New Australian DVD and BD Releases

[domino harvey]

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

They do for the US, but it's really reasonable. Was able to pick up the R4 Sons and Lovers for $16 shipped, so thanks for the tip!

[GaryC]

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.

I've used them a lot. Their packages these days tend to have a green sticker saying "Regular International Customer" on them.

[tojoed]

That's right. My only complaint about Australian DVDs is you can't find English subs on English language films for love or money.

[GaryC]

That's right. My only complaint about Australian DVDs is you can't find English subs on English language films for love or money.

It does depend. Umbrella almost never include them, but they've more often than not been on DVDs I've seen from Madman and Roadshow.

For example, of Madman discs I've seen recently, the following have English subs - Balibo, Last Ride, My Year Without Sex, Prime Mover, Samson & Delilah, Van Diemen's Land. But the following don't - Lake Mungo, Lucky Country, Stone Bros., Wake in Fright

[Ovader]

Any reviews about the recently released Dekalog from Shock?

[alandau]

Just watched the madman Ministry of Fear. The transfer is OK, nothing special. I wonder where it's ported from.
The movie is a masterpiece. Lang is a genius.

[tojoed]

Madman are releasing Welles' "The Immortal Story" in September.
DVD Special Features:

Both English language and French language cuts of the film

Audio Commentary by Dr. Adrian Martin, Associate Professor and Head of Film and Television Studies, Monash University, and Co-editor of ROUGE magazine http://www.rouge.com.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Insert article by Dr. Adrian Danks Head of Cinema Studies at the School of Applied Communication, RMIT University, and Co-curator of the Melbourne Cinematheque

[John Edmond]

Madman are also releasing Jarmusch's Dead Man on blu-ray at the same time. http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view ... man-bluray" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Includes outtakes, deleted scenes, trailer, and a Neil Young music video.

I'm guessing it's a port of the BAC French release - but at least it won't have forced subtitles.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews8/deadman.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Perkins Cobb]

Special editions of Aussie films The Irishman (1978) and BMX Bandits (1983) coming from Umbrella on August 10.

[tojoed]

From Madman in October - Ozu Yasujiro
Features seven classic Ozu films: TOKYO STORY, AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON, EARLY SUMMER, FLOATING WEEDS, OHAYO, THE FLAVOUR OF GREEN TEA OVER RICE and LATE SPRING.
I Lived But...(1983): A two-hour documentary about the life and career of Ozu
Talking with Ozu (1993): A 40-minute tribute to Ozu featuring directors Aki Kaurismaki, Claire Denis, Wim Wenders and Hou Hsiao-hsien
TOKYO GA, Wim Wenders' rarely-seen documentary: In 1985, the German director, moved by the films of Yasujiro Ozu, travelled to Japan hoping to find the Tokyo of Ozu's films. TOKYO GA is the result of that search.
Deleted scenes from TOKYO GA
Audio commentaries and articles on the films by prominent academics
Original theatrical trailers

[Solaris]

peter greenaway box -

- you might also be interested in

[Finch]

Anyone know how the Partie du Campagne release back in March compares to the BFI? It's quite a substantial package going by the extras but I believe it's been confirmed as a forthcoming Crit title so I was wondering if the Aussie release is appreciably better than the BFI.

[John Edmond]

The Region 4 version is meant to be substantially superior -- a duplicate of Studio Canal's restoration but with English subtitles. The BFI version which I own is based off a pre-restoration print and is noticeably cropped. http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Re ... sp?ID=9155" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ellipsis7]

Yes, the Madman PARTIE is better picture quality wise, not least in that the subs are removable, whereas they are fixed on the BFI, and of course there is the feature length extra UN TOURNAGE A LA CAMPAGNE, featuring the outtakes etc, but on the BFI only selected outtakes and screen tests... The BFI has an excellent Philip Kemp commentary, while the Madman includes a track from Anna Dzenis and Rick Thompson... I don't know if the CC will include TOURNAGE on their forthcoming release...

[Finch]

Thanks to you both; just ordered the R4 from ebay.

