51 Brazil

[Norbie]

Does the Re-Release of the 3 Disc set of Brazil come in a standard keepcase, or in some special box or digipack like the new Seven Samurai, The Third Man, or Videodrome do?

[Le Samouraï]

It's a plastic box and three standard keepcases inside. The Design was made way before Criterion began to use the bigger keepcases and digipaks.

[Norbie]

Thats a shame. I'm a sucker for those digipacks.

[Madadayo]

I'm a blasphemer, but I don't prefer Terry's "Fifth and Final Cut" of Brazil.

I prefer the original single-DVD version which has Sam's dream sequence (the battle with the techo-junk Samurai) broken in multiple parts. It's a very effective moment when the film segues into Sam's dream when he's in the lingerie department (accompanied by Jill yelling "Sam, no!") This is lost in the final cut, as the entire dream sequence takes place in one long chunk and occurs earlier.

And I miss two things from the VHS version (the original US theatrical cut): Sam's line "My God, it works" when seeing his Mother with saran wrap around her head, and the superimposed clouds at the end of the film.

I guess I'll have to make a fan edit, which is a shame.

What are the 5 cuts?

They must be:

1. EU theatrical version
2. US theatrical version
3. Love Conquers All tv version
4. Original DVD release (a mashup of the EU and US versions)
5. Final Cut (re-edit of the mashup version)

I want a box with all 5 cuts in it.

Did the US theatrical version ever come out on dvd? When I bought the single dvd I was surprised it was a different and longer cut of the film.

After facing complaints and opposition to his re-editing/remixing/rerecording his old albums, Frank Zappa accused the offended of having some sort of fetishism for how the original albums sounded. Whatever, Frank. Maybe the new versions were inferior.

It's hard to have loved a film and then to never be able to see it again because the director keeps changing it. I still prefer the original cut of Blade Runner with the narration. I'll never be able to see it again probably.

Raiders of the Lost Ark as it was originally intended - with Ewoks!

Was it Orson Welles who said "films are never finished - only abandoned?" Would he have spent decades reworking Kane if he'd had the chance?

Oy, I'm ranting! I go back to sleep now.

[miless]

After facing complaints and opposition to his re-editing/remixing/rerecording his old albums, Frank Zappa accused the offended of having some sort of fetishism for how the original albums sounded. Whatever, Frank. Maybe the new versions were inferior.

It's hard to have loved a film and then to never be able to see it again because the director keeps changing it. I still prefer the original cut of Blade Runner with the narration. I'll never be able to see it again probably.

I ran into an original vinyl pressing of We're Only In It For The Money at a record store for $20 (the sleeve was fucked up, but the vinyl was nearly virgin) and I have to say that I much prefer the original version. It sounds like a 60's record (with 60's style production) instead of a 70's record (which is when he re-recorded all the drum and bass loops)... out of all my records, that's one of my most prized (especially since it's not available, in that form, on CD).

and why wouldn't you be able to ever see the theatrical cut of Blade Runner 'ever again'. It's not like this was 5 years ago when it looked like WB would never release this version on DVD... it's out now (unless you don't want to spend the bones to pick up the boxed set)

[Madadayo]

The original theatrical cut of Blade Runner is out now?

D'oh!!!!!!!

That'll teach me to come out of my Man Cave once in a while.

One of the censored vinyl versions of We're Only In It for the Money is out on cd. See here for the insane and superbly researched Zappa Completist's Guide.

[HerrSchreck]

Ho now.. waitaminnit.

FZ did in the 1980's do a pass thru of his original masters for Ryko, and he claimed the drum/bass tracks on "Money" were too badly deteriorated to use. So Scott Thunes & Chad Wackerman went in the studio & rerecorded that awful redo which was slapped together w Lump Gravy.

The complaints went off the hook, and he rereleased, remastered, with the original bass and drums. I have both versions, which came out almost back to back. Isnt the latter still available?

EDIT: and the final version on cd has the DONT COME IN ME EDDIE part your taalking about which was always backwards.

[Madadayo]

I think only the original vinyl version is available on cd these days and the Thunes/Wackerman version was deleted and is a collectors item.

Look for Old Masters Box One on ebay!

[geoffcowgill]

You know, filmmaker Terry Gilliam wrote the liner notes to Zappa's Ryko 'Greatest Hits' Strictly Commercial. Speaking of which, that Brazil movie of his is pretty good.

[Madadayo]

So Brazil is strictly commercial?

Gilliam has said that Zappa submitted an original screenplay to him once for consideration. Terry said it was a television script, not a movie script, and declined (though he thought at the time FZ should find a deal to make it for the then-wide open wasteland of cable television.)

I'll check out TG's liner notes. Thanks! I was not knowing of this.

[thebadsleepwell]

On the very last page of the book accompanying "Brazil" it lists Steven Spielberg in the lest we forget acknowledgements. Now of course I know he was quite entangled with Universal at the time, but does anyone have any idea why Criterion would thank him for his contribution? Just curious.

[knives]

I'm a blasphemer, but I don't prefer Terry's "Fifth and Final Cut" of Brazil.

I prefer the original single-DVD version which has Sam's dream sequence (the battle with the techo-junk Samurai) broken in multiple parts. It's a very effective moment when the film segues into Sam's dream when he's in the lingerie department (accompanied by Jill yelling "Sam, no!")

