Topic: Peter Jackson's early films

[Achim]

Peter Jackson Restoring His Early Films for Blu-ray

 

Let's hope that Blu-ray.com's assumptions what his early films should be is correct. ...and if so, I hope next time the complete Braindead will be released.

[madacid]

'Bad Taste', 'Meet the Feebles' and 'Braindead' would be a triple-must-have 

[Kathy]

Maybe those who upgrade will sell their regular old DVDs!

[Jimmy]

Kathy those old dvd are awfull, selling them is not being a friend.

What I have

Bad Taste : version from the Chilling classic boxset (average quality)
Meet the Feebles : crappy bootleg from Substance who is just another sub-label of Jeff Film
Braindead : region 2 importation and fullscreen

You see no quality in this and I'm sure certain that those 3 films were never released in a quality version anywhere (except for the zone 4 released of Bad Taste who had many extras, but I've no idea of how it looks)

[Kathy]

Oh well - a question then - can you play blu ray DVDs on a regular DVD player?

[snowcat]

Unfortunately no, but you can play regular 'ol DVDs on a Blu-ray player.

[Achim]

Kathy those old dvd are awfull, selling them is not being a friend.

What I have

Bad Taste : version from the Chilling classic boxset (average quality)
Meet the Feebles : crappy bootleg from Substance who is just another sub-label of Jeff Film
Braindead : region 2 importation and fullscreen

You see no quality in this and I'm sure certain that those 3 films were never released in a quality version anywhere (except for the zone 4 released of Bad Taste who had many extras, but I've no idea of how it looks)

I am surprised Jimmy.

My copy of Meet the Feebles is also barebones and rather flaky in quality, but there is an good release from Anchor bay for Bad Taste (with some features) besides the nioce R4 release and there are two release for Braindead, well, same content, but two different distributors, which is acceptable, considering when it was released. I believe there is also a good german release with the full lengtj film (surprising, isn't it).

However, the above are all indeed in strong need of an upgrade and if Jackson says he's involved then that should be good news. The trio mentioned by madacid above (Bad taste, Meet the Feebles and Brainsed by me without hesitation.dead) would be purcha

[Jimmy]

there are two release for Braindead, well, same content, but two different distributors, which is acceptable, considering when it was released.

This is the one I own

according to DVDP it's widescreen, but the back cover say fullscreen and I'm almost sure the database is wrong

I believe there is also a good german release with the full length film (surprising, isn't it).

No, some german released are particullary good and the only one available. By exemple Maladolescenza, but I sure don't have the 50$ to buy it (it's a lot for just one film). The funny thing is that even if the only available dvd released of this film is German this country is the only one in the world who had banned it.

[Achim]

The funny thing is that even if the only available dvd released of this film is German this country is the only one in the world who had banned it.

That's why I  said it was surprising.

Tangent:
It's really weird how this works in Germany. I know that, for example, each release has to be "censored". So if Distributor A releases Dawn of the Dead and it gets banned then Distributor B can sell his version until that one gets banned also. (at least it used to be like this)


I forgot if my version is fullscreen, but I think not.

My version is the Trimark release, the images in my collection are from the later Lions Gate release.

[madacid]

...It's really weird how this works in Germany. I know that, for example, each release has to be "censored". So if Distributor A releases Dawn of the Dead and it gets banned then Distributor B can sell his version until that one gets banned also. (at least it used to be like this)...

If the releases has equal content, than distribution B is also censored, even without a new release-check. Thats why most of the movies from the 80s are censored, because the VHS-tape was censored in those days btw. this censorship keeps up for 20 years

[Kathy]

I never really understood the need for censure - if you don't like the content of something...don't buy it.

[snowcat]

I never really understood the need for censure - if you don't like the content of something...don't buy it.

Agreed.

[Najemikon]

I never really understood the need for censure - if you don't like the content of something...don't buy it.

Agreed.

It's far from simple though. At least certification and the threat of now rare censoring holds a moral obligation over film-makers and any form of art to make sure it has a point. Censors have grown with the times over the years and I think without it, we wouldn't have the varied films and styles we have today.

In this case though the censorship point is moot. I wouldn't have ever agreed with cutting a film like this, but that was the way of things back then. It could easily be resubmitted now and hopefully it will be.

[Jimmy]

I never really understood the need for censure - if you don't like the content of something...don't buy it.

I've never understand why someone working in a governement office can tell me what I can or can't watch. I'm an adult so I think I'm mature enough to decide what I can watch. Each 3 months the canadian governement release the list of what movie you can't import and some of those titles just make laugh. Why? Because I own them and I've reviewed some of them here... OK The Taming of Rebecca, Appointment with Agony, Kneel Before Me, Oriental Techniques in Pain and Pleasure, Dominatrix Without Mercy and The Story of Prunella are rough stuff but it's between consenting adult...

For me except for the kiddie stuff the governement had no bussiness in our watching. The inquisition era is long gone and the adult can decide what is ok for them. The "but who think of the children" argument is one of the stupidest thing I've ever see. Kids had parents to control what they can watch, it isn't my problem if their parent can't do their job since I'm perfectly able, as an adult, to take my own decision.

[snowcat]

I never really understood the need for censure - if you don't like the content of something...don't buy it.

Agreed.

It's far from simple though. At least certification and the threat of now rare censoring holds a moral obligation over film-makers and any form of art to make sure it has a point. Censors have grown with the times over the years and I think without it, we wouldn't have the varied films and styles we have today.

In this case though the censorship point is moot. I wouldn't have ever agreed with cutting a film like this, but that was the way of things back then. It could easily be resubmitted now and hopefully it will be.

...this is true but also it sadly means that certain things are lost, Tod Brownings Freaks has footage that we will never see because its been completley lost over the years.