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Highlander released in Region B

#1
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6/17/09 at 6:33am
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Looking at Amazon UK today I discovered much to my surprise that Highlander (one of my favourites) is up for a BluRay release.
Highlander: Immortal Edition (Limited Edition Steelbook) [Blu-ray] [1986]: Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, Russell Mulcahy: Amazon.co.uk: DVD

How this managed to stay below the radar in this forum puzzles me, even though its region B (some reviewers have the region coding listed as A/B).

If anyone has seen the release can they please give some feedback on the disc. I'm especially interested in the video/audio quallity and, and what the deleted scenes consist of.
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#2
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6/18/09 at 10:57am
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

I have ordered it (I believe it's out in early July). I'll let you know when I get it.

--------
Ted K.

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#3
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6/18/09 at 1:12pm
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

Already released in France. This is the same DLT (with english DTS-HD MA / DTS Stéréo / german DTS-HD / spanish DTS-HD Mono / Italian DTS-HD Surround / Portugese DTS-HD Stéréo

Highlander (blu-ray) - test dvd

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#4
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6/19/09 at 12:15am
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerome
Already released in France. This is the same DLT (with english DTS-HD MA / DTS Stéréo / german DTS-HD / spanish DTS-HD Mono / Italian DTS-HD Surround / Portugese DTS-HD Stéréo

Highlander (blu-ray) - test dvd

Merci Jerome.
My French is just good enough to make out the details of the review.

Even though the audio/video is rated as average its still a must have for me. Too bad its not the Ultimate Edition I was hoping for.
Guess I still have to hang on to my old Laserdisc for the still gallery and the previous DVD for the music videos.
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#5
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6/19/09 at 3:25pm
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

I've had a look at the UK disc, and was pleasantly surprised (especially considering some of the terrible, terrible DVD transfers the film's had).

There are definitely some scenes where grain is very apparent, but others that look very nice indeed. It's certainly a considerable step-up from the DVD version.

There are six minutes of deleted or differently-edited scenes, which were discovered when the film was mastered for HD.

Sadly the original audio is lost, so they're presented mute, with appropriate tracks of music. The scenes are extended wrestling footage; an extended scene with Connor and Rachel; an extended Silvercup fight; an extended version of
Warning Spoiler! Click to show
the Kurgan's death scene
and an extended version of Connor and Brenda's picnic.

The 85m Making of... documentary is included in SD.

The disc features a commentary track by Mulcahy (not the one on the Anchor Bay DVD), and an original theatrical trailer.

Forthcoming UK DVD releases database: Incoming.
Forthcoming UK Blu-ray releases database: Incoming.
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#6
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6/21/09 at 12:38am
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

A few screen shots here (but skip the review, the reviewer doesn't like the film).

Highlander (UK - BD) in Reviews > Video Discs at DVDActive

"Scientists are saying the future is going to be far more futuristic than they originally predicted." -Krysta Now

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#7
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6/21/09 at 8:50am
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

Quote:
Originally Posted by JulianK
There are definitely some scenes where grain is very apparent, but others that look very nice indeed.
What's "unnice" about film grain? If it was there to begin with, it should still be there. The linked review speaks of a waxy look, which doesn't sound good.
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#8
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6/21/09 at 3:51pm
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

Previous DVDs looked like a sandstorm in terms of grain, so I knew this would be a tricky one. The screenshots don't present the "waxy" look he spoke of. They have grain, often a lot of grain, but it looks better than the DVD. Maybe he thinks the sweaty, waxy look of the Kurgan is odd, but that's how his makeup was done.

Plus I don't like the way the reviewer refers to grain as "film artifacts". To me, the word "artifacts" is so strongly associated with "digital artifacts" that to call grain "film artifacts" is just strange.

In short, I wouldn't put too much faith in the words of the reviewer. Go by the screenshots.

"Scientists are saying the future is going to be far more futuristic than they originally predicted." -Krysta Now

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#9
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6/22/09 at 7:43am
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

Quote:
Originally Posted by JulianK
I've had a look at the UK disc...

Julian, were you able to determine the region coding for this disc? The French release is A/B, so I am hoping this one is the same.
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#10
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6/22/09 at 12:33pm
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

Sorry, Paul. The only Blu-ray players I have access to at the moment are Region B only.

