The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Blu-ray) - Apr. 8, 2008

Keith Paynter · 12-19-2007, 01:15 AM

Announced yesterday at Blu-ray.com:

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen' to Blu-ray on April 8th. Specs have not yet been announced for this title, but extras include an audio commentary track, two featurettes, two storyboard sequences, and deleted scenes. Exclusive to this Blu-ray release is a "Graphics and Picture Track".

Wow. Commentary track - I wonder if will be TG's Criterion commentary or a new one commissioned by Sony...?

Justin Lott · 12-19-2007, 09:38 AM

I always like that show when I was a little younger. Very strange though. I blatantly used lots of fake backgrounds and made no attempt to hide it all.

Should be an interesting view.

Nick Laslett · 12-20-2007, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Lott

I always like that show when I was a little younger. Very strange though. I blatantly used lots of fake backgrounds and made no attempt to hide it all..

This comment went right over my head.

Anyway, isn't Baron an odd film to be releasing at this stage in the format's cycle?

I thought it was a bit of a flop? It was a shame that this production spiraled out of control and Financiers took over.

I've always had a soft spot of this film and thought that like Brazil it could support some interesting extras. Things like the Hamster factor and Don Quixote demonstrate that the stories about how Gilliam's films get made are almost as interesting as the motion pictures themselves.

I wonder what kind of investment Sony have made to ensure a good HD transfer.

MatthewA · 12-20-2007, 05:06 PM

The hamster factor?

Anyway, it's good to see Sony doing catalog titles that are more than 10 years old.

Keith Paynter · 12-21-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewA

The hamster factor?

The Hamster Factor is the making-of documentary on Twelve Monkeys. It was made to help Gilliam tell his side of making the film after the negative publicity of Munchausen and the very public fight over Brazil. The title itself comes from a single shot of Bruce Willis in silhouette, while a hamster in a cage is in the foreground. The shot became more about the hamster than about Willis.

Bill at The Digital Bits has revealed more about the extras on the BD disc courtesy of Sony:

"And Sony has revealed that The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: 20th Anniversary Edition will debut on Blu-ray Disc on 4/8. Special features will include a BD Java "graphics and picture track," audio commentary with director Terry Gilliam & co-writer/actor Charles McKeown, The Madness and Misadventures of Munchausen 3-part documentary, 3 featurettes (As We Once Dreamed It, A Voyage to the Moon and The Baron & Bucephalos Charge the Turkish Gates) and deleted scenes."

**HTF Ads**

Jacob McCraw · 12-21-2007, 01:25 PM

This will be mine and I am oh so happy about it.

Gilliam is my favorite director.

Jon Moss · 12-22-2007, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Laslett

Anyway, isn't Baron an odd film to be releasing at this stage in the format's cycle?

I thought it was a bit of a flop? It was a shame that this production spiraled out of control and Financiers took over.

I think the studio is probably still trying to make back their money on the movie, so they figure why not re-release it again on HD. It'll generate a few sales and if it's re-released enough times, may even break even one day!

There are a lot of fans out there for this film (myself included), as evidenced by this quote from Wikipedia;

"However, in a commentary track on the DVD edition of Tideland, Gilliam now says that Munchausen is one of the films that his fans most often cite as a favorite (along with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Brazil, 12 Monkeys and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas)."

It's also one of the most lavish and gorgeous productions ever comitted to film. Every dollar of the insane production cost is up there on screen. It should therefore look suitably fantastic in HD.

EricW · 12-22-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

I thought it was a bit of a flop? It was a shame that this production spiraled out of control and Financiers took over.

are you talking about Baron or Blade Runner?

Nick Laslett · 12-22-2007, 12:44 PM

I appear to know a lot about the making of Baron M, I think I saw a making of doc on UK TV at some point in the past.

The extras on this new release sound quite promising.