Ben-Hur 4-disc Collector's Edition
05-13-05, 01:25 PM
#26
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Originally Posted by Fincher Fan
Sounds about right.
The second difference was that the lenses were anamorphic rather than spherical. Testing during development changed the anamorphic compression factor from about 1.4:1 to 1.33:1 to 1.25:1. Most information for that period documents the compression as being 1.33:1. All the Camera 65 lenses are still in existence today and are indeed marked 1.33 anamorphosis. In fact the lenses were rebuilt for a squeeze of 1.25:1 but the markings were never changed. M-G-M Camera 65 (Metro's name for the format, Robert Gottschalk called the system Ultra Panavision from its inception) used a 1.25:1 anamorphic compression with a frame size identical to Todd-AO, yielding an image with a total aspect ratio of 2.76:1, the most extreme of all the various widescreen systems developed to date. It should be noted that a number of publications discussing this system referred to it as MGM Panavision, which was probably due to the fact that the early camera blimps had that painted on the front.
While it was possible to use the entire 2.76:1 image on the theatre screen, as a matter of practice the ratio was kept at about 2.5:1 so that theatres weren't required to install new wider screens or curtail the height of those already installed. Initial 35mm anamorphic prints were matted to yield a 2.5:1 aspect ratio with Magoptical soundtracks. So despite the total 2.76:1 aspect ratio, critical information was kept within an area of 2.35 to 2.5:1.
05-13-05, 09:33 PM
#29
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"Your eyes are full of hate, forty-one. That's good. Hate keeps a man alive."
man, i love this movie. Definate double dip. It would be sweet if they got chuck to do a commentary.
man, i love this movie. Definate double dip. It would be sweet if they got chuck to do a commentary.
05-13-05, 11:41 PM
#31
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There's already a commentary by Heston on the current release, a decent one that's over a select number of scenes in the movie. I have to doubt that they'll record a new one with him for this edition.
05-25-05, 07:53 PM
#34
DVD Talk Legend
from dvd answers
street date and full specs
Title: Ben Hur
Starring: Charlton Heston
Released: 13th September 2005
SRP: $39.92
Further Details
Warner has kindly sent over artwork for a four-disc collector's edition of Ben Hur which should be arriving in shops this September 13th. The set will feature an all-new transfer from newly restored 65mm elements, as well as an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track and the original 1925 silent film version of Ben-Hur. As for the extra material, you should expect a commentary by film historian T. Gene Hatcher with Scene Specific Comments from Charlton Heston, a music-only track showcasing Miklos Rozsa’s score, screen tests, a vintage news reels gallery, highlights from the 1960 Academy Awards Ceremony, and a theatrical trailer gallery. Completing the package will be a Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema documentary, the 1994 Documentary Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic, Hosted by Christopher Plummer, the 1986 Emmy Award nominated documentary Directed by William Wyler featuring the last interview with Wyler before his death, and lastly a Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures feature which is described as a new audiovisual recreation of the popular film via stills, storyboards, sketches, music and dialogue.
street date and full specs
Title: Ben Hur
Starring: Charlton Heston
Released: 13th September 2005
SRP: $39.92
Further Details
Warner has kindly sent over artwork for a four-disc collector's edition of Ben Hur which should be arriving in shops this September 13th. The set will feature an all-new transfer from newly restored 65mm elements, as well as an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track and the original 1925 silent film version of Ben-Hur. As for the extra material, you should expect a commentary by film historian T. Gene Hatcher with Scene Specific Comments from Charlton Heston, a music-only track showcasing Miklos Rozsa’s score, screen tests, a vintage news reels gallery, highlights from the 1960 Academy Awards Ceremony, and a theatrical trailer gallery. Completing the package will be a Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema documentary, the 1994 Documentary Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic, Hosted by Christopher Plummer, the 1986 Emmy Award nominated documentary Directed by William Wyler featuring the last interview with Wyler before his death, and lastly a Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures feature which is described as a new audiovisual recreation of the popular film via stills, storyboards, sketches, music and dialogue.
must....own....this.
05-26-05, 12:49 AM
#37
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Originally Posted by Al Padrino
Four discs is excessive for anyone who doesn't adore the film, BUT, that's what I love about WB. They package their DVDs with the film buffs in mind. I think they've done the best job with their classic film library in the sense of restoring them and packaging them as incredible DVD sets. Everyone's always riding Criterion's jock, but to me, WB's two-disc SEs are some of the best DVDs out there. They package a great film with no shortage of bonus materials. And usually at half the price of a CC title. But, no spine number = no love, I guess.
