THRILLER 3D (1 Viewer)

[3D Projectionist]

I'm wondering if anyone had an feedback after the screening of THRILLER 3D at the 74th Venice Film Festival?

 

[Brent Reid]

Well, Jackson's music video output, easily the most successful and influential in history, is in a relatively woeful state on home video. Most, if not all, of his videos were shot on film before being edited and and finished on videotape. Ageing standard definition masters of these are all that exist but given their origins, have the potential to look absolutely spectacular if rescanned, reconstructed and restored properly.
I've long suspected it to be inevitable that Jackson's entire video catalogue would receive the deluxe treatment at some point, given its enduring importance, and have held off buying his DVDs for that very reason. I strongly suspect the Thriller 3D conversion is the opening salvo in an upcoming comprehensive reissue campaign. Exactly that is hinted at here. I'm only surprised it's taken so long. Well overdue.

 

[3D Projectionist]

Hello Brent and thanks for the input. I know Mr Landis hinted more than once to look out for a couple of surprises in the rework so I'm kinda expecting his children to appear, or at least that's what my money would be on knowing how playful Michael was way back then. Would even speculate for Halloween screenings but may be pushing my luck great as it would be.

Yes agreed re the old videos and even the more recent DVD editions which have been somewhat lacking although my guess would be that the latter hits would have been video shot rather than a film negative, we will have to see how it goes.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Thriller, Bad, Leave Me Alone, and Smooth Criminal were all finished on film.

 

[Brent Reid]

Yup: the Thriller (14min) and Bad (18min) videos were well-budgeted mini movies and I seem to recall both receiving limited theatrical release. I'm unaware of a HD master currently available for either though. The videos for Leave Me Alone, Smooth Criminal and all the other songs included in Moonwalker (1988) were, of course, simply extracted from the feature film itself.

 

[3D Projectionist]

I see we can also expect a new album at the end of Sept all rather exciting times for MJ fans.

Back to the original post... any new from the Venice screening?

 

[Brandon Conway]

The videos for Leave Me Alone, Smooth Criminal and all the other songs included in Moonwalker (1988) were, of course, simply extracted from the feature film itself.

And they look really good on the Warner region free non-US BD release of Moonwalker if anyone is interested.

 

[Konstantinos]

And they look really good on the Warner region free non-US BD release of Moonwalker if anyone is interested.

If only it wasn't censored.
I love the movie.. For nostalgic reasons mostly.

 

[Interdimensional]

I know Mr Landis hinted more than once to look out for a couple of surprises in the rework so I'm kinda expecting his children to appear, or at least that's what my money would be on knowing how playful Michael was way back then. Would even speculate for Halloween screenings but may be pushing my luck great as it would be.

Halloween screenings would seem an excellent idea.

While I'm not the biggest fan of retro-conversions, I think Thriller is potentially a good fit. I'm quite enthusiastic about it.

It's unfortunate that John Landis never made a 3-D film during his heyday, I see him as a filmmaker who would've made full advantage of the medium. I believe in the 1980s he was involved with planned-for 3D films that ultimately fell through, like a Creature from the Black Lagoon remake and The Incredible Shrinking Woman.

... I recently acquired the View-master set from Thriller. Some of the images are quite striking. All the familiar hallmarks of old-fashioned native 3-D, (although one image has a 2d photo of the Jackson werecreature pasted into the foreground of an otherwise 3-D image, such were the unsophisticated 3D conversion capabilities of the day).

Looking through the video itself, I see more than a few scenes that offer good potential for 3-D.

While the music video would've never been intended for 3-D, it is interesting that there was 3-D photography on set. It is also curious to note that there are posters for at least two vintage 3-D movies in the lobby of the cinema at the start of the video. Should be fun.

If it comes to 3D-Bluray, I think it'd be worth seeing if the original View-master 3-D photography could be included as an extra, especially if there are additional images that weren't included on the original reels

 

[3D Projectionist]

I wouldn't expect a 3D Blu-ray anytime soon or even a cinema screening, the MJ estate have muted they are holding off screening it this year as no Halloween films will be in cinemas to team it up with. They will hold off till 2018 Halloween in the hope a 3D Halloween type of film is made but with cinema 3D screenings drastically reduced will it ever happen? Nope.

The great hope is they realise this and get it out on Blu-Ray in 3D when its still popular, if they don't the estate will most certainly be missing out on a great opportunity to reach the fans.

I was interested in the logic behind the new CD SCREAM recently release which they say it is hoped fans will enjoy the CD collection every Halloween but of course 99% of the tracks had already been released with a bonus track Mash Up.