lordzeppelin

Alright...so I was dying to own this movie, and I couldn't wait to find the R2 French edition anywhere, because it is oop, so I ordered the R3 NTSC version...and the transfer EATS. It's passable, but it's kinda crummy, and I did enjoy the film.

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone has the French R2 version, and if it is any good? Anyone?

I know there is a UK R2 version, but it's fullscreen, which I don't want. The French R2 is supposedly animorphic widescreen. The R3 version I have is letterboxed, and is quite thin (I'm thinking like 2.75:1...it's not stated on the box...)

And what hope is there for a nice R1 release of this film? Nil?

pro-bassoonist

well, a friend of mine back home in Chicago has the French disc:

this one: http://dvdfr.solexine.fr/dvd/dvd.php?id=389

and looks great. Very clean picture, no edge enhacement and very, VERY solid sound/colors. He got the disc from CINESTORE about a year ago and you could tell that it is a C.Gans flick. Lots of action and well done fo course. So, in a few words GREAT DISC. However, as you have stated no longer available.

The R3 disc is indeed cropped I believe. R2 disc(british) is crap as it is P/S only.

As far as this movie not being released in the states...BEATS ME. It does have an English soundtrack so joesixpack should not complain. However, I believe that unlike Brotherhood of the Wolf the US rights are owned by Miramax. SO, HERE'S YOUR ANSWER!!

Pretty obvious, eh?

lordzeppelin

Okay...so any French DVD Talkers out there that want to help a guy out here- any retail locations have this disc?

Matt Stevens

The film was shot Super35, so is the pan scan version actually open matted?

pro-bassoonist

Matt....I dont think so.....this movie should not be P/S.

Butch Coolidge

Yes the DVD is great. English subs are forced though.

On the bonuses you could see C. Gans explaining how they are editing the movie with (I think) David Wu. David Wu was the editor on quite few John Woo's movies.
This featurette is the best featurette I ever saw on a movie. It is really impressive to see how they can manipulate the audience just by playing around with images.

Crying Freeman should be released again this year in French R2.
A kind of Special Ultimate Edition.

Mikkis

It doesn't have english subtitles. It has two french subtitle tracks. One for the whole speech and one for the japanese.

dfinney

Meaning there are actual plans for another release? That would be great, as I've had no luck finding this that didn't involve paying $60+.

Trigger

I have the OOP R2 French disc and it's a beautiful DVD package... case, booklet, video, audio, transfer, extras. Quite good.

lordzeppelin

I wondered if that's why it's currently unavailable. One would think that with the success of Brotherhood that they'd have his previous film out...and thanks, I will be patient, now that I can look forward to this and save the $70 it would have cost me for the current oop one (even though the R3 version ran me $10)