Wednesday, December 30, 2015

William Friedkin's "Sorcerer" French BD

Recently, William Friedkin's "Sorcerer" has been released on BD in France
in 2 editions: Regular Edition (RE) and Limited "Ultimate" Editon (LE).



RE is Mediabook which is included in LE.
I've got LE and here I'm going to describe it.

  • Basic specs

    • Disc: BD (50GB) x1 + DVDx1
    • Region code: B + 2
    • AR: 1.77:1 (as stated on the package)
    • Audio:
      • English dts HD-MA 5.1
      • English dts HD-MA 2.0
      • French dts HD-MA 2.0
    • Subtitles: French
    • Runtime (BD): 121 mins (Director's Cut)
    • Chapters: 16
    • Release date: Dec. 02, 2015
    • Publisher: Wild Side/La Rabia/NWR

  • The Package

    • The Box





    • In the box

      The box houses a mediabook and a reproduction of the script.





      The box has an adjuster at the bottom so that the top of the mediabook and the script are aligned.



      • Reproduction of the original script annotated by Friedkin (164 pages)


      • Mediabook




        Booklet (50 pages)

        Text is French only.
        The words from Friedkin, production history, etc.

        The booklet has some production photos, sketches, and publicity materials.
        (The contents are very different from the US BD counterpart.)




  • BD
    • Top menu



      Animated with music.

    • Scene selection



    • Audio



      When you select English audio,
      French subtitles are automatically turned on.

      Although the disc menu does not offer any option for subtitles,
      actually you can turn it off via player's menu (or remote).

      The real problem is: this BD has NO English subtitles
      for the scenes in Jerusalem and Paris, where dialogues are NOT in English.
      This is particularly problematic during the Paris scenes.
      (US BD has irremovable English subtitles for them.)

    • Bonus materials (2 pages)





      There's no English subtitles in the bonus materials.
      Also, when they have French subtitles, you can NOT turn them off.

      • Sorcerers: un entretien entre William Friedkin et Nicolas Winding Refn (77 mins):



        Interview with William Friedkin conducted by filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn,
        shot in Feb. 2015.
        In English, with French subtitles.
        The majority of the video is in B/W.



        This centerpiece of the bonus materials is certainly interesting,
        but I don't like the way Refn conducted it.

        It seems to me that Refn prepared too well,
        and couldn't react spontaneously when Friedkin's answer was not what he expected.

        Sometimes, when Friedkin deviates to tell something that seems to be interesting,
        Refn interrupts him and returns to the original course of the interview.
        I find it frustrating.

      • Métaphysique de la peur: Philippe Rouyer à propos de Sorcerer (25 mins)



        French film critic Philippe Rouyer discusses the movie. In French.



      • William Friedkin sur le tournage de Sorcerer: document d'archives (6 mins)

        Silent footage of the shooting in New York, which looks like home movie.



      • French trailer (2:55): with French subtitles.

      • Original trailer (1:45): with French subtitles.

      • Gallery of poster projects (4 mins)

        Slide show of various posters, with music.





        It's not explicitly stated but I'm under impression that they are designed for this BD release,
        not for the original movie release.

    • BD credits



    • Popup menu



  • DVD
    DVD is movie only, no extras.
    I only sampled several scenes, but it looks and sounds very good for a DVD.


Screenshots (resized)












Personal thoughts

I also own US BD of "Sorcerer" which looks and sounds very good.
The French BD also looks and sounds very good.

I'm no expert and doesn't have reference quality A/V systems,
but I find them virtually identical in terns of A/V quality.

Since US BD is movie-only, this Special Edition treatment is quite welcome.

If you are capable of playing Region B disc,

and interested in those bonus materials,
and have little or no problem with the lack of English subtitles,
then the French BD (whichever editions) is recommended.

The package looks cool to boot.


References:


Related products:


Music by Tangerine Dream:

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Melody (aka S.W.A.L.K. ) (1971) BD coming in Japan

On Dec. 22, 2015 in Japan,
Kadokawa Pictures will release the movie
"Melody" (aka "S.W.A.L.K.") (1971)
on BD (and DVD), from the new master.


Buy at Amazon Japan (left: BD, right: DVD)



Basic BD specs (according to Kadokawa):
  • Cat. #: DAXA-4733
  • Region code: A [*1]
  • Running time: 106 mins
  • Screen: VistaVision
  • AR: 1.78:1 [*1]
  • Audio:
    • English: dts-HD MA 5.1
    • Japanese LPCM 2.0 (2015 new recording)
    • Japanese LPCM 2.0 (TV boradcast version)
    • Japanese LPCM 2.0 (LD version)
    3 Japanese tracks have diffrent voice cast.
  • Subtitles: Japanese
  • Extras: Japanese trailer (4 mins)

DVD has basically same content as BD.

