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Rules of the Game Janus 4K restoration screening this month. 4K trailer.

I really wish I liked this movie.

I was excited to see this but I must say, I think there is a lost opportunity here; they have recently released the first 2 parts of Rivette’s 1966 3 part profile of him in their entirety. The 3rd part is dedicated entirely to Rules of the Game - and yet it is presented here (as it was on previously releases) in excerpts. I love this film, but I would have loved to get Rivette’s Renoir Le Patron in its entirety. We were so close!

I revisited this last night for the first time since grabbing the blu ray. It's a film I enjoyed, but I think I always approached this film intellectually, trying to really make sure I understood the historical significance. This time I just let the film rip, ready to show it to my fiancee that had never seen it, and accidentally I finally approached the film in the way the posts earlier in this thread describe as a great way to get into the film.

The thing that initially grabbed me with this latest watch is just how lively all the characters and scenes are. Every character is nearly exploding with energy. There's so much dialogue but I find it very easy to follow even as a non-French speaker. I took a step back from the detail and really was just enjoying the experience of it all, and realized just how perfectly written every character is, from the jealous husbands to the women that can't get enough attention, to the men who can't get enough attention.

So after views making sure I fully got the film, I stopped trying to get the film, and I finally got the film.

Drucker wrote: Mon Apr 24, 2023 1:22 am The thing that initially grabbed me with this latest watch is […]

A key phrase that seems destined to come out of my mouth every time I see it. I can’t think of another film that seems to offer up so many new understandings on every viewing. (Last time, for me, I was struck by how thoroughly and richly it’s concerned with the question named by its title. Next time, my interest will undoubtedly be directed to something else altogether.)

Glad you enjoyed it!

I don't know if this has been mentioned anywhere. It seems like the 4k restoration bluray will only be available with the UHD. No standalone.

Are you certain about that? Do you have a source? I only ask because it’s typically been the case that Criterion includes the existing Blu-ray with the combo packs. In this case, there are no new extras (or no previously included extras omitted) in this edition, so there seems to be even less reason for Criterion to press a new Blu-ray edition.

Right, because unless Criterion surprises us, there is no new Blu-Ray at all, and the UHD release will just have the old Blu-Ray included, like Matt said. Set yr expectations for there to be no Blu-Ray from Criterion with the new restoration.

Oh, so you're saying the bluray in the UHD release is the older bluray. Then that is worse than I thought

That's how every UHD upgrade has been, with the exception of Le Cercle rouge where the older Blu-ray was OOP

I didn’t realize Criterion was doing that also. That’s too bad. A new restoration and only way to get it is to upgrade to UHD. Ugh.

Do we expect this restoration to make much difference? The last one was scarcely a decade ago. The negative is gone, so there are pretty significant limitations on how good this can look.

FrauBlucher wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 1:00 pm I didn’t realize Criterion was doing that also. That’s too bad. A new restoration and only way to get it is to upgrade to UHD. Ugh.

The BFI Blu-ray that comes out this week should have the new restoration.

Tom Amolad wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 1:12 pm Do we expect this restoration to make much difference? The last one was scarcely a decade ago. The negative is gone, so there are pretty significant limitations on how good this can look.

the french UHD has been out for some time and answers this with a yes

I'm getting the BFI, the extras package looks awesome. Criterion will be an "eventually" thing

PfR73 wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 10:25 pm

FrauBlucher wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 1:00 pm I didn’t realize Criterion was doing that also. That’s too bad. A new restoration and only way to get it is to upgrade to UHD. Ugh.

The BFI Blu-ray that comes out this week should have the new restoration.

Thanks. I just looked it up. And...

ryannichols7 wrote: Sat May 27, 2023 10:30 pm I'm getting the BFI, the extras package looks awesome. Criterion will be an "eventually" thing

...Yes, the extras do!!

Tom Amolad wrote:Do we expect this restoration to make much difference? The last one was scarcely a decade ago. The negative is gone, so there are pretty significant limitations on how good this can look.

This is why the BFI opted not to go down the UHD route - their current UHD policy is to only adopt that format if it offers a very significant advance on the Blu-ray, and they felt that the master of La Règle du jeu simply didn’t.

Since I already have the French UHD, I’m inclined to get the BFI Blu-ray for a less contrast-y presentation of the new restoration and call it a day. I’ll be double dipping on Breathless though, despite having the Studio Canal UHD already.

I could see the Rules of the Game UHD being “disappointing” compared to the BFI Blu ray but solid compared to Criterion’s 2011 Blu ray.

MichaelB wrote: Sun May 28, 2023 5:34 am

Tom Amolad wrote:Do we expect this restoration to make much difference? The last one was scarcely a decade ago. The negative is gone, so there are pretty significant limitations on how good this can look.

This is why the BFI opted not to go down the UHD route - their current UHD policy is to only adopt that format if it offers a very significant advance on the Blu-ray, and they felt that the master of La Règle du jeu simply didn’t.

The UHD does offer a significant advance over the previous blu-ray, which is what the original inquiry was about.

FrauBlucher wrote: Wed Jun 21, 2023 6:59 pm Beaver

The original Criterion Blu-ray actually holds up really well next to the new transfers, enough that without a UHD set, I'd probably refrain from "upgrading" if you have the old one. I think it really comes down to the existing film elements - they're removed enough from the OCN that what's left of the original detail may not be enough to make UHD that beneficial.

The new restoration is much cleaner, more stable and way less agressive-looking.
The level of details is pretty much the same, hence the impression the old BD holds up well, and in some respect I understand one might think so, but comparing the new BFI BD and the Criterion BD, it's quite clear I was comparing a decade old master and a brand new one.

However, in such a context, a UHD indeed seems overkill, even more so if SDR only.

so basically, if one has the old Criterion BD, purchasing the BFI BD (with a ton of new/exclusive extras) will suffice as an "upgrade" without needing to get the CC? since the BFI is sourced from the new restoration

Yeah, I was considering getting the BFI for the extras and the Criterion for the UHD, but I think I'll just be happy with the old CC Blu and the new BFI Blu.