The Golden Compass (Blu-ray) ---- 4/29/08
04-29-08 | 10:15 AM
#51
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From TDB...
"And here's one more thing that's going to drive some of you crazy: We've learned that Best Buy is going to have an exclusive bonus disc with New Line's The Golden Compass: 2-Disc Platinum Edition on Tuesday, featuring "over 45 minutes worth of extra footage." In other words, it would seem, deleted scenes. The deleted scenes that aren't yet being restored to the movie itself... and which aren't included on the Blu-ray Disc version. Which means, there's going to be a double-dip one of these days (probably when the sequels show up in theatres, which we hear WILL happen because Compass made so much money internationally, even though it hasn't yet been officially announced). What's more, to our knowledge, the bonus disc is only available with the DVD version. In other words, if you're a Blu-ray fan... yes, you ARE getting screwed. You know, we don't mind retailer exclusives like special packaging or swag items, but when ACTUAL CONTENT is only available at a particular retailer - especially something this interesting to fans of the film - that just sucks. Period. Whoever made this decision at New Line or Warner should know better."
04-29-08 | 12:44 PM
#53
DVD Talk Legend
I guess we'll have to wait for someone to actually get the disc.
I think given the fact NL needs very much to recoup on this movie, they probably won't make the deleted stuff widely available until it's part of an extended cut release.
I meant to see this in the theater and got it for a good price so I don't mind spending the $24 for the BD.
I think given the fact NL needs very much to recoup on this movie, they probably won't make the deleted stuff widely available until it's part of an extended cut release.
I meant to see this in the theater and got it for a good price so I don't mind spending the $24 for the BD.
04-29-08 | 04:33 PM
#54
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Well, I actually have the disc, and it's behind the scenes material. Not deleted scenes. I'm also happy to report that the picture quality is superb.
04-30-08 | 02:38 AM
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Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
From TDB...
"And here's one more thing that's going to drive some of you crazy: We've learned that Best Buy is going to have an exclusive bonus disc with New Line's The Golden Compass: 2-Disc Platinum Edition on Tuesday, featuring "over 45 minutes worth of extra footage." In other words, it would seem, deleted scenes. The deleted scenes that aren't yet being restored to the movie itself... and which aren't included on the Blu-ray Disc version. Which means, there's going to be a double-dip one of these days (probably when the sequels show up in theatres, which we hear WILL happen because Compass made so much money internationally, even though it hasn't yet been officially announced). What's more, to our knowledge, the bonus disc is only available with the DVD version. In other words, if you're a Blu-ray fan... yes, you ARE getting screwed. You know, we don't mind retailer exclusives like special packaging or swag items, but when ACTUAL CONTENT is only available at a particular retailer - especially something this interesting to fans of the film - that just sucks. Period. Whoever made this decision at New Line or Warner should know better."
Apparently DVD and film enthusiasts aern't the same people who buy HD media.
04-30-08 | 10:35 AM
#57
I was in Target last night looking at the new releases. I quickly became a fish underwater and was drawn to The Golden Compass, due to that snazzy gold packaging. On the back, I noticed the 4 star quote from Ebert. Yeah, he's not as tough on movies as he used to be, but that sealed the deal for me. I hope this doesn't suck.
04-30-08 | 12:37 PM
#58
DVD Talk Hero
It was a movie with great potential that didn't deliver in the least 
I personally wasn't bored for a majority of it, I just didn't like it too much.
I personally wasn't bored for a majority of it, I just didn't like it too much.
05-01-08 | 10:05 PM
#59
DVD Talk Hero
I know exactly how you feel, RichC2. I really should have rented it before I purchased it blind. The first half hour or so is great (the unnecesary Cliff's Notes narration during the opening titles notwithstanding) and feels like it's really building to something amazing but then it suddenly fizzles out. Curiously, it begins to lose steam around the time Daniel Craig departs from the picture (well, until his brief cameo at the end). Too bad because the film is blessed with an excellent cast.
But how in the heck did they win for best visual effects? The visuals were average at best.
The first half hour or so is great (the unnecesary Cliff's Notes narration during the opening titles notwithstanding) and feels like it's really building to something amazing but then it suddenly fizzles out. Curiously, it begins to lose steam around the time Daniel Craig departs from the picture (well, until his brief cameo at the end). Too bad because the film is blessed with an excellent cast.But how in the heck did they win for best visual effects? The visuals were average at best.
05-02-08 | 11:56 AM
#61
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Walker Boh
This was going to be a blind buy for me ... now you guys are giving me second thoughts.
