New Kubrick SE's

Re: New Kubrick SE's

I've only seen the original '99 FMJ DVD, but the new 16x9 DVD is basically perfect:



Here's a few other uncompressed caps...

Re: New Kubrick SE's

I hear ya, but it doesn't make any sense.

What I mean is that 60+ percent of DVD volume comes from just a handful of retailers:

Walmart
Best Buy
Circuit City
Target
Amazon

That they should be able to pull off on a spreadsheet and at least get most of it right. But they couldn't even get the big guys their share.

How can they muck it up that bad?

Oh and those of us that have orders for Blade Runner in ... how confident are you now in seeing that release before Christmas?

Re: New Kubrick SE's

I also found the Kubrick box set under Sci Fi at Best Buy. Payed $54.99. I watched first 45 min of Clockwork and 2001 and they are both improvements over the Digital remasters,

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I was holding 2001 and EYES WIDE SHUT in my hand, looking for THE SHINING, and a Best Buy employee asked if I was looking for the other Kubricks. I nodded, and he pointed at a nearby display that included several of the box sets. I was already gonna pay $45, so I figured I'd pony up another $11 and get the whole box.

Re: New Kubrick SE's

Just in case it's still not clear, I can confirm that the new Barry Lyndon is definitely NOT anamorphic.

In fact is identical to the 2001 version. It has the 2001 menu, and all the files on the disc are dated 2001. Disappointing to say the least.

I guess I'll soothe my sorrow with my 5 beautiful Kubrick Blu-Ray;s.

Re: New Kubrick SE's

Screw 'em. They may as well have re-released it on VHS or laserdisc.

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I've yet to find an actual copy of the boxset after checking CC and Target (BB may be the only B&M retailer who is apparently carrying this).

Questions:

I've seen web sites refer to the boxset as a 10-disc set (?).

I'm going to make the assumption that the 'Full Metal Jacket DE' is a one-disc affair and that the 10th disc is the 'Life in Pictures' Doc (?).

This is the FMJ transfer that was recently used for HD releases and was criticized for being sourced from a 1080i/bobbed video master (?).

There are basically still no extras for FMJ (?).

On a side issue, how did they do the packaging inside the box?

Re: New Kubrick SE's

To be honest, the 2001 non-anamorphic remasters of Barry Lyndon and Lolita are excellent. They're only missing 16x9 enhancement. That's one reason why A Clockwork Orange isn't exactly a huge revelation. Now, if you compared the crappy 1999 DVDs...


1. Yes, it's a 10 disc set. 2001, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, and Eyes Wide Shut are all 2-disc editions (one disc for the film, the second for extras), with Full Metal Jacket and A Life in Pictures being single-disc.

2. FMJ is probably from the new 1080p transfer since it's very smooth and seems to match the look of the new HD-DVD in terms of image quality.

3. It does have a commentary, as well as a making-of featurette and the trailer.

4. Six amarays in a cardboard box.

Re: New Kubrick SE's

Keep in mind too that all the cover inserts for these Kubrick DVDs are printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper.

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I think I'll just get these individually.

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Man, that is lame. I sold off my '01 releases of Barry Lyndon and Lolita several weeks ago when I pre-ordered the new releases. Most online listings specified that these new releases would be "newly remastered" which most people (including me) would take to mean they would now be 16x9 enhanced. And I also figured there was no way Warner would be so pathetic as to simply re-release the same old disks of these with the other new Kubrick's coming out. I mean this is Warner, not MGM, right? (rolls eyes)...

Well, I guess they suckered me (and probably a few thousand other people) on this one. Between this non-sense and Warner's lousy distribution/order fulfillment of late, I am starting to really sour on them as the 'best of the big studios' when it comes to DVD.

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I don't have a Blueray or HD dvd player.

How good is the new standard 2 disc release? Did they clean up the video?

Thanks

John

Re: New Kubrick SE's

I would give all 5 films an A+ in terms of image quality. All of these excellent in the '01 DVD set incarnations, but the big selling points are the extras, the original 16x9 formats for The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut, the uncut orgy scene in EWS, and 16x9 enhancement on A Clockwork Orange. If you're happy with the 2001 box set, I'd wait until you can pick up the HD editions. Since I didn't own any of the films already, this was an easy purchase for me.

