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WHV Announcement: Once Upon A Time in America (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

Ronald Epstein

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Charles Smith

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Finally, indeed -- because I have not only failed to buy it in any previous format, but I haven't seen it, period. And it's only been on my "list" forever. Done deal.
 

RobertR

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Is everything on one disc for the BR? That's rather crowded for a 226 minute film.
 

Stephen_J_H

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Not really. Gone With the Wind is 238 mins on one disc, and occupies about the same amount of real estate onscreen.
 

cafink

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I don't know how long that "making-of documentary" is, but even a DVD could get away with close to four hours of video on a single-sided, dual-layered disc. Though they aren't directly comparable because of different resolution, bit-rates, codecs, etc., it's my understanding that a Blu-ray disc can generally hold a bit more video (in HD) than its DVD equivalent (in standard def).
 

Brian Borst

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Criterion's The Thin Red Line contains five and a half hours worth of HD content, so it can be done right. Hopefully this will be a release that's done correctly the first time.
 

Aaron Silverman

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If it's the same doc that's on the DVD SE, then it's just an excerpt from a more extensive doc on Leone's career. I want to say it's 20 minutes but it's been a long time (too long) since I've seen it.
 
As a general rule, I am not upgrading any non-animated DVDs to BD, but for this I might make an exception.
 

Aaron Silverman

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Originally Posted by Stephen_J_H
Not really. Gone With the Wind is 238 mins on one disc, and occupies about the same amount of real estate onscreen.
GWTW is 4:3 and thus takes up somewhat less space on the disc than a 1.78:1 film like this. (Does the GWTW BD use those re-done widescreen sequences?)
 

Aaron Silverman

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Originally Posted by cafink
Out of curiosity, why the exception for animation?
Really just a handful of Pixar and Disney classics that have significant PQ upgrades (and are the only films that get re-watched to any extent in my home).
 
I have a real soft spot for OUATIA. It's in my all-time top 10 -- while I don't know that I'd call it an objectively better film than, say, The Godfather (I or II), it's more of a personal fave. Probably it's partially because, 25 years ago, it was my first exposure to the concept of seriously badass American Jews.
 
Incidentally, I recently read the source novel (been meaning to forever), which is very different but also very good.
 

Brian Borst

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Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman
Really just a handful of Pixar and Disney classics that have significant PQ upgrades (and are the only films that get re-watched to any extent in my home).
 
I have a real soft spot for OUATIA. It's in my all-time top 10 -- while I don't know that I'd call it an objectively better film than, say, The Godfather (I or II), it's more of a personal fave. Probably it's partially because, 25 years ago, it was my first exposure to the concept of seriously badass American Jews. " width="" />
 
Incidentally, I recently read the source novel (been meaning to forever), which is very different but also very good.
 
Just curious, but then you didn't upgrade the Godfather set?
 
 

Aaron Silverman

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Nope. I just don't watch it that often (and usually when I do it's because I come across it while flipping around cable channels and stop there for a while ). Is there any new content on the BD set? Bear in mind that I have HUNDREDS of unwatched DVDs that I bought between 1999 and 2005 and am trying very hard to not go crazy buying movies again, not least because my disposable income is much less than it used to be -- not to mention my free time.
 
Is the Godfather BD set a major quality upgrade? If that's the case then I might consider it if I see a really good deal and can unload my DVD set.
 
I upgraded my Band of Brothers set, but it was really cheap (a bit over $30 in an Amazon deal) and I handed down my DVD set to my father (who has since gone Blu).
 

oscar_merkx

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oh man this is absolutely amazing news.
 
Incredible performances from Deniro, Woods and the 4 kids portraying them growing up.
 
First day
 

Ronald Epstein

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"May be the definitive gangster picture. Rarely equaled."

