I don't recall having ever watched this film, I was intrigued enough to shell out more than it seemed worth spending - certainly it was more than most, especially for a single disc with not much in the way of extras. I wonder if MPI will make a habit of charging a premium for films released through them. Anyone know the story behind why they are selling/ distributing this title? I hope the video presentation measure up! Official release date is November 18.

The movie is a bit dated in style, but Burton and O'toole at their youthful peak is a wonder to behold.

if the recent DVD re-master of Beckett is anything to go by, The Blu ray should be very impressive. December release in UK from memory

The movie is a bit dated in style, but Burton and O'toole at their youthful peak is a wonder to behold.

You've summed it up perfectly; I could not have said it better myself! :)

Cheers,
Anna

screencaps now up

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews30/becket.htm

Looks degrained.

but not ZULUfied

Hmmm. This one slipped under the radar. Off to buy. Now only if they release the Lion in Winter...the original not the remake.

The movie is a bit dated in style, but Burton and O'toole at their youthful peak is a wonder to behold.

What do you mean by 'dated in style'?

Hmm, good question. There's a certain "G rated" feel to many scenes, as well as a lack of what you might call gritty realism in conveying what the actual physical reality of life in the time might feel like. Which isn't to say that modern films don't go overboard with the gritty realism and all. Not making a value judgement, just an observation.

What do you mean by 'dated in style'?

I think what the Member means, is, that there is "missing", the In Your Face, Tits and Ass nudity...and, oh Yeah, the Beckett-Leonardo Di Caprio-Clive Owen character doesn't remove the baby's umbilical cord with a gun shot, nor is there ANY "carrott in the eye" violence !

The Ac-TORS from the Matthew McConaughey New School of AcTING, couldn't hold Burton's OR O Toole's "jock strap", so to speak, these days, and ONLY in their WILDEST Dreams could they achieve even one of the aforementioned's MINOR acting efforts.

Truly, CLASSIC film acting like this shows how much releases like these are needed to show how much we miss Burton, O Toole, Olivier, Geilgud, et al.

THANK GOD for DVD !

I think what the Member means, is, that there is "missing", the In Your Face, Tits and Ass nudity...and, oh Yeah, the Beckett-Leonardo Di Caprio-Clive Owen character doesn't remove the baby's umbilical cord with a gun shot, nor is there ANY "carrott in the eye" violence !

The Ac-TORS from the Matthew McConaughey New School of AcTING, couldn't hold Burton's OR O Toole's "jock strap", so to speak, these days, and ONLY in their WILDEST Dreams could they achieve even one of the aforementioned's MINOR acting efforts.

Truly, CLASSIC film acting like this shows how much releases like these are needed to show how much we miss Burton, O Toole, Olivier, Geilgud, et al.

THANK GOD for DVD !


:)

Hmm, good question. There's a certain "G rated" feel to many scenes, as well as a lack of what you might call gritty realism in conveying what the actual physical reality of life in the time might feel like. Which isn't to say that modern films don't go overboard with the gritty realism and all. Not making a value judgement, just an observation.

How would one compare it to say, LION IN WINTER on gritty realism scale? or are we talking ADVENTURES OF ROBBIN HOOD? I like a drama to have some teeth.

I don't understand comments about the film being "dated" or "G rated". It was made in 1964 and is of course a product of its time. It is an intelligent, serious film for adults and includes nudity. It has similarities with the look of Lion in Winter but the script and direction is far better.

This is one of may favorite films of all time. I just sold my laser disc copy (I threw it in with the player when I sold it) so I will be happy to have it on Blu

How would one compare it to say, LION IN WINTER on gritty realism scale? or are we talking ADVENTURES OF ROBBIN HOOD? I like a drama to have some teeth.

Ah, I thought you were asking out of intellectual curiosity. If you're wondering whether to get it - do so with great haste (for the film, who knows on the transfer.) It's most definitely a serious, adult film, and is one of my all time favorites. For me personally, it just misses the mark of "all time classic," but my standards for such are pretty high (and off-center,) and just my opinion anyhow.

Hmm, good question. There's a certain "G rated" feel to many scenes, as well as a lack of what you might call gritty realism in conveying what the actual physical reality of life in the time might feel like. Which isn't to say that modern films don't go overboard with the gritty realism and all. Not making a value judgement, just an observation.

