A good EXODUS on Blu-Ray from Australia (1 Viewer)

I've found no mention of this release....

First came the old letterbox DVD of Exodus, which had terrible quality. I know - I own a copy.

Then recently came a European Blu-Ray with forced subtitles and other disqualifying features.

Now a new Blu-Ray has been released in Australia.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EEQ1P82

You can either buy it from Amazon direct for $31 or from the importer DaaVeeDee for $26.

The Amazon listing says it's Region A/B/C although the actual box just is labeled Region B. No matter as it plays without issue on my old cheap WalMart Region A Magnavox Blu-Ray players.

No forced subtitles - in fact no subtitles at all. There are no audio options either. The menu only contains two selections - play film or scenes. The audio is listed on the box as DTS-HD two channel. My older receivers decoded it as standard DTS two channel.

I watched it on my older 720P Optima projector, and the image is shockingly good. Of course it's hard for me to make any useful comparison statement as the old DVD version was so poor in quality. I could tell immediately how good the new version is during Sal Mineo's early fist fight on the top of the tower, which really looked like 3D. You could tell for the first time what a scow the Olympia/Exodus was because you could see the paint and varnish peeling.

I got out my tape measure and measured the image so I could calculate the AR. I got a projected AR of 2.40:1, which is wider than the 2.20:1 which is the spec for Super Panavision 70.

This may be the disc of Exodus we've been waiting for.

Dennis Nicholls said:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EEQ1P82

You can either buy it from Amazon direct for $31 or from the importer DaaVeeDee for $26.

Click to expand...

Better yet, you can order it from Australia from JB Hifi for under $13.98AUD (should be under $20 all up delivered to US).

It should be Region Free as you've noticed, since other "Hollywood Gold Series" releases in Australia have been region free to date.

It's the same transfer on the French Blu and I have a German release of it with no forced subs. It is hardly the release we've been waiting for - yes, it's scads better than the DVD, how could it not be. It's actually pleasing, but it's off 35mm elements (hence the ratio). If this were done of the large format element, you have no idea how amazing it would look, presuming the element is in good condition.

Thanks for the info. I am torn between buying the German release and waiting for a decent release from the large format elements.

It will be interesting to see how Khartoum turns out in the new year as blu-ray is made for these large format films.

Keith Cobby said:

Thanks for the info. I am torn between buying the German release and waiting for a decent release from the large format elements.

It will be interesting to see how Khartoum turns out in the new year as blu-ray is made for these large format films.

Click to expand...

The TT release of Khartoum is taken from 70mm 'elements'. The HD version that was shown on the MGM channel is quite good. Apparently someone has worked on Khartoum and the TT release should be outstanding.

Exodus is unknown and the current Blu at 2:35 AR is from 35mm elements. Non roadshow. Exodus was originally filmed in Super Panavision 70 and would look outstanding-as well as sound terrific if original elements could be found and utilized.

I have the German Blu-ray no forced sub-titles but it is locked Region "B". Blu-ray releases from France are guilty of having the subtitles hard wired, always on. Must be cheaper to produce the Blu-ray otherwise why would you produce a product limited for one market only?

I haven't had a problem with the sub-titles on French blu-rays. If there is no menu option to remove them I can switch them off using my remote.

Paul Rossen said:

The TT release of Khartoum is taken from 70mm 'elements'. The HD version that was shown on the MGM channel is quite good. Apparently someone has worked on Khartoum and the TT release should be outstanding.

Click to expand...

I am sure that the MGM HD airings and the Blu-ray go back to the same files. If MGM had redone it again in 4k or above they would most probably have released it themselves but with regard to possible sales figures Khartoum obviously does not have the stature that would warrant such an effort in the eyes of the studio. After all they do not even bother to release it themselves.

OliverK said:

I am sure that the MGM HD airings and the Blu-ray go back to the same files. If MGM had redone it again in 4k or above they would most probably have released it themselves but with regard to possible sales figures Khartoum obviously does not have the stature that would warrant such an effort in the eyes of the studio. After all they do not even bother to release it themselves.

Click to expand...

How long has it been since the took the trouble to release anything? Their titles are now being handled by Criterion, Shout, and Twlight. They haven't had their own released title in quite some time, even though Fox handles the distribution for them.

ahollis said:

How long has it been since the took the trouble to release anything? Their titles are now being handled by Criterion, Shout, and Twlight. They haven't had their own released title in quite some time, even though Fox handles the distribution for them.

Click to expand...

Correct - another reason why we can be very sure that no additonal work has been performed on Khartoum.

Ernest said:

I have the German Blu-ray no forced sub-titles but it is locked Region "B". Blu-ray releases from France are guilty of having the subtitles hard wired, always on. Must be cheaper to produce the Blu-ray otherwise why would you produce a product limited for one market only?

Click to expand...

In summary, the Australian disc has neither forced subtitles nor region locking, so it's a good choice for average North American viewers.

ahollis said:

How long has it been since the took the trouble to release anything? Their titles are now being handled by Criterion, Shout, and Twlight. They haven't had their own released title in quite some time, even though Fox handles the distribution for them.

Click to expand...

The Australian disc is billed as being released by "Shock", whoever the heck they are.

Oh dear, I shouldn't have searched for what kind of company "Shock" comprises....

http://www.imdb.com/company/co0175000/

Apparently the Australian company Shock DVD is a porno distributor.

I know we have asked Mr.Harris this question before, but in what condition are the original 70mm Exodus elements?

Dennis Nicholls said:

Oh dear, I shouldn't have searched for what kind of company "Shock" comprises....

http://www.imdb.com/company/co0175000/

Apparently the Australian company Shock DVD is a porno distributor.

Click to expand...

it releases a few BD's over here of some good titles that fall outside the main studios such as indeed Exodus.
Can't say I have seen or even heard of any porno released by them. Perhaps I am missing something.!!!

mark brown said:

I know we have asked Mr.Harris this question before, but in what condition are the original 70mm Exodus elements?

Click to expand...

I would like to know as well as I heard years ago that they could not be found and that certainly seems the case with the music tracks.

Dennis Nicholls said:

Oh dear, I shouldn't have searched for what kind of company "Shock" comprises....

http://www.imdb.com/company/co0175000/

Apparently the Australian company Shock DVD is a porno distributor.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure whether you've got the right company there. Shock distributes a lot of mainstream movies and music. The music side can be found on this site: https://www.shockrecords.com.au/ - and their video distribution can be found on the ScreenPop site, here: http://www.screenpop.com.au - I think the ScreenPop name is a new brand for them.

I have quite a few Shock branded DVDs and Blurays in my collection - they have released many MGM titles over the years, including the likes of the Roger Corman Poe films. They have released a bunch of schlocky scifi and horror films on bluray recently - including Lifeforce. Also released some classics including the Exodus disc and the cheap duplicate bluray of Twilight's Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Anybody know if Exodus is likely to receive a quality release?

Keith Cobby said:

Anybody know if Exodus is likely to receive a quality release?

Click to expand...

Ask Twilight Time They own it.

Keith Cobby said:

Anybody know if Exodus is likely to receive a quality release?

Click to expand...

Doubtful. Look at ownership.

trajan said:

Ask Twilight Time They own it.

Click to expand...

Twilight Time doesn't OWN any of the movies we release -- all titles are LICENSED from studios for a period of years...