$34.99 MSRP actually isn't that bad at all, especially if its a 2 discer with a ton of extra/good content. That will probably translate to $20 or so during the first week sales in-store.

I haven't seen it, but I loved Infernal Affairs and it got great reviews. I'll pick it up on HD-DVD(pleeeeeeeeeeeeease don't make it a damn combo title!).

What'd be really cool:

- multiple commentaries with Scorsese, the writer, Michael Ballhaus, Thelma Schoonmaker, Mark Wahlberg, Howard Shore, and others
- extensive documentaries on the making of the film
- a discussion on Internal Affairs
- deleted scenes
- outtakes
- trailers

I'd like an audience running track, if only to enjoy the gasp given at the end of the movie. Saw it 3 times in theaters and every time it happened.

Great movie, not sure how it stood up to Infernal Affairs though, maybe not quite as good?. I did like it (Departed) a lot, but found the pacing to be extremely slow. However, that doesn't mean it's not worth a re-visit.

i work at a movie theater, and i would always try to poke my head in towards the end to see that reaction.

i loved this movie (although IA was better) and as for the 1 vs 2 disc...i'm a packaging/special features whore, so i'll take the 2 discer.

Man, looks like people will be upset if Eastwood swoops in and takes this one.

Eastwood doesn't have a chance this year...Unfortunately I think Frears does...
However i would bet the house on Marty this time...

I could unfortunately see it happening again, as Letters from Iwo Jima is making almost EVERY Critics Awards List and Top 10s.

However, Marty has won Director from:

Boston Film Critics Awards
National Board of Review
New York Film Critics Circle
Washington, DC Film Critics Association

So, unless Clint starts pulling in some Critics Awards between now and January, Marty's only real threat would be either Stephen Frears or Paul Greengrass.

I think The Departed will have a nice advantage with the release of the dvd around the time of the oscars...
Also WB is putting Departed back into many theatres in an expansion that will start in mid January...

Clint has two good movies out this year, which will work against him. Just with people being split on which is better could keep them both out of contention. I'm pulling for Marty (as I have every time he has been nominated)

The Departed is pretty much a lock for Best Picture. Can't see any other film challenging it, unless one will come out later this year or January.

At this stage in the game, Flags of Our Fathers is screwed. It'll be lucky if it gets a Cinematography nomination.

Nah, I see a Best Director nomination as a certainty and a win in that category as a decent probability, but I don't see it being winning Best Picture. I liked the movie, but it's not the usual Oscar bait that the Academy goes for.

Are you kidding? The pacing and editing was excellent throughout the picture. When I was done, it didn't feel at all like I'd sat through a 152 minute movie ... more like 90 minutes. And the character development Scorsese added to his version made this a far more rounded out and better acted effort than Infernal Affairs.

Hands down the best movie of 2006 in america so far and a tough one to beat.

looking forward to seeing this one...especially if its rumored to be in oscar contention. I think this year I'll make an effort to see all the movies nominated for best picture..I always tend to miss a few.

Compared to Infernal Affairs, I still thought it was slow. Infernal Affairs felt like a cat and mouse thriller, something not apparent in Departed (not saying it wasn't very good) :) Departed really felt its length at times for me.
I take your point about it being more of a character piece but the Andy Lau/Matt Damon character is changed - in IA Andy wants to be a good cop but he's also loyal to Eric Tsang, however in Departed the character played by Damon is simplified by just making him a badass with no conflicts IMO.

haha....ahhhh.....no.

I don't think he genuinely wanted to be a cop though like Andy Lau did, I got the feeling he was just using it as a front :)

I felt that way, too. Damon started to become a 'good guy,' but i still don't think he completely converted. By the end of IA, you could tell Lau was a 'good guy'

Well, all of their day and date titles have been combos. :(

I wish warner owned infernal affiars because the miramax dvd has a filtered picture (if you dont' have that disc, go get kill bill vol 2 or cold mountain) and only has a 5.1 mix not a dts mix.

bump for a merge

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09.../departed2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...e/departed.jpg