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El Cid Remastered Released

post #1 of 26
1/27/08 at 8:28am
Thread Starter 
After waiting all these years wondering why the industry wouldn't release this from a quality re-print, well it's here. The restored and remastered epic film, over seen by director Anthony Mann and produced by Samuel Bronson, stars Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren as well as a cast of many other stars. My copy was shipped last Thursday, yet to get it though. Beautiful musical score from Miklos Rozsa who did King of Kings, Ben Hur, Spellbound, and many more. El Cid was arguably considered his best film score. Saw this as a kid, loved the movie. Long, as most epics were, around 180 minutes. So anxious that I told my wife that I didn't think I could contain myself and for her to stay clear!:
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post #2 of 26
1/27/08 at 8:46am
thanks for the heads up.

larry
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post #3 of 26
1/27/08 at 8:53am
Thanks Lanajami.
Been waiting for this one.
Tony
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post #4 of 26
1/27/08 at 9:19am
Thanks! Great music and majesty in this one. Glad to hear we'll finally see it looking good.
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post #5 of 26
1/29/08 at 10:49am
Has anyone watched the new remastered version and if so how was the picture and sound?

Thanks.
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post #6 of 26
1/30/08 at 11:43am
Thread Starter 
I pre-ordered it and it has been shipped but still has not arrived. I will let you know when I get a chance to view it. Hope the transfer was good, but???
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post #7 of 26
1/30/08 at 4:17pm
El Cid is advertised by Amazon as having a 1.66:1 aspect ratio. I would bet my bottom dollar that the theatrical presentation was 2.35:1 at least. I had already ordered my dvd from another source that didn't state the aspect ratio. Have any of you gentlemen received your disc yet and if so what is the aspect ratio?
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post #8 of 26
1/30/08 at 4:42pm
Watched up to intermission tonight. Great picture and Dolby 5:1. Aspect ratio as stated on deluxe edition box states "widescreen version presented in a "matted" widescreen format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition. Enhanced for widescreen TVs".
Looking forward to seeing rest of movie tomorrow.
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post #9 of 26
1/31/08 at 11:13am
Aspect ratio as described by Amazon is 1.66:1.
Movie was originally shot as 2.35:1.
Can you verify whats on your screen?
Thanks,
Tony
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post #10 of 26
1/31/08 at 2:16pm
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...dvd_review.htm
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post #11 of 26
1/31/08 at 3:19pm
Many thanks eweiss. So much for trusting Amazon specs.
Tony
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post #12 of 26
1/31/08 at 6:19pm
I just watched the first half. The DVD is gorgeous. Tough to make an old film look much better. Looks like 2.35:1 to me.

larry
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post #13 of 26
2/1/08 at 4:42pm
What a great epic movie! I don't believe I had seen the movie before, at least not in the last 10-20 years. There is something to the saying, "They don't make 'em like they used to".

larry
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post #14 of 26
2/1/08 at 5:10pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I FINALLY received the dvd. Played on my zenith 318 player at 1080I connected to a Sony KP53hs10 rp tv. My 5.1 system is with Swan Diva speakers, HSU sub, and a Yamaha RX-V 3200 amp.

So, for the most, the dolby digital sound was very bright, and the picture was decent. It was O.K. . I was more excited about watching the movie!

Later that night I played the movie, in parts, on the Toshiba hd-a3, and my Hitachi Plasma. No 5.1 sound, just a couple of small speakers and a little amp. Well, all I could say was - WOW, what a GREAT PICTURE!!! Sound was a little muffled, but O.K. for 2 channel. But again, the transfer looked super! The movie was a treat on a smaller screen and lesser sound.