05-02-08 | 12:41 PM
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From: The Edge of Obscurity
Pish posh. I loved this movie. And I'm thrilled with the BD. The picture quality is fantastic. And I think this deserved it's Oscar over the competition.
Also count me as one of those that consider the Blu-ray disc to be state of the art. Virtually perfect video and audio (and I saw this in D-Cinema as a visual reference).
Last edited by Robert George; 05-02-08 at 12:43 PM.
05-02-08 | 04:21 PM
#63
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I liked the movie too. Nicole Kidman is so cold she's hot....
05-02-08 | 04:50 PM
#64
DVD Talk Hero
I have nothing against the story, Robert George. My problem is with the execution. It's as if they had a 3+ hour movie on their hands and they tried to cut it down to 90+ minutes. It just felt far too rushed. I loved the cast and how individual scenes where directed. But the as a whole, it feels poorly cobbled together. Before there is to be a sequel, I hope for a proper extended edition (one that actually lives up the solid foundation established during the first 30 minutes of the movie rather than a random assortment of deleted scenes cut back in for the sole reason of a double-dip) that allows this film to live up to the potential it had.
05-02-08 | 05:28 PM
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From: The Edge of Obscurity
It's as if they had a 3+ hour movie on their hands and they tried to cut it down to 90+ minutes.
Perhaps there is a better version of this film hiding somewhere. Given what I'm sure were the constraints placed on the filmmakers by the studio, this is still one of the better fantasy films out there.
05-02-08 | 05:45 PM
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From: Home of 2013 NFL champion Seahawks
Someone should tell New Line that there's profit to be made from extended DVDs of literary-fantasy films.
05-02-08 | 10:03 PM
#67
DVD Talk Hero
I think I'm just particularly hard on this film because there was so much to like that the bad parts stuck out even more, Robert George. But I do believe there's a much better film hidden underneath what was released. I just hope we see it someday soon.
05-03-08 | 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by RocShemp
I have nothing against the story, Robert George. My problem is with the execution. It's as if they had a 3+ hour movie on their hands and they tried to cut it down to 90+ minutes. It just felt far too rushed. I loved the cast and how individual scenes where directed. But the as a whole, it feels poorly cobbled together. Before there is to be a sequel, I hope for a proper extended edition (one that actually lives up the solid foundation established during the first 30 minutes of the movie rather than a random assortment of deleted scenes cut back in for the sole reason of a double-dip) that allows this film to live up to the potential it had.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if the move released in theaters was more a result of studio meddling rather than anything else.
05-05-08 | 11:09 AM
#69
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Robert George
Also count me as one of those that consider the Blu-ray disc to be state of the art. Virtually perfect video and audio (and I saw this in D-Cinema as a visual reference).
05-05-08 | 11:26 AM
#70
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Labor
The director said himself literally the day (or day after) the movie came out in theaters that he wants to do an extended version of the movie that would run about ~40 minutes longer.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if the move released in theaters was more a result of studio meddling rather than anything else.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if the move released in theaters was more a result of studio meddling rather than anything else.
Last edited by RocShemp; 05-05-08 at 11:30 AM.
05-05-08 | 02:27 PM
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From: The Edge of Obscurity
Although there were a great many beautiful looking shots with a gorgeous amount of detail, there were also an equal amount of shots that were extremely soft and looked like someone set the DNR extremely high.
Let me reiterate. I saw this film in D-Cinema digital projection. I noted then a number of shots and scenes that were not particularly visually impressive. Whether intentional or a result of technical limitation, what we have on this Blu-ray is pretty much what there is in the source elements. Indeed, for the most part, subjectively speaking, I think the 106" projected image in my HT is actually superior to the D-Cinema presentation I saw.
05-05-08 | 03:17 PM
#72
DVD Talk Hero
I'm not saying DNR was specifically applied, Robert George. I'm just saying it looks as if it were applied. It's good to know it's as close to identical as the theatrical presentation as possible since it means the colorist must have put in a lot of effort to get the transfer right. It doesn't change the fact that the visual offerings are, as whole, okay despite some phenomenal imagery at times.
The real star in terms of technical presentation is the fantastic audio.
The real star in terms of technical presentation is the fantastic audio.
05-05-08 | 04:05 PM
#73
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Robert George
Let me reiterate. I saw this film in D-Cinema digital projection. I noted then a number of shots and scenes that were not particularly visually impressive. Whether intentional or a result of technical limitation, what we have on this Blu-ray is pretty much what there is in the source elements.
