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It's a Wonderful Life on Blu-ray 11-3-2009

post #1 of 37
10/28/09 at 12:16pm
Thread Starter 
Does anyone have any info on this?  Will there be an official HTF review?

I did a search and found nothing on this release.  Seems surprising.  This could be a terrific HD presentation.


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post #2 of 37
10/28/09 at 12:58pm
We're supposed to be getting a review copy, but it's unclear when. It'll probably be very close to street date.

I'm keeping my expectations low, just because the notion of having two entire versions of the film on one Blu-ray concerns me.
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post #3 of 37
10/28/09 at 1:16pm
Two versions of the film shouldn't be a problem. There's plenty of room for them on a BD-50.
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post #4 of 37
10/28/09 at 1:22pm
Thread Starter 


Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben View Post

I'm keeping my expectations low, just because the notion of having two entire versions of the film on one Blu-ray concerns me.

Thanks, Michael.

Take it for what it's worth...but amazon is listing this as a two-discer.    No indication (if that's even true) if the second disc is features only...or might contain the second film with features straddling both discs. 

I was just reading elsewhere on the 'net that apparently there are $10 rebate forms for IaWL (for owners of the DVD version) that have been packaged in other Blu-ray releases (Gladiator, Braveheart, IaWL and Forrest Gump).
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post #5 of 37
10/28/09 at 1:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Conway View Post

Two versions of the film shouldn't be a problem. There's plenty of room for them on a BD-50.
 

Yes, but we don't know if it's a BD-50. Reliable specs have been hard to come by. As Mike notes, Amazon says it's two discs, but they've been wrong about that sort of thing before. (Happily, I just checked DVD Empire, and they now say 2 discs as well.)

All I said was that I'm concerned, nothing more. I'll reserve judgment until I get the review copy.
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post #6 of 37
10/28/09 at 2:43pm
As long as they encode properly, and get rid of the annoying audio pops from the SD, then this will be beautiful.
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post #7 of 37
10/28/09 at 6:19pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

I was just reading elsewhere on the 'net that apparently there are $10 rebate forms for IaWL (for owners of the DVD version) that have been packaged in other Blu-ray releases (Gladiator, Braveheart, IaWL and Forrest Gump).
 

Must resist!!!   They are all conspiring to send us to the poor house even if we can stockpile tons of excellent $10-15 BDs in the process...

_Man_
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post #8 of 37
10/28/09 at 8:05pm
Thread Starter 


Quote:
Originally Posted by Man-Fai Wong View Post



Must resist!!!   They are all conspiring to send us to the poor house even if we can stockpile tons of excellent $10-15 BDs in the process...

You?  Resist?  Who you tryin' to kid?!? 
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post #9 of 37
10/30/09 at 7:57am
I preordered the Blu-ray discs from the US (Paramount) and the UK (Universal) because the British one have different bonus materials:

  • Theatrical trailer
  • Digitally remastered black and white original
  • Colourised version
  • Picture in Picture Comparison
  • Trivia Tracker

It's one of my all time favorites.

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post #10 of 37
10/30/09 at 9:41am
Thread Starter 
Christian:  The only thing I know about the US release is that it is supposed to have both the original B&W version along with the evil colorized version. 

What can you tell us about the breakdown of the differences in bonus features between the two releases?
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post #11 of 37
10/30/09 at 1:37pm
The US release will probably have the introduction by Frank Capra, Jr., the Making of hosted by Tom Bosley, the colorized version, and the theatrical trailer.
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post #12 of 37
10/30/09 at 1:50pm
Thread Starter 
Maybe.  It would be nice, though, to know for sure.
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post #13 of 37
10/30/09 at 6:35pm
I went ahead and pre-ordered this BD. I don't remember ever watching this film, but I've heard (and read) good things 'bout it. I plan to pick it up on release day, but won't be able to watch it until a week or so later.
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post #14 of 37
10/30/09 at 8:06pm
Thread Starter 
From the looks of your forum ID, David...you just might be a long lost relative of the film's main character! 

I envy you the event of enjoying this film for the first time.  It is a perfect slice of Frank Capra's americana pie.  You won't be disappointed.  It's a great story, very well told. 
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post #15 of 37
10/30/09 at 8:18pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

From the looks of your forum ID, David...you just might be a long lost relative of the film's main character! 

 

I was going to say the same thing.

Yes, definitely buy it but there's no rush to watch it. The movie is best enjoyed between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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post #16 of 37
10/30/09 at 8:42pm
I love this film so much. The first 2/3 is a mixture of comedy and drama...then it takes a turn into eerie territory, ala The Twilight Zone...a masterpiece!
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post #17 of 37
10/30/09 at 9:35pm
Anyone ever read Dvd Savant's take on a possibility that the version we've seen all these years was a re-cut version.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s55wonderful.html
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post #18 of 37
10/30/09 at 10:25pm
Thread Starter 
Never had Tony.  Very interesting.  A fun read.

It almost sounds like the author believes there was a third shooter over on the grassy knoll. 
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post #19 of 37
10/31/09 at 2:47am
I anxiously await a review on this disc.  I fear it may just be an up-conversion of the DVD. 
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post #20 of 37
10/31/09 at 9:50am
 Why do you fear that?
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post #21 of 37
10/31/09 at 11:35am
Yeah, I didn't think about that.  Someone told me the other day that George Bailey is the name of the main character in the film. I hope to have a break from school during Thanksgiving and will watch it with family members.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

From the looks of your forum ID, David...you just might be a long lost relative of the film's main character! 

I envy you the event of enjoying this film for the first time.  It is a perfect slice of Frank Capra's americana pie.  You won't be disappointed.  It's a great story, very well told. 


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post #22 of 37
10/31/09 at 11:58am
Beaver review.
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post #23 of 37
10/31/09 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, John!

Oh my.  Say what you will about screencaps...but this looks wonderful!
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post #24 of 37
10/31/09 at 1:02pm
I knew it would be. The last dvd was beautiful. The transfer was hampered only by the audio pops, which seem to have been corrected. Dare I say after all of the poor broadcast versions 20 or so years ago, followed by poor pd copies, a wonderful transfer by Republic for the 45th Anniversary that unfortunately contained some splices and audio dropouts, a newer version by Republic (still shown on NBC every year) employing awful freeze frames that covered damage, the original dvd with poor audio and a splice, the restored Paramount version I mentioned...WHEW!....could this finally be a definitive edition???? Looks like it just might be!
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post #25 of 37
10/31/09 at 1:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Thanks, John!

Oh my.  Say what you will about screencaps...but this looks wonderful!

It was always going to though wasn't it? It would take a screwup of enormous proportions to mess up the transfer of that last gorgeous restoration.
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post #26 of 37
10/31/09 at 5:45pm
I'm a little confused about dvdbeaver's information.  It indicates the BD was released on Nov 13, 2007???
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post #27 of 37
10/31/09 at 6:59pm
typo
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post #28 of 37
11/1/09 at 12:11am
I'm glad to see that the B&W version got a nice big 41 gb devoted to it.  DVDbeaver's screen caps don't have a good reputation, but this looks great.  There will be some complaints that the audio isn't lossless, though.
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post #29 of 37
11/3/09 at 8:35am
I almost always watch this movie every year, and I always meant to add it to my library. But I never did. This looks like the one to get! In reading the review, it's too bad the BD edition is missing the Capra tribute.
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post #30 of 37
11/3/09 at 12:53pm
Did a spot check, and............WOW! Looks even better than the screenshots. My mouth is still agape. Audio pops are also GONE.
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