PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray) - Page 4

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

If you could compare the fidelity/sound field of 'Forrest Gump" on both the LD and DVD formats as I have, I think you would come to the same conclusion that the LD sound track was a real treat compared to the DVD.
Maybe you haven't watched the HD broadcast of "Forrest Gump" - it's impressive; much better than the DVD IMO. It's doubtful that any difference in PQ would be enough for me to triple dip this title, but the audio track ...yeah....maybe. Anyway, it's a rental for sure.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

I would agree on fidelity (due to the capabilities of the PCM), but the sound field would be entirely artificial, as Michael pointed out. Assuming they're using the same source as the LD did, there's no chance that a 2-channel (straight or artifically expanded) would beat out a true discrete track that is also lossless.
Perhaps, perhaps not. And if it's sourced from HBO or Cinemax, it's almost guaranteed to be in the wrong AR.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray

Heck no! I'll take five hours over four any day of the week. Hopefully the stuff on the previous DVD edition of Braveheart will be included on the Blu-ray release which would put it around 5 hours too.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

Yes, there was not nearly as much sword play in Sense & Sensibility, which is why critics were claymoring for Braveheart.

Really looking forward to S & S on Blu sooner than later.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

Gladiator was 6.1 DTS on the DVD no? Why is the Blu-ray only 5.1?

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray

ABC aired the film OAR in 720p. Even with the censorship, it looked pretty good.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

No offense to Ron Epstein or any of the other BRAVEHEART admirers but I really dislike the film -- primarily for its offensive homophobia.

I used to like Mel Gibson but this film and the anti-semitic content in PASSION OF THE CHRIST have really turned me off. Despite all his apologists, the man is a hateful bigot and I feel no need to support his work.

And quite frankly, I think BABE should have won best picture that year!!!

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

I've never understood the homophobia claims.

Edward the Longhshanks despises his son for a multitude of reasons. As murderous and racist endorsers of rape go, he's pretty much painted as villainy incarnate. Certainly Gibson endorses none of his actions.

His son is weak but I do not feel Gibson is saying it is because he is gay. He's weak because he's grown up spoiled by royalty, and his sin is vanity.

His lover is actually somewhat respectable, as jerkish royalty types go. He's killed because he's a threat to the King's power structure.

However, I agree that Babe is a great film, too.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

Casino, Dead Man Walking, and Leaving Las Vegas were all better films and more deserving of an Oscar than Braveheart IMO that year. That being said, Braveheart is entertaining to me, like Gladiator (which I personally find a LOT better). But Forrest Gump is on another level in terms of filmmaking and story/character development.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray

I agree that Babe was a fine film. Actually, in 1995, all of the nominated films were of a high caliber. Some fine films were not even nominated.

I cannot agree with any of your other comments, though you are free to regard anyone as a hateful bigot if you wish.

As to Edward II in Braveheart-it is well known that he was a homosexual in a time when that lifestyle was considered taboo. It would be absurd to have Edward I say "my son is homosexual, not that there's anything wrong with it". Edward II was openly homosexual in a time when such a lifestyle would have appeared odious to others. Just because something is acceptable now does not mean it was in medieval Europe. It is really absurd to expect as much. If you have ever read about how Edward II was murdered, you will see just how "homophobic" medieval England could be. It would do Edward II a disservice to show him as accepted for his lifestyle when one considers his particularly nasty fate.

As to the anti-semitic accusations against The Passion of the Christ-Gibson drew most of his script from the Bible. The dialog that was suppressed in the trial scene was a direct quote from the Gospel of John. Your comments should probably be directed to the apostle John instead of Gibson. There was time when "Life of Christ" movies were cranked out with regularity. Now, doing a film about Jesus is considered controversial. I guess times change. The Greatest Story Ever Told would probably be protested if it were released today.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

My objections to BRAVEHEART and PASSION have less to do with historical accuracy than the manner in which Mr. Gibson chose to portray the "facts."
He uses stereotypical portrayals of Edward II and his lover, turning them into preening villanous peacocks when historical research actually portrays the prince as rather ordinary and likens him to "a ditchdigger." The murder of the his consort by being comically pushed out a window is pure fiction. And lest you think all this is innocent humor and has no effect on the audience, I vividly recall the reaction of a an audience member when i saw the film theatrically, who yelled out, "Yeah -- kill the faggots!! I'm sure Mr. Gibson would have smiled.

As for PASSION, may I quote a statement from "Concerned Christians" from the website of the International Council of Christians and Jews--"It encourages misunderstanding of the role of Jews and their leaders in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus' death; it includes gratuitous anti-Jewish protrayals...." And as for blaming the apostle John, Mr. Gibson chose to use this version of the story, it wasn't forced upon him.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

Before this discussion goes any further:

This thread is about the announcement of several titles on Blu-ray. Detailed discussion of the content of those films belongs in the Movies area. There is an existing official discussion thread about The Passion of the Christ. Any further discussion of that film should be taken to that thread, without exception. Non-compliant posts will be deleted without further notice. Please be sure to take note of the guidelines set forth at the beginning of the thread.

