Page 1 of Anyone got Wicker Man region one, Whats the quality like?????? thanks.

Having been a bit dischuffed with region 2 of withnail and I, I was considering getting region 1 of wicker Man ,just interested to know what the picture quality was like on the US one.
Tanks for advice, hec of a film don`t you think, great this, great that etc and what an ending, love films that don`t copp out.
all the best, mark.

PS also what is the quality of the region 1 Withnail like better than 2 ( I should think so)
Why is the actual film on dvd often worse quality than the clips of it in the docs etc on same disc, often get that why? why? why?.
Thanks in advance.

This item was edited on Tuesday, 25th December 2001, 13:00

I`ve got the Limited Edition version in a wooden box (quite tacky actually) which features the standard cut version and not-quite-uncut extended version. The picture quality is fine, except that both versions have had the top and bottom of the picture cropped away so they are now widescreen (compare it to a VHS version). Some scenes look quite terrible with the tops of people`s heads missing, etc. Britt Ekland`s night scene suffers a lot also.
The scene where Willow visits the Sgt the morning after her invititation is strangley missing from the extended version when it is in the standard version. The disc doesn`t approach anything like a definitive version which I hoped it would be :(
I would wait a while as Warner will be releasing a UK version in February with commentary from Lee himself. I hope this film will one day get a decent release.
(end of rant)

This item was edited on Tuesday, 25th December 2001, 14:38

I`ll think you`ll find that both versions are presented in the proper ratio that it was shown in at the cinema. The cropped version you speak of is the one that is on VHS (pagh). You may get to see the tops of people`s heads in the panned and scammed version but this was not how it was originally seen. By the way the planned version to be released by Warners in this country has now been delayed to April, probably so that they can record the commentary track and I believe it will only include the extended cut.

RE "The cropped version you speak of is the one that is on VHS (pagh). You may get to see the tops of people`s heads in the panned and scammed version but this was not how it was originally seen."

Hiya there
What I was saying was that the VHS version currently available hasn`t been cropped / pan & scanned. It is the full screen format of this film as it was shot, and I expect what the cameraman / director saw when he framed each scene. Though I agree with you that it may have been shown in (a cropped) widescreen version when shown at the cinema. Anyway I notice that amazon say there are 2 versions going to be released but they don`t give any details. I think Lee did the commentary at the beginning of the month, this should make interesting listening.

peace

The site www.r2-dvd.org has details of what`s contained on the release (now April ?) same as US documentaries etc but only extended version of film. The 2 versions being released are standard DVD and boxset (no idea what`s in it)

Also C4 are showing the film sometime in the next couple of nights (around midnight). This is extended version of film but don`t know how it compares will tape to find out. When shown on Film4 they said it was unseen extended version. Also they have a documentary tonight (this is different to the one on the DVD).

I must just say that this region 1 release (in the Wicker Box etc) is by far the best you are going to buy. It was a low budget feature, and the print itself is old but the quality of this DVD has done the film wonders, with praise going again to Anchor Bay!!! The only thing that could have been done differently is the extended versions scenes which are placed unmastered into the film. This leaves these scenes noticeable by lower quality, but hey, come on ... for years and years we have had to put up with the cut version and this gives us the chance to see most, but not all, of the missing scenes. I know for sure that the R2 release will not contain anymore missing scenes than the R1 disk because roomer has it, the full footage is being used as a foundation under a motorway somewhere in Britain. Also The Wicker Man documentary on the disk is excelent, if you are a fan of the movie like me, then buy both R1 and R2 for the commentary.

The R1 is poor by comparison to todays standards but it is a classic and one of the best ever made so I am happy to put up with it.

all the best,

Andrew