BFI Flipside (Blu-ray)

[Lee R]

I gave Privilege a break from looking pretty on the shelf and got round to watching it last night as the mood took me.

Odd. And a bit unsettling. Rather than being just a period piece these days, I found it had a worrying amount in common with today. It was food for thought, anyway. Quite enjoyed it, though couldn't define what I saw. Genre defying is probably the best way to describe it.

[Harry Moseby]

Never quite got on with Privilege although everything tells me I should do. I had a similar reaction to the one you describe when watching Watkins' Punishment Park though.

[John Hodson]

I found Privilege a disappointment in practically every department, and like yourself I was prepared for the exact opposite reaction.

[MichaelB]

It's fascinating seeing Peter Watkins trying to transplant his highly distinctive style onto a popular mainstream feature, but it's certainly one of his weaker films. Then again, when bookended by Culloden, The War Game, Punishment Park and Edvard Munch, it was always on a hiding to nothing.

[antnield]

Anatomy of a Flipside: Part Two or how Nicolas Winding Refn inducted Andy Milligan into the Flipside.

[alyd]

Cheers for that

[Lee R]

I hope Watkin's BBC stuff gets a new release from the BFI. I never owned War Game, but sold Culloden. Kind of regret that now, but it was going for pretty pennies at the time.

[Lee R]

Anatomy of a Flipside: Part Two or how Nicolas Winding Refn inducted Andy Milligan into the Flipside.

Fascinating. Is it possible for me to be looking forward to this any more than I already am?

I wonder what the chances are of the other British shot films seeing the light of day?

[antnield]

Two of them were issued onto disc in the States a few years back: a double-bill consisting Bloodthirsty Butchers and Curse of the Full Moon (aka The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here!).

The other, The Man with Two Heads, had a US VHS release on the Something Weird label.

[Lee R]

Two of them were issued onto disc in the States a few years back: a double-bill consisting Bloodthirsty Butchers and Curse of the Full Moon (aka The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here!).

Thanks for that, but I don't think I'm in any rush to get that release. First look at Amazon.com makes it obvious that they're a bit butchered. I'll hang fire for now and see if the BFI do anything.

[antnield]

Thanks for that, but I don't think I'm in any rush to get that release. First look at Amazon.com makes it obvious that they're a bit butchered. I'll hang fire for now and see if the BFI do anything.

Sorry Lee, I didn't realise it was such a shoddy release.

[Ross Gowland]

The other, The Man with Two Heads, had a US VHS release on the Something Weird label.

For a moment I thought you meant this:

[antnield]

Unfortunately the CFF never called upon Milligan's talents during his time in London!

[Ross Gowland]

The fools...

[MichaelB]

I hope Watkin's BBC stuff gets a new release from the BFI. I never owned War Game, but sold Culloden. Kind of regret that now, but it was going for pretty pennies at the time.

Both The War Game and Culloden are out in the US in a double-bill pack, which seems to include the commentaries that the BFI recorded. (The shorts that were featured on the original BFI DVDs are now on the Flipside edition of Privilege, upgraded to 1080p).

I haven't seen that particular DVD, but Project X has been primarily responsible for restoring and reissuing Watkins' back catalogue so technical standards should be very high - and reviews suggest that both were sourced from film rather than PAL video masters.