Well, I’m still hoping they put out an anamorphic Bluray, as well. This is one film that I would love to see in a theater, but, if I can’t, then that’d probably be the next-best thing.
Actually, I didn’t know that the Criterion DVD was not anamorpphic. I had been meaning to check it out on our new HDTV for a while, but I hadn’t. Maybe I was scared?
Savvy
Double Post.
its the only version available in the states. credit martin scorsese with nabbing the only 205 minute original copy of this around – about the same time he released The Last Temptation Of Christ. two very auspicious events occurring remarkably close in one man’s life does lend credence to inspiration. supposedly, this version had been hiding under a mattress in the Soviet Union for a number of years.
I hear rumors of a redo by criterion similar to their more recent redoes: Wages Of Fear, M, The Seventh Seal, Seventh Samurai, and High & Low. one can hope but enjoy until that happens.
check: http://www.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/nostalghia.com/index.html
for any real update and extensive history
It’s been a year, Eggman…did you pick up the disc?
It can be tough wading through all the complications of transfer, running time, aspect ratio and the like. What it comes down to is: do you enjoy the film? I can personally attest, or rather that is that I have a “friend” who typically purchases CC DVD’s without having ever seen the film in question who downloaded Andrei Rublev (it’s relatively difficult to sort out what the film’s really about from the obtuse synopsis, and this “friend” doesn’t like to read the essays until the the films have been viewed). The file was ripped directly from the Criterion release (someone, somewhere, will inevitably pay) and it looked pretty fantastic. The last 5 minutes alone are worth the price of admission (although they lose a lot of impact without the preceding 200 minutes).
By all means, sir….pick it up. If the film gets re-released and you like it enough to justify forking over more cash for a new transfer or a new interview with an aging relative/friend of Andrei Tarkovsky, do that too! Take your original DVD and sell it second-hand, or better yet give it away to someone with a budding interest in film. Spread the love around, friend! Don’t let the thought of having to spend an extra $40 or so dissuade you from enjoying this hypnotic classic.
The criterion edition of Andrei Rublev is visually not as sharp as the Artificial Eye release ( UK release ). In fact, compared to the Artificial Eye transfer, the Criterion is of poor quality. Surprising, given the fact that Criterion transfers are of a very high standard.
I would recommend the Artificial Eye dvd to all fans of Tarkovsky. The print is crystal clear compared to the slightly hazy Criterion version. It is a very noticeable difference in quality. The only setback: The A Eye release is the shorter version, the one that circulated for decades until the complete original cut ( 205 mns ) was found.
Regardless of the relative flaws with the Criterion disc, it’s a great enough film that you should overlook them . . . at least until something better comes along. For me, slightly better image quality with a shorter cut of the film is not a good trade-off.
YES!
It was my first Criterion and it’s marvelous. Just the film, not the fluff. They should at least lower the price though.
Ken Nichols
Wait for anamorphic blu-ray…I was crushed when I showed this film to my wife on our hdtv and it looked, well diminished …wait this post is three months old…