Legionnaire - Van Damme Epic. Need a french mans help - Tom!

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 08 Feb 2007, 20:32

Well The Van Damme film is great (well I like it), but I own the shitty Region 1 edition, not anamprohic WS, stereo sound and pants extras to be honest.

Just saw the French edition has an Anamorhpic Transfer and 5.1 sound, and any extras is a plus.

(I would get a wrong aspect ration version if I knew if it was either cropped, or opened up)

So I saw 2 versions on amazon.fr and hell they look nearly the same (slight cover difference) I guess ones a re-release and they are identical?

Any reviews anywhere? as I have looked in the usual places and cannot find any reviews of the French dvds? so French people please help.

The reason this came up is I watched the film the other night, part of my Van Damme Marathon, all his films watched and reviewed in 2 weeks, hard work. I wacthed the region 1, but honestly the transfers so lacking it made it a bit of a shitty watch, love the film, but cannot see to much in the transfer.

You never know it may come out on HD soon

but I wont hold my breath.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 08 Feb 2007, 23:41

What is it exactly you want to know?

If it's the aspect ratio then yes it's 2.35 anamorphic and a damn sight better looking than the R1.

The French subs are optional, thankfully.

There's a 'Making of..' and some trailers, IIRC

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 08 Feb 2007, 23:42

Oh, and the film was shot in Panavision so avoid anything less than 2.35.

Really, the French release is the only one to have.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 09 Feb 2007, 01:48

Markgway wrote:Oh, and the film was shot in Panavision so avoid anything less than 2.35.

Really, the French release is the only one to have.

Legionnaire was actually shot in Super35, so the R2UK from Sony should be fine in theory (unless we have evidence that it is in fact cropped, rather than open-matte).

Romero, didn't you say that you liked the open-matte transfers anyway?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 09 Feb 2007, 03:27

My mistake then.

In that case maybe Romero would probably prefer the 1.78 UK release.

If anyone can do a screencap of it I can match from the Fr.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 09 Feb 2007, 15:24

Ahhh I dont mind opened up films if it doesnt spoil the film

some do, hey The Quest I watched the UK dvd and thats opened up to 1:85:1 and it looks fine, it may loose the classy look of the 2:35:1 ratio, but it looked fine, only one boom above someones head in one shot

The french dvd does sound the best anyway, some reviews of other region dvds say the pictures amazing, but the wrong aspect ration, I just assumed they meant cropped to death, but its nice to see it isnt

the Australian dvd seems to have pretty perfect picture quality and is the wrong aspect ration you see, but finding out which may be cropped and which may be ok is another matter as it isnt a popular film

and well I just wanted to know if the quality of the french dvd was worth getting and if the ones on amazon were the exact same dvds as theres two of them, one a 3rd the price of the other

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 09 Feb 2007, 15:51

The Quest was also Super35.

I didn't know the UK disc was undermatted.

Not one I would buy anyways.

The photography was excellent IIRC making it the best looking JCVD film.

A shame to compromise it when it should be 2.35.

And, btw, it's aspect ratio, not ration.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 09 Feb 2007, 15:55

hey what are the extras like on the french version? in french? english?

and hey I didnt even know The Quest was the wrong aspect ratio until I was reviewing the bugger and found out by trying to see what the best was

and the UK has the opened up film, but crap 2.0 sound! so I may get the french version of that as well while I am on, as hell its anamorphic and has 5.1 sound and a few little extras too. VD films always are cheap, as hell not that many people buy em like the bigger films.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 09 Feb 2007, 16:00

40m 'Making of...' in English is the main special feature.

If you like the film it would be worth it for that alone.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 09 Feb 2007, 16:15

Yup

and its only 5 euros! I will take the chance and get that cheap version, it says itst he same as the 16 euro version, so it has to be or else

Hell the extras on the Region 1 are shite, they list loads on my dvd and theres maybe 20% of them actually on the dvd, idiots. The commentary is ok mind you, if a little damp at times.

EDIT or I would but it looks like some market place sale

http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00004V ... 27-1352954

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 09 Feb 2007, 16:19

Just need 1 more film of his and I have them all, Lionheart / AWOL but they all sound crappy dvds, wonder if they are opened up.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 09 Feb 2007, 17:13

The DVD in the Amazon link is the one I have.

You should be OK with it.

And yes, all editions of Lionheart are crapola.

If you do get one make sure it's the 104/109m uncut version.