Films/DVD Asylum

Scorcese remastered "El Cid" coming next week

207.178.211.68

DWPC

A 60s epic that languished and was never remastered for home viewing on VHS or DVD. The only DVD issued was lousy copy of a really bad 4:3 VHS. But Scorcese supervised this remaster (but did no cutting) and its said to be as spectacular as the original 70MM. Its got corny acting by Heston but its still one of the great epics for its Spanish locations, costumes, super cinematography, music...and Sophia Loren at her prime.

"For God, the Cid and Spain!!"

Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy - WB Yeats

Follow Ups:

RE: Scorcese remastered "El Cid" coming next week - mamboni 16:57:39 02/03/08 (0)
Well I purchased the DVD "El Cid" and watched the first half (disk 1) on my BenQ projector (XGA) and my dedicated sound system running in Dolby Digital (I use just 4 loudspeaker in the front (Walsh 5 Series #) and a pair of custom-built Walsh bending wave true-omni loudspeakers in the rear, thus a phantom center channel) and the news is good and bad. The good news is the picture is quite good - nice transfer. The bad news is the sound: it is dated and one can hear all the upper midrange and treble distortion, sounds like some microphone resonances and overload. The dynamics are compressed. But, it you can get past the dated sound I would recommend this DVD addition to your movie collection.

I remember attending the movies to see this when it came out (late 1960s?). In those days, the theatres were big and beautiful, the audiences civilized and silent, and movies ran for several weeks and that was it till they reappeared on TV a few years later. Today, a movie runs and two weeks later you can buy the DVD in Walmart's!!! The movie theatre business must be hurting big time. I know I rarely go out to the movies anymore. I wait to buy or rent the DVD and watch it on my front projection (72") screen at home: no talikg rude patrons, no overpriced popcorn and as many breaks as I want!
As far as these major studio films go, I think "Mutiny on the Bounty," - tinear 14:20:03 01/23/08 (6)
the wrongfully maligned Brando film, and "Big Country," were better.
- I love The BIg Country. - Harmonia 00:05:16 01/24/08 (3)
  Peck is really very good in it, plus it has an excellent supporting cast, great cinematography and an iconic score. The fight between Peck and Heston is a classic. While not in a class with Ford's best, Big Country is handsomely mounted, well directed, and terrifically entertaining.
  I loved Mutiny when I was a kids - I was a big fan of the book - but it hasn't held up as well for me as some others.
  I could never learn to love El Cid either, although it's got its merits.
  
  Edits: 01/24/08 01/24/08
  - I like Ford, too, but I think Wyler matched him this time. The combined - tinear 04:45:46 01/24/08 (2)
    characters of Burl Ives, Charles Bickford, Peck, Chuck Connors, Jean Simmons, and Carroll Baker all were well-drawn and acted.
    The cinematography was first-rate.
    The score was superb.
    The story was "realistic" with tragedy all around.
    Very different from Ford's style, yes, but I'd argue it matched Big John's best.
    - Agree wholeheartedly - padreken 13:28:02 01/24/08 (1)
      The soundtrack is a classic, too-the main theme is unforgettable.
      - Yup, and that scene where "The Colonel" leads his men into the canyon and - tinear 15:07:03 01/26/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Agree wholeheartedly posted by padreken on January 24, 2008 at 13:28:02
        
        the score swells... fantastic!
- RE: As far as these major studio films go, I think "Mutiny on the Bounty," - DWPC 15:05:15 01/23/08 (1)
  No one's going to defend "El Cid" on acting or dramatic merit, but its heads and shoulders above the rest of Medieval Epic genre in spectacle and cinematic quality. Mann used 70mm very well for dramatic effect. And it has interesting story with some current interest because of the subject.
  
  Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy - WB Yeats
  - I liked El Cid, just don't think it has the terrific central - tinear 15:58:19 01/23/08 (0)
    performance which the other two do. Brando and Peck are hard to beat, as well as the great supporting casts.
    The only two supporting roles I remember in El Cid are Sophia's right and left boobs.

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