New Australian DVD and BD Releases

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Sorry if this appears in another thread but can anyone comment on quality of Madman's Le corbeau versus Criterion or Optimum or indeed whether the Adrian Martin commentary is worth the price of admission alone?

[tojoed]

Madman's disc is a direct port of the Optimum (Studio Canal). I haven't listened to the commentary, but Adrian Martin is usually good value.

[TMDaines]

The subs on De Sica's The Roof were fully optional when I played it in VLC. I won't be able to test it in a DVD player for a few weeks. I wonder if this is an authoring issue similar to MoC's Michael where certain players couldn't turn the subs off. I had no trouble turning the subs off for Michael in VLC either.

[Cash Flagg]

Sirk Madman box:

[zedz]

That's pretty funny, but as David notes, if they didn't include a tray of chocolates in the top, they've missed the boat. (And the fillings should be suspiciously bitter).

[tajmahal]

The subs on De Sica's The Roof were fully optional when I played it in VLC. I won't be able to test it in a DVD player for a few weeks. I wonder if this is an authoring issue similar to MoC's Michael where certain players couldn't turn the subs off. I had no trouble turning the subs off for Michael in VLC either.

I could not turn the subs off playing THE ROOF on my Bauhn blu-ray player. MIRACLE IN MILAN is changable. Yellow subs on both, in case it hasn't been mentioned.

[ellipsis7]

Have the Madman RENOIR/PARTIE DE CAMPAGNE now, nice transfer, removable subs (BFI are fixed), and the major plus for me, the feature length extra UN TOURNAGE DE CAMPAGNE...

[martin]

The Madman Partie de campagne is an excellent release. I've posted two screencaptures in the screencapture thread. Captures from the BFI version and the French Studio Canal have been posted before in the thread (same frames for easier comparison).

[nostalghic]

Has anyone had a look at/bought any of the new Bergman DVDs from Madmen?

I've seen Brink of Life, although it was a copy that had truly terrible subtitles, so it's safer to say I haven't seen it.
http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/810401" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are also new editions of It Rains on Our Love and A Ship Bound for India, neither of which I know much about, although Smiles of a Summer Night era Bergman don't do much for me. Brink of Life though, I am interested in. Mind you, if I bought it I swear that six months later Criterion would whip out a copy. Happened to me recently with The Exterminating Angel and a while back with Ivan's Childhood and The Third Man re-release!

[Cash Flagg]

The Sirk box arrived today and it looks like an absolute beauty. The packaging itself is a sturdy cigar box, with lovely embossed flowers on the top and bottom. Printed on the underside of the box's top is a large color still of Hudson and Wyman. A 28-page booklet is included, with notes by Geoff Mayer. The films are housed in two clear-plastic cases, and none of the individual booklets from the previous releases are included. I haven't had a chance to delve into any of the films or extras yet. I'd post a couple of pix but my camera is on the blink.

[tojoed]

In July Shock are releasing Luis Bunuel's Los Olvidados.

[Perkins Cobb]

Just to keep the Australian thread up to date on Australian movies, Umbrella has released the following within the last six months or so: Ken Hannam's Break of Day (1976), Arch Nicholson's Buddies (1983), John Lamond's horror film Nightmares (1983), and Vincent Monton's Windrider (1986), with a topless Nicole Kidman and co-written by Everett De Roche.

[Michael Kerpan]

Madman have announced Mizoguchi's Street of Shame and Her Mother's Profession for May 19. The latter has the plot synopsis for Chikamatsu Monogatari on Madman's website, though the cover and title indicate that it is in fact Uwasa no Onna.

The use of "Her Mother's Profession" f9or "Uwasa no onna" suggests that someone in Australia muist agree with my theory that the film was (in part) inspired by Shaw's "Mrs. Warren's Profession". ;~}

[domino harvey]

Australian DVDs are second only to Canada (and maybe France) for being absurdly expensive to export. Talk with your people, David, because I'd like about four times as many Madman titles than I can justify spending $$$$$ on

[John Edmond]

I'm guessing this is due to the weakness of Australian online stores*. While I was living in the UK I would almost never buy a DVD from a b&m store because I could always get them half-price from a UK online store. The reverse is true in Australia, JBHIFI b&m stores typically have discounts way beyond their online counterparts. It's just a pity that most Madman titles seem to never make it to actual physical stores.

