Sunday, August 15, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Apocalypse Now (Two-Disc Special Edition) [Blu-ray]
This 2-Film Set includes Apocalypse Now and Apocalypse Now Redux, presented in stunning new HD transfers supervised by Francis Ford Coppola - and in their original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratios. With over 9 hours of bonus features, including new interviews with Coppola, Martin Sheen and screenwriter John Milius.
Sir James George Frazer's book The Golden Baugh was a groundbreaking work on ancient religion, paganism, and roots of early Christianity. Frazer does an in-depth examination of the sacrificial killing of god-kings to ensure bountiful harvests, which Frazer traces through several cultures, including in his elaborations the myths of Adonis, Osiris, and Balder.
Frazer spent his life writing fifteen volumes of history of myth and religion. His abridged book sums up his theory of magic and its connections to paganism, as well as fusing ideas from Jessie L. Weston's book From Ritual To Romance and Gnostic texts that serve as a link to early Christianity's influence from ancient nature cults. His chapter titles say much about where his work goes and why it is so influential on iconic twentieth century works. The King of the Wood explains the original nature of the task imposed upon the hero, it undoubtedly influenced both Campbell's and Coppola's works. The Myths of Adonis, Attis, and Osiris looks to establish a chain of descent connecting early Aryan and Babylonian ritual with classic, Medieval and modern forms of nature worship. Our Debt to the Savage explains the role of the Medicine Man or doctor in fertility ritual. The Killing of the Devine King analyzes how this title is prevalent in so many of humankind's legends, and was a definite influence on Coppola's Colonel Kurtz character. Sacrifice of the King's Son regarded as an object of awe certainly influenced the movie.
Anyone wanting to understand the movie Apocalypse Now, especially the character of Colonel Kurtz, and what Milius and Copolla were trying to tell their audience need to read these five books! I promise you that in addition to a better understanding of the movie you will have a better insight into mankind's thirst for spirituality.
I love the redux version.as a philosopher I find you can "peel" the movie like an onion finding all of its nuances. In addition, one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time!!!
By the way, how could I not love this movie, I am a retired army helicopter pilot! I recommend this movie and the books for anyone interested in literature, myth, history, philosophy, religion and fans of Apocalypse Now.
Great Classic - Great Shopper -
It is a classic. I saw it when it came out and honestly watching it today brought much more meaning for it.
Regarding the upcoming Blu-Ray release of the Full Disclosure Edition - N. Fasso - CA
Enough has been said about this movie for you to find out what you need to know about it elsewhere. The upcoming Full Disclosure Edition appears to be set to put an end to which release of this film you should purchase. It will come with the theatrical cut, the much-extended director's cut (which I prefer), and, perhaps best of all, the incredible documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse.
The documentary is absolutely stunning, and to finally have it included alongside the film - where it belongs - rather than in a rare DVD or VHS release is just perfect. It was filmed by Francis' wife throughout the moviemaking process, and features unbelievably candid interviews with the cast and crew, most of whom admit to being on hallucinogens during shooting and even on set. Watching the movie essentially fall apart and then finally come together to win some of the most coveted awards in the industry is awe-inspiring.
If you are holding out still, hold out a little longer. October is on its way, and with it, a Blu-Ray set that looks to surpass even the most thorough of Criterion releases.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Rossini: La Cenerentola [Blu-ray]
Vladimir Jurowski, the young conductor, has a marked affinity for Rossini. His performance smiles and makes the London Philharmonic perform with a clarity, precision, and elasticity that unifies the performance and makes it quite thrilling. One is aware of the amount of rehearsal that must have gone into this production as voices and orchestra are so perfectly integrated into a musical whole...... no mere accompaniment here. In many ways it is Jurowsky's show.
