28 Days Later question
 

Is the UK DVD scheduled for a May 19th release the same movie that is coming to the US theaters in June or July? If so, I was wondering how often does this happen that we see a movie come to DVD in R2 first before it even comes to the theaters in the States?

Actually it is being screened at the Tribeca Film Festival so I don't think the R2 DVD is coming out before it ;)

I had no idea this had come out last November but I thought it sounded cool as a midnight screening when I was buying tickets for the festival

You might want to inform amazon.co.uk, blackstar.co.uk, and other R2 shops then, because they all list it for May 19th.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...160640-8267819

My screening for 28 days is on May 9th, that was what I meant

28 Days Later was released overseas last year, therefore its getting its normal DVD release overseas, Fox Searchlight is releasing it over here for a limited release in June. I cant wait for the Region 2 release, looks like a packed disc.

See the R2 specs below.....

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment have announced "28 Days Later" for release on May 19th priced at S19.99. The disk features a 1.85:1 anamorphic picture with DD 5.1 sound. Extras will be:

* Feature length audio commentary by Director Danny Boyle and Alex Garland (Sound 2.0 & English for the hearing impaired)
* Storyboard alternative ending
* 8 deleted scenes with optional commentary
* "Pure Rage": The Making of 28 Days Later
* Jacknife Lee Music Video
* Stills gallery with commentary (45 stills)
* Polaroid gallery with commentary (95 stills)
* Animated storyboards
* Theatrical teaser trailer
* Theatrical trailer

So, the DVD contains the same cut of the movie being released here states side this summer?

YES!

Any reviews of the r2 yet? I can't get into some sites right now, DVD Basen being one of them. The US trailer's picture quality looked like hell, to be honest... just wondering if the digital picture actually looks better on a smaller screen.

Picture is not good on the r2 DVD and has apparently been mastered from a film print rather than the digital source is was originally shot on and has many flaws.

Re: 28 Days Later question
 

I know <i>Bend It Like Beckham</i> was out in R2 before it came here to R1.

Can you elaborate? Does the PQ just plain suck or is it just not as good as it could be?

Thanks

Seeing how closely the filmmakers were involved with the R2 version, I suspect it was a deliberate decision to transfer from film and not just a cockup on the studio's part. Given that the cinematographer was Anthony Dod Mantle (a major disciple of DV-to-film -- just check out his filmography) I have no problem believing that would be the case.

Well, mine is on its way the week of the 19th but no reviews are up yet so I'll wait and see what is said before taking judgement.

Ditto...

Ditto squared

I've been wondering about that as well, and if the 'video look' wasn't exaggerated for the trailer. I've seen the screener, and it was of decent quality, not like the trailer on the big screen. Above and beyond and PQ issues, I like the movie quite a bit, and I'll be buying the R2 from Bensonsworld when it's released.

A review posted on a UK website called ZetaMinor was taken down at the request of Pathe, the distributor, as it was posted too early (according to them - wonder if it would have happened if the review had been complimentary?) so I can’t really elaborate as that’s what I based my comments on. Their reviewer is very good and can be trusted to give a fair assessment and he was very disappointed with it saying that they’d also basically crammed two disc’s worth onto one in addition to sourcing the transfer from a non-digital source. Bear in mind that the picture is intentionally grainy to begin with so any further degradation isn’t really necessary or warranted.

I emailed the author, he said the review would be back up on the 12th.

Re: Re: 28 Days Later question
 

Well you gotta expect that. It is a British movie after all -smile-

A paragraph from the review:

The DVD version (which, like My Little Eye, was transferred from film elements) looks pretty grotty, but it's difficult to ascertain to what degree this is a precise representation of the director's intention, or how accurately this replicates the theatrical look of the film. There are certainly many indications that the appearance of the film on DVD is marred by flaws that have been introduced in the transfer to disc, though. The image is blighted by almost constant digital video noise reduction (DVNR) blurring, or MPEG compression artefacts, which give the patches of the image a characteristic "floating" quality. The image is also compromised by excessive edge-enhancement, which is particularly evident early in the film, on the striking shots of London architecture. There are also problems with inconstant black density. The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen, with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Average bitrate is 5.91Mb/s.

Just noticed one of our reviewers has posted a review of this disc... had no idea he was even reviewing it - must get more involved in site again. ;)

Here's the review

Damn!
I was actually hoping this one would be non-anamorphic.
Region 2 + PAL format + Anamophic = Stretched Picture on my region-free Apex DVD player. :(

You could get a 16:9 set. :) That only happens because it can't letterbox 16:9 AND do PAL transcoding at the same time.

Sell the Apex, get a Cyberhome.