As for Braveheart, there is no existing official thread, but anyone who wishes to continue discussing the content of that film should feel free to start a new thread in the Movies area. Further debate about Braveheart in this thread will be deleted without further notice.

An existing Movies thread for Forrest Gump can be found here.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray

It was two years before Spartacus was released on DVD, four years before Ben-Hur and Lawrence of Arabia came out, and six years into the format's life before King of Kings made its DVD début.

Despite this, DVD seems to have done OK for itself, and I fully expect Blu-ray will follow suit, even without the immediate release of the titles you cite.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

I would rather the Studios take their time on older films for BR so they can be properly done (hopefully), I for one cannot afford them all at once anyway. There are plenty of good titles to keep one busy for quite sometime.
Regards

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

Passing on Gladiator and Braveheart.

Just Gump for me.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

Dammit I just bought the 2-Disc of BRAVEHEART a few months ago! Doesn't really matter to me anyway. All three are purchases but can't afford them all at once. So GLADIATOR will be purchased first.
Hopefully Paramount will be releasing The Duellists on Blu-deesc soon.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray

I thoroughly enjoyed these three movies and will be buying the BD releases without hesitation.

Brad

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

Sapphire Series, schmaffire series. The thing I don't like about such "series" is that they inevitably dwindle out and fizzle: Fox' 5-star Collection, Columbia Classics, Weinstein's The Miriam Collection, and on and on (too many to list). It's all rather pointless.

I agree that the series name and the overdose of blu is not needed. The films certainly stand on their own without needing to be tied together and set above the rest of the studio's titles.

I also hope the prices come down by release date. If not I'll be waiting.

But all three are probably destined for my shelves eventually. Gump first (and definitely) and later on Braveheart and maybe then Gladiator.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

At least Warner isn't doing them or they'd all be giant $80 sets; Gladiator would come with a sword, Braveheart would come with a bucket of blue face paint, and Gump would come with a toy shrimp boat and a box of chocolates.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

You forgot the miniature tiger for Gladiator and replica kilt for Braveheart.

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

------ Rant Start -----
It really says something about blu-ray pricing and purchasing options when we are relieved that a title can be purchased outside of a box set or pricey collector's edition.

While I find $28 Amazon per title a bit steep and will wait for the prices to become more reasonable before purchasing these three, I will give paramount credit not blatantly fleecing the consumer.
----- Rant End -----

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

The expensive set with a chalk (to write big "X"-es), a whip and a snake is... no I'm not telling.
(I already have the hat!)


Cees

Re: PHE Press Release: Braveheart * Gladiator * Forrest Gump (Sapphire Series Blu-ray)

"Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"

So younger people who're 30 like me wouldn't buy these older films, I'm a fan of older films, on Blu-ray then? I own The Adventures of Robin Hood on HDDVD and would readily buy an older film on Blu-ray if given the chance to. I take it that means since I'm not 40-above I can't buy The Maltese Falcon, Sahara, any Errol Flynn title, North by Northwest, BEN-HUR, The King and I, Singin' in the Rain, On the Waterfront, The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape and more on Blu-ray? I even own a few Sean Connery OO7 titles on Blu too. Are you going to confiscate them from me since I'm not old enough to appreciate them?

You're misreading what he said.  And let's be honest, while YOU may enjoy such films, the under 40 crowd is NOT the main consumer of such titles.  So Robert's comment is not wrong because of an exception like yourself.  Moreover, he is most certainly NOT arguing that people under 40 are unable to appreciate such films.

I just have to say one thing about these "Sapphire" releases.  These better be reference quality.  No excuse for any DNR, EE, or "having to use old masters because of the bad economy" excuse. Given the extra price and labeling they are using, these better be top notch.  Paramount has not done a good job on many catalog releases, so this is their chance.

I would suggest under 30 as possibly not interested. I'm 31 and these movies came out when I was a teenager or early 20's. Everyone I know was interested in them. We would still buy these titles because we are the same age group that would also buy and play a PS3. Although, I have lost faith in my generation when they all started liking Saw.

I certainly took it as he meant people under 40 are unable to appreciate such older titles. It's highly insulting. Oh, just cause I have a 4:3 20" flatscreen CRT means I ONLY watch P&S? Since I own several titles in Region 3 NTSC on DVD they must be BOOTLEGS. Way to make generalisations.


I'll be purchasing all three titles anyway.

1.)  The three titles-in-question should be popular among the demographic the industry is trying to entice.

2.)  Other classic titles will need to wait to see how these (which should be more popular to that afore-mentioned demographic) do in the marketplace.

3.)  He wishes that weren't the case because he'd like to see more classics released on blu-ray, too. 

WHERE do you get the sense that he's saying young people don't like older films or wouldn't buy them if they had the chance?  He's not making any such crass generalizations but simply telling the truth of the marketplace.  if these films don't sell well on BD, it's going to be a long time before you see many of those other classics you are looking for. 

And, of course, there are many young people on the HTF who enjoy older films.  This is a discussion forum for such enthusiasts--young and old.