Home Theater Forum  ›  Forums  ›  Hi-Definition  ›  HT Software - High Definition  ›  A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray
Forum Nav More Forums | All New Posts | New Thread

A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

#1
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 7:36am
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Post Count: 2,583
Blu-ray.com - A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray (Updated)

Quote:
Sony Pictures Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that a trio western films are being released on Blu-ray, all due to hit store shelves on June 10th, just in time for Father's Day. First up is the 1966 Burt Lancaster film 'The Professionals'. Video will be presented as 2.35:1 1080p AVC accompanied by a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack. Extras include three featurettes ("The Professionals - A Classic", "Burt Lancaster: A Portrait", and "Memories from The Professionals").

Next is the Ron Howard directed film 'The Missing' staring Tommy Lee Jones. Video will be presented as 2.40:1 1080p AVC accompanied by a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack. Extras include three Short Films of Ron Howard, three alternate endings, 11 deleted scenes, 11 behind-the-scenes featurettes, photo gallery, blooper reel, and bonus trailers.

Finally, the Robert Duvall film 'Broken Trail' will also be released on Blu-ray. Video will be presented as 1.78:1 1080p AVC and feature a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack. It will be released in its unrated form and the sole extra will be a "Making of Broken Trail - The Making of a Legendary Western" featurette.

While I haven't seen any of these, I am most excited to watch The Professionals. For anyone that has seen these how are The Missing and Broken Trail?
Export to Wiki
#2
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 7:51am
  • Joined: September 2002
  • Post Count: 3,700

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

I'll definitely pick up The Professionals. This was one of Sony's previously delayed catalog titles, so hopefully this means more of those will be around the corner.

I've only heard bad things about The Missing, unfortunately. Not too interested in that one, personally.

Broken Trail mildly interests me. It did win 4 Emmys - Best Mini-series, Cast for Mini-series, Best Actor for Mini-series (Duvall) and Best Supporting Actor for Mini-series (Haden Church). Walter Hill also won the DGA for TV Movie.
My DVD/BD Collection
Criterion DVD/BDs Owned: 55, Total DVDs Owned: 527, Blu-ray Discs Owned: 223
Export to Wiki
#3
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 8:58am
  • Joined: March 2008
  • Post Count: 33

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Arnette
While I haven't seen any of these, I am most excited to watch The Professionals. For anyone that has seen these how are The Missing and Broken Trail?
Broken Trail was simply outstanding and very entertaining.
Export to Wiki
#4
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 11:10am
  • Joined: June 2004
  • Post Count: 1,230

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Arnette
Blu-ray.com - A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray (Updated)

While I haven't seen any of these, I am most excited to watch The Professionals. For anyone that has seen these how are The Missing and Broken Trail?
Broken Trail is trite with an unlikely premise, yet it is expertly crafted by Walter Hill on distant Canadian locations and played with a lot of heart by the cast. I enjoyed it. Walter Hill has a genuine gift for the western. He should make more westerns.

The Missing isn't intended to be a comedy, but its political correctness is so extreme that it unwittingly turns into one. The men are no good, no matter what race they belong to -- Mexican, Indian, Anglo -- they are constantly screwing up, failing, cowering, whimpering, apologizing, going off in the wrong direction, and leaving the rescue of the babe up to man-hating Cate Blanchet. On another level, the film tortures historical facts worse than the studio system ever did. No doubt a package overstuffed with supplements and souvenirs helps the sales but fails to distract us from the inherent idiocy on display. Turn the sound off and the real pleasure of The Missing is the scenery. The light and landscapes of New Mexico have never been photographed better in a movie.

The Professionals is simply one of the best action - adventure - western films ever made. A superb entertainment. Many people thought the standard DVD special edition was over-digitized, and it's true the original DVD had the superior photo-chemical look it's supposed to have. The BR will show the film off to good advantage I hope. It's an absolute must-own.
http://www.3dfilmpf.org/
"... little by little the look of the country changes because of the people we admire."
dialog in HUD (1963)
Export to Wiki
#5
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 11:42am
  • Joined: May 2007
  • Location: Helsinki
  • Post Count: 2,026

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

Wow, very nice! All 3 will be mine.

Rewind - DVDcompare/Site Administrator
*US PS3 (1080p) - Xbox 360 Elite (HDMI) - Nintendo Wii (Euro) - Sony PSP-2000 - Nintendo DSi
*HD DVD Toshiba XE1 (1080p) - Sony Bravia KDL-40W2000 (1080p) - Yamaha RX-V1800 (HDMI 1.3)

Export to Wiki
#6
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 11:51am
  • Joined: December 1998
  • Location: Michigan
  • Post Count: 17,105

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

The first time I watched "The Professionals" it was in a movie theater with my father and from that day on, it has remain one of my favorite action/western films of all-time. Just a great film with some of the best written dialogue I ever heard from not only an action film, but any film.




