Interesting that Ran is on this list. The Region A rights must be a lot harder to obtain. Here's hoping Criterion can obtain them once again and release the blu-ray.
Region free? Wonder about Belle de jour. (And then there's those pesky PAL menu peculiarities that I wonder about too... dunno, just wondering... and PAL supplements for that matter...) Likely be getting those 3 and Belle de jour if I can play them on my region A player. Might have to go ahead and order one to see (probably Le Mepris)...
(Or break down and get a region-free player (don't think I can afford the consequences of that move though).)
Rats, a bit pricey, and funky packaging as well...
I saw a Studio Canal ad in Australia (September's Stack magazine) that listed these as being JB Hifi exclusives, and listed the release date of 23rd Sep... Yet they are not up for preorder at JB or any other Australian retailer... If anyone has any details as to why this might be, please post here or PM me... I want like six of these! Definite first-day buys: Le Mepris, Ran.
I should also point out that if anyone is thinking of investing heavily in this series, google for pics of the packaging. There is no dome for disc to sit in, just a cardboard slit in back. Stupid decision there, but less stupid if you know where to get blank Blu ray cases...
Also, this press release omits a title known to be included in this series, Three Days of the Condor.
It's a real bummer that Lynch doesn't do audio commentaries... But The Elephant Man is a must have no matter what. Now let's hope we get the rest of his movies on Blu-ray as well.
Bigberbrown all these titles will be in stock at JB stores next week, probably from Tuesday. They are not listed on their website but will be on the Blu shelves in limited numbers. I understand the prices are AUD24.95 for all titles except Ran and Deer Hunter which are 29.95. First in first served I think. Im in Sydney.
The Stack advert also states restored picture quality, so fingers crossed they do a good job, ***cough Gladiator cough***Looking forward to seeing Elephant Man crystal clear in HD.
Germany is the first country to get those releases tomorrow. I've already seen them in some shops and got a copy of Belle de Jour. I didn't have the time to watch it yet, but the picture quality looks quite good.
I've read somewhere that Ran got the pretty awful transfer of the HDDVD. So I would wait until some reviews clear this up.
The official site http://www.studiocanal-collection.com/ says that all titles will be released 2009 in Europe and 2010 in North America, Japan and Australia.
Indeed! Elephant Man on BD is promising. I posted that info on several Lynch related groups in the hopes that if enough people pick up that particular title it will put some fire under his seat to release more. Anyone know if these titles will be available individually (as opposed to just as part of the boxed set).
Checked out that site. So, Ran on blu in America in early Ought-Ten, then? Takes the sting out of Criterion losing it, methinks. I look forward to more distinct verification of this North American release.
Flixyfox and any interested Australia buyers; these titles are belatedly up as preorders on the JB web site, but beware: Flixy lists very low prices of $25 for all but one title, where JB currently has them online at $38.88, well above the converted versions of the amazon uk prices.