Peter Hall sets the action in period and it works very well. As we all know, the magical elements of the Perrault tale have been eschewed, and what results is indeed, like Don Giovanni, a "dramma giocoso," profoundly humane and very funny in a wise, mature way. There is no room here for pratfalls and slapstick that so often marr Rossini performances. The sets are simple and elegant, and the costumes are subservient to the characters..... nothing exaggerated or gauche here.
The cast is uniformly outstanding: virtuosic singers, naturalistic actors, young and handsome. One cannot ask for more. Angelina (La Cenerentola) is the great Rumanian mezzo Ruxandra Donose; Don Ramiro (The Prince) is the remarkable young Russian coloratura tenor, Maxim Mironov.... he's still in his twenties. Luciano di Pascuale as Don Magnifico and Simone Alberghini as Dandini, play off each other superbly with subtle humor. The sisters are neither ugly nor charicatures...... they are spoilt kids caught in a charade they are destined to loose.
The blu ray presentation is superb. Colors are clearly defined, variations in hues are amazing. The sound is spectacular with air and separation between instruments like I have never heard in home video before.
In short, this is a great performance of a musical masterpiece by an excellent cast of a clever, elegant, witty, rich Peter Hall production, musically, brilliantly executed by Vladimir Jurowski whose opera work one would wish would become more common in the USA.
Cenerentola is probably Rossini's most congenial, singualrly humane, opera. Indeed it is a masterpiece, masterfully realized in this performance.
A great addition to my collection - S. Karnes -
My music taste is far and wide from Classic Rock to Lincoln Park to Opera and this one is excellent. I had the CD of The Barber of Seville and I liked it but this opera is solid all the way through. This Blu Ray is excellent quality including crystal clear sound on my Polk 5.1 speakers originating from a PS3 with HDMI plumbing.
Disappointed - Frank A. Rodgers - Saint John,NB Canada
Viedo excellent but audio reminds of early cold digital sound. I'm use to lp sound and my other blu ray operas are more than satisfactory.
Mixed blessings of blu ray. - Thomas E. Ascher - Bellingham, WA
This production reveals why the close ups of video and the increased detail of blu ray can be, in some cases, a mixed blessing.
First, the good. This is a superb performance on many levels. The conducting, singing, choreography and staging are at the very highest level. And, the picture and sound are superb. I would think that seeing this live from anywhere other than the first row, would be a rare and wonderful experience.
Second, the not so good. As wonderful an actress and singer as Ruxandra Donose is, up close, she appears to be the mother of the two sisters, rather than a younger sibling. The other distraction, for me, was the costuming of Don Magnifico, the step-father. At a distance, I'm sure the extreme filth and raggedness of his costume, wig and make-up adds to the baffoonish quality of his character. Up close, seeing the wig and makeup peeling from his face and neck is not so appealing. Minor quibbles but enough so that when I see this again on my home video, I will sit farther back from the screen!
Nature: Under Antarctic Ice/Encountering Sea Monsters [Blu-ray]
Program 2: Encountering Sea Monsters - Enter the gloomy green ocean depths with deep-sea cameraman Bob Cranston to discover fantastic worlds and the beautiful but deadly creatures that inhabit them. Nothing in science fiction can prepare you for a creature with a beak like a parrot, no bones in its body, three hearts, blue blood, skin that can change colors, and arms growing out of its lips! Cranston enlists the help of scientists and experts to enter the world of squid and octopus, where cannibalism is practiced daily, mating can involve amputation, trickery is everywhere, and size means everything and nothing. Tim Matheson (Animal House) narrates this tense and thrilling program.
Not what I expected... - Maglor64 - West Bend, Wisconsin
If you are looking for something on the level of Planet Earth look elsewhere.
For those of you (like myself) who have never seen "Nature" before: it is shot on video rather than film. This means that it looks like you shot it with your camcorder. Also, some of the content is clearly not HD, ant it can be distracting as it switches back and forth.
As for the content, don't expect anything scary for the "monsters" part of the program.
I do have to admit that parts of the disc are stunning, hence the 3 stars. But over all, I would have picked a different title if I had known what I was getting.
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