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A few words about...™ Deadwood -- in Blu-ray

post #1 of 37
11/9/10 at 6:19pm
Thread Starter 

Well before I viewed the opening episodes of HBO's The Pacific via cable, I had placed Deadwood on hold.  Knowing the amount of information held on the data files, not seeing it in broadcast, and certainly not on SD DVD, I decided to wait until the series came out on Blu-ray.  I had actually purchased all three seasons in SD, and gave them away when the Blu-ray was finally announced.

 

Knowing the quality of this series, the wait was not an easy one.  Deadwood is HBO at its best.

 

Finally the wait is over, and all 36 hours of Deadwood are available in the highest quality Blu-ray, absolutely perfect image along with uncompressed DTS-HD Master Audio.  HBO has not let us down.  The image is so crisp, clean and clear, the audio so precise, that you can almost smell Deadwood.

 

Packaging is also of the highest quality, with the discs easily slipping into hard paper cut-outs, which are built into hard pages of a book.  In and out easily, with no problem, much like the Alien set.  The book fits firmly into a hard case, protecting the entire set from the elements.

 

That's probably not a good thing.

 

Not a great deal to say here.  Those who are fans of the show should pre-order.  Fans of the western genre, who are not offended by occasional nudity or verbal tirades -- Deadwood will forever be remembered as having made the word c**ksucker a beautiful and integral part of our language -- would be well advised to give it a try.

 

The virtual recreation of a late 19th century mining town is merely the centerpiece for the series, which is very heavy with talent in all areas.

 

Let's make this simple.  Deadwood is a superior series, the likes of which has never been seen before.  This is not Gunsmoke.  In Deadwood, you know precisely what's going on upstairs at the Gem.

 

A word about pricing.  At a suggested retail of $210, this is not an inexpensive set.  However, it is reasonable.  At 36 hours, this is equivalent to 18 feature films in addition to all of the extras.  That works out, at a street price of $138, to under $8 per feature.  

 

Deadwood is perfect Blu-ray holding superb entertainment value.

 

Very Highly Recommended.

 

RAH

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Deadwood: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]
post #2 of 37
11/9/10 at 7:44pm

While I love Deadwood, I do have to chime in to say that, like the "N" word, I'll never find "c***sucker" a "beautiful and integral" part of our language.  It's still an ugly, demeaning epithet, despite the fact that Deadwood has wonderful writing. 

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post #3 of 37
11/10/10 at 2:50am

Deadwood is my all-time favorite HBO series.

 

It is a must see!  Already own the set on DVD.

 

Would love to own this on Blu-ray but the price

is just out of reach right now.  I would bet that 

eventually this will be an Amazon Gold Box deal.

At that point I will be certain to upgrade.

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post #4 of 37
11/10/10 at 3:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnMor View Post

While I love Deadwood, I do have to chime in to say that, like the "N" word, I'll never find "c***sucker" a "beautiful and integral" part of our language.  It's still an ugly, demeaning epithet, despite the fact that Deadwood has wonderful writing. 


Whilst I'm usually rather Victorian in my attitude to gratuitous expletives on film, like the wonderful BBC series The Thick of It, I thought the writers of Deadwood turned profanity into something of an artform.

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post #5 of 37
11/10/10 at 6:14am
Thread Starter 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMor View Post

While I love Deadwood, I do have to chime in to say that, like the "N" word, I'll never find "c***sucker" a "beautiful and integral" part of our language.  It's still an ugly, demeaning epithet, despite the fact that Deadwood has wonderful writing. 


Some language is "time appropriate," inclusive of the "N" word.  If a filmmaker is going for authenticity, certain things that we may find reprehensible in certain situations today, clearly work to advantage.

 

The inappropriate use of the "N" word makes me bristle.  I even recall stopping in my tracks when going over original 1939 Technicolor continuities from Jesse James, and (in continuity shorthand for identification of a character) finding a character simply referred to as "Darky."

 

The actor referred to was veteran actor Ernest Whitman, who played "Pinkie." 

 

I have a similar problem with any attempt to remove smoking from films.  However one votes on the smoking issue, it is another time appropriate point.

