New Australian DVD and BD Releases

[devlinnn]

There was a great piece in The Age yesterday with a break down of all the women and their fashion sense when rocking up to court and trial. This fragment alone in the saga is worthy of an Ealing comedy.

A subtle piece, but Zarah's look here as she leaves court is 'Melbourne Woman' personified.



Since converting to Islam (!), Roberta Williams looks to have toned down (pictured with son leaving court on cannabis and road traffic offences).



On a second look, that might be my sister in the background.....I better make some phone calls.

Back to other things - not sure if it's been mentioned, but Distinction will be releasing a 2-disc set of Kurosawa's Dersu Uzala soon. Their track record so far is stunning in regards to PQ, so this should be worth picking up. Umbrella's upcoming 2-disc set of The Sheltering Sky will include a making-of and interview. Considering their sloppy work lately, we'll have to wait and see on this one.

[Gordon]

Since converting to Islam...

Ugh, there is no G...

Back to other things - not sure if it's been mentioned, but Distinction will be releasing a 2-disc set of Kurosawa's Dersu Uzala soon. Their track record so far is stunning in regards to PQ, so this should be worth picking up.

... Oh, yes there is! =D>

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Anyone have any contact info for Distinction? Some casual Googling didn't turn up anything. It'd be nice to know if they're using a new transfer, given that I've already had my hopes raised and dashed by two previous releases (mk2 and Artificial Eye) that turned out to be ports of the Ruscico edition.

[Solaris]

I would find it very rare for Distinction Series (or for that matter, Umbrella or Madman) to release a transfer that is not taken from an R1 or R2 DVD. Hell, even the menus on their release of Mirror are taken from Artificial Eye's.

I would like to know if there is a website or something for Distinction Series, as it was posted earlier on this thread that they will be releasing Stalker next month, however I have heard nothing new about this.

As I don't yet own Stalker (I know, i'm terrible), does anybody know if the new R1 Kino release is superior to the Artificial Eye R2 release?

If April comes and goes without any R4 release, I guess I may as well import it.

[devlinnn]

I doubt Distinction have a web-site. The Kurosawa release looks to be May, Stalker later in the year.

Friends of friends inform that Paul Harris has been doing some commentaries for upcoming Preston Sturges releases through Umbrella. Sullivan's Travels is probably the first release around May. (Universal locally must have sold dirt cheap the rights to their classic back-catalogue, or else lost them through idiocy.)

Tree of Wooden Clogs is also a May Umbrella release.

[PhilipS]

Distinction Series seems to be an imprint of Kaleidoscope Films. They have a web address which goes straight to an unrelated page of Shock Records, who are the distributor. It looks like the DVD page on Shock's website is stuffed.

[devlinnn]

David, I'd hate to say it, but HD down here is still-born. The Universal HDs are available (all 15 of them), but at a rrp of $44.95 no retailer in their right mind would touch them, even if they would like the format to start well.

Due to all the corruption and exclusive tie-ups, it is getting more and more difficult to keep up with the major's releases. It's a cheaper way of doing business for the distributor as they can print-run to exact orders, the retailer pays for the exclusive (up to 6-figures on some stuff), then again for the advertising. But why the ACCC has yet to move in is a mystery....

[marty]

Distinction Series seems to be an imprint of Kaleidoscope Films. They have a web address which goes straight to an unrelated page of Shock Records, who are the distributor. It looks like the DVD page on Shock's website is stuffed.

Distinction is just Shock's way of ripping of Madman's Director's Suite. They are very shoddy.

[Solaris]

Yes, Directors Suite releases sometimes have extras exclusive only to R4, such as commentaries, documentaries etc; although their transfer are usually always taken from R2 or R1 releases.
Distinction Series add absolutely nothing new to their releases. Not even the menus are different.

A search on Shock's webpage reveals that Dersu Uzala will be released in "57 days" with a retail of $34.95. Stalker is not listed.

[soma]

For those wondering what happened to "those" releases, the Work Of Directors box sets have now hit all stores.

[Solaris]

Here's a good review of La Notte.

[Solaris]

and the addition of Caputo's commentary in no way justifies the premium price tag.

Not very many Umbrella releases justify a $29.95 price tag, not to mention Madman who charge $34.95 a pop for their "Directors Suite" releases.

[marty]

Not very many Umbrella releases justify a $29.95 price tag, not to mention Madman who charge $34.95 a pop for their "Directors Suite" releases.

They charge that much because they have to due to the low sales. Even if they charged $19.95 they would achieve similar sales (maybe slgithly higher) but not enough to justify a lower price. I think Accent actually charges reasonable prices of around $19.95-$24.95 which should be the norm.

[devlinnn]

Warner in June,

* Lust for Life
* The Yakuza
* Body Heat: Deluxe Edition
* Straight Time

David - AR on La Notte I thought was 1:66? No?

[soma]

The Graduate Special Edition out on Universal, 2nd May.

[solent]

It seems a new version of SUNDAY TOO FAR AWAY [Collectors edition] was released late last year. It is by Roadshow and replaces the deplorable Reel abomination. Online specs declare it to be 16:9 with a making of doco included. The cover is orange/sepia and the older DVD seems to be OOP.

[Gordon]

The Graduate Special Edition out on Universal, 2nd May.

Intriguing. Any more info? A Nichols-Soderbergh commentary is what I am hoping for at some point from R1 MGM, but it might appear elsewhere. The original 4-track stereo mix would be great, too. Listing with vintage cover art.

[Gordon]

Same extras.

Which are?

[Gordon]

Cheers, Dave, that was of help, as it reminded me that the film is owned by Studio Canal in Europe. The UK edition is from Momentum via Canal, so maybe a SE is lined up for the UK, too. I'll be keen to see the specs for this. But MGM really need to pull their finger out and get a new HD transfered SE in R1. The Momentum UK transfer is way better than the current MGM.

Oh, wait, a German SE from Arthaus was released in January: review with screenshots.

DVD Beaver's R1 vs UK R2 comparison.

The UK transfer, though superior to the MGM R1, now appears to be too reddish in relation to the Arthaus, which also appears to be more detailed and film-like. I'll be interested in seeing the R4 screenshots (hint, hint!).

[fdm]

R1 should end up with a Blu-Ray version of the Graduate. It was going to come out in May, but it might have been postponed. Hopefully it will be one of the ones they don't screw up too bad.

[soma]

Unfortunately the only info I have is the Ezy DVD listing and the one at Michael DVD, which doesn't tell us much.

I've been hanging for a decent release of this. One of the best feel-good films of all time IMO, alongside Harold And Maude.

[Solaris]

I'm guessing The Graduate SE is probably same the same as old R1 "special edition", which includes a collectable booklet, Hoffmann interview and short documentary.

July 4th Buena will release Walt Disney Treasures: The Complete Pluto and The Chronological Donald volume two, both out-of-print in R1.

[soma]

I'm guessing The Graduate SE is probably same the same as old R1 "special edition", which includes a collectable booklet, Hoffmann interview and short documentary.

Which is no longer available? Even if it is a R4 re-hash of that (with anamorphic picture) I'd be happy - especially at $14.95.

[marty]

Lars Von Trier's The Kingdom 1 & 2 are out now by Madman/Accent. They are glorious transfers with loads of extras. Great value!

[Gordon]

Nonno

this is a NEW transfer. IN HD for all formats and regions.

Indeed. No extras listed, though.