Don't Look Now - Optimum

[Richard Crowther]

Has anyone taken a risk on the new release of this? It can't be any worse than Warner's attempt, surely?

[John Hodson]

Review at DVD Times here

[Richard Crowther]

Hmm - I'm not convinced that the soundtrack is any better than the Warner release, judging by that review. I think I'll give it a miss.

[duggie walker]

Finally got this from HMV today and I've had a quick look. The DVDTimes review is pretty much on the money - the PQ is good, if not spectacular, and the mono soundtrack is still thin and unpleasant, but I doubt that'll ever change without very concerted re-mastering.

It's a superb film of course and though I haven't listened to the commentary, there's no way I'd be without that. (Though I did once have the privilege of watching the film in Nic Roeg's company, ahem). The intro by Alan Jones is very odd though - he's looking off camera throughout it, as if he's expecting his intro to have been played over a series of stills. Very uncomfortable.

I haven't watched the Pino Donaggio featurette yet but it looks very interesting. I notice, too, that it was made by Blue Underground in collaboration with Optimum, which might suggest that an R1 version is forthcoming, offering one more chance that the sound might be remastered.

To sum up, then - this release is about the commentary and the Donaggio interview. If you can live without them, there's no compelling reason to replace your earlier edition.

[Matt C]

To sum up, then...

Love it! How many times did we use that phrase in school essays to make us sound like gifted intellectual child journalists?

[duggie walker]

To sum up, then...

Love it! How many times did we use that phrase in school essays to make us sound like gifted intellectual child journalists?

Given that that is about the most patronising (not to mention downright rude) response to a fellow Roobarbian that I have ever read, I can well believe you used it quite a lot, Matt.

[richardyardley]

Finally got this from HMV today and I've had a quick look. The DVDTimes review is pretty much on the money - the PQ is good, if not spectacular, and the mono soundtrack is still thin and unpleasant, but I doubt that'll ever change without very concerted re-mastering.

It's a superb film of course and though I haven't listened to the commentary, there's no way I'd be without that. (Though I did once have the privilege of watching the film in Nic Roeg's company, ahem). The intro by Alan Jones is very odd though - he's looking off camera throughout it, as if he's expecting his intro to have been played over a series of stills. Very uncomfortable.

I haven't watched the Pino Donaggio featurette yet but it looks very interesting. I notice, too, that it was made by Blue Underground in collaboration with Optimum, which might suggest that an R1 version is forthcoming, offering one more chance that the sound might be remastered.

To sum up, then - this release is about the commentary and the Donaggio interview. If you can live without them, there's no compelling reason to replace your earlier edition.

Thanks for the guidence here duggie. I was toying with picking this up but I think I'll stick with my free newspaper DVD issued a few months back (which I believe is the Warner version), until someone sorts the sound out.

[John Hodson]

Paramount's R1 is much better in both the sound and vision department; I wouldn't put it past them to reissue it as an SE, it's nigh on all Paramount is doing with its back catalogue right now.

[richardyardley]

I took my daughter to see CR last night. She loved it but as TLD is the best Bond film IMO, I've just ordered the UE for her.

At £7 it's a steal at 'The Hut'!

If Crowther's about, I'd be interested know what his opinions of the UE release is. I haven't the time to wade through the fifty odd pages of this thread.

[John Hodson]

Don't look now, but you're in the wrong thread...

[richardyardley]

Don't look now, but you're in the wrong thread...

Oh balls! How the feck did I manage that!!

I'll get my coat.

Taxi for Yardley!!!

[Charles Bronson II]

To sum up, then...

Love it! How many times did we use that phrase in school essays to make us sound like gifted intellectual child journalists?

Given that that is about the most patronising (not to mention downright rude) response to a fellow Roobarbian that I have ever read, I can well believe you used it quite a lot, Matt.

Not seeing any rudeness in that post myself

[richardyardley]

To sum up, then...

Love it! How many times did we use that phrase in school essays to make us sound like gifted intellectual child journalists?

Given that that is about the most patronising (not to mention downright rude) response to a fellow Roobarbian that I have ever read, I can well believe you used it quite a lot, Matt.

Not seeing any rudeness in that post myself

I disagree. It was a bloody awful post. duggie posted his view to help others and Matt took the piss in a very condescending way.

[Matt C]

The inclusion of a smiley is meant to suggest in forum land that it's a comment not meant to be taken seriously. But hey ho. No offence intended and it wasn't aimed at duggie directly. It was just something I was remembering with fondness.

[duggie walker]

But that smiley looked like it was laughing at me, do you hear?! LAUGHING AT ME !!!!

No, but seriously folks, to sum up - Matt C has gallantly PM'd me and all is forgiven. Peace once again reigns in the Don't Look Now thread.