*1: Informations found on Amazon Japan, but not on Kadokawa's website.

Other information source: Blu-ray.com



Soundtrack CD


Sunday, October 18, 2015

ANA's Star Wars project - actual flight has begun

Back in April, ANA announced "Star Wars Project" with SW-themed airplanes.

Recently they held a "Fan Appreciation Flight event"
which is reported here on a Japanese news show.

According to the report, ANA actually use these planes in commercial flights.

Flight schedule can be fouund at the official site.
(click "EN" at the top to see it in English.)



Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Rainbow's 1984 show coming to DVD in Japan

On Oct. 21, 2015, Japan's Ward Records is going to release
Rainbow's "Live in Japan 1984" on DVD.

Recorded on Mar. 14, 1984 at Budokan, Tokyo,
Rainbow's "final" show backed by a symphony orchestra
was once released on VHS/LD in 1984 but long time OOP.

On the new DVD, video is restored from
the recently discovered original 1-inch master videotape.
Audio is also restored.

The DVD also includes archival interview with the members of the band
except Blackmore.

DVD specs

  • Main feature: 104 mins
  • Extras (Interview): 8 mins
  • AR: 4:3
  • Audio: DD 2.0 / DD 5.1 / dts surround
  • Subtitles: Japanese

Editions


On the same day they also release Eagle Rock Entertainment's
"The Richie Blackmore Story",
and there are sevral different editions with and without it.


The Band

  • Ritchie Blackmore (g)
  • Joe Lynn Turner (vo)
  • Roger Glover (bs)
  • David Rosenthal (kb)
  • Chuck Burgi (ds)

Tracklist

  1. Intro: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor / Over the Rainbow
  2. Spotlight Kid
  3. Miss Mistreated
  4. I Surrender
  5. Can't Happen Here
  6. Catch the Rainbow
  7. Power
  8. David Rosenthal solo
  9. Street of Dreams
  10. Fool for the Night
  11. Difficult to Cure
  12. Ritchie Blackmore solo
  13. Chuck Burgi solo
  14. Blues
  15. Stranded / Hey Joe / Stranded
  16. Death Alley Driver
  17. Fire Dance
  18. Vielleicht das Nächste Mal (Maybe Next Time)
  19. 19. All Night Long / Woman from Tokyo / All Night Long
  20. Lazy
  21. Since You Been Gone
  22. Smoke on the Water
(Tracklist is same for DVD, CDs and LPs.)






Saturday, May 2, 2015

Capricorn One - UK BD (2014 edition)

Recently I got the 2014 edition of "Capricorn One" BD from UK.

Before this edition, there was another BD released in 2007 in UK,
which was reviewed by DVDBeaver
in comparison with US DVD from LionsGate.

While 2007 BD was barebone,
2014 BD has some notable special features,
which I will describe below.

I don't know if 2014 BD has difference in A/V quality from 2007 BD.

Basic specs

Disc: BDx1
Region code: B
Runtime: 123 mins
AR: 2.35:1
Audio: English DD 2.0
Subtitles: English
Publisher: Network

Package


Menu

Main Menu

Background is animated.

Popup Menu

It has the same design as the main menu.

Scene Selection


Subtitles


Special Features

  • Original theatrical trailer (3 mins)

  • What If...?: The Making of "Caprocorn One" (7 mins)

    More like EPK than making-of.
    Main actors, director, and producer briefly talk about the premise.
    Some behind-the-scenes footages are included.
  • On Set with Capricorn One

      These rough-looking footages have no narration or text to explain when, where, who, etc.
      • Desert Filming (38 mins)

        At an abandoned gas station and Telly Savalas's airfield.
      • Studio Filming (4 mins)

        On the set of "Mars."
  • Gallery (4 mins)

    Slideshow (no sound) of various stills, such as posters, lobby cards, publicity photos, etc.

Brief comparison with US DVD and BD

US DVD from LionsGate
has audio commentary with Peter Hyams and
a featurette on the zeitgeist of the USA at the time.

They are not found in both UK BDs and
US BD from Shout! Factory, which is essentially barebone.


Screenshots with subtitles


Conclusion

With good video/audio quality and nice extras not found in the US discs,
I think this 2014 edition of UK BD is worth getting
if you can play Region B disc.

Or rather, this may be another reason for you to go region-free.

Buy at Amazon UK