NEW DIRECTORS CUT

[Novecento]

I bought a region-free Pioneer BD player several years ago and just used it right out of the box.

The only word of caution I would give is actually the same for DVD players - ideally use a TV that accepts NTSC and PAL (in the case of BDs usually only an issue with supplements as the main feature should always be HD) so you don't have to rely on horrible encoders which degrade the image quality.

[Novecento]

On DVD players it is a software issue - hence the vast majority are able to play all discs from all regions at all times

ON BD players it is a hardware issue - hence the player has to be booted up in the region desired.

I think I should probably have said "firmware" rather than "hardware" for BD players...?

[drinkanddestroy]

thanks.

If I can't simply buy a region-free player and play discs in it normally, then I don't think I am gonna do this. I don't wanna get a player whwre I have to change regions back n' forth, etc. I'm not all that technologically proficient and I'm always afraid that if I make one change I won't be able to then change it back 

but if there is some blu-ray player that I can just buy and then stick in discs from all regions and play them and that's all, then I'd buy it... does such a player exist?

[cigar joe]

http://www.220-electronics.com/sony-bdp-s5100-region-free-blu-ray-dvd-player.html

[drinkanddestroy]

http://www.220-electronics.com/sony-bdp-s5100-region-free-blu-ray-dvd-player.html

have you used this and know it's good?

[dave jenkins]

http://www.220-electronics.com/sony-bdp-s5100-region-free-blu-ray-dvd-player.html

Looking at the specs, it doesn't say anything about automatic region switching. I don't know, because I haven't used the deck, but I'd bet you still have to manually switch the regions (for Blu-ray, of course; DVDs of all regions play in all BD decks).

[cigar joe]

have you used this and know it's good?

no, haven't used it, it was recommended on an electronic page.

[dave jenkins]

There is reason to think that a Region A Blu-ray is coming soon, maybe by Spring of 2014: http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?p=8558489#post8558489 (Scroll to the top and hit the "show spoiler" button).

[cigar joe]

great

[Novecento]

There may be some good news.

It's recently been reported that the MPAA have given a R rating to the extended version of the movie.

This may indicate that Warner Home Video are making some progress in their plans to release the extended version in the USA.

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni57159650/

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/step-dolphin-tale-2-upon-time-america-todays-mpaa-ratings-bulletin/

I can't believe the article starts with "A rather uninteresting bulletin this week..." and then hits us with that incredibly interesting news.

[drinkanddestroy]

Does the fact that this new version of the movie was submitted to the MPAA for a rating mean it'll be shown in theaters? I assume no rating is required for a DVD/BRD release....

[dave jenkins]

Will it be yellow?

[dave jenkins]

According to Blu-ray.com, the extended director's cut is to be released in the U.S. on Sep 30, 2014.

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Once-Upon-a-Time-in-America-Blu-ray/95062/

They state a running time of 269 minutes and posts at Blu-ray.com's forum seem to support this:

http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?p=9278009#post9278009

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing an Extended Director's Cut of Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America on Blu-ray this fall. The extended version features 40-minutes of additional footage, bringing the runtime to 269 minutes, and was supervised by the film's original sound editor, Fausto Ancillai. The Extended Director's Cut makes its U.S. Blu-ray debut on September 30th.

New artwork plus a book? Extended version on a single BD? Compression/color problems? Extra 18 minutes? Region A?

Another poster at Blu-ray.com has subsequently posted this:

Today, the Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today, that they will be screening the extended version, as part of the 52nd New York Film Festival, this September. Their press release stated that this version of the film "includes 22-minutes of restored footage, never before seen in the United States." This would indicated that the cut that will be screened, will be 251 minutes (229 + 22). Knowing this, I would be very surprised if the Blu-ray contains the full 269 minute cut.

 So, you might not want to get your hopes up.

[dave jenkins]

The following link gives some details about the booklet accompanying the new BD -  a new 32-page book with rare photos and insightful notes that chronicle the movie's production history - and confirms that the movie will have its U.S. premiere at the 2014 New York Film Festival which runs between September 26 and October 12.  They contradict WHV's runtime figure but no doubt further information will be released in due course.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmovies/article/ONCE-UPON-A-TIME-IN-AMERICA-Extended-Directors-Cut-Edition-Comes-to-DVD-930-20140605#

Hahahaha, D&D is gonna hurt himself trying to figure out which of the new releases to buy:

Once Upon a Time in America will be released in three home entertainment editions: the 2-disc Extended Director's Cut Collector's Edition Blu-ray ($34.99 SRP) which contains the Extended Director's Cut, the 1984 theatrical edition, Digital HD with UltraViolet, plus the 32-page book with rare photos and chronicles of the movie's production; the single-disc Extended Director's Cut Blu-ray ($19.98 SRP); and the two-disc Extended Director's Cut DVD ($14.97 SRP).

[dave jenkins]

The extended cut runs 251 min.: http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=14163