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bdev

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Join date
8-Dec-2005
Last activity
2-Mar-2008
Posts
84

Post History

Post
#266381
Topic
Criterion Collection: Adventures of Baron Munchausen & The Fisher King (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/266381/action/topic#266381
Time
Well, you can stop looking for the Melies version. According to the "Previous versions of Munchausen" section:

In the late '30s, Georges Melies planned a new version of Baron Munchausen in collaboration with Hans Richter, a German Dadaist and surrealist filmmaker. Melies sudden death in 1938 halted the project, though Richter persisted in trying to produce the satire, using the Baron's tales as masks for making pointed comments. In 1939, Jean Renoir arranged for his production company to take on the dormant Richter/Melies project, now titled the Lies of Baron Munchausen ... As budgets were signed and sets prepared in Muenchenstein, the project succumed to the war.
Post
#265917
Topic
Criterion Collection: Adventures of Baron Munchausen & The Fisher King (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/265917/action/topic#265917
Time
Does anyone here have the other film incarnations of Baron Munchausen? I have always wondered what the Georges Méliès version is like, as well as the German 40's version.

There are some clips of the version made under the Third Reich on the Criterion laserdisc, which will appear on the project. I'm not sure about the other ones, but if they're out there, out of print, and you can get them, let me know and I can include them along with my project.

The Torrent seems dead. No seeds.


So ends the great decentralized azureus experiment. However, the Fisher King is now up as a torrent file at demonoid. This is the first time I've ever uploaded anything, so hopefully everything goes okay.

Enjoy,
--bdev

EDIT: The torrent seems to be working. Let me know if you have any problems.
Post
#264730
Topic
The Princess Bride (1987) - The Criterion Collection (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/264730/action/topic#264730
Time
I'd have to look at the discs again to understand exactly what you mean for the first few problems, but as for the resizing of the images, I was mainly concerned with overscan. One of the annoying parts of a lot of these criterion laserdiscs is that so much of the screen is cut off on my television. It doesn't matter so much for the pictues since you get the idea even with the edges cropped, but it renders the text unreadable on some parts. My tv doesn't overscan that badly, so I thought others would have the same problem.

-bdev
Post
#264559
Topic
Criterion Collection: Adventures of Baron Munchausen & The Fisher King (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/264559/action/topic#264559
Time
The Fisher King is done and a few sets have been sent out. I still don't have a solid committment of someone to set up a torrent for it, mostly because I have been busy and haven't been looking for options very hard. It's taking longer to find a good solution because I really don't want to spend another 40 dollars burning discs and sending them over the united states and parts of western europe.

Munchausen is running through CCE now, with about 16 hours left on the primary video. It's a longer movie and requires more time to compress. I have the extra stuff captured and have to transcribe everything still, so that's going to take some time. My schedule this week is jammed with four twelve-hour days, so it might be a while before it's done.

--bdev
Post
#262571
Topic
Criterion Collection: Adventures of Baron Munchausen & The Fisher King (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/262571/action/topic#262571
Time
“I had three rules when I started making films. One, I would never do anyone’s script but my own. Two,
I would never work for a major motion picture studio. Three, I would never work in America. I’ve done all
three, and it’s called The Fisher King.” --Terry Gilliam, on the commentary track.

===============================================================
Disc Details
===============================================================
Disc 1 (DVD-5)
-A new capture of the 1992 Criterion Collection laserdisc (OAR)
-Audio commentary by director Terry Gilliam
Disc 2 (DVD-5)
-Three trailers, demonstrating the subtleties of marketing this movie to the masses
-Six deleted scenes with commentary by Gilliam, complete with screenplay excerpts
-Scene analysis by Gilliam of four key scenes, including screenplay excerpts and storyboards
-Costume tests with comments from Gilliam
-more!

===============================================================
Source Materials
===============================================================
The 1992 Criterion Collection laserdisc of The Fisher King (Spine No. 149), and some random tidbits from
elsewhere to augment the menus.

===============================================================
Technical Details
===============================================================
I know I threatened to upgrade equipment, but I recently spent a bunch of money on new golf clubs, so
it’s the exact same CLD-D704--s-video-->Dazzle DVC90-->computer chain I used for The Princess Bride.
I used my same software methodology as before as well, but I think the brightness on this one is probably
better than Bride.
The first disc is pretty straightforward; the menus don’t even move, although the entire cut of “Lydia, the
Tattooed Lady” is on there for your, um, enjoyment. The second disc was, to put it bluntly, a bitch to construct.
So much of these Criterion laserdiscs is just text that it gets tedious making each frame of text into a
photoshop file and then a subsequent menu in Encore. However, I re-typed each frame on the disc, including
the screenplays, and didn’t get lazy and just copy the captured frames over to a slideshow. I think there are
about 200 or so individual menus on disc two.