So, all in all, very pleased with the new dvd. Been a long time comin', but worth the wait!
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post #15 of 26
2/1/08 at 7:40pm
IMDb is useful resourceful site for technical information, well it's a good starting point. I see that the film was photographed in (Super Technirama 70) for the six-track magnetic process.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054847/technical
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054847/

In-70mm
http://www.in70mm.com/festival/2007/index.htm
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post #16 of 26
2/2/08 at 1:33pm
I bought the laserdisc version of EL CID years ago and I am chomping at the bit to receive my dvd to see what it looks and sounds like. I remember seeing this movie at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles in the 60's and what a wonderful experience that it was. The chemistry between Sophia Loren and Charlton Heston is remarkable. In his biography he pays her homage for coming to work fully prepared and on time to shoot the film, that she was a true professional. This was a film for the ages. Also look for Herbert Lom, the fierce Moor leader, who would later portray the whimsical head of detectives in THE PINK PANTHER movies.
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post #17 of 26
2/3/08 at 12:37am
This was one of my favorite movies as a kid...epic...dramatic...violent for it's time. I've seen all the Heston epics, but this one, IMO, was the best story. I'm going to have to own this one.
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post #18 of 26
2/3/08 at 5:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ernie Smith View Post

I bought the laserdisc version of EL CID years ago and I am chomping at the bit to receive my dvd to see what it looks and sounds like. I remember seeing this movie at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles in the 60's and what a wonderful experience that it was. The chemistry between Sophia Loren and Charlton Heston is remarkable. In his biography he pays her homage for coming to work fully prepared and on time to shoot the film, that she was a true professional. This was a film for the ages. Also look for Herbert Lom, the fierce Moor leader, who would later portray the whimsical head of detectives in THE PINK PANTHER movies.

Listen very, very, very carefully to the soundtrack. I’ve only seen El Sid on British TV in the past. I would say the El Sid has a lot of dialogue panning moving around the fronts, so listen and note: the difference on the laserdisc, and then see if they have kept to the original intent of the film for DVD, because sometimes they will pull a fast one, just like they did with the DVD version of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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post #19 of 26
2/3/08 at 1:27pm
I saw the picture in it's roadshow presentation when it was released and several years ago when the restoration was in the theaters and I'm very pleased with the new DVD. I'm glad there's interest in it here.

Too bad though that El Cid doesn't outrun any explosions.
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post #20 of 26
2/3/08 at 8:11pm
originally posted by JBLsound 4645:
Listen very, very, very carefully to the soundtrack. I’ve only seen El Sid on British TV in the past. I would say the El Sid has a lot of dialogue panning moving around the fronts, so listen and note: the difference on the laserdisc, and then see if they have kept to the original intent of the film for DVD, because sometimes they will pull a fast one, just like they did with the DVD version of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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Thanks for the info; I will follow your advice. Unfortunately I don't have my laserdisc hooked up anymore. It became painful to watch the picture compared to dvd.
El SID?????
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post #21 of 26
2/9/08 at 6:32pm
Screenshots look to have a lot of noise reduction. I hope it is released on BD as I am not buying DVD's any more.
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post #22 of 26
2/9/08 at 9:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eweiss View Post

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...dvd_review.htm

Based on those screencaps, the Japanese version had washed out colors but noticiably more detail, the new version has more colors and looks more natural, but it's overly smooth with loss of details compared to the Japanese version. Seems both are compromised.
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post #23 of 26
2/9/08 at 9:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JBLsound4645 View Post

Listen very, very, very carefully to the soundtrack. I’ve only seen El Sid on British TV in the past. I would say the El Sid has a lot of dialogue panning moving around the fronts, so listen and note: the difference on the laserdisc, and then see if they have kept to the original intent of the film for DVD, because sometimes they will pull a fast one, just like they did with the DVD version of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

El Sid?
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post #24 of 26
2/10/08 at 12:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt_Stevens View Post

Screenshots look to have a lot of noise reduction. I hope it is released on BD as I am not buying DVD's any more.

I second that. If they restored it they should realease it on HD.

Gimenaaaaaaaaaaa (kinda like adrieaaaaaaaaaan)
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post #25 of 26
2/11/08 at 11:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt_Stevens View Post

Screenshots look to have a lot of noise reduction. I hope it is released on BD as I am not buying DVD's any more.

Why deprive yourself of something worthwhile because it's not in the latest format? Enjoy it for what it is.
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post #26 of 26
2/11/08 at 11:55am
For the age of the film, the SD PQ is top notch. If it ever comes out on HDM, many people will bitch because they don't know what are transfer issues vs encode issues.

larry
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