No problem - I didn't mean to be judgmental when I read your comments. If you feel the presentation is dated then that's your opinion and you're welcome to it. In fact, I believe you're right in that the tryst scenes would probably require the film to receive an "R" rating than "G" rating if the film were shot today.

I'm just sensitive when people consider older films "dated" simply because the film places greater value on dialogue and how it is presented than attempting to sell tickets or hold the viewer's attention by graphic violence or nudity.

No problem - I didn't mean to be judgmental when I read your comments. If you feel the presentation is dated then that's your opinion and you're welcome to it. In fact, I believe you're right in that the tryst scenes would probably require the film to receive an "R" rating than "G" rating if the film were shot today.

I'm just sensitive when people consider older films "dated" simply because the film places greater value on dialogue and how it is presented than attempting to sell tickets or hold the viewer's attention by graphic violence or nudity.

We're pretty much on the same page then. I think once you start categorizing films, you need a LOT of categories lol. I would say, generically, that Becket is a British costume piece that rises above its station due to content (great story) and personnel (Burton, O'toole.) Somewhere on the SD-DVD is a bit on the editor which was quite interesting to me if you haven't seen it.

Off the top of my head, two films from the same general era that do a little better with the gritty realism thing without modern excess are To Kill A Mockingbird and The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers (my no. 1 guilty pleasure.) Hmm, what I might really be talking about is matching "tone" with content. There's a bit of "just throw some clothes on them and let them say all those beautiful words" to Becket. But it's a product of its times and my minor frustration is that it so just misses the mark of greatness.

I don't understand comments about the film being "dated" or "G rated". It was made in 1964 and is of course a product of its time. It is an intelligent, serious film for adults and includes nudity. It has similarities with the look of Lion in Winter but the script and direction is far better.

Far better? LION IN WINTER is a pretty widely respected film on all the planes you mention, and it does portray the time with a little grubby-grit that we hadn't seen as much of in the more "Technicolor costume dramas" the preceded it. I think people are just wondering if Becket is too antiseptic and idealized.

Far better? LION IN WINTER is a pretty widely respected film on all the planes you mention, and it does portray the time with a little grubby-grit that we hadn't seen as much of in the more "Technicolor costume dramas" the preceded it. I think people are just wondering if Becket is too antiseptic and idealized.


It's open to debate but I find Beckett to be a more of a "movie" and as such more involving than Lion in Winter. They were both based on plays but Becket is opened up to suit a film whereas Lion in Winter looks like a filmed version of a stage play.

I think what the Member means, is, that there is "missing", the In Your Face, Tits and Ass nudity...and, oh Yeah, the Beckett-Leonardo Di Caprio-Clive Owen character doesn't remove the baby's umbilical cord with a gun shot, nor is there ANY "carrott in the eye" violence !

The Ac-TORS from the Matthew McConaughey New School of AcTING, couldn't hold Burton's OR O Toole's "jock strap", so to speak, these days, and ONLY in their WILDEST Dreams could they achieve even one of the aforementioned's MINOR acting efforts.

Truly, CLASSIC film acting like this shows how much releases like these are needed to show how much we miss Burton, O Toole, Olivier, Geilgud, et al.

THANK GOD for DVD !+1

Not only great acting ... great writing. One of my favorite lines of all times ... "Thank God, madam, He gave you breasts! An asset from which I derived not the slightest benefit."

I can't wait to screen this at The Buckboard Cinema!

Went to pick up Chinese Democracy (yeah, hell froze over), and saw Becket at Best Buy today. I was excited about this film, hoping Netflix would send it on Tuesday... but I tried to buy it, and sure enough no flags came up at the register! I'll watch it this evening and post my thoughts. I only have a 32" LCD, but I sit close enough that it should be adequate.

Of course O'Toole plays the same King in both Becket and Lion in Winter. Lion in Winter isn't exactly short on top drawer actors with Kate Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton among others. Two top film composers Laurence Rosenthal on Becket and John Barry on Lion in Winter. Both are must have films.

Of course O'Toole plays the same King in both Becket and Lion in Winter. Lion in Winter isn't exactly short on top drawer actors with Kate Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton among others. Two top film composers Laurence Rosenthal on Becket and John Barry on Lion in Winter. [QUOTE]Both are must have films.

I couldn't agree with you more. I have Becket coming this week and waiting for LIW to make it to blu-ray.

Just watched this blu-ray. What a disappointment. Grain missing, smooth faces and halos everywhere, picture looks like an upscale of a poor quality DVD. Booooo!