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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
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Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet
You can email Criterion and let them know the reason that you're not purchasing this DVD set. That will send a message.
This DVD is a "holdover" anyway... it's the 1080p Blu-ray Disc where we really have to worry, bcs that would be the definitive version and possibly the last release for a LONG time. Criterion needs to get the message now so they can work to help bring this out in its original OAR on Blu. Maybe they could help convince a certain someone that large-screen HD home-theater is more like "theater" than it is like "home video".
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That's what I'm thinking as well, but is there something more effective than just an email? I guess a handwritten letter might be somewhat more effective (or maybe do both).
While a big/major studio will ignore a handful of letters, maybe Criterion (due to its much smaller/niche market) might take notice if a good number of us did write them.
BTW, does anyone significant at Criterion monitor HT/film forums like HTF? They probably at least monitor their own forums, no?
Personally, I'm fine w/ just passing on this DVD set -- and maybe go for the R2 PAL version for now, if the eventual BD will take a long while yet. What concerns me more is the eventual BD (as David points out as well). I've waited this long for a good version of TLE, I'm fine w/ waiting another couple years or so if that eventual BD will be a good one w/ the correct AR.
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
E-mail just sent to Criterion at their "suggestions" address:
Quote:
Hello.
I would like to request an HD release of The Last Emperor on Blu-ray disc.
I have been waiting for a quality release of this title for quite a long time. While I realize that you have a 4-disc SD version to be released February 26, I will likely NOT be buying it due to the revised aspect ratio at which it has been transferred by Vittorio Storaro.
Mr. Storaro believes that all 2.35:1 films should be released to the home market with an aspect ratio of 2:1. I do not agree. This is a film which won the Oscar for cinematography in 1987 with a 2.35:1 image. I would like to see a beautifully-restored version of that original image in my own home....not a version which has been cropped (even if Mr. Storaro was involved in the creation of the original work).
Is there any chance that a future Blu-ray release of The Last Emperor might have the full 2.35:1 image?
Thank you.
Mike Frezon
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There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
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Chris S
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
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Originally Posted by Simon Howson
Option 1: Insist that the film be released at a 2.21:1 ratio, preserving the 70mm release format
Option 2: Not bother releasing the film. There are thousands of other films they could've released.
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Both of these options ignore the filmmakers wishes (right or wrong), either directly or indirectly, and that goes against some of the reason why Criterion is so revered.
DVD & Blu-ray - It's all about the movies!
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
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Originally Posted by Simon Howson
...in case Storaro didn't agree to release Last Emperor at 2.21:1.
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Simon: did I err in my note to Criterion by referring to TLE as a 2.35:1 film? Why are you saying 2.21:1? Is that what actually gets seen in the theaters when a 2.35:1 is shown?
I should have paid closer to attention to the dialogue between you & Doug.
Or, maybe less!
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
And...so no one misses it,
Matt Hough's HTF review of TLE is up as well.
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
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Chris S
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
FYI for those interested in checking out the extras but may be hesitant to make a purchase given the conversation above, I did a quick search through Netflix and they will be offering the Criterion version for rental.
DVD & Blu-ray - It's all about the movies!
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
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Originally Posted by Fabian Kusch
You mean crop off the top and bottom to fit the 2:1 format??
Terrible thought....
....although I'm afraid Storaro in his present state of mind would be capable of doing it!
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But, why
wouldn't he do it? I would think that he would.
It's not like he'd be impacting the composition that much or anything. It's a minor change that would then put Last Tango in Paris more aligned in composition with Da Vinci's The Last Supper.
Not sure whether to insert a winking smilie here. 
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
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Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet
hehe... that dvdfile reviewer is me.
Thanks guys for this thread and for the poster who directed me here... because I wouldn't have known that the cropping had even taken place were it not for this very informative thread. In fact, I was about to publish that review giving all positive accolades when I discovered this thread and made some very swift modifications to notify would-be readers to this situation. THANKS HTF members! |
I think it's telling that even a film aficionado like DaViD didn't know the cropping had taken place until his attention was directed to it. *ducks and covers in preparation for the inevitable flaming*
\"My opinion is that (a) anyone who actually works in a video store and does not understand letterboxing has given up on life, and (b) any customer who prefers to have the sides of a movie hacked off should not be licensed to operate a video player.\"-- Roger Ebert
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
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Originally Posted by Stephen_J_H
I think it's telling that even a film aficionado like DaViD didn't know the cropping had taken place until his attention was directed to it. *ducks and covers in preparation for the inevitable flaming* |
Nah. It's just that
you're giving David Boulet too much credit as a "film aficionado."
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
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Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet
Sigh... took me a while to scroll down and see that laugh icon!   |
I'm on a roll today, David!
I hope you hadn't composed a blistering retort aimed at me!
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
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Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet
It's really more a matter of trusting Criterion than a reflection on any one's care about film.
dave 
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Well, as Dubya has said, "When you assume, it makes an ass outta you and a double-dumb-ass outta me."
\"My opinion is that (a) anyone who actually works in a video store and does not understand letterboxing has given up on life, and (b) any customer who prefers to have the sides of a movie hacked off should not be licensed to operate a video player.\"-- Roger Ebert
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
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Originally Posted by Ivy Mike
It doesn't sound like he'd crop stuff like Last Tango - basically anything wider than 2.00:1 (Apoc Now, Last Emp), but I suppose anything could happen.
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Seeing as how it already has...I wouldn't put it past him.
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Originally Posted by Ivy Mike
Sounds like he doesn't like big black bars on TV presentation...
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Then let's put him in charge of the HD transfer of The Wizard of Oz for Blu-ray for all those new-fangled 16:9 TVs in the home and see what happens.
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
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Re: Statement concerning THE LAST EMPEROR (Criterion Collection)
I've finally found some time to go through most of the Criterion LE DVD, and while the 2:1 issue exists, it should not be a deal killer. While I found an occasional shot to feel cramped, and the issue of a field enlargement exists, the set is still worth one's attention.
The extras, in typical Criterion fashion, are top notch, and it would seem very doubtful that for high definition or any other uses, that the 2:1 will go away.
This is a beautifully produced set, albeit fashioned against the Criterion norm of OAR, is the best out there, and is likely to remain as such until the film is released in HD.
RAH
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. This I did." T.E. Lawrence