===============================================================
Non-Technical Details
===============================================================
I have to admit that I never saw this movie before I started working on this project. I’ve done about 10
transfers now, and usually I’m sick of the movie by the end, but I still find myself liking this one. I can only
think of a few other movies that don’t start to grate on me after a while (Citizen Kane, The Magnificent
Ambersons, Jaws, etc.) and then there are those that are okay the first or second viewing, but then look
clunky after that (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Princess Bride, etc.) I don’t really know what the
difference is. I think it might have to do with the editing, but whatever it is, this movie seems to have it.

===============================================================
Errors
===============================================================
I will be updating this section as they become apparent, but the first one I want to let everyone know
about is an inverse telecine error that occurred on the tilt down shot onto Parry and Jack in Central Park.
The only thing on the screen for about 100 frames is the moon, and the software I used wasn’t able to
lock onto the 3:2 pattern for this shot, so it’s jumpy all the way down. I think there’s a manual
override function in the software to tell it exactly which frames are interlaced and which ones aren’t,
but I didn’t catch it until late.
There are very likely several typographical errors in the screenplay sections, but since I had so many
problems with the compiling of these discs, I didn’t want to go back and give it another try.
Also, each of the frames of text is actually a menu frame with hidden buttons that autoactivate when
you use the arrow buttons. Or at least I thought they’d be hidden. On my monitor I couldn’t see the
black buttons on the black background, but depending on what else is on the screen at the same time,
apparently button black isn’t the same as background black on a tube TV. You can see the outline of my
hidden buttons. Munchausen will be better in this respect.

===============================================================
Artwork
===============================================================
I received some feedback on the jacket when I originally posted it, and I appreciate it, but I ended up
not changing anything. Partially laziness and partially stubbornness, I like the jacket how it is. I included
my original photoshop file on the second disc, so you can adjust it as you see fit, change the text
(Myriad Pro, by the way), or completely change the front picture. You could also delete everything
off of there except the criterion things to make yourself a template if you’re doing your own project.
There is also a little laserdisc brochure thing that I made in there, which took forever to complete, so
give it a look at well. It’s an acrobat file.
My avs files are in the dvd-rom folder, too.

===============================================================
Distribution
===============================================================
As I stated above, I won’t be just randomly sending out copies like the last time. I guess it eventually
got out like I wanted it to, but I can probably be more efficient with it this time. If you have the ability
to post a torrent file, let me know via PM and we can work something out.



If you decide to seed these discs, please include the announcement above, but not my name or any information that can be linked back to this site. I realize it’s a public forum, but I don’t want to raise the ire of the powers that be. You can leave out the part about new golf clubs.
Post
#262551
Topic
Criterion Collection: Adventures of Baron Munchausen & The Fisher King (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/262551/action/topic#262551
Time
Adobe Encore has been giving me fits on my primary machine, but I have been able to get it to compile on the laptop. The laptop doesn't have a DVD burner, so after I get it all together, I have to transfer it to 3 cd's and then to a DVD on the primary machine. I hate this software, but at this point I don't want to go through learning something new.

Anyway, what I'm saying is that as long as this last tweak goes okay on the laptop (and by posting this, I'm pretty much assured that something will go wrong) THE FISHER KING IS FINISHED!

I will send out a few copies tomorrow if everything goes okay (I already have the names), and then we'll see what happens from there. Please don't PM me about handing out copies; I'm not going to do that this time because most who took me up on the offer to PIF didn't do so, and people who later posted "I want a copy!" were left hanging. I'm going to figure out how to do something digitally so people can leech away and it won't cost me a few dollars each time.

If everything goes okay, then I will make an official posting with full details.

--bdev

EDIT: I just realized how ridiculous it is to say "I will make an official posting..." as if my stupid little laserdisc to dvd project has anything official about it. Gotta stop taking myself so seriously...
Post
#262382
Topic
Criterion Collection: Adventures of Baron Munchausen & The Fisher King (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/262382/action/topic#262382
Time
Thanks for the offer, but I don't think there's anything I need help with ... it's mostly just drudgery now, getting all of the loose ends together. On projects that I do for myself, this is usually the point at which I just stop. Since I announced this one already, I will tread through it though.

I need a manic episode badly.

--bdev

EDIT: I just looked through the 1000 or so stills in Munchausen, and that one's going to take some time to do, so I think I need to push back the street date for that one to sometime early '07. There's no way that I can make each frame into a menu because the DVD format can't really handle that many menus very well. I may be making them into video segments or animated slideshow or something.
Post
#262368
Topic
Criterion Collection: Adventures of Baron Munchausen & The Fisher King (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/262368/action/topic#262368
Time
eh. more slowly than I anticipated. I didn't realize there was so much text on The Fisher King discs. I'm typing each frame out de novo, so it's going to take some time. There are something like 250 individual frames to copy over.

