Finally - Apocalypse Now coming to Blu-ray!

Grimley · 28 Jul 2010 at 19:23

About time too.

More info here.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=4914

This is one of my Fave 70's films, thought I'd start a thread here to let the 'unenlightened' know. :cool:

neoboy · 28 Jul 2010 at 19:25

Well they seem to be paying attention to extras so hopefully they will also do a good job on the transfer.

Columbo · 28 Jul 2010 at 20:50

Finally.....my favourite film of all time getting the treatment it deserves..

clv101 · 28 Jul 2010 at 20:59

I don't know much about Blu-ray but how much more resolution can be lifted from 30 year old film? Is Blu-ray really much better than DVD when going back 30+ years? How old can film get before the original is so bad Blu-ray doesn't add anything?

neoboy · 28 Jul 2010 at 21:16

It really depends on the source, there have been some cracking transfers of old films that put recent stuff to shame. Check out some HD footage of 2001 Space Odyssey for example.

probedb · 28 Jul 2010 at 21:33

clv101 said:
I don't know much about Blu-ray but how much more resolution can be lifted from 30 year old film? Is Blu-ray really much better than DVD when going back 30+ years? How old can film get before the original is so bad Blu-ray doesn't add anything?

Age has nothing to do with it. It's about what it was filmed on. As long as it's in good condition a 50 year old 35mm film will look fantastic on Blu-Ray.

All you have to do is look at stuff like Casablanca and North By Northwest on BR, amazing transfers.

clv101 · 28 Jul 2010 at 22:42

probedb said:
Age has nothing to do with it.

Course it does, the older you go the lower quality the equipment and film will tend to be, and there will be some degradation with age.

Sure there will be exceptions, but as a first order approximation it's not right to say age has nothing to do with it.

Grimley · 1 Aug 2010 at 08:42

neoboy said:
It really depends on the source, there have been some cracking transfers of old films that put recent stuff to shame. Check out some HD footage of 2001 Space Odyssey for example.

This. Gladiator is a prime example of how NOT to transfer, though Universal/Paramount is offering an exchange programme now.

A few years back I saw a demo of this film in a Meridian setup, They put it up unaltered, then put it through a sophisticated Video Processor (don't ask me what make it was, can't remember but it cost mega money at the time) & it removed nearly all the film grain. With computers so powerful these days, I would imagine that no matter how bad the source is (wear & tear age etc.) if the studio paid enough care & attention to all transfers it could be made pretty good. I don't think this is the case though as Gladiator & some other transfers testify. I will wait for reviews on this blu-ray before I buy.

atpbx · 1 Aug 2010 at 10:54

clv101 said:
Course it does, the older you go the lower quality the equipment and film will tend to be, and there will be some degradation with age.

Sure there will be exceptions, but as a first order approximation it's not right to say age has nothing to do with it.

It has nothing to do with it, film has no resolution, problems will only occur if the stock is damaged.

Grimley · 11 Apr 2011 at 20:40

Just to bump this thread - the UK version is out on June 13th.

Quint · 11 Apr 2011 at 21:41

DVD

BLU-RAY

DVD

BLU-RAY

DVD Source - Paramount The Complete Dossier Region 1.
BLU-RAY Source - LionsGate - Region Free

And this, just to wet your whistle.

DVD vs Blu-Ray Comparison.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare3/apocalypsenow3.htm

neoboy · 11 Apr 2011 at 22:45

Looking very good, this available in US for import?

Amp34 · 12 Apr 2011 at 01:47

atpbx said:
It has nothing to do with it, film has no resolution, problems will only occur if the stock is damaged.

To quote an old post...

Rubbish...

Film technically has no resolution but 35mm film has an effective resolution of around 10MP (dependent on the ISO/ASA of the film). You also need to consider the quality of the film the film was shot on, newer film has a better/clearer grain/quality than old film (due to advancements in chemicals) and finally film is only as good as the lens at the front of the camera. In general 35mm movie lenses shouldn't be too bad but newer lenses will usually be sharper than older lenses...

Shoot a piece of film with 1960/70s tech and then with the latest 35mm cameras/equipment and there will be a big difference.

As for the film, never seen Apocalypse Now, maybe I should but it always comes across as more of a drug fueled fantasy film rather than a proper war film (probably wrong though?)

Skidder · 12 Apr 2011 at 06:41

Amp34 said:
T

As for the film, never seen Apocalypse Now, maybe I should but it always comes across as more of a drug fueled fantasy film rather than a proper war film (probably wrong though?)

just watch it

Jaap74 · 12 Apr 2011 at 06:54

Must admit I tried to watch it once and switched off about 1/2 way through.......

elroberto · 17 Apr 2011 at 22:32

I'm pretty sure Coppolla filmed Apocalypse Now on 70mm so it would have way more detail then you're average 35mm print.

Amp34 · 17 Apr 2011 at 22:43

Skidder said:
just watch it

I may do in the near future, watched Hamburger hill recently and that was a let down so maybe another Vietnam film may help me wipe it from memory...

elroberto said:
I'm pretty sure Coppolla filmed Apocalypse Now on 70mm so it would have way more detail then you're average 35mm print.

Either way you'll need to get to 4k before the resolution issue really becomes apparent with good 35mm film.

thecremeegg · 18 Apr 2011 at 00:40

Most overrated film ever? I watched it through til the end but not sure how, incredibly dull and a bit self righteous

Grimley · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:04

elroberto said:
I'm pretty sure Coppolla filmed Apocalypse Now on 70mm so it would have way more detail then you're average 35mm print.

Looks like he did.

Wikipedia said:
The film was re-released on August 28, 1987 in six cities to capitalize on the success of Platoon, Full Metal Jacket and other Vietnam War movies. New 70mm prints were shown in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, and Cincinnati — cities where the film did financially well in 1979. The film was given the same kind of release as the exclusive engagement in 1979 with no logo or credits and audiences were given a printed program.

Amp34 · 13 May 2011 at 13:42

Well I watched it for the first time last night and all I can say is WTF...

Cinematographically it was beautiful, the plot on the other hand... well...

The beginning was brilliant but as it got more and more ridiculous towards the end I was having trouble concentrating. The French plantation scene was just a half hour ramble about not much at all, the playboy bunny scene (second one) was just confusing and the last 20 minutes... well I have no idea what was going on there!

On the other hand it is a pretty epic film and the cavalry colonel was brilliant (that entire part of the film was.

In HD is very nice too.