Crawdaddy
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
Export to Wiki
#7
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 11:56am
  • Joined: June 2004
  • Post Count: 1,230

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
The first time I watched "The Professionals" it was in a movie theater with my father and from that day on, it has remained one of my favorite action/western films of all-time. Just a great film with some of the best written dialogue I ever heard from not only an action film, but any film.

Crawdaddy
Yeah.
Same here.
http://www.3dfilmpf.org/
"... little by little the look of the country changes because of the people we admire."
dialog in HUD (1963)
Export to Wiki
#8
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 12:00pm
  • Joined: May 2007
  • Location: Helsinki
  • Post Count: 2,026

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
The first time I watched "The Professionals" it was in a movie theater with my father and from that day on, it has remain one of my favorite action/western films of all-time. Just a great film with some of the best written dialogue I ever heard from not only an action film, but any film.

I just gave this film (SD DVD) for my girlfriend´s parents in last Xmas and quite recently they said to me; "Great film that you gave us, we really enjoyed it!". Which was nice.. (and then I got cold beer)

Rewind - DVDcompare/Site Administrator
*US PS3 (1080p) - Xbox 360 Elite (HDMI) - Nintendo Wii (Euro) - Sony PSP-2000 - Nintendo DSi
*HD DVD Toshiba XE1 (1080p) - Sony Bravia KDL-40W2000 (1080p) - Yamaha RX-V1800 (HDMI 1.3)

Export to Wiki
#9
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 2:17pm
  • Joined: April 2000
  • Post Count: 4,292

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

Definitely interested in The Professionals.

STOP THE MADNESS! STOP THE BUTCHERING AND ABANDONMENT OF TV SHOWS ON DVD!

My DVD List at DVD Aficionado, Now Featuring Blu-Ray

Export to Wiki
#10
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 2:33pm
  • Joined: January 1999
  • Location: The Land of Oranges, Mickey Mouse, and foreclosures
  • Post Count: 6,189

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

I saw The Missing but don't really remember it at all. I have a vague memory of thinking it was kinda silly. Take that for what it's worth.

"How wonderful it will be to have a leader unburdened by the twin horrors of knowledge and experience." -- Mr. Wick

Export to Wiki
#11
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 2:52pm
  • Joined: July 2003
  • Location: Lacombe, AB
  • Post Count: 2,550

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

I'm interested in The Professionals and Broken Trail, but The Missing was dull, dull, DULL! I ran it when I used to work projection for Cineplex and found it uninteresting at best. So did most of the filmgoers frequenting my theatre, as it didn't last much longer than Gigli.

\"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

Export to Wiki
#12
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 3:18pm
  • Joined: July 1997
  • Location: Amsterdam, Holland
  • Post Count: 16,244

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

I have the 1999 DVD version of The Professionals, which was very good. I'll be highly interested in a BD version if it arrives.
The other two won't make it to my library.


Cees
HTF Rules (uhm ... and has Rules)
Export to Wiki
#13
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 3:22pm
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Post Count: 2,583

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

Thanks for all the feedback guys. It looks like I will stick to my initial plans to purchase The Professionals, and rent the rest (if time permits).
Export to Wiki
#14
Rating: 0
3/31/08 at 4:28pm
  • Joined: April 2000
  • Post Count: 9,099

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

You should enjoy The Professionals, it's one of the better American made westerns from the 60's. Stylistically it neatly bridges the gap between the more fun Magnificent Seven to the more hard core The Wild Bunch.

As for the other two I wouldn't recommend a blind-buy.
The Movie Library
Export to Wiki
#15
Rating: 0
4/2/08 at 1:59am
  • Joined: February 2000
  • Post Count: 632

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

The Professionals was already aired in HD in the UK and looked very nice.
Definitely a movie to own.

Oliver
Export to Wiki
#16
Rating: 0
4/2/08 at 9:43am
  • Joined: April 2006
  • Location: Calgary, Alberta
  • Post Count: 19

Re: A Trio of Westerns Come to Blu-ray

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard--W
Broken Trail is trite with an unlikely premise, yet it is expertly crafted by Walter Hill on distant Canadian locations and played with a lot of heart by the cast.

I don't want to sound like too much of a homer, but Calgary is most certainly not a DISTANT Canadian location, and less than an hours drive to beautiful outdoor locations.

An entertaining FYI: the Wyoming tourism board reported a triple digit increase in tourism to the state, due to Brokeback Mountain, which was filmed, as above, just outside of my beloved home town.

Donovan

Export to Wiki
Forum Nav More Forums | All New Posts | New Thread