toddly6666

1:85.1 Anamorphic Widescreen
DD 5.1 Czech
English subs

Sold at: http://www.filmarena.cz/dvd-alois-nebel&click=slider
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1374985/

TheDoug

Does anyone know if the blu-ray of ALOIS NEBEL is all-region formatted? I just ordered this from filmarena.cz anyway but it's not on the street until March 21, 2012.

toddly6666

you ordered the DVD or the blu-ray?

TheDoug

I ordered the standard dvd. I would've ordered the blu-ray if it was all-region. I'm still curious about the blu-ray region.

TheDoug

Here's the latest update pertaining to the Czech film ALOIS NEBEL. I just received in the mail the all-region standard dvd of the film. It comes in a thin slip-case and with a fold-out sleeve holding the one dvd. (I'll post pictures later). Regarding the just released blu-ray, I wrote to the producers of the film via their Facebook site and they confirmed the blu-ray is all-region as well. If I would've known that I would have purchased the blu-ray initially...oh well! I also found out that the blu-ray has extras like deleted scenes and how they film this roto-scoped film etc. which are not on the standard dvd.
Both have english subtitles.
I haven't viewed the film yet. If I find I like it enough, I may invest in the blu-ray.

toddly6666

thanks for the info. Let me know how you like it and if it's rewatchable. Where's the cheapest place to buy the blu-ray?

TheDoug

Although I got my standard dvd from www.filmarena.cz I would say the best price would be here: http://superstarshop.cz/obchod.php?p...my_alois_nebel

Conversion to US funds $23.85 with aprox. $12.00 postage. They are English friendly as well and accept Paypal.

toddly6666

So how's the movie? Is it worth impOrting?

TheDoug

Sorry, Todd, I've been away on vacation for a few days. Hopefully this weekend I'll watch it and have a review by Sunday (22nd). Stay tuned!

TheDoug

I just finished viewing Tomas Lunak's ALOIS NEBEL and found its historically dark story intriguing and visually impressive on many filmic levels. The film definitely has a melancholic tone via its many gray and black and white imagery utilizing rotoscope process to tell this story centered on a train conductor whose life is impacted by past and present circumstances related to the Czech oppression during the war (1945) and later with the downfall of the Berlin wall. Is it worth watching twice? Yes, probably more so for the stark imagery and great sound design that sets the tone throughout the film. The standard dvd has no extras which still makes me yearn to see the blu-ray for the added production sequences and making of the film segments. Be prepared to be enveloped in many rain and fog sequences which give it the graphic representation of a classic film noir. I'd give it a strong 3 stars.

TheDoug

I just came across a website that has quite a well written review of ALOIS NEBEL that summarizes the strength and weaknesses of this interesting Czech film: http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/...a/alois-nebel/

Some good screen caps etc. made me bookmark this site for other possible Czech based viewpoints based in English.

toddly6666

Thanks for all the info! For 3 stars, I'll probably just skip it.

TheDoug

Another update: For those wanting to see this film on the big screen, it will be shown this Saturday May 12, 2012 at the BAM Cinematek series of films in New York city. See link here: http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=4220

TheDoug

I was curious as to seeing the extras that were on the all-region blu-ray of ALOIS NEBEL (the standard dvd doesn't have extras) so I ended up purchasing the blu-ray. The extras are as follows:
Commentary by Tomas Lunak
Václav Neckar * umakart - midnight records journal records
trailer on Alois Nebel, the tour - premiere
deleted scenes
deleted animated scenes
sample test technology
preview animation technology rotoskoping
sample animation
Sample storyboard
sample shooting storyboard
manuals figures
previze
posters
portraits
photographs from shooting
photographs from premiere

Also, here are some photos of both the standard dvd and the blu-ray just as a note of comparison for size and visual comparisons.