Showing posts with label High Definition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label High Definition. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Hiroshima


Hiroshima (1953) is a powerful evocation of the devastation wrought by the world's first deployment of the atomic bomb and its aftermath, based on the written eye-witness accounts of its child survivors compiled by Dr. Arata Osada for the 1951 book Children Of The A Bomb: Testament Of The Boys And Girls Of Hiroshima. Adapted for the screen by independent director Hideo Sekigawa (Listen to the Voices of the Sea, Tokyo Untouchable) and screenwriter Yasutaro Yagi (Theatre of Life, Rice), Hiroshima combines a harrowing documentary realism with moving human drama, in a tale of the suffering, endurance and survival of a group of teachers, their students and their families. It boasts a rousing score composed by Akira Ifukube (Godzilla) and an all-star cast including Yumeji Tsukioka (Late Spring, The Eternal Breasts), Isuzu Yamada (Throne of Blood, Yojimbo) and Eiji Okada (Hiroshima Mon Amour, Woman in the Dunes), appearing alongside an estimated 90,000 residents from the city as extras, including many survivors from that fateful day on 6th August 1945. Hiroshima was produced and distributed outside of the studio system by the Japan Teachers' Union following the mixed critical reception to Children of Hiroshima (1952), directed by Kaneto Shindo the previous year, the first dramatic feature to deal directly with the atomic bombing. Although sequences from the film were used in Alain Resnais' classic of French New Wave cinema, Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959), it has been effectively out of circulation in Japan and the rest of the world since its original release in 1953 due to the force and political sensitivity of its message. This new High Definition presentation is the complete version, restoring the footage from the international edit that was released in the United States in 1955.

Bonus Materials

  • High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
  • Original uncompressed audio
  • Archive interview with actress Yumeji Tsukioka
  • Hiroshima Nagasaki Download (2011), 73-minute documentary featuring interviews with survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings now residing in the United States, with an introduction by the director Shinpei Takeda
  • New video essay by Jasper Sharp
  • Newly commissioned artwork by Scott Saslow
  • FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mick Broderick

Friday, June 12, 2020

Film Buff Friday: Split Second


SPLIT SECOND Starring Rutger Hauer Makes Its Long-Awaited Debut On Blu-ray Via MVD REWIND COLLECTION

Coming to Blu-ray on August 11th

MVD ENTERTAINMENT IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE NORTH AMERICAN HIGH DEFINITION DEBUT OF THE 1992 SCI-FI ACTION CULT CLASSIC "SPLIT SECOND" ON BLU-RAY IN AN ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION.
 
Synopsis: In the year 2008, the cops are better armed than before, but nothing has prepared them for this. Swift, sharp-clawed and deadly, something moves among them on the streets, in the alleyways, on the rooftops, tearing out human hearts and devouring them. Maverick cop "Harley" Stone (Rutger Hauer) lost his partner to the beast, and now it looks like his girlfriend Michelle (Kim Cattrall) is next on the killer's list. Even in the future, there aren't guns big enough to stop the creature's deadly force, but Stone has no choice. Teamed with rookie detective Durkin (Alastair Duncan), Stone must stalk the edge of his own sanity if he is to destroy the rampaging Evil on the outside and banish the very real demons within . . . It could all be over in a SPLIT SECOND.
 
SPLIT SECOND boasts an all-star cast that includes Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner, The Hitcher), Kim Cattrall (Big Trouble in Little China, Sex and the City) and Alastair Duncan (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), with an all-star supporting cast that includes Academy Award® Nominees* Michael J. Pollard (Tango & Cash) and Pete Postlethwaite (Inception). From director Tony Maylam (The Burning), "Split Second" features creature design effects by Stephen Norrington (Blade) and a screenplay written by Gary Scott Thompson (The Fast and The Furious).
 
MVD Rewind Collection has teamed up with 101 Films to bring collectors a fully loaded special edition. Starting with a brand new high definition presentation overseen by Joe Rubin, the main feature is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, newly scanned, restored and color graded in 4K from the 35MM internegative, with uncompressed 2-channel stereo audio.
 
"Split Second" is packed with hours of bonus material produced by 101 Films exclusively for the US (and the UK) including brand new cast and crew interviews, new audio commentary, and rarely seen 1992 legacy features, an alternative cut of the film, deleted scenes, promos and more!
 
 
SPLIT SECOND: COLLECTOR'S EDITION
SPECIAL FEATURES
  • High Definition (1080p) presentation of the main feature in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, newly scanned, restored and color graded in 4K from the 35MM internegative
  • Audio: 2.0 LPCM Stereo
  • English Subtitles
  • NEW! Audio Commentary by action film historian Mike Leeder and filmmaker Arne Venema
  • NEW! "Great Big Bloody Guns!" Producer Laura Gregory & Actor Alastair (Neil) Duncan on Split Second (HD, 27:25)
  • NEW! "Call Me Mr. Snips!" An Interview with Composer Stephen W. Parsons (HD, 22:21)
  • NEW! "Stay In Line!" An Interview with Line Producer Laurie Borg (HD, 23:02)
  • NEW! "More Blood!" An Interview with Creature Effects Designer Cliff Wallace (HD, 32:03)
  • NEW! "Shoot Everything!" An Interview with Cinematographer Clive Tickner (HD, 18:57)
  • Original 1992 Split Second "Making of" featurette that includes interviews with stars Rutger Hauer, Kim Cattrall, Alastair (Neil) Duncan, Michael J. Pollard, Writer Gary Scott Thompson and more! (SD, 6:26)
  • Original 1992 behind the scenes featurette with effects creator Stephen Norrington, cast and crew (SD, 3:41)
  • Split Second Japanese Cut, full frame with burnt-in Japanese subtitles (SD, 95:00)
  • Deleted Scenes from the Japanese Cut (English, burnt-in Japanese subtitles) (SD, 4:42)
  • 7 Promotional TV Clips (SD)
  • U.S. VHS Home Video Promo (SD, 2:34)
  • Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:15)
  • MVD EXCLUSIVE: Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by The Dude Designs created exclusively for this release
  • Collectible Mini-Poster featuring original VHS style artwork