25 Vampyr

Message

a.khan · #251 Post by **a.khan** » Wed May 14, 2008 4:29 am

I think we have to stop bitching about the del Toro commentary. We're lucky to be getting "Vampyr" on DVD in the first place; and from two separate, excellent DVD labels. (Only a couple of weeks ago we were all waiting with bated breath for any news.)

The MoC package looks fantastic in every way: Nick and co. have preempted any imbalance by including Rayns' commentary. The del Toro commentary should be welcomed -- I'm not a fan of this filmmaker, but as another member has said, he deserves a fair hearing. Will be interesting to hear what he has to say. If it's shit, then don't let the remote near it again. Bottom line, it's another extra feature in an already packed-to-gills DVD. Instead of nitpicking we should be celebrating MoC for what may well end up being the DVD Release of 2008. =D>

jt · #252 Post by jt » Wed May 14, 2008 6:17 am

Quick Question, how do people pronounce this, vampire or vam-peer ?

Also, mark me down as one of those people who are looking forward to the delToro commentary. It may be the best commentary of all time, it may be the worst but I'll be waiting to hear it before passing judgement. Unless anyone here knows the man or has heard him talk at length on silent cinema, why are they even guessing at what it might be like? We have absolutely no frame of reference without hearing the finished article.

edit: spelling

Tommaso · #253 Post by **Tommaso** » Wed May 14, 2008 6:31 am

jt wrote:Quick Question, how do people pronounce this, vamire or vam-peer ?

Vam-peer (but pronounce the 'a' like in 'hard'). The spelling "Vampyr" is unusual/ archaic in German (should be "Vampir"); and it isn't the French spelling either ("vampyre"). A nice touch creating a little 'occult mystery atmosphere' from the beginning; reminds me a little of the (mis-)spelling of "Magick".

Ledos · #254 Post by **Ledos** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:19 pm

Dreyer may also have chosen to spell it 'vampyr' since that's the word for 'vampire' in his native language Danish.

ellipsis7 · #255 Post by **ellipsis7** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:29 pm

Isn't it 'Wampyr' auf Deutsch?...

denti alligator · #256 Post by **denti alligator** » Wed May 14, 2008 2:37 pm

ellipsis7 wrote:Isn't it 'Wampyr' auf Deutsch?...

No, since it's basically a loan word from French. There are a few "V" words in German that aren't pronounced like "F"s.

Gigi M. · #257 Post by **Gigi M.** » Wed May 14, 2008 3:46 pm

Narshty wrote:SPECIAL FEATURES
- Full-length audio commentary featuring Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro talking about one of his favourite films.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when did del Toro win an Oscar?
Maybe MoC would want to change this typo.

stephan73 · #258 Post by **stephan73** » Thu May 15, 2008 1:05 am

It should indeed be Oscar nominated director, instead of Oscar winning director!

#259 Post by **domino harvey** » Thu May 15, 2008 1:08 am

Or they could invite Oscar-winning actor Benicio Del Toro to record a commentary track.

HerrSchreck · #260 Post by **HerrSchreck** » Thu May 15, 2008 1:54 am

Guys.. please don't steal Del Toro's bandwith.

Thanks/cheers.

Awesome Welles · #261 Post by **Awesome Welles** » Mon May 19, 2008 12:43 pm

Vampyr page is now live and the stills look pretty nice.

wowser · #262 Post by **wowser** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:30 pm

Fantastic: looks full of features. When will the trailer be up?

HerrSchreck · #263 Post by **HerrSchreck** » Tue May 20, 2008 5:00 pm

FSimeoni wrote:Vampyr page is now live and the stills look pretty nice.

I confess I never thought of the film as "truly terrifying", but whatevah.

wowser · #264 Post by **wowser** » Sat May 31, 2008 8:29 am

MoC must be very pleased to see this occupies the No. 8 slot of World Cinema pre-releases on Amazon.co.uk.

peerpee · #265 Post by **peerpee** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:47 pm

A slew of grabs from the finished MoC VAMPYR DVD (out August 25th):

Rowan · #266 Post by **Rowan** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:33 pm

Gawwwblimey!! That’s beautifully rendered. Correct ratio too. I’d be shocked if Criterion could top those unmanipulated velvety greys (as if). Well done to all involved. Can’t wait!

HerrSchreck · #267 Post by **HerrSchreck** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:58 pm

So wonderful to see in cap 4 the uncropped shape of those trippy light masks used by Dreyer and Mate throughout this film. The use of lights overlapping shadows/shadows overlapping lights, and acid trippy (almost amoeboid) masks sculpting the light shapes shot onto the walls in darkened rooms.. this is stuff that begins and ends with this film. Utterly original.

Beautiful work Nick. Expected nothing less!

Kinsayder · #268 Post by **Kinsayder** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 3:35 pm

That's certainly the best I've seen it, and the best use that's been made of the Koerber restoration so far. I guess a point of difference between this and Criterion may be the extent to which Criterion reveal the rounded corners, some hints of which are visible above. Since Criterion like to picture-box, they may go for something closer to the Arte broadcast:

Tommaso · #269 Post by **Tommaso** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:05 pm

Disc of the Year, I suppose. Wonderful greyscale, clear and sharp; the image seems to better than MK2's, not even taking aspect ratio into consideration. I can't wait!

denti alligator · #270 Post by **denti alligator** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:21 pm

Beautiful!!

Thank you!

peerpee · #271 Post by **peerpee** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:10 pm

Just a bit of background on this... Lee Kline supervised the HD telecine which formed the basis of both the MoC and Criterion editions.

Criterion have done their own digital restoration of these materials, MoC have done nothing further except make sure it has a lovely encode in the correct AR. The MoC is a replication of what you'd see if you saw the restored print projected, Criterion's DVD has had further cleanup and will look considerably cleaner in motion (I assume so anyhow, I haven't seen it yet). They should make an interesting comparison for those interested to see exactly what digital restoration can do!

bollibasher · #272 Post by **bollibasher** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:47 am

It'll be interesting to see if Criterion 'correct' the section in the middle which is from the lower-quality high-contrast print source... if that's even possible. This bit:

(from MK2 version, about 40 mins in) Purely academic I suppose! I can't wait for this to come out in proper edition

xx

Tommaso · #273 Post by **Tommaso** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:10 am

Aaah, now look at that chopped head in the first capture...

I don't think it will be possible to 'correct' the inferior quality in that section; what of course should be possible is to digitally match greyscale and contrast with the sections from other prints. The caps that Nick posted above all seem to have a very constant look in these respects, so either there's not much difference (or the matching was already done by Koerber) or the caps come from other parts of the film. Purely academic though, as you say.

wowser · #274 Post by **wowser** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 5:46 am

Have not seen this film, but those beautiful shots of the trees in the last two captures are enough to whet the appetite!

bollibasher · #275 Post by **bollibasher** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:10 pm

Tommaso wrote: The caps that Nick posted above all seem to have a very constant look in these respects, so either there's not much difference (or the matching was already done by Koerber) or the caps come from other parts of the film.

The MK2 is from the Koerber film-resto so def not contrast-matched by him, but it's literally only a couple of minutes footage anyway. Counting down the days...