100% agree. Just loses the emotional depth. What do I care though, as long as he doesn't retool the Fisher King.

[swo17]

What does the packaging look like for the reissued 3-disc Brazil set? I ask because I was at Barnes & Noble the other day and saw a copy that was basically indistinguishable from the original version. Does the reissue have the new Criterion branding anywhere?

[kaujot]

I imagine it does on the main movie disc, but other than that, it looks identical to the old release. I'd look on the back for "anamorphic" or something like that.

[CSM126]

What does the packaging look like for the reissued 3-disc Brazil set? I ask because I was at Barnes & Noble the other day and saw a copy that was basically indistinguishable from the original version. Does the reissue have the new Criterion branding anywhere?

There should be a Wacky C sticker on the shrinkwrap that says "New, anamorphic transfer". I've seen those around.

[eljacko]

I have the 3-disc reissue and while I have never seen the non-anamorphic packaging, I am fairly certain they are exactly the same. The anamorphic version of the movie even starts with the old Criterion logo.

I saw this for the first time not too long ago and while I have some issues with it, I can certainly appreciate its value and I can't help but love Gilliam's visual style. If nothing else, I can appreciate the film for that. I don't have a lot of time right now and I'm still digesting the film, but I'd really like to watch the "Love Conquers All" edit and see what has changed.

I will say, though, for a film that has five different edited versions it's quite remarkable how well edited many scenes of the film are. I wasn't surprised by most of the mis-matched shots but many of the action scenes are top-notch.

[swo17]

Thanks everyone for the input. eljacko, if it helps for comparison purposes, the packaging for the original 3-disc release is rather thoroughly photographed here.

[Flike]

I never owned the original set, but my re-release says, "Second Printing 2006" in the fine print on the back.

[eljacko]

Thanks everyone for the input. eljacko, if it helps for comparison purposes, the packaging for the original 3-disc release is rather thoroughly photographed here.

My copy of disc 1 has "Second Printing 2006" in tiny print at the bottom (just like Flike) and a 16x9 logo at the bottom. However, mine is also apparently 1.78:1 aspect ratio (not 1.85:1). I'm not familiar with the history of this release so maybe that is on purpose? Also, the "features" section on the back of the case is labeled differently.

Discs 2 and 3 are the same as in those photos, down to the copyright information.

[captveg]

Many 1.85:1 transfers for matted films are actually 1.78:1 on home video, with the slightest of extra information on the top and bottom. This is generally accepted in the home video community, just as 1.37:1 academy films are usually 1.33:1 on home video.

[Joshuadel]

From Mulvaney, per an inquiry about a possible Blu-ray upgrade of Brazil:

We do hope to re-release this film on Blu-ray in 2011 or 2012 but don't have an exact date set, so please stay tuned!

With Blu upgrades coming fast and furious, this might be the standard company line on these matters, but still nice to hear regardless.

edit: Changed "the Brazil" to simply "Brazil." Although damned if I don't like the cut of the Brazil's jib so much more.

[Thomas Dukenfield]

The best way to tell the difference is to look at the spine. The older version has an all black spine, but the newer anamorphic release has brownish tabs on the spines with the "wacky C", as you crazy kids seem to refer to it. There is also a C in the upper left hand corner of the front of the cases, and you can see it through the slip cover.

[flyonthewall2983]

Universal releasing the theatrical version on Blu-Ray, set for July 12th

It looks to be essentially the movie-only theatrical cut release you'd expect, but it'll have 5.1 DTS-HD MA audio. For those of you wondering about the possibility of a future Criterion BD upgrade of their version, I wouldn't discount it. My guess is after Universal takes their movie-only dip on Blu-ray, Criterion will eventually get their shot too. Anyway, here's a look at the cover artwork...

This I'm excited about, never understood why a 5.1 mix wasn't created before for it.

[Adam X]

perhaps the "wacky c" design on disc 1 is a recent change?
because I've got the 3-disc set with the anamophic transfer, and the set does look virtually the same as the original release. the only changes with mine being:
* 16x9 logo on rear of disc 1 and slipcase
* mention of new hi-def transfer in disc 1 details on the rear of the slipcase
* spines are identical to original non-anamorphic release, except disc 1 has title "Brazil" printed slightly lower on the spine than the other two discs. no use of the "wacky c" logo anywhere on the packaging except maybe the long-gone shrink wrap
* and yes, fine print on rear of disc 1 and slipcase mentions "Second Printing 2006". discs 2 + 3 are still First Printing 1999.

also, noticed this too late to remember where I bought it from, but disc 1 didn't have the booklet with it.

too much information? :-k

would very much welcome a fresh new CC Blu-Ray. Universal had their bare bones DVD of the film out, just like they did with Videodrome (and others too?), so no reason why this release would discount a new Criterion edition.

[Schwartzman]

I remember purchasing the whole set again, when they re-released it and then selling the old set, because "the wacky C" was on the single disc release, meant for customers who already owned the original boxed set and I preferred to have all three discs look the same. Hopefully I'll get to purchase a Blu version of this soon...

I really loved the design of the partly see through plastic slipcase. Hopefully they will stick with that. I wonder how the final packaging for the Fear And Loathing Blu will look like. Maybe that will be an indication for this release as well?