Universal Catalog Titles on Blu

[tenia]

The Sirk alas is NOT.

Very sad to read this.

[captveg]

The authoring people would have had nothing to do with the video assets. They would have assembled what they got delivered, and as long as it matched the spec they were provided they would be good to go.

[EddieLarkin]

They worked directly from the Technirama negative for that one (that is, the 8 perf 35mm negative, rather than a dupe 65mm element), scanning in 6K. RAH was consulted on it as well. I have very high hopes for it.

[Zot!]

I get the distinct impression the disc was authored by people who weren't really ideally suited to the project. The way it opens with flash cards for digital versions and copyright/piracy notices and then, only then the first menu page looks like it's been authored by a small child. I've never seen a disc opening like this unless you count some of the absolutely dreadful region B locked Optimums which have unskippable series of trailers for five or six other titles at the top.
'

I have seen your collection David, and I am shocked that the forced trailers and legalese are news to you. Disney is particularly insidious.

[Cagliostro]

David, I always assumed you lived at Minyago Yugilla

[Zot!]

oh sorry David, didn't intend to make myself out as some nostalgic rentboy from your past, waxing poetic about a visit to your inner sanctum. Just saw the pictures you had posted.

[jedgeco]

This disc has a slightly new arrangement for the deck of cards. Disc opens with the 25 second Universal flying logo. then the menu screen to select 34 or 59 version. Then a flash card for the fabbie new BD/Combo and digital experience; then the copyright title card, then the FBI piracy card, then a little piccie of your pop up menu visualized as a remote with the suggestion you access it and how to do just that. Completely boggling!

I have nothing to add about this absurdity, except to complain once again that Universal's Blu-ray menus are the fucking worst.

[Black Hat]

Did anyone catch the screening at Film Forum?

I did. Thought it looked great, first time I had seen the film and despite the unintentional comedy from being dated, much of which was in the beginning, it blew me away.

[captveg]

8/11/15

Dead Silence (2007)
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - Not sure how this will differ from the Shout Factory release
Hellfighters (1968)

[EddieLarkin]

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - Not sure how this will differ from the Shout Factory release

Last month, on reviewing The Breakfast Club BD re-release, which featured a brand new and wonderful looking transfer (unlike the earlier BD from 2010), Robert Harris had this to say about Universal:

We're going to be seeing more impeccable releases from Universal. There's an entirely new mindset in place, seeking perfection.

No more heavily degrained product. New, rock steady, image harvests on the finest of scanners. And generally, a very professional team in place from top to bottom.

I consider this the new Universal.

While older transfers will still appear, as creating new masters from original elements is both expensive, as well as time consuming, you're going to be seeing fewer of them, as new product makes its way through the production arena.

My advice is to read reviews, and grab that new product when it appears. If a release is noted on the packaging to be remastered, it will be a safe pre-order.

Much of the new work is being performed in-house, by the studio's own tech team, and they take things Very seriously.

In a couple of weeks Universal will re-release Apollo 13 on BD, and it too will be from a far more modern, wonderful looking transfer than its earlier release. And we already know Spartacus will be here before long, transferred in 6K from the OCN. This then will hopefully be a trend (I think you can lay money we'll see The Thing by 2017), and the new Halloween III release may just be a whole new transfer (the SF release uses the DVD-era master and offers very little upgrade).

[domino harvey]

Universal has a history of releasing barebones Blu-rays of titles licensed to other labels for more deluxe treatment, I see no reason to expect any new work done for one of these cash-in releases

[EddieLarkin]

I guess you're probably right, but, this being the best Halloween sequel, I can dream*!

*if I conveniently forget that no one else feels likewise

[tenia]

In a couple of weeks Universal will re-release Apollo 13 on BD, and it too will be from a far more modern, wonderful looking transfer than its earlier release.

There is a comparison on caps-a-holic, and it looks as if it's more a new 4K remaster than anything deeper than this. Still, it's much better than the former release, but I wouldn't expect a revolution.

However, if even Universal is getting a new more professional and quality minded strategy, it's quite reassuring in terms of old turds being stuffed over and over again on BD (see Weird Science for instance).

[domino harvey]

I guess you're probably right, but, this being the best Halloween sequel, I can dream*!

*if I conveniently forget that no one else feels likewise

If it makes you feel better, it's my favorite of the four Halloween sequels I've seen thus far. Perhaps parts 6-8 will be better (stifles laughter) once I finally get around to them, but I do like III a lot

[EddieLarkin]

It's easily the most scary (read: only) sequel too. But if you think you've seen a bad Halloween sequel just you wait until Part 6!

[manicsounds]

and then they pull out Orgazmo on blu-ray.... Still hit or miss.

[tenia]

and then they pull out Orgazmo on blu-ray.... Still hit or miss.

I'd wait a bit for an update on this, the TC could have a better PQ.

[colinr0380]

It's easily the most scary (read: only scary) sequel too. But if you think you've seen a bad Halloween sequel just you wait until Part 6!

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later is still the best of the sequels for me (Though I assume domino has seen this since Michelle Williams is in it!). It also features a nice scene between Jamie Lee Curtis and Janet Leigh that bizarrely John Carpenter somehow managed to withhold in The Fog! But its nowhere near as off the wall as Halloween III and in some ways seems consciously subdued, reigning itself into being just a straightforward slasher film following on from all of the over complicated supernatural cult convolutions going on through Halloween 4-6.

Though I would agree that Halloween III is the next in my list. I like the way that it slyly rips off Charlie and the Chocolate Factory around half way through!

[John Doe]

Coming to blu-ray in September:

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
The Life of David Gale (2003)

[jedgeco]

Coming to blu-ray in September:

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Guess people who thought that was last month's CC Newsletter clue were wrong, but get a consolation prize.

[captveg]

Coming to blu-ray in September:

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Guess people who thought that was last month's CC Newsletter clue were wrong, but get a consolation prize.

I had already resigned myself to the clue being Hitchcock's Young and Innocent, so this is indeed a nice development.

[hollis]

Coming to blu-ray in September:

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

The extras are snazzy:

- Feature Commentary by Bill Bob Thornton and Joel and Ethan Coen
- Deleted Scenes
- The Making of The Man Who Wasn't There
- Interview with Cinematographer Roger Deakins
- Theatrical Trailer
- TV Spots

[captveg]

They are snazzy, but not new as they were on the DVD release. Glad they didn't drop them, though.

[mfunk9786]

What's new is that he now goes by Bill Bob

[DarkImbecile]

What's new is that he now goes by Bill Bob

Gotta grow up sometime.

Coming to blu-ray in September:

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

The extras are snazzy:
- Deleted Scenes

If these are still just the five or six extra 1.5-second shots of different hairstyles, it would be disappointing but still one of the better bonus feature jokes ever.