*ok and the strength of the Australian dollar - but I won't complain about this

[zedz]

Also, CDs and DVDs have traditionally been more expensive out this way, particularly compared with the US.

But I'm sure we can all agree that it's about time Madman had another $10 per disc online sale. I'd even put up with the same system meltdown debacle as last time.

[GaryC]

It's become a lot more expensive for me (in the UK) to buy Australian DVDs online - when I started doing it the exchange rate was something like A$2.75=1GBP, now it's A$1.72.

I will be in Australia in September (Melbourne and Sydney) so I'll take John Edmond's hint and look around stores while I'm there.

Most of what I buy from Australia are blind buys of Australian films (old and new) which are almost all unavailable in the UK, apart from maybe the Barbican's (London) annual festival of new films. And I've never managed to get to that.

[charal]

Re: blind buys; Hannam's BREAK OF DAY has just been released by Umbrella.

http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/Product/P ... /DAVID1832" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In regard to Oz stores. Here in Adelaide we have a store called THE MUSES. [I assume its only local.] All Umbrella titles are sold cheaply - in some cases very cheaply. [I was told they buy in bulk.] Last year I picked up various World cinema titles at $8 to $10 each. I've even seen the occasional Madman [i.e Godard] going for $12. Lately the owner has been importing Criterions and it is a shock to see these familiar titles actually on the shelf (selling for approx. $35 each) [single DVDs]. I asked if this was 'legal' and was told yes. "Even though you have a R1 L'AVVENTURA sitting next to the R4?" "Sure," was the prompt reply. I suggested they stock Second Run titles since nothing they sell is available in R4.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

JB seem to have killed off most of the opposition, unfortunately. In the Sydney CBD there are two stores, one under the Strand Arcade and the other under the Galeries Victoria. And not much else apart from the department stores and small bargainless selections at Kinokuniya and Abbey's Books. There was a Virgin store but that closed about 2 months ago.

In Melbourne it's much the same. Two city JB stores, one off Elizabeth St and the other larger store on Bourke St. There are also two independent stores on Elizabeth St: Minotaur which has a large selection of DVDs, many of which are imports and waaay overpriced (some of the single-disc Criterions were $95 last time I was there) and a small shop called Video Collection which also has imports and a small selection of local releases, again overpriced.

Both cities have JB stores in the 'burbs but the law of diminishing returns applies.

[perkizitore]

Planeta Bur 3-disc set out on 1st of June. Use the code CHAOSPACK for 10% off.

[GaryC]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Not sure if Chaos (or anyone) would deliver to a hotel address though...

I'll post nearer the time re possibly meeting up with local forumites.

[zq333zq]

Australian DVDs are second only to Canada (and maybe France) for being absurdly expensive to export. Talk with your people, David, because I'd like about four times as many Madman titles than I can justify spending $$$$$ on

I've found you can bypass those stiff shipping costs by perusing the Australian branch of eBay(supposing you have an eBay account). Let's say you live in California, this is what it would cost you(the cheapest alternative right now) to import this Madman DVD in Australian dollars. I hope this link won't get truncated.

http://movies.shop.ebay.com.au/Movies-/ ... p=15&_sc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

By the way, this particular seller has always proved reliable to me in the past. Maybe this can help you out. Good luck!

[Numero Trois]

I've found you can bypass those stiff shipping costs by perusing the Australian branch of eBay(supposing you have an eBay account).

I can vouch for this seller. I just received a two DVD set from him and it only cost me $5.50 AU for shipping.

And one can do the same with any other country. I've done it with several Italian Ebay sellers. The DVD doesn't even have to be listed on their Ebay page. Just let them know what you're looking for. Definetly the best way to avoid paying Fedex Express charges on shipping.

[perkizitore]

Chaos doesn't charge for shipping, you don't need Ebay!

[tojoed]

For anyone in the UK who was considering using Ezy DVD, I can recommend them. My order arrived within 4 days. The cost was 75 AUD, which was marked on the customs label as 8.42 AUD. Very helpful.