DVD Talk Review of "The Films of Michael Powell"
 

...well 1.5 Films of Michael Powell, anyway.

Seriously though, I wonder about the transfer of A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH after seeing screen grabs over at DVD Beaver.

I have the Japanese Region 2 release, and it looks much like other versions I've seen over the years, including an original nitrate print I once saw in Los Angeles.

It looks to me like Sony may have muted the three-strip Technicolor look, as if to get it to conform with contemporary standards. Any thoughts on this?

Ditto on this. What an unnecessarily deceptive title by Sony...unless there's some arcane legal reason why the titles of the films can't be featured on the disc packaging.

Re: DVD Talk Review of "The Films of Michael Powell"
 

Sorry to exhume an old thread but I've just rented A Matter Of Life And Death from Netflix and it's an absolutely incredible film. Prior to this, the only Archers movie I had seen was Black Narcissus but AMOLAD surpasses even that excellent work. It's more thought-provoking than any 10 contemporary films combined.

Re: DVD Talk Review of "The Films of Michael Powell"
 

My wife and I are presently making our way through watching the 11-disc R-2 Powell & Pressburger Collection. While not up to the Criterion Collection's standards, the transfer for fairly good.

Re: DVD Talk Review of "The Films of Michael Powell"
 

I have most of those already, including a very nice 16:9 Japanese DVD of THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE, but would like to get THEY'RE A WEIRD MOB and I'LL MET BY MOONLIGHT.

I saw a new print of the latter while I was at MGM - it might have been struck for this release in fact, though this was in 2003, so maybe not - in any case while it was not up to the best Powell/Pressburgers, I still thought it was very good.

Re: DVD Talk Review of "The Films of Michael Powell"
 

Just finished The Red Shoes and, while it certainly has its stunning moments, it did not impress me quite as much as Black Narcissus or AMOLAD. In particular I found the final fate of Vicki Page to be a bit, um, over the top (sorry) but I suppose it fit with the overall tone of high melodrama that the Archers were trying to create. I did enjoy Anton Walbrook as the ballet master and am looking forward to seeing him in The Life & Death Of Colonel Blimp, next in queue.

Re: DVD Talk Review of "The Films of Michael Powell"
 

So you're the one with my copy and making me wait for it!

j/k, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. It makes my anticipation that much greater to view it. In your opinion, is it a good family film, say for kids 8 and 11? I'm trying to expand their cinema horizons past animation and Star Wars or Disney.

As for other Archers films, I'd recommend adding A Canterbury Tale or I Know Where I'm Going to your queue.

Re: DVD Talk Review of "The Films of Michael Powell"
 

Both good films, but I'm guessing you haven't yet seen The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp since it wasn't at the top of your list.

Re: DVD Talk Review of "The Films of Michael Powell"
 

Not yet, but my copy has a library of it, so it shouldn't be too long.

I'm interested in seeing the performance of Roger Livesey who I enjoyed as the laird in IKWIG as compared to his portrayal of Clive Candy in Blimp.
I know, different types of roles, but having not seen him before, I'd like to see what else he could do.

Re: DVD Talk Review of "The Films of Michael Powell"
 

I'm afraid that most of the heavy ideas presented in AMOLAD would probably sail right over the heads of the average 8 or 11 year old. They might find the fantasy elements engaging, but then again they might just as easily be bored by the lengthy trial sequence. Still, why not give it a shot? With the exception of one very discreetly shot scene of a naked boy on a beach, there's nothing in the film that could be considered remotely offensive.

I've already got I Know Where I'm Going and The Small Back Room in queue, along with Colonel Blimp. I'll add Canterbury too.