I did look to see if there was a programme like DVDInfoPro that offered the same sort of options for Blu-ray (ie: reporting a disc's region coding), but haven't found one.

Forthcoming UK DVD releases database: Incoming.
Forthcoming UK Blu-ray releases database: Incoming.
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#11
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6/22/09 at 12:47pm
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Arnette
Julian, were you able to determine the region coding for this disc? The French release is A/B, so I am hoping this one is the same.
In the previous thread of the Blu-Ray, prior to the review being posted over at DVDActive the reviewer mentioned the UK disc to be A/B as well. Fairly certain this will apply to all European releases as all companies are in league with Lucif... uhm, I mean Studio Canal.
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#12
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6/22/09 at 1:57pm
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferdinand Hudson
In the previous thread of the Blu-Ray, prior to the review being posted over at DVDActive the reviewer mentioned the UK disc to be A/B as well. Fairly certain this will apply to all European releases as all companies are in league with Lucif... uhm, I mean Studio Canal.

Thanks. In taking another look at the DVD Active review, there is a field called 'RCE' under Disc Details that states 'No'. I couldn't tell if that was the region coding information or not. They used to put that information in the blue title bar at the top of the review IIRC.
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#13
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6/22/09 at 2:32pm
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

RCE is "region code enhanced" (or something like that), and refers to the advanced form of region coding used on some DVDs to prevent them from playing on region-free DVD players. I believe that Sony was the only company ever to use RCE, and that they did so only briefly years ago. Nothing similar has been used on Blu-ray, as far as I'm aware, so I'm assuming that DVD Active uses the same generic template for both DVD and Blu-ray reviews.

Carl Fink
Insect Politics

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#14
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6/24/09 at 7:21am
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

The German 2 disc DVD SteelBook Special Edition had a New 117min documentary plus a previously released 8 minute interview with Christopher Lambert.
Total over 2 hrs!

2 DISC DVD Special Edition Set in the high Steelbook ™.

- Making Of documentary in 4 parts:
* A Legend is Born: The authors Gregory
Widen and Peter Bellwood of the Highlander
Screenplay (30 minutes)
* The visual style: cinematographer Gerry Fisher and
Highlander Architect Allan Cameron on the Highlander
Look (41 min)
*A strong woman: An interview with actress
Roxanne Hart (16 mins)
* The vision of the producer: William Panzer on
the emergence of Highlander (30 mins)
- Interview with Christopher Lambert (approx. 8 minutes)
- Cinema Trailer
- Photo Gallery

Kinowelt has produced a new documentary in 4 parts, and around 2 hours running time.

The above is from DVD Reviews: Highlander - Es kann nur einen geben 2 Disc-Set Special Edition Steelbook | DVD-Forum.at


So as the BR Making Of is listed as only 85 mins I wonder what is missing from it?

Metal Damage, Brain Damage...Are you listening Bronze? I am the Nightrider. I'm a Fuel Injected Suicide Machine......

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#15
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6/24/09 at 7:53am
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Re: Highlander released in Region B

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn DuHast
So as the BR Making Of is listed as only 85 mins I wonder what is missing from it?
It drops the 4th part, "The vision of the producer". All non-German DVD releases featured the same 3-part documentary, Kinowelt had the 4th as an exclusive (or rather, I haven't seen it elsewhere and I do own a fair bit of Highlander DVDs). It is a shame that they drop that for the BD release but since I have that already I'm not that bothered by it.
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#16
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9/22/09 at 3:01pm
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Domestic release of Highlander won't be for quite awhile, due to marketing B.S.:

From the nameless publicist who updates the official Highlander page on Facebook:

"Lionsgate is planning on releasing the original film on blu-ray in conjunction with the theatrical release of the remake. So, next winter 2010."

(The status of the delayed video game was also updated: "Not canceled at all. We had to change developers and trust me it's for the better! Look for it in late 2010.")

"Scientists are saying the future is going to be far more futuristic than they originally predicted." -Krysta Now

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#17
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9/22/09 at 7:03pm
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 Judging from what's said, this looks like the theatrical release. Can anyone confirm this? Also, can anyone in the U.S. confirm we can play it here? If so, I'll order it.

