411 Berlin Alexanderplatz

[bruce holecheck]

The way I'm reading it is that Criterion's disc will be the first time this title has been presented at a frame rate that resembles what was actually filmed. Prior editions would've been sourced from the original PAL broadcast masters, which would naturally contain PAL speed-up. A new, NTSC transfer from the original 16mm elements would indeed increase the running time everyone's used to and the one the film is usually quoted as. Criterion probably mentioned this in their transfer notes to avoid confusion about its runtime... which then created confusion.

[peerpee]

No - it was *shot* in 25fps, because it was to be broadcast on European PAL TV. The restoration was in HD so would have been kept at 25psf.

[Tribe]

List price: $124.95
From DVD Planet: $81.22
DVD Planet's 20% off sale: $64.98
Per disc (on sale) $9.28
Per film (on sale): $4.33

Look at that. Still twice as expensive as a bootlegged Spiderman 3 from China. What the hell is Criterion thinking?

You're slaying me here!

Tribe

[Barmy]

Actually it's 36 euros on amazon.de minus VAT (i.e. about $50). Postage is a bitch, however.

The Jutzi film is of zero interest to me. I don't know if the German version has the documentaries, but I have seen them and they aren't that impressive.

[BrunoForestier]

Was in Kim's Video in New York yesterday and saw stacks of these for sale ($99) on of the display tables. Doesn't this have a November release date?

[arsonfilms]

The book is a very nice surprise.

[Nuno]

I have opted for the brand new french Carlotta edition (to have french subtitles), as the transfer is the same and the bonus almost the same. And I just received it :p

[exte]

Was in Kim's Video in New York yesterday and saw stacks of these for sale ($99) on of the display tables. Doesn't this have a November release date?

Fuck me. I don't need this three weeks early, but it's so tempting... I don't need to go into the city and pay extra for that either, but it's Fassbinder! Damn it... and I have Amazon Prime, too.... This really sucks as I'm spending money left and right. If only Amazon broke street date! #-o

Fuck it, amazon.com it is. I can wait a little longer.

[eez28]

I got my copy. The "book" is around 70 pages, and is like the books included with the Doinel set, or Sansho the Bailiff, etc.

The image is pictureboxed.

So where the heck are some pictures? What does this set look like.

[montgomery]

I got my copy. The "book" is around 70 pages, and is like the books included with the Doinel set, or Sansho the Bailiff, etc.

The image is pictureboxed.

So where the heck are some pictures? What does this set look like.

There is an outer slipcase, naturally (which is the picture on Criterion's website). Inside is a 4-panelled digipack. The first three panels have 2 discs each, and the 7th disc is on the 4th panel. On the back are drawings in the style of the front cover of the other main characters in the film. Then there's the 70 page booklet.
I'm certainly not complaining, but there's nothing amazing here in terms of packaging.
I went through the booklet last night, and it's okay. It's 70 pages, but with much of it being chapter listings, and the print being large, the whole book can be read in 20 minutes.
I think the making-of documentary and the 1931 version of the film are the main draws of this release, as opposed to the others. On the other hand, the supplements disc can be rented.
This film is so fucked-up looking and there's not much to do about it. I seriously doubt the Criterion is an improvement image-wise over the other versions, though it's probably not worse either. The picture-boxing is just idiotic and, to my mind, is a strong reason to get one of the other versions. I'm still a little confused about the 25fps thing, but if it's true that this is mastered at the wrong speed and the r2's are at the right speed, then there's little argument to be made for this one.

I watched the film recently at MOMA, so it might be a few months before I sit through it again but I'm a Fassbinder fanatic and had to have it.

[HerrSchreck]

I'm just annoyed that the original Weimar version is still not available on its own. As well as MUTTER KRAUSE JOURNEY INTO.. .

[greggster59]

Criterion R1 and Second Sight R2 comparison at the Beaver

[zone_resident]

Given the Beaver's verdict, I am going with the Second Sight release then.

There is no reason to accept picture-boxing in this case, despite the 70-page booklet of Criterion.

[domino harvey]

I defend the Beaver on occasion but are we really supposed to believe that Gary watched the entire 15+ hour film? I wouldn't even bring it up except that he obviously is claiming so by posting an opinion on the film.

[Narshty]

Is it not possible he saw the film before either DVD set came out?

[Lino]

The Criterion is a no-brainer for the inclusion of the 1931 version. It's nowhere to be found at the moment and a wonderful addition to an already very appealing package.

[lazier than a toad]

Surely having the main feature in the correct PAL speed, and not window boxed is more important.

You can always rent the Jutzi film. I'd be more bothered about missing the booklet.

[Darth Lavender]

Looks like, minus VAT, the German DVD comes to something like $65 Australian (I think that's more like $55 American)
But, does anyone know what kind of extras it has, and if there's English subtitles?

Haven't actually seen any Fassbinder. Frankly, nothing I've read about either his film-making style or choice of subject matter really corresponds with my own tastes, but he's so highly regarded I know I'll check out some of his work eventually just for that reason (besides, I do thoroughly enjoy Herzog, and like a few aspects of Wenders)

[Der Müde Tod]

Looks like, minus VAT, the German DVD comes to something like $65 Australian (I think that's more like $55 American)
But, does anyone know what kind of extras it has, and if there's English subtitles?

Haven't actually seen any Fassbinder. Frankly, nothing I've read about either his film-making style or choice of subject matter really corresponds with my own tastes, but he's so highly regarded I know I'll check out some of his work eventually just for that reason (besides, I do thoroughly enjoy Herzog, and like a few aspects of Wenders)

There are no subtitles on the German DVDs. The extras are similar to the British version.

And: I wouldn't begin with BA to watch Fassbinder. I would pick something like Chinese Roulette or In a Year With Thirteen Moons.

[blindside8zao]

(besides, I do thoroughly enjoy Herzog, and like a few aspects of Wenders)

Fassbinder, Herzog, and Wenders are so amazingly different from each other. Their styles really have nothing in common and even their themes seem rarely to overlap. I believe with the French New Wave you can make some generalizations but with German, it just doesn't work the same.

[HerrSchreck]

You can always rent the Jutzi film..

How? It's not available on it's own.

You mean netflixing the Special Features disc from the CC in and of itself? You think-- if this is what you mean-- it will be made available as its own isolated rental?

[lazier than a toad]

You can always rent the Jutzi film..

How? It's not available on it's own.

You mean netflixing the Special Features disc from the CC in and of itself? You think-- if this is what you mean-- it will be made available as its own isolated rental?

Lovefilm in the uk allows you to rent each disc in a box seperately, as do DVD rental shops. So I guess that is what I meant. No idea if Netflix does the same however.

[domino harvey]

They do.

[montgomery]

Netflix usually has the special features available for rental. I am almost certain that you will be able to rent the 1931 version from Netflix.

Edited: In fact, they already have it available at the site now, though they won't ship it until the official release.

[eez28]

Haven't actually seen any Fassbinder. Frankly, nothing I've read about either his film-making style or choice of subject matter really corresponds with my own tastes, but he's so highly regarded I know I'll check out some of his work eventually just for that reason (besides, I do thoroughly enjoy Herzog, and like a few aspects of Wenders)

And: I wouldn't begin with BA to watch Fassbinder. I would pick something like Chinese Roulette or In a Year With Thirteen Moons.

Sorry to get off topic but my first RWF flick was Marriage of Maria Braun and I was hooked. I think if I had seen Ali first that also would have had the same effect. I'm sure you don't want to shell out a lot of money for the BRD box, I'd go with Ali: Fear Eats the Soul.