W - ditto
WS - ditto, plus Cowie commentary.

Hail Mary is out next week.

Ezy-who?

daniel p · #278 Post by **daniel p** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:31 pm

Geoff wrote:Does anyone have more info on the Region 4 release of Zhang Yimou's Raise The Red Lantern and Ju Dou,

http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Discs/Disc.asp?ID=19870

It's being released by Rajon Vision

http://www.rajon.com.au

I'm hoping the transfers will be better that the shocking recent "Razor" reissue, but after a little research I believe that the releases will be direct copies of the Razor releases, just with different cover art.

Ju Dou? On region 4? I'm there... I already have Red Lantern, but would be nice to double dip on this one, although might not happen - if has a bad transfer. Well, they both appear to lack 16x9, so most likely bad transfers.
I had no idea these 2 were coming to region 4. Damn, where do you guys find all these upcoming releases out?

Gordon · #279 Post by **Gordon** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:31 am

davidhare wrote:Gordon - live dangerously!

"Believe me! The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously!"
- Nietzsche

Yeah, yeah, Fred, but you never had to double-dip on a DVD with a $30 Criterion edition. Back to your cave, Fred - you too, Hare!

Solaris · #280 Post by **Solaris** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:39 am

devlinnn wrote: Exact extras for the Bergmans -

Smiles... - 'Ingmar Bergman' by Peter Cowie; Photogallery; Filmography
C&W - ditto
WS - ditto, plus Cowie commentary.

Hail Mary is out next week.

Ezy-who?

Hmm, besides the audio commentary on Wild Strawberries, Hopscotch have not taken any of the extras from the Criterion discs. I for one, however, do admire the coverart they use for the Bergman releases.

Shock's website list no info about Hail Mary, and Umbrella's site hasn't been updated in nearly a year.

In regards to Ezydvd - they seem to list less and less DVDs these days. The recent releases by Umbrella (A Wedding, Cat O Nine Tails) and Warner Ryan's Daughter, Dog Day Afternoon) are all absent from their site. Strangely, they list both Europa and Totally F**ked Up as MRA releases.

Sadly, for any other fans of The Fly films, 20th Century Fox will not be releasing the seven disc box set. They have released both Cronenberg's 1986 film and its sequel in two disc sets and will be releasing The Curse of the Fly later this month. Both The Fly (1958) and The Return of the Fly have been out of print since 2003. Fox however, will be releasing Rodgers And Hammerstein Anniversary Collection a tweleve disc set.

Siren will be releasing the highly controversial Cannibal Holocaust in April, it was submitted to the OLFC last year, yet to be confirmed if it is indeed the original uncut film.

devlinnn · #281 Post by **devlinnn** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 12:58 am

Solaris wrote:
Shock's website list no info about Hail Mary, and Umbrella's site hasn't been updated in nearly a year.

In regards to Ezydvd - they seem to list less and less DVDs these days. The recent releases by Umbrella (A Wedding, Cat O Nine Tails) and Warner Ryan's Daughter, Dog Day Afternoon) are all absent from their site. Strangely, they list both Europa and Totally F**ked Up as MRA releases.

Well, if Accent have chosen MRA as their new distributor, they have seriously mistaken who and what they are. Hopefully this is just an error on Ezydvd.

Umbrella have had little reason to update the website. Indocine and Full Body Massage, as well as Masters of Horror, are their April releases. Thank the heaven's for AV Channel.

I'm so-so about the Bergman cover art. Poor Victor looks like he's having trouble finding the bus stop home, and while I'm all for adult thumbsucking, I'd have chosen a better image for Cries and Whispers.

devlinnn · #282 Post by **devlinnn** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 1:25 am

Yes, The Big Heat has never been released locally, along with many other Columbia Classics. But I still have hope - The More the Merrier and Bye, Bye Birdie have been on my list for yonks, but I refuse to pay top US$$$ on these.

artfilmfan · #283 Post by **artfilmfan** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 3:52 am

The Australian DVD of An Autumn Afternoon: My pre-ordered set has just arrived. Just like I did with the Tartan/UK release of their "Noriko Trilogy", I again wasted money on this R4 release, one that is as problematic as the Tartan "Noriko Trilogy": full of ghosting, making me feel dizzy when I watch it.

King of Kong · #284 Post by **King of Kong** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 7:07 am

Very nice there, dave.

godardslave · #285 Post by **godardslave** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 7:08 am

King of Kong wrote:Very nice there, dave.

it's the film which is beautiful. such cinematic genius, lynch creates.