I haven't even started the Muncahusen discs yet, although all of the captures are done.

--bdev
Post
#261572
Topic
Robinson Crusoe On Mars... a Preservation? (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/261572/action/topic#261572
Time
From the latest Criterion Collection newsletter....

This year at Criterion, we’ve had a lot of great releases, and we’re already looking forward to what 2007 will bring. There are many treasures in store for the new year, including some of our latest acquisitions, such as John Huston’s Under the Volcano, and titles from our laserdisc days, like Robinson Crusoe on Mars.

... the take home message is to sell your laserdiscs while they're still worth something!


--bdev
Post
#260026
Topic
Info Wanted: versions of Metropolis?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/260026/action/topic#260026
Time
It looks like four are substantiated or are on home video, but I think it's still a subject of study, and it kind of depends on who you speak to. From dvdbeaver.com...

• Original Length: 9 reels, 4189 m = 183:44 min (20 frames per second/fps); 167:02 min (22 fps); 153:06 min (24 fps); 146:59 min (25 fps)
• 1927 cut version: 3241 m = 142:09 min (20 fps); 129:14 min (22 fps); 118:27 min (24 fps); 113:43 min (25 fps)
• 1987 restored version: 3150 m = 138:09 min (20 fps); 125:36 min (22 fps); 110:32 min (24 fps); 110:32 min (25 fps)
• 2001 restored version: 7 reels, 3370,5 m = 147:50 min (20 fps); 134:23 min (22 fps); 123:11 min (24 fps); 118:16 min (25 fps)

I don't know what most of that jibberish means, but I think that different parts of the movie are recorded at different speeds (animation vs live action,) and then the resulting film had to be played back at one contstant speed, so you end up with running times all over the place.

You might want to peruse that site.. click on DVD comparisons on the left. There are three different metropolis DVD reviews on there, comparing quite a few releases this public domain movie has seen.

--bdev
Post
#258931
Topic
Criterion Collection: Adventures of Baron Munchausen & The Fisher King (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/258931/action/topic#258931
Time
For better or worse, I was trying to do something different. The Munchausen art comes from the short-run comic book series that tied in with the movie. The outline of the doll is just my crappy pen tool attempt, using a still frame as a reference.

If I get some extra time this week, I might try to create some alternate sleeves that use the more traditional artwork that went with the respective media blitzes, or maybe something that mimics the original Criterion artwork more closely.

The menus will probably be more in the vein of what you see above though.

--bdev
Post
#258661
Topic
The Princess Bride (1987) - The Criterion Collection (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/258661/action/topic#258661
Time
omg, are these going to be dual layer?

Nope. I don't see much sense in doing this with a laserdisc source. It's non-anamorphic to begin with, and even if you allow for the fact that computer-based upsizers are probably better than on-the-fly upsizers you may have on your dvd player, I personally still don't have a widescreen and/or HD tv to test my discs on before I would send them out. I would be out of my comfort level, and would probably unleash a turd of a disc on the community. Besides, content is more important for quality as both movies are available on DVD officially.

and is there a dual layer version of the princess bride?


Not of my set. The official ones are dual-layered.

No. I had to go to work and since no one is helping me seed (like they promised ), it'll have to wait.


I am now online as a seed.

Enjoy!
Post
#258621
Topic
The Princess Bride (1987) - The Criterion Collection (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/258621/action/topic#258621
Time
Do the discs use the DVD transfers of those two films, and then use the extras from the laserdiscs, or are they straight LD transfers?


For the Baron Munchausen, I will be sourcing the laserdisc, as it's in the correct aspect ratio. To my understanding, the current DVD releases aren't; at least mine isn't. I haven't looked over the discs yet, but that's my understanding.

For the Fisher King, I still haven't decided. I'm leaning towards using the laserdisc, just so it's a true preservation, but if I get crunched for time, I may cut corners by using the DVD's video.

--bdev
Post
#258019
Topic
The Princess Bride (1987) - The Criterion Collection (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/258019/action/topic#258019
Time
Hey guys,

I completed a laserdisc version of that little brochure/catalog that come with Criterion dvd's, and I was wondering if anyone could host it online. It took me for damn ever. It's a pdf file that's about 2.2 mB.

If you can do this, or would just like a copy of it, PM me your email addresss and I will send it to you.

It would be nice to upload on the set also...

--bdev

PS - I tried rapidshare, but it says all of their servers are full.