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post #6 of 37
11/10/10 at 7:00am

Definitely in for the series once it's under $80 in a gold box special!

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post #7 of 37
11/10/10 at 7:05am

Easily my favorite HBO series ever (The Wire a close second). Sadly unfinished, though. I'll be scanning the bargains forum for the best deal, though. November Deep Discount sale (?), or Amazon Gold Box best bets.

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post #8 of 37
11/10/10 at 9:34am

Currently both Amazon.com and Best Buy both have the series set listed on sale for $137.99

 

So if the Best Buy price holds up thru the release date I will for sure pick this up in the store and if I need to have them price match their .com price.

 

When It comes to box sets I am really picky over the condition the sets arrive in, with amazon it can be a gamble. Many rec'd their Alien box sets in yellow bubble wrap envelopes crushed and dented... I prefer to get it locally so I can pcik out my set.

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post #9 of 37
11/10/10 at 10:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris View Post

Quote:


Some language is "time appropriate," inclusive of the "N" word.  If a filmmaker is going for authenticity, certain things that we may find reprehensible in certain situations today, clearly work to advantage.

 

The inappropriate use of the "N" word makes me bristle.  I even recall stopping in my tracks when going over original 1939 Technicolor continuities from Jesse James, and (in continuity shorthand for identification of a character) finding a character simply referred to as "Darky."

 

The actor referred to was veteran actor Ernest Whitman, who played "Pinkie." 

 

I have a similar problem with any attempt to remove smoking from films.  However one votes on the smoking issue, it is another time appropriate point.



Robert, my post had nothing to do with the use of the word on the TV show, as it was indeed time appropriate, as it had to do with your celebrating the word's usage today by saying that a 21st century program made it a "beautiful and integral part of our language"  Integral?  Today?  Really?  Anyway, my intention is not to hijack this thread away from one of my favorite TV series, but just to say that we should have gotten beyond celebrating the ugly demeaning of our fellow human beings, whether they be gay or straight. I run into the same thing with straight friends who use the word "fa*got."  Anyway, rant over.  I just wanted to clarify earlier my post, not hijack this discussion into an area it was never intended to be about.

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post #10 of 37
11/11/10 at 5:23am
Thread Starter 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMor View Post


Robert, my post had nothing to do with the use of the word on the TV show, as it was indeed time appropriate, as it had to do with your celebrating the word's usage today by saying that a 21st century program made it a "beautiful and integral part of our language"  Integral?  Today?  Really?  Anyway, my intention is not to hijack this thread away from one of my favorite TV series, but just to say that we should have gotten beyond celebrating the ugly demeaning of our fellow human beings, whether they be gay or straight. I run into the same thing with straight friends who use the word "fa*got."  Anyway, rant over.  I just wanted to clarify earlier my post, not hijack this discussion into an area it was never intended to be about.


John,

 

You're not "hijacking."

 

Possibly I should have used one of those smiley faces after the comment.  I was attempting for dry humor, as opposed to the concept of hearing/using the word in (for example) an elevator filled with execs at IBM or GE as normalcy.

 

Do we even know for certain that everyone actually swore continuously in the actual Deadwood?  

 

Here's an interesting link:  http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/n_10191/

 

We hear the word (and every other word of its sort passed down as a part of the wonders of Anglo-Saxon English so continuously in the series, especially from Al Swearengen (Ian McShane).  I presume that he must have been beaten by nuns in school, and picked it up there.  The point is that it becomes normalized and routine.  Hearing the word in that setting reminds me of friends visiting LA and discussing their first walk down Rodeo Drive.  They reported back that after spending a few hours visiting the hallowed stores, one averred that he liked a certain tie in a store window.  The surroundings had apparently gotten to him, as he said "Beautiful tie... and its only $700."

 

Then he caught himself.

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post #11 of 37
11/11/10 at 7:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnMor View Post


Anyway, my intention is not to hijack this thread away from one of my favorite TV series, but just to say that we should have gotten beyond celebrating the ugly demeaning of our fellow human beings, whether they be gay or straight.



I can understand how people view "c---sucker" as a slur against gay people but I don't think it's intended that way on Deadwood and I definitely think the word has transformed into a vulgar way of saying that a person is a jerk rather than being used a slur.

