why? it isn’t out of print
Don’t wait — this is not a film to wait to see. One of the essential art films.
The old Criterion release was not formatted for modern widescreen TVs, and probably there could be a much higher-quality transfer nowadays. Of course Andrei Rublev is a quintessential big screen film; even a Blu-ray would not do it justice.
I’m suspecting they’ll do it someday. It’ll end up selling a whole shitload more than most of their re-releases
There needs to be a quality Region 1 DVD/Blu-ray release of Chimes at Midnight before any re-issue of Andrei Rublev.
Isn’t Rublev 2.35:1?
Blu-Ray Rublev would be a transcendant experience.
@Matt: Yes but, while I don’t know the technical terms for the issue, it cuts off the subtitles if the image is re-sized to fit a widescreen TV.
@Matt/Patrick’s response:
The Rublev DVD was released before widescreen TV’s had gotten big, so the image is not presented in anamorphic format. Essentially, the image would look fine on standard 4:3 tv. The movie is presented letterboxed in its original aspect ratio within the 4:3 sized frame.
Rublev is definitely a title that should be rereleased anamorphic. I’d also like to see a rerelease contain both versions of the film, especially since Tarkovsky had at different times considered both the original cut and the extended “director’s cut” (the version currently available from Criterion) to be the definitive versions.
I actually still haven’t seen the longer cut as released by Criterion. I’ve only seen this film in a class on Soviet cinema, and my professor showed us a letterboxed VHS of the shorter original cut, which he preferred to the longer version (he also showed this for brevity’s sake, as we had to stay even after class was over to watch the shorter version in its entirety.
A release with all the different versions is a fantastic idea, and I think it would bring in a lot of business for Criterion. I’ve talked to a couple store owners – at places like HMV or Sunrise Records – that say they simply can’t keep the film in stock. I see its name card everywhere, sitting without an in-stock DVD to adorn it. Tarkovsky on blu-ray, please?
@Zach: I read only that he liked the shorter version better. Was it near the end of his life that he preferred the shorter? Or the longer? I’d like to know his vinal verdict!
I’d put in another vote for a hi-def remaster and Blu-Ray re-release of “Andrei Rublev”. It’s one Criterion I pull out and watch again every year or so. I’d very happily pay for a Blu-Ray version – it was a fairly early Criterion DVD and mastering techniques have improved a great deal since then.
@TJ – “Chimes at Midnight” has been mired in legal issues for several years over the distribution rights. I’d love to see it as well, but I don’t think there’s ever been a legal video release of it.
This one needs a redo and they really should think about doing a treatment of Stalker, Tarkovsky’s other masterpiece.
I keep hoping for a rerelease of this one and Alphaville… I finally broke down and bought Alphaville, though.
please let this be released on blu, Stalker too!
The theatrical cut (186 minutes) was released a couple of days ago by Mosfilm. It has English subtitles, however, there are no extra features whatsoever.
i haven’t seen the shorter cut, but i couldn’t imagine the film without every minute of the full length
i feel the same way about apocalypse now, of which i’ve only seen the redux
Does the original negative for Rublev exist? I hear this is the only reason Citizen Kane has never been upgraded to Blu-ray since the original negative was lost in a fire and it costs way more money to upgrade other film types.
I have zero clue how much it costs to clean film for blu-ray so I was wondering if it more a financial thing for Criterion to not release the film based on how many copies they would have to sell to justify the production.I’m really tired on the non stop bitching about how lame Criterion is for not releasing an upgrade. If it so easy to produce an upgrade, i’m sure they would have done so by now.
it does exist and its 1,66 aspect. I am sure that Russia has an updated version, he was finallyrecognized as a national inspiration. It wasnt that long ago.
Criterion’s version of Andrei Rublev needs re-issue so much!!!
ANDREI RUBLEV – upgrade possible in future, not on schedule – “Still working on it” – (Last Update: 10/10)
from this thread: http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23
PoopButt
I’ve been waiting for years for a re-issue of the film, has anyone heard of any news regarding such?