True Lies

Re: True Lies

Jari:

I was actually just getting started on doing something for "True Lies" when 9/11 happened, and at that point the project was put on indefinite hold due to the uncertainty of things at the time... there was a concern about the domestic terrorism angle, especially since the climax involves a nuke in a downtown skyscraper, as well as the scenes of "terrorist slapstick" in the van on the bridge. None of this concern affects either the film or its disc, but the thought was that a) it would be hard for interviewees to talk about the film in the correct tone and context so close to the event --it might seem insensitive talking about how fun it was to make a terrorist-themed comedy with the real-world events going on at the time, and b) the release of the DVD in that year's timeframe might come off as exploitative opportunism at best and incendiary jingoism at worst (see South Park's "Cartoon Wars" for a great take on fear of retaliation). We know now that probably none of these concerns would have been warranted, but it's true that at the time, we all knew that if nothing else, the film itself would get overshadowed by everything going on around it.

So it's been on hold ever since, and again, JC has to approve a new transfer and such, so that's been holding things up as well. I don't think he has any problem with the context these days. I was told by someone at one point not too long after 9/11 that the film was more popular than ever, since it showed us winning out over the bad guys.

Hope this helps,

V

Re: True Lies

Well, I'm sure that True Lies will finally return to DVD/BD one of these days... just probably not soon, given JC's schedule on Avatar...

As for Titanic, the official word is that JC wanted to wait on doing the documentary until Leo participated, since he was obviously a big part of the film and was not able to come in for any interviews or commentary in 2005. And with maybe one exception, I doubt if will be an official "Special Edition" of the film with all of the deleted scenes branched in... that was a specific decision of JC's on the 2005 DVD that he was happy with the theatrical version and its already 3.5-hour runtime. But never say never in this business... ;-)

V

Re: True Lies

That's why I said it was the OFFICIAL word. ;-)

V

Re: True Lies

I wish JC would think a little about the finite life span of the average human. I, for one would like to see the HiDef version of his films, preferably BEFORE I die.....

It's been years since 9/11 and neither I, nor any of us are getting any younger.

Vern

Re: True Lies

Fair enough, Vern... although I'm sure there's something to be said about JC already considering the finite lifespan of people, and realizing that he wants to spend it making more new films before HE dies... ;-)

V

Re: True Lies

It's his insistence on personally approving the masters that is the problem here. Delegation to a trusted associate might be in order while many of us are still around to enjoy an HD rendering of his many efforts.

Vern

Re: True Lies

Definitely a good suggestion, Vern... but that's like trying to control the weather... we can talk about it but it's gonna do what it's gonna do!

Now, if someone terminal would make that a request to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, maybe they'd pass it along to him... ;-)

V

Re: True Lies

I personally am very grateful that Cameron is very involved in the process, as we've seen some recent high profile titles titles released on Blu-ray with atrocious masters. I still wonder what these filmmakers think of their work as reflected by the final products - or if they're even involved in the process at all.

Which also makes me wonder if - once filmmakers approve a transfer - do they see the final product? A lot can also happen in mastering/encoding: DNR, etc., etc.

Haven't seen True Lies in quite some time - since before 9/11 I think. Really looking forward to a first-rate presentation of it.

Re: True Lies

van, what about the d-theater version of true-lies... was the master used for the d-theater release approved by mr. cameron and would it be good enough to make a blu-ray out of it or do you think some remastering is needed?

looking at the encoding, the only thing that bothers me a bit is a tad of smearing in some scenes due to the constant bitrate used for the encoding of any d-theater tape. other then that, true lies looks and sound damn nice.

i still would love to get my hands on a new version on blu-ray. some extras would be nice how the film was affected through the events of 9/11 and how the world saw films like this afterwards. also a commentary with mr. cameron and mr. schwarzenegger (if this even would be possible) would be awesome.

but hey, i could live with a bare-bones edition if the audio and video presentation is top notch. ok, the trailers for this and maybe other fox films from mr. cameron (aliens, the abyss) in hd and oar should be included

Re: True Lies

Enrico, we'll see what happens... True Lies is in the queue along with The Abyss and T1... all require Jim's attention, which is currently monopolized (quite rightly) by Avatar...

Based on the HD status of the older Cameron films' video masters and what needs to be done make them JC-approved, I'd reckon that they'll come out on Blu-ray over the next couple of years in the following order: T1, True Lies, Abyss.

But that's just an educated guess... don't hold me to it! ;-)

V

Re: True Lies

Van:

Does JC have an extended cut of True Lies put together like he did with T2 and The Abyss? IMHO they are the best version of each film and I really looked forward (at the time) to seeing an Extended Cut of True Lies on LD. Then after 911 and the decision to hold on releasing TL to video I have been waiting for an extended cut ever since.

Re: True Lies

I believe that in True Lies, most of the scene involving Tasker relationship with his daughter were cut, including one that Arnold was saying was his best actor work ever. All are drama scenes. Hopefully we will finally see them when an SE comes out, as bonus features !