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post #12 of 37
11/11/10 at 7:40am
Thread Starter 

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravisR View Post

I can understand how people view "c---sucker" as a slur against gay people but I don't think it's intended that way on Deadwood and I definitely think the word has transformed into a vulgar way of saying that a person is a jerk rather than being used a slur.


Agreed.  The article linked above says precisely that.

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post #13 of 37
11/11/10 at 9:32am

Interesting article.  Thanks.  The writing on Deadwood is just wonderful.  And of course, the cast is remarkable. I only wish I could afford to upgrade the show to blu right now, but my blu budget has been pushed beyond it's limits this year already.  And that's a great thing. 

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post #14 of 37
11/11/10 at 5:50pm

Both the writing, and the use of all the epithets, were positively Shakespearean....:)

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post #15 of 37
11/11/10 at 7:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Posten View Post

Definitely in for the series once it's under $80 in a gold box special!

I'm definitely going to purchase this once it hits the gold box at Amazon.  I love this series and sold off the DVDs in anticipation of this set a few months back while they still had a reasonable sell-off value.  I picked up Rome late last year when it hit the gold box at a good price and will remain patient for Deadwood's turn. cool.gif

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post #16 of 37
11/22/10 at 1:02pm

$125 in the Deep Discount 25% sale going on now. Do we pull the trigger on this or wait for something slightly better? Amazon Gold Box deal probably not for a while. And the best that could be would probably be $116. It's tough to resist.

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post #17 of 37
11/22/10 at 9:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic View Post

$125 in the Deep Discount 25% sale going on now. Do we pull the trigger on this or wait for something slightly better? Amazon Gold Box deal probably not for a while. And the best that could be would probably be $116. It's tough to resist.



Good luck ever getting it.  I'm still waiting for POLTERGEIST and JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS that I bought on September 3. 

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post #18 of 37
11/23/10 at 6:46am

Not worth waiting for a reduced price. My all time fav show and I was looking foward to watching a few episodes during the long weekend.

 

Getting it today.

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post #19 of 37
11/23/10 at 7:15am

Fantastic deal!  $101 at Barnesandnoble.com with new 30% off coupon. I definitely pulled the trigger on this one. They are definitely going after Amazon lately. The online price is listed at $136, a dollar less than Amazon, PLUS use the code numbers below for an additional 30% off to bring it to $95 plus tax and free shipping. Probably better than the Gold Box deal will be.

 

Coupon code: P4A4N7P

 

http://video.barnesandnoble.com/DVD/Deadwood-Complete-Series/e/883929142132/?itm=3&USRI=deadwood

 

I'm no shill for B/N and you'll never touch these deals at their brick and mortars, but I've ordered my last 6 BDs through them at prices well below Amazon, and gotten them all within three days on free shipping.  Keep it up B/N and you'll be a player here.

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post #20 of 37
11/23/10 at 1:47pm

Thanks Wayne. Just bought it for $100 and change with free shipping. Saaawwweeeeet.

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post #21 of 37
11/24/10 at 1:47am

I am not a huge fan of Deadwood - by avoiding so many western cliches, such as a decent gunfight, it became - for me - grindingly monotonous, a one-note thing.  So I never saw the second or third seasons, though Robert Harris's review encourages me to have another look.  I also found the language  - - - what's the word, not offensive exactly, but somehow tedious, boring and a bit insulting to the intelligence, inserted to give the show a bit of notoriety.  Does anyone know if they really spoke like that in those days?  Or is the swearing in The Pacific (another tedious show, though visually wonderful in Blu-ray) historically accurate?  It all seems a bit modern to me.  And then you have the bad language in Rome and Spartacus: Blood and Sand.  Now that, by Jupiter's cock, somehow seems entirely appropriate, a sort of graphic depiction of surviving Roman frescoes and mosaics.  

