Share Thrillington's profile
Thrillington
Thrillington's stats
- Review count5
- Helpfulness votes6
- First reviewApril 3, 2014
- Last reviewApril 10, 2014
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.4
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
Answers
- Answer count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First answerNone
- Last answerNone
- Featured answers0
- Best answers0
Thrillington's Reviews
![Robocop [Blu-ray] [1987]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3060/3060008_sa.jpg)
Posted by: Thrillington
from California
Anytime a remaster is done for an older film you run the risk of disaster. It's about choices you make in the process from sources, decisions to restore the film, transferring, compressing the files for DVD or Blu-ray and others.
Although the item pictured (at the time of this review) doesn't list this as the unrated director's cut on the cover, I can confirm that this IS that edition. This was released early via Best Buy (1/7/14). The final cover states just below the title that this is the unrated director's cut. The early releases come with movie money for the remake of "Robocop" on the back of a sticker on the cover. You have to go online to get the ticket for this.
The plot, for those who haven't seen the film. is as follows:
SPOILERS:
Murphy (Peter Weller)a police officer terminally injured in an attack by a gang of criminals (Kurtwood Smith, Ray Wise among them), is given a second chance at life as a cyborg. With his memories wiped, Murphy seems like the perfect cop now--a combination of machine and human compassion-- but his memories of his wife and son (as well as his brutal killing) begin to break through causing emotional confusion. Partnered with his former partner as a human (Karen Allen), Murphy uncovers a plot to drag the city of Detroit further under the influence of a criminal by the very company that made him forcing him to fight his own "programming" NOT to bring the people to justice that need to be taken down.
END OF SPOILERS:
Weller gives a marvelous performance in a difficult role where he can't use the bulk of his face to express emotion. His performance is anything but robotic. Allen gives good support as his former partner who suspects that Robocop IS Murphy (the company refuses to disclose his former identity at first)while Miguel Ferrer is marvelously oily as an executive at the company (as is Ronny Cox who seems to have missed his calling at playing bad guys--he's great here and in "Total Recall" as well). The real stand out, though, is Kurtwood Smith best known for "That 70's Show" as Clarence J. Boddicker a sociopath with a dark sense of humor.
Be warned that the "Director's Unrated" cut IS much more violent and explicit than the original "R" rated version. The director had to tone it down for the MPAA and this is the version that he originally submitted to them (they came back with an "NC-17" or "X" rating at the time if I recall correctly). Strangely enough, Verhoeven, his producer and co-writer seem to think they are watching the "R" rated version of the film in the commentary track for the film. I'm not sure if that's because the commentary was originally recorded for that version, they were shown a different version or were just mistaken.
Luckily, this MGM/Fox catalog reiissue turned out right. "Robocop" looks marvelous. You need to keep in mind that "Robocop" has ALWAYS looked grainy--that was the intentional look of the film to begin. The transfer remains as true as possible to the original look of the film. While there are occasional compression artifacts that briefly crop up, but, on the whole, the film receives a marvelous looking transfer. Keep in mind the film is over 25 years old and the transfer reveals the limitations of the original source. Without going overboard with digital noise reduction this s the best the film has ever looked and likely will ever look.
The audio is presented with a nice sounding 5.1 lossless DTS HD track.
The special features are also quite nice as well.
We get a new group interview done at UCLA with the director, co-writer and main actors for the film. It runs nearly 40 minutes.
The commentary track on this edition featuring Director Paul Verhoeven, Writer Ed Neumeier and Producer Jon Davison. I haven't completely listened to this yet but the bits and pieces that I sampled prior to writing this review featured a pretty good discussion on the making of the film.
There's also a featurette on the bad guys in the film with new interviews of actors Kurtwood Smith, Ray Wise and Miguel Ferrier. This runs about 15 minutes.
We also get a 2001 half hour documentary on the making of the film including that doesn't shy away from issues including the problems between Rob Botten and director Paul Verhoeven.
A pair of 1987 featurettes are also included which are nice to have as well.
We also get "The Boardroom: Storyboard with Commentary with Animator Phil Tippett" a vintage piece.
Finally we get deleted scenes and various trailers for the film.
Verhoeven's unrated version finally receives a top notch Blu-ray transfer and release.
Highly recommended.
My Best Buy number: 44800956
What's great about it: Nice transfer, good special features
What's not so great: Nothing
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
![Cat People [Blu-ray] [1982]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2212/22125367_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
3
Colors are strong but older HD transfer
on April 10, 2014
Posted by: Thrillington
from California
Paul Schrader's "Cat People" is an unusual remake of Val Lewton and Jacques Tourneur's classic 1940's film. It's unique and an equal in its own way to the moody original film. It's a pity that "Cat People" didn't get a bit more TLC in this Blu-ray transfer because, while the film source is quite good, this is an older HD transfer.