Re: True Lies

And a picture-in-picture commentary with Eliza Dushku during her scenes wouldn't be unwelcomed!

Re: True Lies

you can also see a scene in the trailer where harry and juno make out which was also cut from the final cut of the movie. i bet there are quite a few interesting deleted scenes to discover. hopefully mr. cameron allows us to see them, separately or in an extended cut.

Re: True Lies

I remember years back, shortly before True Lies was theatrically released, there was an interview with James Cameron in which he said that he was currently editing the film and I remember his quote at the time was something like:

"we're currently at 150 minutes, just trying cut the fat"

so, I'm positive that the final cut we saw was infact JC's preferred "Director's cut", but there IS definitely a longer cut of the film, or shall I say, definitely more scenes out there for us to discover. here's hoping that they'll make a future BD edition of True Lies, but quite honestly...

I'd be happy with just a killer PQ & AQ presentation of the film on Blu. the film's finale in HD should be absolutely immense.

Is there any chance now for this to be released to coincide with Avatar? It's the only Cameron film without special features and the AV quality needs a massive upgrade as well.

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fera-hd.ru%2Fblu-ray%2Ftrue-lies%2F&lp=ru_en&btnTrUrl=Translate
Out in russia in March

I remember how at the time True Lies was put on hold because of 9/11. I also remember a region 2 DVD being available that was anamorphic compared to 4:3 widescreen of Region 1.

An HD version of True Lies has been recently shown on AMC so I am sure that all that is needed is that JC come in and aprove whatever tweaks he wants.

 There's a D-Theater tape out there, so a HD master must have been approved years ago.

It looked great.  It's possible that it could have been from a 1080i master though.

David and Jeff: as almost all movies have been transferred to HD since the advent of DVD in the late 1990s, there likely was an HD transfer of True Lies since I worked on the SD transfer with JC in 1994... but chances are it was done in the late 90's or very early 00's (I was not involved at that point), so it would probably better to do a new and current transfer for Blu-ray... but that's up to Fox and Lightstorm.

Hope this helps,

 

V

I have no doubt that a better transfer is probably needed for the eventual Blu-Ray release.  Judging by the date that the D-Theater version came out (2003?), my guess would be that it was transferred at 1080i.  I viewed it at a friend's house when it first came out and thought it looked great at the time though.  That might be the transfer that was used for the anamorphic Japanese DVD.

That's a fair assessment Jeff, it would be uber cool if a totally brand new transfert was made today. In 10 years, and even in the last 3 years, the improvement in software made it mandatory to redo old transferts, as the difference in detail in the scan will be noticeable even to the untrained eye. Sadly, many Blu-Rays issued these days use these old HD ready transfert because they do exist, and it's cheaper than redoing the whole thing.

Hopefully, with Avatar getting the Cameron star shining again, there will be no obstacle to retransfering True Lies, as well as Titanic (the last HD transfert, is what, 5 years old ? It's supposed to be redone in 3D anyway so new scan will be on) and the rest.

Now I know it maybe a stretch, but Mr Ling, wouldn't it be cool if the old video clip of Martini Ranch featuring Bill Paxton, be available in HD in the supplements (or to download via BD live). A proper HD version would be great because that video is like a mini Cameron movie, and I guess it only as a place in True Lies supplements (Titanic would be a bit off I say and I doubt it would be allowed in the Aliens supplements as this is part of a franchise of films).

Edited by dvdvision - 3/5/10 at 10:22am

Wow - if there's one thing I don't think I've ever heard, it's James Cameron being accused of being misogynistic.  Just look at the strong female characters that have headlined the rest of his films: Sarah Connor (Terminator/T2), Ellen Ripley (Aliens), Lindsey Brigman (the Abyss), Rose (Titanic) and Neytiri (Avatar).

 

Add to that list Helen Tasker.

 

Yes, Jamie Lee Curtis' character is a meek and seemingly helpless character at the beginning of the movie, however as the story unfolds, she is revealed to be a strong, capable woman who can clearly hold her own alongside the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and anyone else in the film.

 

If Helen's character served the story in no other capacity than to be a stereotypical "damsel in distress" then I could see where there's little point in wasting screen time for no end, however in the grander scheme of things, the scene serves as an important part of her character arc - establishing a "bottom line" where she is literally at rock bottom with no alternatives.  From that point on, she has nothing but herself to rely upon and she decides enough is enough.  It's a transformation that pays off completely in the film's coda ending.

Cut the confession scene ? That's totally not getting it. It's the most emotional scene of the movie, the one where Helen explains where her life is at, her aspirations years before, and why she feels she failed it, even thought she did suceeed family wise. It's not mysoginistic, is THE scene where the woman open her heart. It's the best scene of the movie, and the reason I think why Cameron made this one, the scene is similar to the one in the original.