|
|
 |
11-28-2004, 01:16 AM
|
#1 of 16 
|
|
Member
Join Date: May 2001
Local Time: 02:33 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 461
|
Any word on a DVD release of PROSPERO'S BOOKS?
I'm really surprised this isn't available in any region, including the US. There may have been an OOP UK DVD several years back, but I may be mistaken on that. It was co-produced by the Japanese, but it's not out in Japan either.
I'm imagining the many co-production deals and legal wrangling is what's keeping this from DVD as most of Greenaway's other input is widely available...
It's an amazing, admittedly indulgent film, and I sure would like to see it again! 
Anyone know of any plans? |
|
|
|
11-28-2004, 01:33 AM
|
#2 of 16
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 1999
Local Time: 06:33 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 2,860
|
Me too post. Miramax distributed it in the US, with Fox oddly enough, having video rights (I still have my VHS tape). "Drowning By Numbers," another Miramax-distributed film (via their "Prestige" label), was distributed by LIVE and is only available as a decent if under-matted R4 version.
Was "Baby Of Macon" ever released on DVD anywhere? I still can't believe that it didn't get any distribution in this country, even just for home video, though having seen it, I understand why some would get squeamish at the prospect.
|
|
|
|
|
11-28-2004, 02:00 AM
|
#3 of 16
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Local Time: 06:33 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 853
|
Actually, PROSPERO'S BOOKS was part of a small package of Miramax movies released on video by the defunct Media label, which in its final days was serviced to video stores by Fox. The others were much less prestigious -- EVERSMILE, NEW JERSEY with Daniel Day-Lewis, AMBITION with Lou Diamond Phillips, and the briefly "controversial" comedy THE POPE MUST DIET with Robbie Coltrane.
I would think these long ago reverted back to Miramax after the demise of Media, but I suppose their very limited appeal is what has kept them off DVD ever since.
\"As I looked back over my life, I realized that I enjoyed nothing--not art, not sex--more than going to the movies.\" -- Gore Vidal
|
|
|
|
|
11-28-2004, 07:43 PM
|
#4 of 16
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 1998
Local Time: 09:33 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 2,181
|
Quote:
|
THE POPE MUST DIET with Robbie Coltrane.
|
Wasn't this actually called The Pope Must Die? I remember seeing ads for it under that name in NYC when it played theatrically but then the video release said "diet".
Same thing happened with the comedy Amy's Orgasm which played in NYC under that title, but was released on video as Amy's O. |
|
|
|
|
11-28-2004, 08:31 PM
|
#5 of 16
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 1999
Local Time: 06:33 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 2,860
|
Yeah, it was The Pope Must Die in the UK (where I actually saw it) and Diet in the U.S.
WHORE is another one that had serious title issues around that time.
|
|
|
|
|
11-29-2004, 10:01 AM
|
#6 of 16
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Local Time: 02:33 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 3,382
|
Miramax probably has to wait until they're away from Disney before releasing Prospero, simply because there was a lot of hype about the nudity in the film.
When it was released theatrically, I recall our theater (where I worked at the time) was given hard-paper program booklets (well, double sided cards) to give out to the audience to enhance the sense that this was a play.
I'd like to see the film again. Not much of a fan of Shakespear (I agree with Billy Bob's comment that he wrote soap operas) but the over-the-top artistic indulgence of this film helped temper my bordom.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
11-29-2004, 11:21 AM
|
#7 of 16
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Local Time: 09:33 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 1,924
|
Quote:
|
Miramax probably has to wait until they're away from Disney before releasing Prospero, simply because there was a lot of hype about the nudity in the film.
|
Current rumor is Harvey will go to start his own company, Disney will keep Miramax and its library, and Bob will run it. No matter what happens with Bob and Harvey though, Disney is keeping the company and its library. Even if they start new with the name Miramax, all the films made up till then will be owned by Disney.
Quote:
|
When it was released theatrically, I recall our theater (where I worked at the time) was given hard-paper program booklets (well, double sided cards) to give out to the audience to enhance the sense that this was a play.
|
I don't know if it was to have people think it was a play, or just to let audiences know just what the heck was going on. I think I still have the card somewhere.
Love the movie. Wish it were on DVD.
As for Baby of Macon, I think this got an R4 release. But, from what I've heard, it was a terrible transfer. |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
08-31-2006, 11:38 PM
|
#8 of 16
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Local Time: 02:33 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 3,382
|
Re: Any word on a DVD release of PROSPERO'S BOOKS?
From December 2005 message on imdb:
Quote:
by - miezpiez (Wed Dec 14 2005 04:16:28)
I've been in email contact with Kees Kasander (the owner(?) of Kasanderfilm - a Dutch movie company that participated in the filiming of Prospero's Books) and he said - last year - that they didn't have time for it yet, but that they certainly had plans to release it on DVD. I also asked him about the "a walk through Prospero's library" documentary and he said that it MIGHT be on the DVD as an extra feature.
So fingers crossed I guess. The Kasander film company website is at: http://www.kasanderfilm.nl (good luck trying to figure it out! )
|
'There's good people in the 'verse. Not many, lord knows, but you only need a few.' -Mal
|
|
|
|
|
09-01-2006, 09:56 AM
|
#9 of 16
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Local Time: 09:33 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 1,924
|
Re: Any word on a DVD release of PROSPERO'S BOOKS?
I remember when Siskel and Ebert reviewed this, Siskel stated it was "a film made for laserdisc". The LD was in and out of print in record time (I never saw a copy available, if one was ever created). But, with DVD, I can't believe that it hasn't been released.
It had an odd video history. A (pre-Disney) Miramax film, released on video by Fox, then released on the budget line Video Treasures, then out of print rather quickly.
|
|
|
|
|
09-01-2006, 03:27 PM
|
#10 of 16
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Local Time: 02:33 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 3,382
|
Re: Any word on a DVD release of PROSPERO'S BOOKS?
The director is currently making a film that has some American actors (incl Minnie Driver), so there is a chance, a small chance, that he'll become well known again - well enough to perhaps inspire Criterion or some company to get this classic film out on DVD.
'There's good people in the 'verse. Not many, lord knows, but you only need a few.' -Mal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
09-03-2006, 01:25 AM
|
#11 of 16
|
|
John Rice
Member
Location: Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2000
Local Time: 07:33 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 8,466
|
Re: Any word on a DVD release of PROSPERO'S BOOKS?
Quote:
|
I remember when Siskel and Ebert reviewed this, Siskel stated it was "a film made for laserdisc". The LD was in and out of print in record time (I never saw a copy available, if one was ever created).
|
I rented it on LD sometime around '92, but was not prepared for what it was. I've been wanting to see it again.
Quote:
|
Was "Baby Of Macon" ever released on DVD anywhere? I still can't believe that it didn't get any distribution in this country, even just for home video, though having seen it, I understand why some would get squeamish at the prospect.
|
The only edition I am aware of, which I have, is an unofficial (I believe) one from, I think, Australia. The picture is awful, not to mention that it is anamorphic, but lacks the proper tag. So, if you don't have a HD monitor or have some way to correct it, you have to watch it uncorrected, with everyone looking like they are 8' tall.
Oh yeah, it is also one weird freaking movie.
They flutter behind you, your possible pasts.
Some bright-eyed and crazy, some frightened and lost.
|
|
|
|
|
