Taxi Driver SE coming...

saltysam2007 · Post by **saltysam2007** » 03 Jun 2007, 21:08

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3350003/ ... P36=5K4B46

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 04 Jun 2007, 03:58

Cheers. Hopefully it's remastered at bare minimum. Fingers-crossed for Criterion LD extras, prolly won't happen though.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jun 2007, 21:46

Eva speaks and his wishes become reality

-

http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/taxi-driver.html

This has sorely needed a new releases for eons now.

Normally I may hold off for the HD Disc but this film is such a masterpiece I'd buy it a trillion times. This is easily (like Blade Runner) a title I'll be pre-ordering, no questions. It will be mine!

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 05 Jun 2007, 01:48

Thanks. Still no Criterion LD extras

. That had a commentary by Scorsese and Schoonmaker.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Jun 2007, 22:07

True but I'm just happy it's getting remastered, the new extra look great too, plus a new commentary (even if Marty is absent).

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Jun 2007, 03:10

...and it keeps getting better.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment have announced the Region 1 DVD release of Taxi Driver (Limited Collector’s Edition) on 14th August 2007.
....
This new “Limited Collector’s Edition” offers bonus features including a newly recorded feature-length commentary by director Martin Scorsese, an “Appreciation and Influence” documentary including interviews with directors, producers, actors and film critics on the cinematic importance of Taxi Driver and its director, a “Taxi Cab Confessions” documentary where De Niro and Schrader meet with NYC taxi drivers as well as a “Taxi Driver Locations” Interactive Map.
The full list of extras on this two-disc set follows…
* “Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver” Featurette
* “Producing Taxi Driver” Featurette
* “Influence and Appreciation” Documentary
* Robert De Niro, Oliver Stone, Roger Corman and others pay tribute to Scorsese and the film
* “God’s Lonely Man” Documentary
Writer Paul Schrader and Professor Robert Kolker discuss the loneliness themes as seen in the film. Schrader also talks about what circumstances lead to writing the screenplay
* “Travis’ New York Locations” Featurette
An interactive map with visits to the famous New York City locations in 2006, while comparing them to the same locations in 1975.
* Storyboard to Film Comparisons with Martin Scorsese Introduction
* New Feature-length Commentary by Writer Paul Schrader
* New Feature-length Commentary by Professor Robert Kolker
* “Taxi Driver Stories” Featurette
* “Making Taxi Driver” Documentary
* Animated Photo Galleries
* “Including Scorsese at Work” Photo Montage
* Original Screenplay Read Along
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=65136

We now have a Scorsese commentary! Fuck the Criterion LD extras. WTF at it being a LE though?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 19 Jun 2007, 03:13

EvaUnit02 wrote:WTF at it being a LE though?

I'll tell you the secret behind that. Quick cash. Not really limited.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Jun 2007, 21:20

The cover art clearly says CE not LE. I doubt it's an LE at all.

Not that I care I'm pre-ordering it regardless.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 26 Jul 2007, 20:59

coming to blu-ray day & date !

http://www.sonypictures.co.uk/homevideo ... 10019.html

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 30 Jul 2007, 15:59

Review up here

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=29454

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 31 Jul 2007, 01:01

That review has one awful screen cap comparison.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 07 Aug 2007, 04:25

I've just pre-ordered the DVD.

I was going to wait for the BD but cannot wait I have to have this. I'll probably end up getting the BD later.

saltysam wrote:coming to blu-ray day & date !

http://www.sonypictures.co.uk/homevideo ... 10019.html

Weird I cannot find the BD listed anywhere, it's released in less than a week.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Aug 2007, 15:52

Still no site of the BD to buy.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 10 Aug 2007, 16:20

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReview ... review.htm

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 14 Aug 2007, 15:31

Thanks Mark.

I'm not so sure, the new SE looks too yellow but overall it looks fine.

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 16 Aug 2007, 00:09

I bought it at Best Buy yesterday for $25.99. I watched the movie and then watched some of the 2nd disc's extras. The restoration was quite good but it did seem quite yellow at times. So far I've watched:

* “Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver” Featurette
* “Producing Taxi Driver” Featurette
* “Influence and Appreciation” Documentary
* “God’s Lonely Man” Documentary
* “Travis’ New York Locations” Featurette
* Storyboard to Film Comparisons with Martin Scorsese Introduction

All those features are well made and I suggest watching them.

My disc didn't have a 2.0 track and I was wondering if that was standard or another Canadian thing to make room for the French track?

