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You mean besides this recently out of print version?

Doriane Films' Watkins titles are still in print.

stroszeck wrote:I've always felt that Peter Watkins' greatest achievement was The War Game, so it is quite interesting to see his other films, including the originally made for television Edvard Munch, get to DVD before anything was announced on this particular title. Perhaps a tiny retrospective is in order?

Project X is still working on this one (and New Yorker will probably distribute in the States). It will be released eventually. Last I heard from Oliver, he said it was tentatively slated for April 25th.

Andre Jurieu wrote:Project X is still working on this one (and New Yorker will probably distribute in the States). It will be released eventually. Last I heard from Oliver, he said it was tentatively slated for April 25th.

It seems like War Game / Culloden will not be coming this early, but I have faith that it will come. The truly exciting news is that Watkins's The Gladiators -- one of his most acerbic and witty films -- will be released at the end of March for what I believe is the first time anywhere (certainly on DVD, and on video for most places, too). Anyone who suspects that Watkins might be a bit self-serious for them would do well to pick this one up -- blind, even. And for the uninitiated, it's also a great place to start with Watkins.

You mean besides this recently out of print version?

Yes, besides THAT one. I'm talking R1 here, not UK. Hence the post appearing under the New Yorker label.

Buttery Jeb wrote:According to Facets' IndieSource mailer, New Yorker will be releasing Peter Watkins' "The Gladiators" on March 28th. Extras will include a commentary by Joseph A. Gomez, a Watkins' self-interview and "The Diary of an Unknown Soldier" short film.

Excellent news. The Gladiators is as extraordinary as Punishment Park, but has more humour as Leo points out. Unlike most of Watkins' films of this period, it was shot in 35mm. Gomez's track on Punishment Park was very informative, so I am pleased that he gave his thought on this one, too.

DVD Beaver review of The Gladiators

Wow! It looks beautiful. An amazing film. Rollerball it ain't. Keep 'em coming, Project X.

sorry if this has been answered elsewhere...but does anybody know the situation with Privilege? Is it owned by someone else, tied up in red tape? I know even getting a decent print is difficult. A real, real shame.
Has anyone seen "La Commune"? is it avaialble anywhere...
thanks so much,
Putney

putney wrote:sorry if this has been answered elsewhere...but does anybody know the situation with Privilege? Is it owned by someone else, tied up in red tape?

Last I heard, Watkins was still negotiating with Universal to obtain the rights so that he could license them to a third party. Of course, that was last year.

putney wrote:Has anyone seen "La Commune"? is it avaialble anywhere...

There is a French DVD. You can also pick up the VHS set from the National Film Board of Canada.

Project X is probably going to try and release both on DVD if possible, but that will not happen for awhile.

Coming from New Yorker:

August 15: Theo Angelopoulos's ETERNITY AND A DAY (1998), with bonus feature "Analysis of a Shot" (letterboxed, aspect ratio not specified)

August 22: Henning Carlsen's HUNGER (1966), a Project X title, with bonus features including 34-minute interview with Carlsen and a 26-minute conversation between novelist Paul Auster and Regine Hamsun, granddaughter of Knut Hamsun, who wrote the original novel (aspect ratio 1.66:1, 16/9)

A few more upcoming titles either being released or distributed by New Yorker:

25-Jul-06: The War Game / Culloden (Peter Watkins/1965/1964/Project X/New Yorker)

15-Aug-06: Cape of Good Hope (Mark Bamford/2004/New Yorker)

12-Sep-06: The Girls / Flickorna (Mai Zetterling/1968/New Yorker)

26-Sep-06: The Clay Bird / Matir moina (Tareque Masud/2000/Milestone/New Yorker)

26-Sep-06: The Big Animal / Duze zwierze (Jerzy Stuhr/2000/Milestone/New Yorker)

26-Sep-06: The Big Animal / Duze zwierze (Jerzy Stuhr/2000/Milestone/New Yorker)

This is an excellent film, based on an early script by Kieslowski and starring Jerzy Stuhr (who's directing here) who was in Camera Buff. It has a lot more overt charm than any Kieslowski film I can think of, but it's by no means saccharine. I reviewed it a while back, if anyone's interested.

Of course, it goes without saying that the release of the two Watkins films is a joyous occasion.

I'll second The Big Animal - a lovely piece of absurdism - and put in a good word for The Girls, one of the great non-Bergman Bergman films. Aristophanes as a vehicle for feminist empowerment, with a to-die-for cast (Bibi & Harriet, Gunnel & Gunnar, Erland).

FilmFanSea wrote:A few more upcoming titles either being released or distributed by New Yorker:

25-Jul-06: The War Game / Culloden (Peter Watkins/1965/1964/Project X/New Yorker)

A rave review has been posted by the DVD Savant.

Added to New Yorker's release schedule for September 26:

Hail Mary / Je vous salue, Marie (Godard/1985)

FilmFanSea wrote:Added to New Yorker's release schedule for September 26:

Hail Mary / Je vous salue, Marie (Godard/1985)

The only extra is the foreign trailer, according to New Yorker. (I don't consider Mieville's The Book of Mary an extra.)

Took them long enough!!! They told me this was coming in April.

Now if only someone would release King Lear for the love of Godard!

I just emailed New Yorker and asked if their making of doc is in fact Godard's Petites notes à propos du film Je vous salue Marie. That would be a great feature, and would surely beat the over-exposed version I saw on the internet.

I'd just like add to the praise of Project X's Culloden and The War Game set. Very nice progressive transfers, clear sound and removable white subtitles. Patrick Murphy's commentary is absolutely superb, as is the reprint of his essay on the film. Seriously, if you have not seen The War Game, you really ought to buy or rent this disc, as it still packs a heavy punch and Patrick Murphy's insights add essential information and insight into the film and how it was treated by the government and media. One of the best R1 release this year, so far. If only New Yorker themselves were this good.

New Yorker's cover for Hail Mary seems to me unbelievably bad:



Pretty much cements my purchase either of the R4 Australian DVD or the Raro R2 release, if it ever surfaces...

Oedipax wrote:New Yorker's cover for Hail Mary seems to me unbelievably bad:



Pretty much cements my purchase either of the R4 Australian DVD or the Raro R2 release, if it ever surfaces...

John Paul the Eleventh? That's nine more than we could ever want!

Yeah, shitty cover art. What else is new. But if the "making of" doc is that video short Godard made, then this is a must-have.

Oedipax wrote:New Yorker's cover for Hail Mary seems to me unbelievably bad:

Pretty much cements my purchase either of the R4 Australian DVD or the Raro R2 release, if it ever surfaces...

The r4au has the same cover art, fwiw.

The black stripe running uptop reminds of Eureka/Moc. Drop the logo in there and you've got Nick & Acquer's worst dvd cover.... ever.