The World of Wes Anderson
The day has arrived. The Criterion Collection DVD and Blu-Ray of The Darjeeling Limited is released today. We know many of you are excited about it. If you’re still on the fence, you can read DVD Beaver‘s review or look at the specs here. If you get the DVD or Blu-Ray today, leave us a comment and let us know what you think of the set, or Tweet us at @RushmoreAcademy.
For their periodic Top Ten series, The Criterion Collection asked Wes to name his top Criterion titles. He came up with twelve, including films by Luis Buñuel, Robert Bresson and Max Ophuls. A few surprises in the list and a few we haven’t seen. You can read the full list here, and pre-order The Criterion Collection edition of The Darjeeling Limited on DVD and Blu-Ray, which will be out next Tuesday.
DVD and Blu-Ray watchdog DVD Beaver has taken a look at the new Criterion Blu-Ray of The Darjeeling Limited…and they love it.
(click to enlarge)
You can read their review at their site, where you’ll find more hi-res screen caps, and visit our previous story on the DVD and Blu-Ray where you’ll find links to pre-order. By using our links you help to support the site.
A review of Fantastic Mr. Fox on DVD and Blu-Ray, you say? But, they came out over a month ago!
Well played, reader. But, we need to do a review. We promised.
We, of course, love the film. Owning it, being able to watch it over and over offers obvious benefits. The careful details of a Wes Anderson film, of the world inspired by Roald Dahl’s fantasy universe and his real world in Great Missenden in the UK, can be observed, noted, taken in… and the colors are utterly mesmorizing…
Some thoughts:
1) Buy the Blu-ray. It comes with the high-definition and regular ol’ DVD versions, so you can watch even if you don’t have a fancy Blu-ray player and keep the other disc for later. We don’t have the Blu-ray version (d’oh!), but it also features a digital copy and special features, which brings us to point deux…
2) The regular DVD version is comparatively bare-bones. It includes “From Script to Screen,” “Still Life (Puppet Animation),” and “A Beginner’s Guide to Whack-Bat.” The Blu-Ray set also includes “Making Mr. Fox Fantastic,” “The Look of Fantastic Mr Fox,” “The Cast,” “Bill and His Badger,” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox: The World of Roald Dahl.” These bonus features are similar to, but more extensive than (please share your thoughts), the well-done online documentaries. But, they are absolutely worth having, and it is too bad that the regular DVD disc only includes a few of them.
3) The transfer is absolutely stunning.
4) Minor complaints: the menus are a bore; the layer change comes at an awkward point; and, the “Guide to Whack-bat” is rather useless.
Once we have The Darjeeling Limited Criterion-ized, we will start our Fantastic Mr. Fox campaign.
As you may know, Fantastic Mr. Fox was released today on DVD and Blu-Ray. Below are links to purchase at Amazon, by purchasing through our links you’re helping to support the site.
If you happen to purchase either the DVD or Blu-Ray today, let us know what you think in the comments.
For more information the two releases, take a look at our earlier post, and enjoy!
DVD Active has just posted the release information and revised cover art for Fantastic Mr. Fox on DVD and Blu-Ray. The release date is now March 23.
Full information and Blu-Ray art afer the jump.
Continue reading “Fantastic Mr. Fox DVD/Blu-Ray Release Date and New Cover Art Announced”
Though Fantastic Mr. Foxis only in its second week here in the States, it’s been out in the U.K. for a bit longer, and as such, Fox has announced the Blu-Ray and DVD edtions of the film for that market.
The Blu-Ray and DVD will be released March 10, 2010. It will be a 2-Disc set with a digital copy included on the Blu-Ray. No further details or extras have been released, but the cover art is below. It’s…a cover. At least Kylie’s on it.
Information from Blu-Ray.com, where you can find links to pre-order it.
No word yet on the U.S. release, though that should be announced after the new year.
Update: 12/10 Rumoured bonus features after the break
Continue reading “U.K. Fantastic Mr. Fox Blu-Ray/DVD Announced”
Oh, glorious day (see below for update).
(link) (talk about it at the Yankee Racers forum)
Release date: November 2008!
Synopsis
Wes Anderson first illustrated his lovingly detailed, slightly surreal cinematic vision in this witty and warm portrait of three young middle-class misfits. Fresh out of a mental hospital, gentle Anthony (Luke Wilson) finds himself once again embroiled in the machinations of his best friend, elaborate schemer Dignan (Owen Wilson). With the aid of getaway driver Bob (Robert Musgrave), they develop a needlessly complex, mildly successful plan to rob a small bookstore—then go “on the lam.” Also featuring Lumi Cavazos as Inez, the South American housekeeper Anthony falls in love with, and James Caan as local thief extraordinaire Mr. Henry, Bottle Rocket is a charming, hilarious, affectionate look at the folly of dreamers. Shot against radiant southwestern backdrops, it’s the film that put Anderson and the Wilson brothers on the map.
Special Features
* – DIRECTOR-APPROVED DOUBLE-DISC SET SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:
* – New, restored high-definition digital transfer supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson and director of photography Robert Yeoman
* – Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack
* – Commentary by director/co-writer Anderson and co-writer/actor Owen Wilson
* – The Making of “Bottle Rocket”: an original documentary by filmmaker Barry Braverman featuring Anderson, James L. Brooks, James Caan, Temple Nash Jr., Kumar Pallana, Polly Platt, Mark Mothersbaugh, Robert Musgrave, Richard Sakai, David and Sandy Wasco, Andrew and Luke and Owen Wilson, and Robert Yeoman
* – The original thirteen-minute black-and-white Bottle Rocket short film from 1992
* – Eleven deleted scenes
* – Anamorphic screen test, storyboards, location photos, and behind-the-scenes photographs by Laura Wilson
* – Murita Cycles, a 1978 short film by Braverman
* – The Shafrazi Lectures, no. 1: Bottle Rocket
* – PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by executive producer James L. Brooks, an appreciation by Martin Scorsese
* – Original artwork by Ian Dingman (update)Film Info
1996
91 minutes
Color
1.85:1
Dolby Digital 5.1
Anamorphic
EnglishAbout the Transfer
is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Black bars at the top and bottom of the screen are normal for this format. Supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson and director of photography Robert Yeoman, this new high-definition digital transfer was scanned on a Spirit 2K datacine from a 35 mm interpositive. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and scratches were removed using the MTI Digital Restoration System.
Update: After some debate over at the Yankee Racers forum, we have discovered, from the artist himself, Ian Dingman, that all of artwork is his:
Criterion has updated their Bottle Rocket information pages since there seemed to be confusion to exactly what you’re asking me about…
http://www.criterion.com/asp/release.asp?id=450
So yes, the artwork for Bottle Rocket was done by me. Eric was unfortunately not involved – I’m a fan of his work as well.
Thanks to Ian for responding! He sells his original, affordable art at his website. We hope to have an interview with him posted soon. New friend of the site, we hope?
