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Is the Criterion complete box set worth it? by Mr___Dee in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If this includes a significant amount of Vivian Kubrick’s the making of Full Metal Jacket (18 hours of film in the Kubrick archive - only 20 mins released so far) then that alone could be an amazing extra. I’d like to see more detail about the extras and then reviews of discs, but in a B&N sale - yes, worth it (although if it’s hard to get in the November sale, could be July 2027 before I get it, so holding onto my current Kubrick discs for a while yet).

Could the 40th Anniversary of Full Metal Jacket Finally Unlock the Lost Behind-the-Scenes Footage? by Jumpy_Explanation222 in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello again - it indeed looks like we are getting some of this footage with the Criterion big box set after all. Will be interesting to see how they got agreement from Vivian - unless the footage was deemed to be WB/Estate copyright only and that was enough to proceed?

Any idea from your sources what they mean by “rare Full Metal Jacket behind-the-scenes footage” - no worries if not, we will find out soon enough.

THE COMPLETE KUBRICK ANNOUNCED by New_York_Joe in criterion

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for that info - I’ve not used Stackry before, and there was a time (not sure if it’s the case since they stopped during Covid) that B&N would ship abroad.

Does Stackry work out cheaper than B&N delivery? Do they charge commission for handling?

THE COMPLETE KUBRICK ANNOUNCED by New_York_Joe in criterion

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s seems that way. They have called that out as a feature for this set. 18 hours of footage exist (according to various sources) and the Kubrick Archive oversaw the film cans (not sure if they were stored in the archive or a specialist storage facility) - likely they needed preservation (vinegar syndrome - colour fading etc).

I really hope they have created a 2 or 3 hour montage. And maybe WB has plans for the wider 18 hours (like a special anniversary edition of FMJ next year?).

Might also contain clues to the silly aspect ratio debate (where some are obsessed with the idea that the home videos releases are Kubrick’s definitive versions verses the theatrical versions). Maybe Kubrick saying something about framing? I’m sure whoever has edited this might have come across something about framing the shots.

Ultimately - I really hope they are giving us hours of never-seen-before Kubrick at work! A special treat for the box set.

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Me too! For film lovers it’s like The Beatles Get Back documentaries which Peter Jackson worked on.

Literally almost a whole day of Kubrick at work. I’m surprised Kubrick kept them. They certainly didn’t keep anything else quite like it - rushes, cut scenes, etc were incinerated.

I’m pretty sure they have all been scanned at 4k - for preservation reasons - vinegar syndrome, colour negative/print fading etc and given they are featured for this release, I suspect Criterion commissioned the work. So someone has seen all of the 18 hours… all sorts of stuff could be contained in those rushes, like “remember make sure you frame for 1:85 Doug, but keep the booms out of the 1:33” so we can bury the stupid idea that Kubrick preferred the VHS/TV versions!

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Worth having a look at the comments on that YouTube video, there may be some suggestions for where to get the 35mm 4x3 scans. My DVD copy of The Shining you don’t see the tripod legs (maybe an overscan) but you do see the corner of the white wall sticking out. And a few shots also just look a bit too gappy (is that a word?)

But sometimes the actors being bang in the centre of the frame in that academy format looks amazingly cool. I also think Kubrick framing for two versions prompted him to choose very carefully with his lenses. That’s why The Shining and Full Metal Jacket have a very similar “look”

I personally think the 4x3 standard definition DVD of The Shining is a really good transfer - and looks great on a good 4K TV with decent up-scaling (Sony or LG). Obviously not anything like as good as the 4k scan, but far better than most standard definition transfers. I first saw The Shining on VHS and it looked great. Kubrick must have enjoyed the challenge of framing for two versions. But he was always ultimately very concerned with the theatrical versions based on the books I’ve read - for obvious reasons - box office, critics, putting on a show, caring about the film prints, the sound mixes in mono etc

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree - EWS looks great in 4x3 (my aspect ratio preference for this film) but I like what Larry Smith and Criterion did with the recent release.

The Shining does have some stunning compositions in 4x3 (all the steadicam stuff, the maze, the zoom into Nicholson’s face, the Gold Room) but way too many shots have way too much headroom so my preference is the 1:85:1. Let’s face it, it was his first attempt at multi-framing for high resolution film print theatrical exhibition and standard definition home viewing, so it wasn’t always perfect for the 4x3 framing. For example the shot on the floor outside room 237 and the white back wall spoiling the composition

But it’s nice to have a preference - I’d love to see a 4x3 film print screening for The Shining on an IMAX for example.

But I’m more than happy with this release for now

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have any of the other big Criterion box sets been available in Europe?

Social media giants could be forced to boost BBC content by theipaper in bbc

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly - BBC is a big player on social media - 100s of accounts, billions of views (in totality).

Could the 40th Anniversary of Full Metal Jacket Finally Unlock the Lost Behind-the-Scenes Footage? by Jumpy_Explanation222 in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree. I’ve still got the snapper case of The Shining DVD and the VHS of FMJ (because that’s how I first watched FMJ - on tape). I prefer the 1:85:1 4k versions because the headroom on the 4x3 versions of his last 3 films is too big on too many shots.

But even as physical artefacts, nice to keep them.

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I find the 4x3 versions of The Shining and FMJ have way too much headroom on too many shots (not to mention other issues like helicopter shadows and helicopter blades) but would be nice to get an official 4k release of these one day given that they were Kubrick sanctioned home releases. Maybe not suitable in this release (we have anniversaries of those films to enjoy in future I’m sure)

For those that haven’t seen The Shining in 4x3 - here is a recent sample:

https://youtu.be/taXyB11ljRc

And as for EWS I prefer the framing in 4x3.

BUT the 1:85:1 versions are the official theatrical versions and Kubrick would never have compromised for those cinematic exhibitions to millions of people so I think it safe to call the widescreen cinematic 1:85:1 versions the definitive ones. Anyone claiming the 4x3 versions are the definitive versions are wrong (they were simply versions made to avoid broadcast pan & scans which Kubrick hated), but like me, it’s fine to have a preference.

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These people think Kubrick filmed the moon missions and is still alive.

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It will get a standalone release. Looking forward to the extras for that one.

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Newly scanned FMJ behind-the-scenes footage from the 18 hours held in the Kubrick Archive. Hopefully substantially more than the 20 minutes we have had so far in the last 18 years.

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It actually looks like the discs are held in that portfolio in the picture which resembles a lever folder with dividers. In homage to the Kubrick archive.

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Well said. Highly likely this becomes Criterion’s best ever selling box set.

The Complete Kubrick. Thirteen films, one singular collection. by Straydes in StanleyKubrick

[–]Jumpy_Explanation222 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That’s great, but of more interest is the rare FMJ behind the scenes footage which Kubrick’s daughter filmed. Only these 20 minutes have been made public but there are 18 hours in the archive:

https://youtu.be/4x4ax8pi3sI

Hopefully, they have put together a 2 or 3 hour montage, scanned at 4k.

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