Artificial Eye to Release "The Theo Angelopoulos Collection".
I actually managed to change the DVD region on a DVD player I had lying around. It also outputs NTSC and PAL so I lucked out.
For those interested if you Google your DVD player and it’s model number you can find out if you can use a code to change the region.
Does anyone know the standard fee for importing from the UK?
Last region free DVD player I bought, within a month, jammed a disc in its tray. (And the DVD was The Wind Will Carry Us, which I still can’t get out.) Does anyone know a more reliable brand?
Of course, I do have an old laptop whose DVD player is region free, but that has a small screen.
I had a Coby DVD player (Model 526 or something). My grandfather bought it maybe three years ago before he passed away and I managed to get all the information I need online.
Perhaps if you go to the store and write down a model and return home and Google you can get the info you need?
It’s was actually really easy to change the region. There are sequences you can input to change the Region all you need to do is determine which code you need for your player . These codes do exist, the DVD companies just don’t want you to know.
I honestly can’t wait to see The Hunters. i’ve deliberately put off watching it because i could never find a good print of it.
it’s the only Angelopoulos film i haven’t seen.
You should see the print of Alexander the Great that circulates. The print I saw of Alexander the Great was censored. I was appalled by this but figured that the print must have come from Japan seeing as only the frontal nudity was pixelated. I can’t wait until an uncensored, restored version of it comes out.
I believe the print of The Hunters that circulates online is actually a rip from a VHS of a showing of the film on Greek television.
^^i know the print you are referring to Ben.
Wouldn’t mind seeing Reconstruction either. last time i just watched it on youtube.
Well, youtube has LANDSCAPE IN THE MIST (whole version, in beautiful HQ quality), for those who haven’t it seen yet.
Has anyone heard anything about the sources for the transfers yet?
I’m guessing they will be identical to the New Star releases that came out in 2006.
Those transfers were decent, certainly better than anything else on the market. The Travelling Players looked great.
Can you change the region to ‘no region’ or would you have to change it every time you wanted to watch a film from a different region?
If you change it to Region 0 you can play films from any Region.
The Travelling Players is on one DVD so I would be wary of severe compression.
How is it possible to change a Region DVD player? Only the studio can do that?
I know THE TRAVELLING PLAYERS in avaiable on DVD in both Greece and the UK. I’ve just checked on amazon. So is THE SUSPENDED STEP OF THE STORK and THE BEEKEEPER plus TRILOGY: THE WEEPING WINDOW. There has never been a home video release of ALEXANDER THE GREAT, on the other hand.
^^^The U.K releases of Suspended and Travelling Players are imports from Greece, not manufactered in the U.K. They are the New Star editions. i’m pretty sure of it.
^^^The U.K releases of Suspended and Travelling Players are imports from Greece, not manufactered in the U.K. They are the New Star editions. i’m pretty sure of it.
^nice one Ben, they look official.
glad suspended step is part of the second collection. That’s one of his most underrated films. the ending is incredible. and the wedding scene is one of the best he ever filmed.
Artificial Eye still haven’t added the titles to their site though.
Did anyone’s order for Volume 1 ship on time? Amazon.uk delayed mine again until December 15. Is this an Amazon thing so I should order from somewhere else, or is this delay happening from all stores? Any information would be great. Thanks!!!
Ok, some strange things going on with this release. First of all, amazon.co.uk have removed the first volume from their website for some unknown reason. Secondly, the Hunters is 20 minutes shorter than it’s generally advertised as being. The other version ive got runs for 169 mins roughly.
What A.E had to say about the difference in running times:
“Further to our telephone conversation about the running time of The Hunters, I have contacted Theo Angelopoulos Productions.
As you may be aware, the difference in running times is partly accounted for by the PAL video system running at a faster frame rate than film (25 frames per second, rather than 24). In addition, the original negative was damaged slightly which means the remastered editions of the film run a little shorter. However, the version now available on DVD is approved by Theo Angelopoulos."
Some of Theo’s films lose about ten minutes after leaving Greece for some reason. MUBI lists Alexander the Great as being 230 minutes when all the longest extant version run at 210. The Beekeeper also runs twenty minutes shorter outside of Greece.
Theo approves of these remastered editions (which apparently look great) so I suppose it’s the best were going to get.
^^I’d trust Theos site before Mubi. According to his official website, Alexander runs 210 mins, not 230. The 140 min cut of Beekeeper is debatable. I’ve never seen or heard of one being available. Maybe it played on Greek t.v for 140 mins, but as far as im aware the version that played at festivals was 120 mins.
btw, Hunters transfer is decent, nothing special. Reconstruction looks quite good though
I guess that explains it then. The people who have the sets say the only thing disappointing about the set is the lack of extras and that the transfers are all fantastic. I suppose I can’t really complain too much seeing as the only other release I was able to find of the hunters was a TV rip. I suppose with PAL speed-up we are missing ten or so minutes?
The Alexander the Great release runs at about 199 which adjusted for PAL speed-up measures out at 210.
^^maybe 10 mins Ben, possibly a little more.
it will be interesting to see whether these dvds make a difference in how he is seen in the Anglosphere. He is a very minor figure in film circles in this part of the world. It’s rare to meet anyone that has seen his films, let alone more than 2 or 3. Blame bad distribution, lack of interest(historical based ‘art’ films tend to be less popular, generally speaking, esp when based on broader trends rather than specific individuals) etc
I hope they convert more film buffs.
It seems that the option to order has disappeared all over the place, maybe they caved in and are fixing it? They may be going back to the bootleg copy and will splice in the extra footage. They’ll lose money but I figure it’s better than having a bunch of angry cinephiles going after you. I bet they’ll also ship out a replacement disc for those who need one.
^^^I think it’s especially funny when most of the people complaining probably haven’t even seen the film before ;-)
Who knows what’s happening. it is suspicious, i’ll grant you that.
That’s ok, i’ll just wait it out. Got plenty of things to watch in the meantime, and the Days of 36 and T.Players look identical to the New Star discs i’ve owned for a while.
“The Ulysses’ Gaze”? So many strange mistakes.
I hope they do as I’d like to see the film in it’s fullest extant version.
But apparently all the other films run at the correct time ( on Volume II as well.) so we don’t need to worry.
From Artificial Eye:
“As you may be aware, the difference in running times is partly accounted for by the PAL video system running at a faster frame rate than film (25 frames per second, rather than 24). In addition, the original negative was damaged slightly which means the remastered editions of the film run a little shorter. However, the version now available on DVD is approved by Theo Angelopoulos.”
The translation in time from PAL to NTSC for the Hunter is 149 minutes. All records I have found indicate all other prints run from 165 to 168 minutes. As far as I am aware a true remastering would be impossible as all bootlegs stem from a television broadcast in the 80’s. Theo approves of this remastered version as stated above but I’m unsure if they plan on fixing this release. Does anyone know if Artificial Eye will ship replacement discs to the United States should such a thing occur?
I just received the second boxset in the mail today. The cover is slightly different to the one advertised—at least the image of Angelopoulos is anyway. checked out a few of the transfers. Voyage To Cythera looks good and so does Alexander The Great. Not perfect of course, but far better than other transfers of the films i’ve seen. Landscape strongly resembles the New Star dvd. Haven’t looked at Stork yet but i’m guessing it’s the same.
On Amazon UK the image isn’t there, I was wondering if they were going to pull it like the first. The runtimes are right?
Run times are fine except for maybe Alexander The Great, which loses maybe 5-10 mins, depending on how you do the conversions.
Doinel
Finally, but don’t hold your breath for an American release. In the meantime the Pioneer DV-610AV will mount anything.