Contact coming in October!

Re: Contact coming in October!

a favorite of mine saw it in the theater when it first came out, bought the dvd when it came out, also picked up a clean LD copy for a couple of bucks just for the cover.
This should look awesome on BR!

Re: Contact coming in October!

One of my all time favorite films. But, the BD has to be noticeably better than the superb STARZ HD broadcast and must also be priced right to get my coin.

Re: Contact coming in October!

It's up for pre-order right now at the WB Shop for $19.16. Seems like a good price to me.

Re: Contact coming in October!

$20.49 at Amazon.

Re: Contact coming in October!

OH wow, fantastic news. This was one of the first DVD's I bought (along with The Fifth Element). I love this movie dearly and can't wait for the BD! I watched it again recently and couldn't help thinking how much more enjoyable it'd be watching it in HD. And the sound! Especially during The Machine test. Joy!

Re: Contact coming in October!

Isn't that a gorgeous beach? We know a lot was added (stars, etc.), but I'd like to visit there. Let us know if you figure it out.

It'll never look as romantic as it did in the film, especially w/ Jodie there.

Cheers,
Doug

Re: Contact coming in October!

Some of it was filmed at Yasawa Islands, Fiji, according to IMDb. Hope that helps narrow it down!

Re: Contact coming in October!

Certainly does, and helps that I visited for the first time at Easter (completing my lifelong ambition of doing so after being raised near there).

In fact, I can actually mentally confirm it for now. The clue would be the placement and shape of the coconut tree formations, as there are a few beaches similar in appearance.

Every time I get to visit a new one, I wonder if it was the one used.

I have visited the island on which CASTAWAY was shot (also in Fiji).
What was amazing is the amount of CGI work they did erasing out all the surrounding islands.

In doing the obligatory yelling out of "Wilson!!!!!!!!", we lay on the sand there, on a very ugly beach in fact (at low tide - ALL rocks) - they only shot at high tide; and took wave shots on outer reefs and locations (according to the Blue Lagoon Cruise guide who mentioned working as an assistant on that shoot).

Little would people realise that just to the LEFT of all those shots, IS an AMAZING beach which dropped straight down after 2 metres out, into the BEST snorkling I've experienced in my life.

I just realised why they didn't shoot in that direction - Tom Hank's character is trying to get off the island, and has to battle getting past the reef, lol.

So, will watch CONTACT when it comes out to verify the location.

Re: Contact coming in October!

...unless your name was Dougette!

Re: Contact coming in October!

Trust me...you'd MUCH rather see Jodie on that beach instead of me, unless you're up for a fright!

Doug

Re: Contact coming in October!

I may be out on a limb here, but I think he was referring to the fact that Jodie is a lesbian .

Okay, on-topic now. This still is one of the best Sci Fi films ever made. Intelligent and philosophical. The great actors in it help too. Robert Zemeckis is still the pioneer of invisible CGI, if you ask me.

Re: Contact coming in October!

The first few minutes of the film as it pans throught he universe in total silence is arguably one of the most astonishing opening sequences of any film....ever.

I remember it didnt come out in Canada on the same day as in the US and was in fact not scheduled for some weeks after the US release date. I drove down to Bellingham and found a copy at a now defunct store in the Bellis Fair mall where I paid about 40 bucks and got dinged another 10 coming back into Canada...never regretted it!

Re: Contact coming in October!

Well, at least someone caught the pun!

Re: Contact coming in October!

Yeah, this is a great movie and I will happily pick this one up on BD when it comes out.
I still remember sitting in the theater and getting totally freaked out when Jodie Foster's character recognizes the religious freak during the shuttle launch. The look on his white face combined with the score just left me so unsettled. I think it was Gary Busey's son who played that part but I can't remember his first name.

Re: Contact coming in October!

Jake.

Zemeckis also shot Castaway (as a reminder).

Re: Contact coming in October!

OK. Thanks for clarifying. I guess I don't care what an actor's sexual preference is when I'm looking at her, but understand it was a joke.

Regarding the film, I thought it was a bold positive view of science vs. superstition, and presented a rare view of non-believers like myself. The ending didn't change Arroway's stance, but made her empathetic with those who are religious.

Doug

Re: Contact coming in October!

Thanks for checking the price for me but I'll pass for now. Even though this title is one of my favorites, I figger down the road, I'll able to get it on sale for half price. Meanwhile, I'm quite content with watching my HD recording.

Re: Contact coming in October!

I liked him infinitely better in 'U-571', where his usual swagger and aloofness was pleasantly absent.

Re: Contact coming in October!

+1....Also, the sound of the Machine rumbling ominously during Ellie's pre-launch sequence where she makes her way across the platform towards the pod is pure gourmet food for your subwoofer(s), guaranteed to induce squeals of delight....at least it does with my setup: 3 Velodyne subs (a 10", 12", and 15") and 2 Buttkickers = an LFE orgasm of the highest magnitude. No doubt, I'll want to wear a pair of Depends when I audition the upcoming lossless track

Re: Contact coming in October!

Definitely a purchase for me, since I don't own the DVD (I do own the VHS widescreen version, which probably hasn't been watched in 10+ years).

Re: Contact coming in October!

i dunno if u HTF audio freaks like me also noticed, but during the wormhole sequence, there was a point when Ellie's face had some of space-time continuum issue and you could see 2 faces, and also hear what she was thinking (since she was speaking into her supposed recording device). during that sequence, the audio panned from the rear right to the rear left (or vice versa, can't remember now).

i wanna' hear THAT in lossless

Re: Contact coming in October!

I don't know if you folks who use Amazon noticed it but it has gone up in price there. I pre-ordered it on the day it was put up and got it at $20.49. I see it's $23.49 today...

Re: Contact coming in October!

WBShop.com has a 30 percent coupon you can use until the end of the month: WBSURVEY7. They charge $4.95 for ground shipping and they also charge sales tax. That brought the total for me to $22.76. Sold!

- Steve

Re: Contact coming in October!

I can't wait to have this on Blu-ray. Contact was the first DVD I bought back in February 1998, along with a $350 (!) first generation DVD player from Zenith. It wasn't a very good player, but I was thrilled just to be able to watch one of my favorite films (at the time) on DVD.

Wow, how things have changed.

Re: Contact coming in October!

My very first dvd player, also purchased in 98', was a Toshiba 2108 (still have it, works great) on sale for $688 cdn (!!)....it was one of the first players to offer DTS decoding and component video. Also bought the world's first portable dvd player....a Panny w/a 5.8", 16.9 AR screen for $1,300 cdn (!!!). Indeed -- change is the only constant when it comes to consumer electronics. Sorry for goin' off-topic!

Re: Contact coming in October!

ah memory lane . my 1st DVD was The Matrix. i bought it without a DVD Player (i did the same w/CDs through Columbia House, lol).

i finally bought a "DVD-ROM" in 2000 or 2001. then Contact was also one of the 1st DVDs i bought.

Re: Contact coming in October!

My personal favourite movie of all-time, and one of my first DVDs (and pretty fully-featured, too, for the time, with 3 commentary tracks IIFC).

This shall be mine on release day.

Re: Contact coming in October!

Yeah that was one of the few VFX shots ILM worked on as at the time no-one else had the CGI firepower to do an actors face. Think they may also have done the seamless morph shot of young to older Ellie which is another subtle but incredible shot.

That entire wormhole ride is still totally stunning both audio & visually.

Re: Contact coming in October!

I just ordered it at $19.99.

Re: Contact coming in October!

Excellent indeed!

One of my earliest purchases and a disc that had a short shelf life due to the glue fiasco which oxidized, making the movie unplayable after the switch point.