-JP
05-26-05, 05:14 AM
#38
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Oh I am definitely all over this one!! Only $39.98 too!!! Yes, finally the way it should be!! What most excites me is that they are mastering from the 65mm print as opposed to the 35mm. If it's anything like SPARTACUS it will be excellent!!
05-26-05, 09:27 AM
#41
DVD Talk Special Edition
Originally Posted by davcole
Oh I am definitely all over this one!! Only $39.98 too!!! Yes, finally the way it should be!! What most excites me is that they are mastering from the 65mm print as opposed to the 35mm. If it's anything like SPARTACUS it will be excellent!!
05-26-05, 09:43 AM
#42
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by RevKarl
There were many complaints to Warner Home Video that the image on the current Ben-Hur DVD is cropped; however, the studio has made it very clear in various interviews that the new transfer for the upcoming 4-Disc set has corrected that issue.
05-28-05, 06:50 AM
#43
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Update from digitalbits:
The big one we need to report today, is that Warner has officially announced the release of a Ben Hur: 4-Disc Collector's Edition for 9/13 (SRP $39.92). The film has been carefully remastered from the original 65mm film elements. You'll find that on Disc One and Two of the set, in anamorphic widescreen video (2.76:1 aspect ratio) with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These first two discs will also include audio commentary by film historian T. Gene Hatcher (with scene specific comments from actor Charlton Heston), a music-only track showcasing Miklos Rozsa's score, screen test footage, a vintage newsreels gallery, film highlights from the 1960 Academy Awards ceremony and a theatrical trailer gallery. Disc Three will include the 1925 Silent Version of Ben-Hur, presented in the Thames Television Restoration, complete with stereophonic orchestral score by composer Carl Davis. Finally, Disc Four will include a new documentary Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema (featuring interviews with current filmmakers like Ridley Scott and George Lucas reflecting on the importance and influence of the film), the 1994 documentary Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic hosted by Christopher Plummer, the 1986 Directed by William Wyler documentary (featuring the last interview with Wyler before his death) and Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures ( a new audiovisual recreation of the film via stills, storyboards, sketches, music and dialogue). All told, the 4-disc set includes more than 10 hours of bonus material. You'll find the cover art below.
I think I'm going to love this one
The big one we need to report today, is that Warner has officially announced the release of a Ben Hur: 4-Disc Collector's Edition for 9/13 (SRP $39.92). The film has been carefully remastered from the original 65mm film elements. You'll find that on Disc One and Two of the set, in anamorphic widescreen video (2.76:1 aspect ratio) with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These first two discs will also include audio commentary by film historian T. Gene Hatcher (with scene specific comments from actor Charlton Heston), a music-only track showcasing Miklos Rozsa's score, screen test footage, a vintage newsreels gallery, film highlights from the 1960 Academy Awards ceremony and a theatrical trailer gallery. Disc Three will include the 1925 Silent Version of Ben-Hur, presented in the Thames Television Restoration, complete with stereophonic orchestral score by composer Carl Davis. Finally, Disc Four will include a new documentary Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema (featuring interviews with current filmmakers like Ridley Scott and George Lucas reflecting on the importance and influence of the film), the 1994 documentary Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic hosted by Christopher Plummer, the 1986 Directed by William Wyler documentary (featuring the last interview with Wyler before his death) and Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures ( a new audiovisual recreation of the film via stills, storyboards, sketches, music and dialogue). All told, the 4-disc set includes more than 10 hours of bonus material. You'll find the cover art below.
I think I'm going to love this one
05-28-05, 03:25 PM
#45
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Originally Posted by lotsofdvds
So does it look like there's any reason at all to keep the old disc?
05-29-05, 01:31 PM
#48
DVD Talk Special Edition
So does it look like there's any reason at all to keep the old disc?
I suspect that the upcoming Ben-Hur set will be a better than the current one, but I will not be getting rid of the disc I have now, until I own and have viewed the newer set.
05-29-05, 01:52 PM
#49
Suspended
Well it's always a gamble. If we wait to sell the old version until after the new version is released, the market is saturated with the old version and it's nearly worthless.