My complaint isn't with the film itself which is enjoyable and well made with strong performances from Nastassja Kinski, Malcolm McDowell and John Heard (plus a terrific title song performed by David Bowie) but with this substandard Blu-ray transfer.
Shout Factory has been doing some fine work for most of their releases ("The Howling" was a tad overprocessed as well but acceptable) but this is an exception. The studios provide Shout (or Scream in this case)with the transfer and usually that's not a problem as a lot of them have been exceptionally good. When they get one that is substandard, however, the studio needs to push back--the images in "Cat People" are overprocess eliminating a lot of detail and textures creating plasticine people and smooth textures both an indication of an older less well done high definition transfer.
I suspect that this is the same original HD master used for the HD-DVD released ages ago with a new encoding with some tweaking.
Having said all of the above about this transfer, it isn't a horrible transfer just substandard. I suspect that Shout elected to release this substandard transfer without blinking an eye. Someone needs to tell Shout that grain and detail are good things. Their quality control is slipping.
There are some positives to the image--the colors are bold and the interpositive used for the transfer lacks any print damage and looks in very good shape so there are some positives.
We get the original stereo mix as well as a nice 5.1 mix. Subtitles are available in English.
Shout does a good job with the special features including a series of new interviews with Schrader, Kinski, Heard and McDowell. The interviews vary from 5 minutes to 9 in length. We also get an interview with composer Giorgio Moroder discussing working with Schrader and David Bowie. All of the interviews run around 50 minutes combined.
The special features are rounded out with photo and promotional galleries for the film as well as the original theatrical trailer. Finally we get a reversible cover art featuring the new art work commissioned for the film and one based on the theatrical one sheet on the opposite side (my preferred one--I don't care for the new art work myself).
I wouldn't give this version of the film 5 stars because of the substandard, older transfer of the film. The special features are quite good but Shout really needs to step up their game and demand up-to-date quality transfers for the films they release.
My Best Buy number: 44800956
What's great about it: Some terrific special features
What's not so great: Older over processed HD transfer
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
![Two Mules for Sister Sara [Blu-ray] [1970]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2490/24906166_sa.jpg)
Posted by: Thrillington
from California
"Two Mules for Sister Sara" brings together two Hollywood icons--Clint Eastwood and Shriley MacLaine in an unusual western that is, essentially, "The African Queen" in the old west.
Eastwood plays Hogan a drifter who saves Sister Sara (MacLaine)from being attacked by outlaws.In the process the duo become embroiled in the Mexican fight against the French. It seems that Sara has something that the French want as they continue to pursue her and Hogan.
Directed by Don Siegel with a marvelous score by Ennio Morricone "Two Mules for Sister Sara" marked Eastwood's second American western since becoming a star with the Sergio Leone films. Although the script has its flaws, "Two Mules" largely works because of the performances (particularly Eastwood who introduces a bit more of a comedic element to his performance here), Siegel's sharp direction and the score. The film features some beautiful photography.
The blu-ray looks exceptionally good with a crisp, sharp presentation that doesn't relay on edge enhancement to sharpen the image. Detail is strong throughout. This is the same transfer that was released last year in the UK so if you have that version, there isn't any improvements or differences here to note.
The film receives a nice looking transfer that is largely free of any sort of blemishes.
The audio sounds quite nice with a good mono 2.0 presentation of the original soundtrack that is faithful to the intent of the filmmakers. Dialog is clear for the most part and subtitles are included. There's some depth to the mono presentation here as well.
Sadly we don't get any special features. Given the stature of Eastwood and MacLaine one would expect that. Heck, I would expect it for director Don Siegel since he's a well regarded filmmaker who made a number of ( "Dirty Harry")and was Eastwood's mentor as a director. We get a vintage trailer and that's all/.
"Two Mules for Sister Sara" is an entertaining western. I loved it as a kid and continue to enjoy it today (although I grew up on the pan and scan version this is the version I learned to appreciated when I later saw it at a revival house).