David N. Meyer, THE NEW YORK TIMES

 

 

Robert De Niro and James Woods Star in Sergio Leone’s Critically Acclaimed Masterpiece

 




 



 





 








Once Upon A Time In America

 

Highly Anticipated Debut on Blu-ray Disc™ and Two-Disc Special Edition DVD
 

Available January 11 from Warner Home Video

 
Burbank, Calif., September 22, 2010 – Considered to be Sergio Leone’s masterpiece and one of the finest works within the gangster genre, Once Upon A Time In America (1984) debuts for the first time on Blu-ray Disc and as a two-disc Special Edition on January 11 from Warner Home Video. Recognized by director Martin Scorsese as a major influence on his career, the film features a star-studded cast of Oscar® winners including, Robert De Niro (“Goodfellas,” “The Godfather ll,” “Little Fokkers”), Joe Pesci (“Goodfellas,” “Casino,” “My Cousin Vinny”) and Oscar® nominee James Woods (“Ghosts of Mississippi,” “Salvador”). The film will be offered in its full length – three hours and forty-nine minutes – and will feature four hours of bonus content including commentary by noted film historian Richard Schickel, a making-of documentary and theatrical trailers. Orders are due December 7 (Blu-ray Disc SRP $24.98 / two-disc Special Edition DVD SRP $19.97).
 
“Once Upon A Time In America” received two Golden Globe® nominations for Best Director and Best Original Score; won the British Academy of Film and Theater Arts (BAFTA) Award for Best Score and Best Costume Design; and earned Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, and Best Cinematography nominations for Tuesday Weld, Sergio Leone and Tonino Delli Colli. Composer Ennio Morricone’s haunting score won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award.
 

ABOUT THE FILM

 
Sergio Leone, the Italian filmmaker whose artistic sensibilities created new interpretations of the American western with his landmark productions of “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” “A Fistful of Dollars” and “For A Few Dollars More,” and who brought international stardom to Clint Eastwood, crafts an unparalleled saga about two friends and the complex urban underworld in which they live.
 
Starring Robert De Niro (“Little Fockers,” “Machete,” “Goodfellas,” “The Godfather ll,”) as David “Noodles” Aaronson and James Woods (“Ghosts of Mississippi,” “Salvador”) as Max, the boyhood cohort with whom his life becomes inextricably meshed, Once Upon A Time In America chronicles the ruthless ambitions that drive them. The compelling story embraces a world of gritty realities, raw emotions, secret longings, explosive conflicts, and the volatile passions that destroy them and those who love them. Directed by Sergio Leone, the film follows Noodles and Max and their cadre of Jewish gangsters in New York from their early 1900’s childhood, through the glory years of prohibition and their subsequent reunion 35 years later.
 
Once Upon A Time In America features a stellar cast of well-known and respected actors, including the debut of Academy Award® winner Jennifer Connelly (“He's Just Not That Into You,” “Inkheart,” “Blood Diamond,” “A Beautiful Mind”), and such stars as Elizabeth McGovern (“Clash of the Titans,” “Kick-Ass”), Treat Williams (“What Happens in Vegas” “Everwood” TV series, “Prince of the City”), Tuesday Weld (“Feeling Minnesota”) and Joe Pesci (“Goodfellas,” “Casino,” “My Cousin Vinny”) play roles exquisitely interpreted in Leone’s masterpiece.

 
With a haunting score by Ennio Morricone, Once Upon A Time In America marks a milestone in cinema history as the ultimate saga about the life of early urban gangsters and lasts in memory long after the last frame.
 
Special features include:
 
· Commentary by film historian and critic Richard Schickel
· Making-of documentary: “Once Upon a Time: Sergio Leone”
· Photographic Memories: Still Gallery with 96 images
· Theatrical trailers
 
*special features listed above are subject to change.
 

 

ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA (1984)
 

Rating: R

Run Time: 229 mins

Order Date: 12/7/10

Street Date: 1/11/11

Languages: English

DVD UPC / CAT#: 1000170042 / 883929158300

BD UPC / CAT#: 1000170419 / 883929158713

DVD SE / BD MSRP: $19.97/$24.98
 

Brian Borst

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Originally Posted by Aaron Silverman
Nope. I just don't watch it that often (and usually when I do it's because I come across it while flipping around cable channels and stop there for a while " width="" /> ). Is there any new content on the BD set? Bear in mind that I have HUNDREDS of unwatched DVDs that I bought between 1999 and 2005 and am trying very hard to not go crazy buying movies again, not least because my disposable income is much less than it used to be -- not to mention my free time.
 
Is the Godfather BD set a major quality upgrade? If that's the case then I might consider it if I see a really good deal and can unload my DVD set.
 
I upgraded my Band of Brothers set, but it was really cheap (a bit over $30 in an Amazon deal) and I handed down my DVD set to my father (who has since gone Blu).
 
I assume you have the older version? Then the answer is: absolutely. The first two movies have been meticulously restored, the third one has been remastered, and there are tons of new extras, along with everything from the older box set.
 
 

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