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#18
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9/22/09 at 7:46pm
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I have it.  I'm pleased with how it looks, even though picture quality is somewhat inconsistent.  Yes, everything on it plays.
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#19
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9/22/09 at 9:20pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike_G View Post

 Judging from what's said, this looks like the theatrical release. Can anyone confirm this?
 

Unlikely. All versions of Highlander for awhile now have been the international cut, which is a few minutes longer. One of the clearest indications you're watching the international cut is if an immortal does a somersault-like move in the parking garage fight. Or if there's a very brief flashback to Nazi Germany in the middle of the film.

"Scientists are saying the future is going to be far more futuristic than they originally predicted." -Krysta Now

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#20
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9/23/09 at 8:57am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike_G View Post

Judging from what's said, this looks like the theatrical release. Can anyone confirm this? Also, can anyone in the U.S. confirm we can play it here? If so, I'll order it.

This disc is the international cut, and, yes, it will play here.  I was very impressed with the A/V quality of this disc considering Anchor Bay's underwhelming DVD releases.  Buy it, I say!

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#21
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9/23/09 at 9:58am
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The international cut wouldn't bother me so much if it didn't have that flashback DURING the wrestling match. It always bugged me that you knew about his past before the transition from the parking garage to the 16th century. It lessens the transition IMO.

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#22
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10/1/09 at 10:36pm
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Is the Steelbook DVD sized or Blu-ray sized? I'm highly considering importing this.

It's great to be back.

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#23
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10/2/09 at 1:30am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RayRogers View Post

Is the Steelbook DVD sized or Blu-ray sized? I'm highly considering importing this.

The steelbook is Blu-ray sized.
I went ahead and bought it based on comments in this thread, and I have to tell ya, it blows the previous DVD editions right out of the water. Sure there is a lot of grain in some scenes, but this is probably due to the film stock used for the film, and thankfully has not been DNR'ed to death. I haven't seen it on a large screen so I can't comment on how it looks on those.



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#24
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10/2/09 at 5:37am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferdinand Hudson View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn DuHast
So as the BR Making Of is listed as only 85 mins I wonder what is missing from it?
It drops the 4th part, "The vision of the producer". All non-German DVD releases featured the same 3-part documentary, Kinowelt had the 4th as an exclusive (or rather, I haven't seen it elsewhere and I do own a fair bit of Highlander DVDs). It is a shame that they drop that for the BD release but since I have that already I'm not that bothered by it.


I confirm. I have the 85 documentary in 3 parts. it's missing the Panzer interview.
By the way, the documentary is poorly edited.
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#25
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10/2/09 at 7:53am
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Disc looks fine except for some shots that are DNRd.
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#26
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10/2/09 at 9:48pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas Agermose View Post




The steelbook is Blu-ray sized.
I went ahead and bought it based on comments in this thread, and I have to tell ya, it blows the previous DVD editions right out of the water. Sure there is a lot of grain in some scenes, but this is probably due to the film stock used for the film, and thankfully has not been DNR'ed to death. I haven't seen it on a large screen so I can't comment on how it looks on those.


 

I vastly prefer film grain over DNR too. Did you order it from Amazon UK? How much was it including shipping? I own the Highlander 2-Disc the one with the DVD and CD sampler. I rewatched HIGHLANDER and HIGHLANDER 2 awhile ago.
This along with THE THING from UK, har-har, will be my first Blu-ray imports. Along with BATMAN and BATMAN RETURNS.

It's great to be back.

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#27
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10/4/09 at 1:20pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RayRogers View Post




I vastly prefer film grain over DNR too. Did you order it from Amazon UK? How much was it including shipping? I own the Highlander 2-Disc the one with the DVD and CD sampler. I rewatched HIGHLANDER and HIGHLANDER 2 awhile ago.
This along with THE THING from UK, har-har, will be my first Blu-ray imports. Along with BATMAN and BATMAN RETURNS.
 

Yes I ordered from Amazon UK, but I live in Denmark and wouldn't have a clue what the shipping is to the US. Sorry.
This is my fourth Highlander incarnation. I am also the owner of and old VHS edition, the 2 disc Immortal Edition DVD with the Queen videos, and the 10th Anniversary Laserdisc (the one with the Lost scenes stills, which are not the same as the deleted scenes from the Bluray). If you are a Highlander fan this disc is unmissable.


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