496 Che

[Cash Flagg]

Each part gets a BluRay release in R2 in June. Details here.

Not mentioned in that link, but the Blu-ray will be Region B.

[Antoine Doinel]

Each part gets a DVD-only release in Canada. Part One arrives on July 14th and Part Two will follow on August 4th.

[domino harvey]

Beware that Canadian releases of IFC films have been interlaced crap in the past

[MuzikJunky]

Since Ché was shot with that wretched Red One Camera (and I don’t care what anyone says—I will always prefer film over any hi-def 1080p/24p digital video whosis whangdoodle any day of the week) does anyone have any idea what the About the Transfer section of the liner notes will say? Just curious. Peace.

[cdnchris]

Uh, probably that it comes from a digital source like the Benjamin Button DVD and Blu-ray says. Since, you know, it comes from a digital source.

[nsps]

On another note, I agree that film is superior, but I believe the Red One shoots at 4k, not 1080p.

[Jun-Dai]

Since Ché was shot with that wretched Red One Camera (and I don’t care what anyone says—I will always prefer film over any hi-def 1080p/24p digital video whosis whangdoodle any day of the week) does anyone have any idea what the About the Transfer section of the liner notes will say? Just curious. Peace.

As msps says, 4K not 1080p. That said, while you may prefer film, I'm guessing you won't be able to tell from watching Che on DVD or even Blu-ray that it's not film, other than from the lack of film grain.

[Jeff]

Good Soderbergh interview in The Guardian.

[richast2]

Good Soderbergh interview in The Guardian.

thanks for that link. I'm intrigued by the reference to "his long-gestating adaptation of John Barth's picaresque, The Sot-Weed Factor." I think the only other filmmaker who could pull that off would be Terry Gilliam, or perhaps the Coens.

[Gregory]

we were also able, in what we think is going to be a controversial coup, to persuade Che biographer Jon Lee Anderson to do commentaries on both films

Great news, and I don't see any reason why it should be controversial. I wrote something earlier about why I thought Anderson's book was an important one, and I'll add that as far as I can tell the only people who got hot under the collar about the book were those that would only be satisfied with something that thoroughly skewered Che on every page, whereas Anderson's book sees the man as a far more complex subject than a garden-variety murderer or tyrant. Most of the negative reviews of the book on Amazon are by people who apparently had not even read the book and instead used the review system as a forum to rant about what a bad, bad man Che was. Some people also criticized the book for being too long or too detailed.
I still have not seen Che, but I think Anderson is a good choice for an added perspective, especially if it turns that the films are somewhat inclined toward hagiography as some have said they are.

[Nothing]

That said, while you may prefer film, I'm guessing you won't be able to tell from watching Che on DVD or even Blu-ray that it's not film, other than from the lack of film grain.

Er... I beg to differ. The Red One's lack of latitude is obvious in almost every frame. There's also something very individual about the way the Red One captures colour, although I can't quite put my finger on it; imho, it gives an inferior image even to older generation Sony or Panasonic HD cameras (eg. compare Che to Cache). There's nothing like film - at least, not yet.

[aox]

so, I am assuming this isn't the Roadshow Edition?

[Jeff]

so, I am assuming this isn't the Roadshow Edition?

Yeah

Che is presented here in its complete form.

[aox]

So the "Complete Form" means, two separate films?

[Jeff]

So the "Complete Form" means, two separate films?

I may have misread your question a little. This should basically be the roadshow version.

There is no content difference between the "roadshow" version and the two separate films. I saw the roadshow version theatrically, which included an intermission and a animated map during the entr'acte. Even though the Criterion site doesn't mention it yet, there's no way this isn't two discs, and I imagine that intermission will be recreated at the end of disc one and the entr'acte at the beginning of disc two.

[knives]

The site actually says three discs.

[Jeff]

The site actually says three discs.

Ah...see that now. Thanks. Two discs for the Blu.

[Nothing]

Well... Since Criterion are insisting on releasing this, how about they at least do the world some kind of favour and include the original Cannes edit of Che Part One. It is, by all accounts, superior to the compromised cutting-back-and-forth-to-maintain-audience-interest version that was eventually released.

[TedW]

You would prefer my interest not be maintained?

[Nothing]

You would prefer my interest not be maintained?

That really rather depends on whether you're an idiot or not

[TedW]

Let's see. You claim the Cannes version to be superior to the release version (based on non-specific "all accounts," but you haven't seen it), claim snarkily that the release version cuts back and forth to "maintain audience interest" (as if that would be an inferior reason -- all good movies are willfully opaque, right?), but in fact you don't know what the reason actually is, and then take a shot at me in your response to my post. Okay, whatever.

[aox]

So the "Complete Form" means, two separate films?

I may have misread your question a little. This should basically be the roadshow version.

There is no content difference between the "roadshow" version and the two separate films. I saw the roadshow version theatrically, which included an intermission and a animated map during the entr'acte. Even though the Criterion site doesn't mention it yet, there's no way this isn't two discs, and I imagine that intermission will be recreated at the end of disc one and the entr'acte at the beginning of disc two.

Sorry Jeff, I also might not have been clear. Having seen the Roadshow Edition and read about the individual releases, I realize there is no difference content-wise between the versions. The only difference is the maps and the music over the intermission (old school! I like!). I thought the maps bridged the films perfectly and I enjoyed this presentation. In my original review, I stated that I couldn't believe they were splitting these films up. To annoy the deceased Che, I will state that the films both act as a bundle of sticks supporting each other.

I was only hoping Criterion will present these films with the maps and intermission. Do you get the feeling they will when they say "complete"?

[swo17]

From Facebook:

The wording on your website is a little unclear...will Che be the roadshow version with the map interludes?

Yes and no. We won't be presenting the roadshow exactly, because each film is required to be presented with its own end credits, but the actual content of each film is identical to the version shown in the roadshow, maps and all.

[aox]

sounds like they are presenting the roadshow edition, but slapping credits onto the end of pt. 1