[Finch]

Some Aussie members on the BR forum have said that the Australian BR of The Game appears to be the same release as the German disc: an old master showing DNR and EE throughout. The only thing it seems to have going for it is improved audio and a low price.

[charal]

SALO is being released on the Distinction series on the 8th of September. Ezy list it as being Blu + DVD so it might be the same version as the BFI. At $40 I'd go for the UK version - it would be half the price [Amazon] and there would be no oversized rating label to peer around.

Will copies be smuggled into South Australia.......?

[John Edmond]

Atkinson is still an MP until 2014, just not longer the Attorney General. And Brisbane's GOMA looks to be having a substantial retrospective of Pasolini's work to celebrate Salo's new found accessibility.

On a side note, I finally got around to renting the blu-ray version of Kotcheff's Wake in Fright. The worst application of DNR I've had the misfortune to see - these are meant to be hard working sun-burnt men with skin looking like decaying crocodile leather, and now they look like slightly deranged botox babies. I just hope the DNR was only applied when mastering for blu and dvd release - and that the much vaunted digital restoration actually restored the film.

[bamwc2]

Hasn't the creepy Mr Atkinson gone from the party?

I heard that he went on vacation...

[Davidspector]

Is there any word concerning the quality of the new R4 Los Olvidados from Shock? I continue to hope for a good transfer of this film - at this point I'd even accept a non-English friendly transfer, if really good.

[perkizitore]

There is also an upcoming UK DVD.

[charal]

Assuming Madman are to release all the Kluge films they have picked a strange one to open with: http://b2b.madman.com.au/actions/catalo ... seId=10621" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would have expected YESTERDAY GIRL to be a better introduction to his work. I assume the transfer is the same as Edition Filmusuem [sans pictureboxing?].

The addition of a commentary track may interest some viewers.

[Norbie]

SALO is being released on the Distinction series on the 8th of September. Ezy list it as being Blu + DVD so it might be the same version as the BFI. At $40 I'd go for the UK version - it would be half the price [Amazon] and there would be no oversized rating label to peer around.

I purchased it at JB earlier today; only $37, so get your facts right before you write anything "Charal" If that's your real name.*

I've never seen the BFI BR version so i can't compare PQ , but from what i have seen of the Australian release so far it's nothing special. There are some good points. To me there looks like a minimum (or none) of DNR being used giving you a feeling of watching a film print, retaining its original grain and keeping original detail. The picture is sharper, but the contrast is very dissapointing (the Criterion is a lot better in that area). Also, the Oz (Distinction Series; DS) version doesn't come with a booklet. What we do get is a slip case, hip, hip, fucking hurra; which was damaged after someone tried to get to it.
The DS bluray is set as region A, B & C. It's also a two disc set.

The actual look of the package? I think the front cover looks nicer that the BFI version (only if we imagine that there is no Rating logo on the DS version). It's simple and not as full on as the BFI.

Was it worth the 37 dollars?** No, but i do get a feeling that i did a good deed for the day in supporting the Australian local industry.


* Just kidding :) love, love, love, love, love, all around.
** Amazon Uk has it for 12.99 pounds ($AUST 27 aprox. including postage).

[mrmarbach]

I am working in Melbourne this week and in the bargain store near my hotel I spotted Godard's "Hail Mary". Is this release better than the R1 DVD which I understand (from the Amazon reviews) is from the VHS? Perhaps worth the risk? (I am a beginner to Godard, have only seen one and a half... But keen to see more, and rightly or wrongly my interest was piqued by this: http://www.slate.com/id/2150743/)

Having seen the Greenaway box mentioned above I guess I will trawl the whole R4 thread for things to waste money on while I am here...

[zedz]

If you're interested in Greenaway, The Tulse Luper Suitcases is, as far as I know, only available in Australia. The films are a mixed bag, but it's a good quality release.

The Australian edition of Mizoguchi's The Loyal 47 Ronin is the best English-friendly version around, and the huge Herzog documentary box is also essential (and not available retail anywhere else, to the best of my knowledge).