Roman Polanski's "Repulsion" (1965) on dismal US DVD
#1
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Roman Polanski's "Repulsion" (1965) on dismal US DVD
It's on the American Entertainment Programs International (EPI) label and has been available since February 8, 2005 from major outlets. It's a bare bones edition and not a good one at all but this film is too important not to own. Still...
Even though the packaging says digitally remastered, the picture is so murky and blotchy, it looks like it was transferred from video. The 2.0 mono sound is congealed and gelatinous and has a noticeable hiss. It's in the original English language with no subtitles or extras. The picture has a thin black bar on top in about half the scenes, which sort of confirms that's it's from video elements.
This film was shot on 35 mmm but was meant to be shown in an 1.85:1 ratio, which is the way I saw it when it came out in theatres. Cropping it on a widescreen TV to 1.77:1 makes it look like every frame is too crowded, so it's hard to tell if we're getting the original 35 mm 4:3 print or if it's meant to feel so claustrophobic.
The period pinkish cover art is dismal and yellowed and the back cover liner notes are at least 30 years old, complete with spelling mistakes.
On the plus side, this edition certainly makes the viewer feel like he's watching the film in some dingy, dank cellar of a cinema art house in the Latin Quarter... The only thing missing is the smell of fresh urine.
Even though the packaging says digitally remastered, the picture is so murky and blotchy, it looks like it was transferred from video. The 2.0 mono sound is congealed and gelatinous and has a noticeable hiss. It's in the original English language with no subtitles or extras. The picture has a thin black bar on top in about half the scenes, which sort of confirms that's it's from video elements.
This film was shot on 35 mmm but was meant to be shown in an 1.85:1 ratio, which is the way I saw it when it came out in theatres. Cropping it on a widescreen TV to 1.77:1 makes it look like every frame is too crowded, so it's hard to tell if we're getting the original 35 mm 4:3 print or if it's meant to feel so claustrophobic.
The period pinkish cover art is dismal and yellowed and the back cover liner notes are at least 30 years old, complete with spelling mistakes.
On the plus side, this edition certainly makes the viewer feel like he's watching the film in some dingy, dank cellar of a cinema art house in the Latin Quarter... The only thing missing is the smell of fresh urine.
Last edited by baracine; 05-01-05 at 12:29 PM.
#2
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
no smell of fresh urine = NO SALE!
#4
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Originally Posted by baracine
Even though the packaging says digitally remastered, the picture is so murky and blotchy, it looks like it was transferred from video.
Anyhow, that's a shame this release wasn't treated right. I'd like to get it but it just saddens me that this gets such a shoddy release.
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Originally Posted by William Fuld
no smell of fresh urine = NO SALE!
#6
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Originally Posted by TomOpus
It probably WAS taken from a VHS master.
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It's on the American Entertainment Programs International (EPI) label and has been available since February 8, 2005 from major outlets.
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This is one of the main reasons to go region-free. Amazon.uk has it for under $20 shipped. Includes an excellent commentary from Polanski with Deneuve.
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I'm still trying to watch this DVD. Half-way through, I decided my viewing "enjoyment" would be tremendously increased by turning off the colour on my TV as the churning video grain was creating colour artifacts all over the black and white. Two thirds into the movie, the black bar mysteriously shifted to the right of the picture. By that time, Catherine Deneuve had decided to not use the electric lighting in her apartment anymore and the image greatly suffered as a consequence. Nothing much but her blonde hair was visible.
This is when I decided to call it quits. This is officially the first DVD I will use as a frisbee since Moulin Rouge.
This is when I decided to call it quits. This is officially the first DVD I will use as a frisbee since Moulin Rouge.
Last edited by baracine; 05-01-05 at 09:09 PM.
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I'm really glad that I read this. Everytime I am in Borders, I wrestle with the decision to purchase it or not. Each time, I end up buying something else and holding off on "Repulsion" until the next time. I know for a fact now, that I won't be making a purchase of it.
I don't have a region free player either, so I guess no Amazon.uk for me either. I guess I'll hold out in hopes that one day a decent R1 disc is produced.
I don't have a region free player either, so I guess no Amazon.uk for me either. I guess I'll hold out in hopes that one day a decent R1 disc is produced.
#14
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Originally Posted by l_xtopher_l
I'm really glad that I read this. Everytime I am in Borders, I wrestle with the decision to purchase it or not. Each time, I end up buying something else and holding off on "Repulsion" until the next time. I know for a fact now, that I won't be making a purchase of it...
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What I'm really looking forward to, besides a good Repulsion transfer, is a decent transfer of the Italian sex-farce anthology Le Bambole (The Dolls, 1965) (http://imdb.com/title/tt0058938/combined), which really churned my hormones at the time. The Koch Vision DVD transfer is supposed to be abysmal. It is also available on this video transfer twofer, also by EPI (gulp!):
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Congratulations, once again, to Criterion, on its absolutely fabulous Divorce Italian Style in widescreen. One minor quibble: We Frenchies are still very attached to the French-language dubs we first saw these films in. Most of them were at least interesting reinterpretations of the humour of the Italian originals and sometimes even interesting national commentaries on the action.
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Congratulations, once again, to Criterion, on its absolutely fabulous Divorce Italian Style in widescreen. One minor quibble: We Frenchies are still very attached to the French-language dubs we first saw these films in. Most of them were at least interesting reinterpretations of the humour of the Italian originals and sometimes even interesting national commentaries on the action.
Last edited by baracine; 05-02-05 at 09:45 AM.
#19
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Originally Posted by chente
That's one hell of a misleading cover.
Last edited by baracine; 05-02-05 at 12:43 PM.