Sunday, February 13, 2011

Buried OAR blunder alert

4:17 PM / Blu-ray / Comments11 Comments

Blu-ray

A word of advice to anyone thinking of picking up Icon's UK release of BURIED: don't. It is in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 rather than the theatrical 2.35:1. I don't know whether it's open matte, cropped, or a combination of the two, but either way this is a far less than optimal presentation - particularly when Lions Gate has released it in the US in its correct ratio. My copy arrived while I was down south - now that I've discovered this gaffe, I'll be returning it.

 
11 Comments

1. David S.H. said:

Apparently some people have received DVDs instead of Blu-rays, and even stranger they have been rental copies...

(Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 12:32 AM)

2. Trond said:

Seen this happen plenty of times before (usually between correct OAR US releases and incorrect OAR Canadian releases).

I don't necessarily think it's a "blunder" though. I think they are fully aware of it.

(Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 11:45 AM)

3. antnield said:

Was it filmed on Super 35? This has a native OAR of 1.78:1 which is then "cropped" for theatrical showings to 2.35:1 - i.e. the DVD could be showing more information. It's happened numerous times with numerous DVDS - off the top of my head I recall 'The Recruit' (oddly enough, considering how forgettable the film is!) and Branagh's 'As You Like It' - and sometimes at the director's insistence (as was the case with 'The Recruit' I seem to remember).

(Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 12:53 PM)

4. Bleddyn Williams said:

Over in the UK part of the Blu-ray forum, there are two US/UK comparisons, both of which show the UK version to be cropped on both sides...

http://forum.blu-ray.com/4382796-post77.html

(Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 12:57 PM)

5. Miles said:

You should at least watch it before returning it, as though it was one of the better films from last year, frankly, I think it's a one time watch. If you have a higher opinion of it than me then you can always order the US disc.

(Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 4:31 AM)

6. bosque said:

I found it very hard to watch the brief sequence in Kill Bill where Uma Thurman is in a coffin, cabined, cribbed and confined, so would find it impossible to watch a whole movie with the lead similarly enclosed.

(Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 9:54 AM)

7. Erik said:

That sequence is better than the whole of BURIED, in my humble.

Correct about THE RECRUIT, a handful of films shown in 2.40 theatrically have been released in other, "director preferred" rations on DVD. Same with Donaldson's THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN.

Obviously Storaro, who must be a menacing figure since everyone followed his "2.00:1 law" until recently with the APOCALYPSE NOW Blu-ray.

More here: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/209631/2-35-1-movies-reframed-at-1-33-1-1-78-1-on-dvd

(Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 3:03 PM)

8. ChuckZ said:

I thought that Buried wouldn't be worth my time, but it was mildly entertaining. There are a few plot holes and moments where you want to bash your head in due to character stupidity, but give it a shot nonetheless.

Erik, how do you navigate to that MUBI page where you can rate a lot of popular movies, like when you first set up your account?

(Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 9:05 PM)

9. Author Profile Page Michael said:

Miles:

Too late - I've already returned it. To be honest I think I'd feel a bit "dirty" if I watched it before sending it back. If I feel a burning inclination to watch it, I can always rent it.

(Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 12:10 AM)

10. Miles said:

It's definitely worth seeing but as CHUCKZ says, it's slightly let down by a few unnecessary moments...well, perhaps they were necessary to bump it up to feature length. I thought it would have made for a great 72 minute TV movie (remember those from the 70's? Sorry, you wouldn't...too young) but actually it worked well on the big screen.

(Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 2:23 AM)

11. Neil said:

btw On a similar note, avoid Anchor Bay UK's '22 Bullets'. That's 1.78:1 despite the original film (and French bd) being 2.35:1. Annoying...

(Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 8:56 AM)

 
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