VCI Entertainment have announced that they will release on Blu-ray director John Carpenter's Dark Star (1974), starring Dan O'Bannon, Dre Pahich and Brian Narelle. The release will be available for purchase online and in shops across the country on October 2.
Special Features:
Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star - Includes clips from a rare student film directed by Dan O'Bannon. Featuring exclusive interviews with actors, cast and crew. Also featuring an archival interview with John Carpenter, as well as the final interview of Dan O'Bannon. Produced and directed by Daniel Griffith (in HD).
Interview with Sci-Fi author Alan Dean Foster (in SD).
3D Guide to the Dark Star ship (in SD).
Full-length audio commentary by super fan Andrew Gilchrist.
In the mid twenty-first century, mankind has reached a point in its technological advances to enable colonization of the far reaches of the universe. Dark Star is a futuristic scout ship traveling far in advance of colony ships. Armed with Exponential Thermosteller Bombs, it prowls the darkest reaches of space on a mission to seek out and destroy unstable planets ahead of the colonist. But there is one obstacle that its crew members did not count on -- one of the ship's thinking and talking bombs is lodged in the bay, threatening to destroy the entire ship and crew!
Dark Star was originally intended to be a 68 minute film. Jack Harris, the Hollywood producer, convinced the filmmakers to shoot 15 minutes of extra footage and he released the expanded version theatrically in 1975 through Bryanston Pictures.
Before we get into the dry heaves about potential PQ (or AQ) on this title, let's remember a few things...
'Dark Star' began its life as a student film; the camera negative is 16mm. Its total budget was an estimated $60,000--about the price of two average homes at the time. This is not a movie that's going to 'wow', no matter what!
I'll be happy with a straightforward 2K scan with the DNR left out, with a little TLC given to the audio...
The cover art is awesome! Almost seems too good when considering the low production values of the film.
I remember being really taken with the movie when I saw in it on late night television as a kid. I Netflixed it recently and found it a little challenging to get through as an adult.
Still, it's an important, early John Carpenter film. It's good to see it coming to blu, though, as BDAcolyte points out, expectations should be kept pretty low.
"I'll be happy with a straightforward 2K scan with the DNR left out" Who wouldn't.
If they continue to work from a 35mm print, then I highly doubt it'll look acceptable. The German and UK releases are pitiful and yes that's taking into account the history of Dark Star's humble production.
I knew this would hit Blu someday after I bought that last SE DVD last year. Glad to see more Carpenter hitting blu this year. Still alot more to go so lets keep em coming!
Just was looking to purchase this title today. Very happy to hear that a blu-ray edition is about to be release but I know that the quality will not be much more than a bump from the DVD. Still worth the wait but I am not interested if it is more than $15.
Looks like it will be a direct copy of the UK Blu which I own. I have always loved this film and, as a fan, please rest assured that it is not the unholy mess that other posts have stated - honestly are we really going to hold our breaths and wait for a frame-by-frame restoration? Anyway, back in the real wotld, I think it looks as good as Dark Star ever will. However, and this is MUCH more important to note - it has been censored! The sequence in the crew's quarters (where Pinback uses the rubber chicken, etc) has had all of the nude centrefold pics that were adorning the wall 'blurred out'. Considering up until now I've seen Dark Star on TV during children's viewing time and on 'G' rated VHS with the background intact, in the enlightened 21st century, I guess we have to be shielded from this 'filth' in case our immortal souls are damaged. Trust me, even in this age of digital trickery, anyone who knows the film (indeed, any viewer with decent vision) WILL notice the blurring and find it exceedingly distracting. Don't we normally try to protect classic films?? Wonder what Carpenter would say?
@stevejcody I too own the UK version of this but apart from the movies and the documentary I cannot find these on it:
Interview with Sci-Fi author Alan Dean Foster (in SD).
3D Guide to the Dark Star ship (in SD).
Full-length audio commentary by super fan Andrew Gilchrist
This always gets me going. Why in the space of just a few months bring out another version (diff extras that is) of the same movie? I know why but it still bothers me. It just makes me feel like being taken advantage of. They (studios) know all too well that the fans will also buy this one. These days its seems everyone wants to be a George Lucas. (Dont get me started on that Dickension)
Yep, sorry Bloodjunkie
You're absolutely right about those additional extras. Got a bit carried away before I posted!
Totally agree with you about these multiple versions of discs. I don't want to discuss rights issues or the usual BS but you would think for the sake of the fans (that is, the ONLY people who will buy these cult titles) the people at, say, Arrow in the UK and Blue Underground in the US would pool their resources to come up with the best REGION FREE release for everyone to enjoy.
And don't get me started on 3d Blu/2d Blu/standard DVD/ digital copies/ultraviolet or whatever the hell, just release one version DAMMIT!!! And don't make ME pay for the 5 different options when I just want to watch the frickin movie on blu. Sigh.
Thanks, Bloodjunkie. I needed that. Bottom line - isn't it great that Dark Star is being released on Blu-ray?
And I'm done!
Bless you all, good people. Whatever you're watching, enjoy.
Love the film & own on DVD. I have the 2001 VCI Entertainment version. Has two versions; Theatrical + Special Edition. (on menu Sp. Ed is theatrical @ 1:08 & Uncut version @ 1:22) But, it is rated "G." I just checked my DVD now for censorship/blurring of nudity. Yes! ~ 17-20 minutes in the 'boiler room' scene the nude pinups are often blurred on the wall. This entire scene is cut from the Theatrical/Special Edition/shorter version. I don't know if an uncensored, uncut, long version of this film exists on DVD. My DVD is non-anamorphic & PQ is not good.
Initial post: Oct 26, 2010 1:10:38 PM PDT
Last edited by the author on Oct 26, 2010 1:11:35 PM PDT
Curtis G says:
I've never seen this discussed anywhere, but I'm watching the new DVD release and I noticed that the pictures on the wall of the improvised sleeping quarters (where Pinback tries to cheer up the crew with cheap gags) are all blurred in the close shots where you might be able to discern what's actually in the photos. I don't remember it being so obvious in previous releases, and I assume this was done to secure the G rating. Andrew Gilchrist's commentary doesn't address it. Anyone have any info?
Posted on Nov 1, 2010 8:56:46 AM PDT
Daniel C. Griffith says:
Curtis,
The images were blurred during the post-production phase of the Jack Harris/Bryanston theatrical release (when the 'extension' scenes were inserted). The unaltered versions of the nude photos posted in the crew quarters only exist on the original student film version (which may be lost now). VCI, with the assistance of the late Dan O'Bannon, used footage from the theatrical version to 'reconstruct' the student version, which is why the music cuts are so abrupt (Carpenters score was composed during the post-production phase of theatrical version). I hope this answers your question. And I hope you enjoy the new edition!!!
Best Regards,
DANIEL GRIFFITH
Director/Producer
BALLYHOO MOTION PICTURES
Last edited by the author on Nov 10, 2010 4:22:09 PM PST
jstone@lineone.net says:
This is curious because I distinctly recall when I first saw this back in the early 80's on TV that there was no such blurring (I was 10 trust me-those pics were very alluring to a 10 year old-at least back then!). Was it even possible to blur pics like that prior to the digital age. I was under the impression this blurring was done for the original DVD release in order to get a lower age rating. That blurring definately was not there when it was first broadcast in Britain in 1981. I recall when I first saw the blurred version broadcast with about 11 or 12 years ago and thinking "they have ruined that".