My Best Buy number: 44800956
What's great about it: Nice looking
What's not so great: No special features
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
![Foreign Correspondent [Criterion Collection] [3 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD] [1940]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/861359d1-d200-46c9-988b-8d0192bb8151.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Classic Hitchcock film receives deluxe edition
on April 10, 2014
Posted by: Thrillington
from California
Hitchcock always stated that "Rebecca" wasn't a Hitchcock picture because it lacked humor and was too gothic. Hitch felt "Rebecca" was a Selznick-Hitchcock picture. Hitchcock often would point to "Foreign Correspondent" as the first TRUE Hitchcock picture made in America. It certainly has his characteristic sense of humor in abundance courtesy of Robert Benchley who appears in the film AND co-wrote the dialog for the film.
Hitch didn't get any of his first choices for the film--Gary Cooper, Joan Fontaine or Barbara Stanwyk--but Joel McCrea does a terrific job as Johnny Jones with able support from George Saunders.
SPOILERS:
Johnny Jones (Joel McCrea) works the police beat for his newspaper but finds himself suddenly promoted to overseas correspondent when his publisher is frustrated with THEIR foreign correspondent (Robert Benchley). Jones gets a new name and a new beat--to uncover the risk of war in Europe. In the process Jones butts heads and falls for the daugher of a prominent member of a peace moment and discovers a conspiracy involving the murder of a diplomat.
SPOILERS:
Criterion does an exceptional job for the blu-ray/DVD release of this classic Hitchcock title.
The Blu-ray looks very nice with a 2K transfer from the original 35mm negative. The film is presented as a vintage film of this type should be--it's in the orignal aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The mono audio sounds very nice with dialog crystal clear and subtitles in English.
As with all Criterion releases, we get some very nice special features for this set. Critic Mark Harris dominates "The Hollywood Propaganda and World War II" an exceptionally good (if a bit dry) featurette.
"Dick Cavett Interviews Hitchcock" is a little bit over an hour. Cavett interviewed Hitch when he was doing the promotional rounds for "Frenzy" and the Master touches on a number of his films.
We also get a radio broadcast version of the film that was presented in 1946 with Joseph Cotten.
Aside from the trailer, a Life magazine piece you can scroll through and an excellent booklet, we also get DVDs of the film and special features as part of the combo package that Criterion now offers.
My only complaint--and it is a minor one--is that this is presented in a cardboard holder and sleever. While it has nice artwork on it, it won't stand up to wear and tear. Criterion also did this for "Night of the Hunter" and I really, really dislike them.
What's great about it: Transfer, special features
What's not so great: Cardboard packaging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
![Rad Gumbo: The Complete Warner Bros. Years 1971-1990 [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3946/3946393_sa.jpg)
Posted by: Thrillington
from California
Nothing like a bit of rad gumbo to make your day. Little Feat was a great American band and Lowell Geroge's gruff voice/slide guitar playing was an essential part of the band's sound. So when George died suddenly, the band was lost without its front person.
This collection brings together the Lowell led albums as well as a pair of post-Lowell albums with former Pure Prairie League singer Craig Fuller who fit in well with the band's sound. From Bill Payne's wonderful keyboard playing to the guitar work of Paul Barrere and Richie Hayward's pounding percussion, Little Feat was more than Lowell George and, white his absence left a massive hole in the band, they carried on producing a series of fun, interesting albums.
This collection takes the band's work from the Warner years with all of the title pulled from the Japanese mini-LP remasters from a decade ago (although they weren't remastered for this set# with the exception of the pair of Fuller era albums which are the original masterings #and "Waiting for Columbus" which is the expanded, remastered edition from 2000#.
We also get the bonus disc #minus "LIghtning Rod Man" which was not added for contractual reasons# from "Hotcakes and Outtakes" from the year 2000.
Each album is presented in mini-LP sleeve replicas #inlcuding gatefold where appropirate# and they are nicer quality sleeves than the ones that come in the "Original Album Classics" mini-boxed sets.
My only complaint is that this set doesn't have a booklet with album credits, interviews or any insight on the making of these classic albums. Rhino could easily have adapted appropriate sections from the "Hot Cakes and Outtakes" boxed set from 2000. Rhino also just published #on their website# an interview with Bill Payne which could have been included as well. It wouldn't have added all that much to the cost of the set to include a booklet. It's a missed opportunity as this set is clearly aimed at people who still buy CD's and are fans of the band.
I can recommend the set even though it isn't perfect.
My Best Buy number: 44800956
What's great about it: The early albums are drawn from the Japanese remasters, mini-LP packaging, bonus CD
What's not so great: No booklet and not all the albums are remastered
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Thrillington's Review Comments
Thrillington has not submitted comments on any reviews.
Thrillington's Questions
Thrillington has not submitted any questions.
Thrillington's Answers
Thrillington has not submitted any answers.