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Jeez, why not restore Barry Lyndon as well.

"I don't have a Blueray or HD dvd player.

How good is the new standard 2 disc release? Did they clean up the video?"

Someone in the HD section compared the HD of 2001 to a religious experience and thats about right. I couldnt believe how great it looked.


EWS, The Shining and ACW all looked very good.

If HD is in your future, if youre thinking about it, I say wait for the HD upgrade.

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That's probably going to be my move but I'll still pick up Eyes Wide Shut since it's uncut. My buddy will either rent or buy a couple of these so I'll get to see them sooner rather than later anyway.

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Actually, Fox now has home video rights to the MGM/UA library. So getting three companies to coordinate a box set would be difficult.

Though I must admit it would be nice to see The Killing and Paths of Glory receive anamorphic widescreen transfers like the WB Kubrick titles.

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Yes I know that Fox is doing the distribution for the MGM/UA that MGM /UA still has control over, a lot of the titles in the libraries changed hands with the acquisition but Sony had a controlling interest in the company per sea, the question is the Kubrick titles something that they kept for themselves, or are they still in the hands of MGM/Fox.

Fox has worked with WB in the past, the Mel Brooks set, so I can see where that would have worked out, what I am hoping for is that someone does a new transfer, of the three original MGM titles, all in OAR, and of course deluxe editions of BL and Lolita.

Re: New Kubrick SE's

It's been clear that Barry Lyndon and Lolita were not part of this set months ago so selling off your copies is on you.

Now, what's on Warner is still a valid point, even if it ain't news.

- Full Metal Jacket (not given the same treatment as the rest)
- Barry Lyndon/Lolita not included in the box set
- Distribution problems on the box set
- Quality issues (reported) on the box sets that did get out

This ain't some obscure director this is Stanley f**king Kubrick.

What did we get from all this wait from the last release in 2001?

Some new extras? Anamorphic releases that should have been anamorphic when released in 2001 for Pete's sake? Big Whoop.

Other than Hitchcock there is no more written about director on the planet than Kubrick and WHV went through the last bunch of years like they've sleeping walking. How many WHV discussions were there about when we can expect new releases of these films?

Yet, in the last 6 years they couldn't some how pull off an anamorphic and remastered Barry Lyndon?

I've Netflix A Life in Pictures if there is any questions about what I'm doing about this boxset.

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I'm confused about the lack of Full Metal Jacket around. I've searched Amazon and they only have HD/BD of it...no SD? The announcement as reported by DVDActive said nothing of this...did they come right out and say it is only in the box, or are we inferring that from the lack of it in stores? No offense to Stanley but I only wanted 2001, Orange, and FMJ.

http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releas...ck-collection2

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I found it on Amazon. My understanding is that there were no changes from the prior release (as far as content goes). FMJ has been discounted forever. My guess as to why they didn't upgrade this was that they had a ton of returns from stores on this title. I mean it seriously was discounted every fourth week at Best Buy. This is not meant to be a reflection on the film, just on its economic impact.



link: http://www.amazon.com/Full-Metal-Jac...3339685&sr=1-5

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This is the old (2000) release of the film, still available as a single. The new "Deluxe Edition" (as it's labeled) is only available as part of the new Kubrick set. You can still buy the old 4x3 version on its own (as the link above shows), but the new anamorphic version can only be found in the set. Who knows why?

Considering you can get the set for about $55, and that Clockwork Orange and 2001 together are going to cost you about $40, buying the set probably costs as much as buying Clockwork, 2001, and FMJ would if FMJ was available on its own. If you don't want the other films, I'm sure there are people over on the "for sale/trade" section of the HTF that would be interested in the titles you don't want.

And, as a sidenote, for what it's worth: when the set was announced, it was mentioned that Barry Lyndon and Lolita would not be in this set, and that the single re-releases of the titles would be identical to the 2000 remastered editions. Considering that this was announced well in advance, that they came in identical packaging (only in amarays instead of snappers), and that nowhere on the package did it indicate the films as being anamorphic, if anyone rebought them expecting something different, it's not Warner's fault here. Yes, I wish they would have redone them too, but they didn't, and that's a separate issue. The non-anamorphic transfers don't look bad, and if they weren't able to create any bonus material of real value, it's probably for the best that they didn't do a half-assed job of it.

