The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey

[beamish13]

Vincent Ward's Australian/New Zealand production is finally available in R1

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

The same distributor released an R1 disc in 2001 with a hideous pan-and-scan transfer. The "Widescreen" notation gives me hope, but we still need more specific confirmation of a remaster.

[Buttery Jeb]

From the Digital Bits, on February 6th:

Our friends at Hen’s Tooth Video have informed us that their upcoming DVD re-issue of The Navigator (1988) is finally presented in anamorphic widescreen (at the proper 1.85:1 ratio) and the film elements were sourced directly from the New Zealand Film Commission. So the disc should finally present the film in the quality it deserves.

[colinr0380]

Following the release of his 1984 debut feature Vigil, Vincent Ward returned four years later with The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey, a film that would cement his position as one of the most exciting filmmaking talents to emerge during the eighties. Cumbria, 1348 – the year of the Black Death. Griffin, a young boy, is plagued by apocalyptic visions which he believes could save his village. Encouraging a small band of men to tunnel into the earth, they surface in 1980s New Zealand and a future beyond their comprehension but must complete their quest. Nominated for the Palme d’Or at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey is a bold and often startling fusion of medieval fantasy and time travel science fiction, quite unlike anything you’ve seen.

Release date: 23/7/2018

Production Year: 1988 | Region Code: B | UK Rating: PG | Running Time: 90 Mins | Number of Discs: 1 | Language: English | Subtitles: English SDH | Audio: Mono 1.0 | Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 | Colour: Colour

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

High Definition (Blu-ray) presentation
Original mono audio (uncompressed LPCM)
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Brand-new appreciation by film critic Nick Roddick, recorded exclusively for this release
Kaleidoscope: Vincent Ward – Film Maker, a 1989 documentary profile of the director made for New Zealand television
Theatrical trailer
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Kim Newman and an introduction by Vincent Ward

[Emilio]

W-O-W - wonderful surprise!!!

[thirtyframesasecond]

Such a great film, can't wait for this.

[Calvin]

I thought this was excellent, though it felt self-consciously stylish from time to time. I would recommend it for anyone picking in the last days of the BOGOF.