Solaris · #286 Post by **Solaris** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 6:30 am

More upcoming R4 Lynch - Universal will be releasing a Special Edition of Wild At Heart in May. Here's hoping it will be the same as the MGM R1 Lynch approved version.

Rufus T. Firefly · Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:51 am

Geoff wrote:Does anyone have more info on the Region 4 release of Zhang Yimou's Raise The Red Lantern and Ju Dou,

I'm hoping the transfers will be better that the shocking recent "Razor" reissue, but after a little research I believe that the releases will be direct copies of the Razor releases, just with different cover art.

The Rajon Vision release of RTRL I saw in a store today had the Razor logo on the back cover. It also indicated that it is an NTSC transfer, so I'd say that it is a good bet that it is a direct port of the Razor.

Geoff · #288 Post by **Geoff** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:43 am

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:
Geoff wrote:Does anyone have more info on the Region 4 release of Zhang Yimou's Raise The Red Lantern and Ju Dou,

I'm hoping the transfers will be better that the shocking recent "Razor" reissue, but after a little research I believe that the releases will be direct copies of the Razor releases, just with different cover art.
The Rajon Vision release of RTRL I saw in a store today had the Razor logo on the back cover. It also indicated that it is an NTSC transfer, so I'd say that it is a good bet that it is a direct port of the Razor.

I'm not surprised.

Where did you see it for sale?

It isn't supposed to be released until the 13th?

Geoff · #289 Post by **Geoff** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:59 am

do any of you Sydney people know of any film socities to join so that I can talk to people about film in real life?

Geoff · #290 Post by **Geoff** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:42 am

davidhare wrote:As far as I'm aware there's just WEA. You can make contact through the WEA switchboard. They're an odd group of folks, but that's cinephiles, I guess. (And I'm sure they speak highly of me also.)

Maybe Uncle Rufus knows other groups. The palmy days of Sydney Uni Film Group (35mm doubles of Yang Kwei Fei and Wind Across the Everglades in IB prints; Party Girl and les Demoiselles de Rochefort) are long gone. Or maybe they aren't and I just dont know?

I was in the University of Sydney Film Society, sadly my taste of films didn't exactly blend in to well with the majority of the university crowd.

I was trying to get them to show Jean Cocteau's films, but they just wanted to play Wes Anderson.

Rufus T. Firefly · Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:47 am

Geoff wrote:Where did you see it for sale?

It isn't supposed to be released until the 13th?

Borders' Pitt St Mall. They had Ju Dou as well.

Solaris · #292 Post by **Solaris** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:53 am

Has anybody checked out Hail Mary yet?

The release is briefly mentioned here
http://www.refused-classification.com/F ... ilMary.htm

devlinnn · #293 Post by **devlinnn** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:08 am

Picking up a copy tomorrow - btw, it does include Melville's Book of Mary.

Solaris · #294 Post by **Solaris** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:11 am

Ah, so it does include The Book of Mary!

What's the verdict on the disc?

devlinnn · #295 Post by **devlinnn** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:17 am

With a transfer from Gaumont, the Umbrella DVD of Hail Mary is perfectly acceptable. Correct, standard ratio; 105 mins (plus 27 for The Book of Mary); reasonably clean print (very occasional bits of dirt) that is a touch soft, that shows off the natural window light and sparkly water well. The film is actually better than I remembered, although I still prefer Melville's short piece.

(Still have no idea on the R rating - and neither does the OFLC from the looks of things. They have not given any helpful hints for the mums and dads as to the content of the film. I was hoping for 'blasphemous religous depictions; teenage full-frontal nudity; basketball on bed'.)

HerrSchreck · #296 Post by **HerrSchreck** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:45 am

=P~ jeez thats about the best I've seen this film look.

Nice work Dave.

ben d banana · #297 Post by **ben d banana** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 8:56 am

davidhare wrote:... but will probably end up blowing for them in Paris.

Men of Paris, you are on notice!

HerrSchreck · #298 Post by **HerrSchreck** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 9:00 am

VIDSTORE COWBOY

daniel p · #299 Post by **daniel p** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:18 pm

So Kwaidan R4 anyone?
Or is everybody waiting for the MoC edition?
I'm keen to seem some screens...

Gordon · #300 Post by **Gordon** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:17 am

daniel p wrote:So Kwaidan R4 anyone?
Or is everybody waiting for the MoC edition?
I'm keen to seem some screens...

I'm going for the MoC edition, as the booklet sounds great.

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