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With all due respect, it was NEVER formally announced that the re-releases of BL and Lolita would be identical to the old ones, only that they were not going to be part of the box set and wouldn't get the same SE treatment. Hence, everyone wondering right up until yesterday whether they would in fact be new transfers.

In fact, the vagueness or outright lack of specs for these two re-releases for all of these months amounts to a clever bit of deception on Warner's part IMO, especially since the previous (identical) releases also remain in print. What else was one to conclude except that the newer releases would be better in some way?

Re: New Kubrick SE's

...and the picture quality on the new "2001 A Space Odessey" standard 2 disc set is unchanged from the earlier release? ? ?

John

Re: New Kubrick SE's

No, it's an improvement. The DVNR and mild edge enhancement on the '01 disc are gone.

Re: New Kubrick SE's

Very sad that one of the most beautifully shot films ever made BARRY LYNDON is not anamorphic and will most likely never be seen in HD clarity:-(
Bad decision on WB part.
LOLITA should have had an anamorphic transfer as well.

Re: New Kubrick SE's

"...most likely never be seen in HD clarity"? Just because it didn't come out in this set doesn't mean that it won't ever come out or be released solo. Plus, there's always the next time they release the Kubrick movies again in 4 or so years.

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I suspect we'll see "Barry Lyndon" given an SE treatment within the next year. I'd rather wait a little bit and have it done RIGHT than to have Warner rush it. Yeah I'd love to have "Barry Lyndon" on HD-DVD right now but honestly the 2001 SD-DVD remaster is still very watchable for the time being.

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Although it would have been nice to have an anamorphic Lolita & Barry Lyndon, if they weren't going to do anything new with them, I'm actually glad that they were left out of the new box set.

I (and many others, I'm sure) have the '01 box, and each of the titles in the new box (except for A Life In Pictures) features something of an upgrade, which makes a purchase worthwhile. I would have been a little disappointed with two more discs identical to ones that I already have upping the price of the box. That, at least, was a decent decision on Warner's part, I think.

Too bad about the software error, though. I hope it gets sorted out soon.

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With continued respect, Warner made it clear in their chat about a year ago that they had no plans to redo BL and Lolita. In their press release, they announced that they were issuing a box set with remastered titles, and listed the releases in that box set. Nowhere on the press release does it specify that BL or Lolita would be remastered...and since they specified all of the other titles would be, I think it's a no-brainer. Discussion on this very forum prior to release date made it pretty clear these two weren't being redone. The press release did say "Separate from this Collection, other Kubrick titles available from WHV include Barry Lyndon and Lolita." Nothing about new additional features or transfers or remastering, just mentioning that they own the rights to other Kubrick movies that are out on DVD. The cover art on all of the special editions is different; the art for BL and Lolita is exactly the same. The excellent DVD Times website elaborated by adding the text "these will be repackaged version of the old remastered editions". Digital Bits essentially offered the same information. It was discussed in this thread.

It was clear to me and most others on this very forum that BL and Lolita were not being redone this time around. I'm sorry you didn't feel it was stated clearly enough, but this is one time where it seems obvious that the studio wasn't trying to trick anyone into rebuying something they already had. Now, do I wish they had been redone? Absolutely! Sometimes, when a studio announces a new box set of special editions, gives specs for all of the special features and details of new transfers, gives new artwork, but doesn't do any of that for other titles, it can be reasonably surmised that the excluded titles weren't being redone. It was immediately clear to me upon reading the initial press release that 2001, ACO, The Shining, FMJ, and EWS were being remastered with new transfers and special features, and that BL and Lolita weren't.

And frankly, as some others have stated on here, I'm glad that they didn't bother doing sub-par new editions just for the sake of doing them. The current ones are certainly watchable, and all we can do is hope that somewhere down the line, WB will choose to revisit those titles. But instead of complaining about the two that didn't get the new treatment, from hereon in I'm going to enjoy what we did get, which was a whole hell of a lot for not a lot of money.

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That's exactly as I remembered it. People have simply been making assumptions about these two titles. No doubt they will be re-mastered in due course.