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 16 Aug 2007, 01:12

captainjoe wrote:My disc didn't have a 2.0 track and I was wondering if that was standard or another Canadian thing to make room for the French track?

The United States release doesn't have a 2.0 track either.

The 2.0 Surround remix from the old DVD was approved Scorsese, I wouldn't be surprised if this 5.1 is an upmix.

There are two audio options provided for the film on this release - English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Optional subtitles are provided in English, French and Spanish and closed captioning is provided for the feature in English only. It would have been nice to have a 2.0 track included but at least the 5.1 track sounds fairly true to how the movie is supposed to sound. The score has a really nice sound to it, as it's just abrasive enough to be effective without overpowering things. Dialogue is clean and clear and free of any hiss or distortion at all. No DTS option is provided unfortunately but as far as surround usage and rear channel action goes, this is a fairly front heavy mix with the surround used primarily for ambient noise and certain parts of the score. As such, it doesn't feel too contrived or forced. In short, it sounds like Taxi Driver.
source= DVDtalk

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 16 Aug 2007, 02:20

Well okay that's good news. I really hate when new foley effects are added to remixes. Atleast this doesn't have this. Here we can have the same experience but with a higher bit-rate.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 16 Aug 2007, 14:34

I read back at the time of the original release Sony saying they could've either created a decent 2.0 Surround track or an unsuitable 5.1 remix. I guess they can create one.

My R1 SE is on order. I hope I don't dislike the yellow too much. I've only just sold my UK R2.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Sep 2007, 20:29

My UK R2 arrived today and it's a bit of a mixed bag.

While I do not have the old DVD to compare the picture quality does look better from what I remember. It's a nice remastering job, it's a bit soft but I'd prefer that than edge enhancement.

As for the audio I'm in two minds, on the one hand it helps to bring the music alive but it does sound a wee bit fake in places. I wish they'd kept the Stereo remix on there. I'm a fan of Mono being remixed into Stereo as it usually brings the Mono to life without sounding over the top, as is the case with many Mono to 5.1 mixes. That said it is a respectful 5.1 remix at least, with no obvious new effects and they've thankfully not decided to place surround effects out of place in the surround speakers. That does really annoy me.

I'm certainly pleased no DTS option was included as that would've been OOT. A few years ago I'd have wholeheartedly loved the remix, it's not OOT and is a decent 5.1 remix as remixes go but today I wish we'd also had a lesser mix too.

I have noticed one possible authoring error though: I've checked it on my Pioneer DVD Player and Pioneer DVD Recorder and it's definitely an issue with the disc.

I've not seen the film for ages and as I said I do not have the original DVD any more but at the 1:04:41 mark (1 hour, 4 minutes, 41 seconds) when Bickle is saying "are you talking to me?" his head turns, then it turns again in a glitch motion. As if a frame has been repeated, the time doesn't jump so it looks like it's part of the film. This happens just before you see Bickle lying on the bed.

I am unsure if this is how the film is supposed to look? It does look odd if so.

Can anyone confirm this is supposed to happen and/or the R1 SE does it too? Obviously that time above is the PAL time.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 11 Sep 2007, 00:45

Hey brad, was there any .LFE (subwoofer) activity during the 5.1 mix? Ta.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 11 Sep 2007, 00:54

Not that I heard from the main speakers but I know longer have my sub plugged in as the bass would be too much for the guys upstairs. Now I'm in a flat which has naff all insulation between the ceiling/floor upstairs. The sub used to piss my Dad off when he slept but at least then I knew when he was out.

I've not sold it as I'm in two minds whether I should keep it for when I next move house in 1-2 years.

I've already had enough issues with my amp/speakers without adding a sub into the mix. I can no longer use my amp after 10pm which sucks but I cannot do much about it. I can live with it though as I just use it before 10pm.

In some ways it would be better if I had a basic 5.1 setup which couldn't handle too much LFE but even my main speakers create enough bass to piss the guys upstairs off. I've had to reduce the bass as it is and can only hear the bass from the main speakers, which thankfully do a good (enough job) of reproducing bass.

TBH bar the ambient music it's very centre speaker focused, there probably is some during the music but it's not much. Not that there really is much to work with. I can have a proper listen tomorrow if you like? Obviously without sub though.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 11 Sep 2007, 01:42

Nah man, it's okay. You don't need to go to all that trouble.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 11 Sep 2007, 15:36

Surely someone else own Taxi Driver on this forum? If so can you please check your disc and answer my questions on the previous page.

Cheers.

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 12 Sep 2007, 03:56

I never saw this on the R1 SE. Maybe your disc is just defective, but I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.