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post #22 of 37
11/24/10 at 8:33am

The language in Deadwood was thoroughly researched by David Milch and historically accurate to the point where the town actually passed an ordinance (in 1886?) banning the use of swear words because it got so rampant and out of control. Remember, these were the dregs of the earth showing up to hunt for gold or exploit those prospectors; saloon owners, pimps, whores, etc. There's nothing gratuitous about it, and if you pay attention, the writing and the language is quite carefully written and practically Shakespearean in cadence. Swearengen's dialogue (often while getting a BJ) often has the art of a great soliloquy. Spartacus: Blood and Sand was a comic book by comparison, and about as historically inaccurate as you can get (but fun).

 

The show's language and brutality are not everyone's cup of tea, but it gets more things right historically about the West than most westerns, and each season had it's own arc and feel. Count me as one who thinks this series is as rich and entertaining as television ever reached.

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post #23 of 37
11/24/10 at 12:09pm

Thanks Wayne Carter for setting it straight about the language - that law must have taken some enforcing!  I went to Deadwood once: what a dreary, tawdry town, like Gatlinburg in Tennessee, but fantastic scenery all around.  And I had Doris Day in my ears.

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post #24 of 37
11/24/10 at 1:15pm

For those of you planning on picking this up in stores, remember Best Buy matches their internet prices. They have it listed for $189! so make sure you mention its online for $137.

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post #25 of 37
11/24/10 at 2:30pm
Thread Starter 

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianTurner View Post

I am not a huge fan of Deadwood - by avoiding so many western cliches, such as a decent gunfight, it became - for me - grindingly monotonous, a one-note thing.  So I never saw the second or third seasons, though Robert Harris's review encourages me to have another look.  I also found the language  - - - what's the word, not offensive exactly, but somehow tedious, boring and a bit insulting to the intelligence, inserted to give the show a bit of notoriety.  Does anyone know if they really spoke like that in those days?  Or is the swearing in The Pacific (another tedious show, though visually wonderful in Blu-ray) historically accurate?  It all seems a bit modern to me.  And then you have the bad language in Rome and Spartacus: Blood and Sand.  Now that, by Jupiter's cock, somehow seems entirely appropriate, a sort of graphic depiction of surviving Roman frescoes and mosaics.  

 

Do have another look.  The Blu-ray allows the gorgeous cinematography to shine through.  You'll also find the overall feel exceedingly Shakespearean.

 

I just visited Borders, and via a single item 50% sale (today only for members, who can join free), picked up a copy for my son.

 

RAH

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post #26 of 37
11/24/10 at 2:49pm

I never did pick this up on DVD, and as a result have never seen the show.  The Blu-Ray will be mine as soon as I find a good sale around here!

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post #27 of 37
11/24/10 at 3:05pm

I caught just enough of a few episodes on HBO to know that this is pure genius, and a MUST-have for serious watching and appreciation for a long time to come.  Right now I'm kicking myself because I was in Borders today spending that 50%-off coupon and never even thought about checking to see if this one was there.  Soon, though.  Soon.

 

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post #28 of 37
11/24/10 at 10:20pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by AdrianTurner View Post

I also found the language  - - - what's the word, not offensive exactly, but somehow tedious, boring and a bit insulting to the intelligence, inserted to give the show a bit of notoriety.  Does anyone know if they really spoke like that in those days?


It's my understanding that the language in Deadwood is intentionally anachronistic.  From the show's Wikipedia article:

 

"...the characters were originally intended to use period slang and swear words. Such words, however, were based heavily on the era's deep religious roots and tended to be more blasphemous than scatological. Instead of being shockingly crude (in keeping with the tone of a frontier mining camp), the results sounded downright comical....Instead, it was decided that the show would use current profanity in order for the words to have the same impact on modern audiences as the blasphemous ones did back in the 1870s."

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post #29 of 37
11/30/10 at 8:51pm

I picked this up having never seen any of the episodes. 5 episodes in, I'm hooked. Another great series (and Blu-ray release) by HBO.

 

I do have one question. I notice that there is a bonus disc after each season. Are there spoilers in there if I choose to watch bonus say bonus disc #1 before the start of the 2nd season? I ask because I'm not sure why the bonus discs are not all at the end. A bit strange..

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post #30 of 37
11/30/10 at 10:10pm

I assume that the individual season releases each had a disc of bonus material, and the complete set simply collects the existing discs into one big package, retaining the bonus-disc-per-season format.

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Deadwood: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]