Argento's Sleepless?

[DefJeff]

ive never seen this movie and i really want tooooooooo

but ive been holding off on the disc thats out now

anyone know if there is any chance of us seeing a better Region 1 NTSC version of this disc or should i just go out and get the Artisan one ?

[Werner Von Wallenrod]

I highly doubt there'll be a better US disc in a long time. I don't imagine Artisan would let a company like AB put their own version out.

[DefJeff]

thats pretty much what i was thinking too... i just needed to hear someone else say it :)

[JW77]

I'd really like to know what Artisan was thinking. Pan and scan an Argento film?

I mean, why? Isn't the primary target audience for Argento movies pretty much the film-geeks who demand OAR? Do they think the only people who would be interested in the movie are drones who wander into the video store looking for something else?

[DefJeff]

yea man, you basically took the words right outta my mouth

[Werner Von Wallenrod]

I think they were thinking, "this is another horror film that most people won't buy. we'll put it out cheap as possible, sell it to blockbuster, and concentrate on the important pictures, that may actually make us some real money."

[hell ya!]

Just get the disc now, I can't believe i am going to say this but watching it in P&S was not all that bad. Ya it sucks but i was still able to enjoy the movie(great movie btw). At least its uncut.

[nlogax]

The Medusa version of NonHoSonno rules. AWESOME picture quality, gorgeous! I loved the movie, it definately washed the bad taste on Phantom of the Opera out of my mouth!:D

[Shannafey]

Def, Most Blockbusters have the Artisan disc or tape for rental if you want to check it out.

[bloodthirsty]

I picked up the 2-DVD UK version as soon as it was released! it was the best £14.99 I ever spent!

<IMG SRC="http://imagehosting.auctiondiner.com/image.php3?imgID=1504661">

Disc 1: Theatrical trailer, Making of Sleepless, Dario Argento biography and filmography, Production stills gallery.

Disc 2: 'An Eye For Horror' documentary (60 mins). Features clips from various Argento films and includes interviews with Dario, John Carpenter, George Romero, Alice Cooper, Keith Emerson, Daria Nicolodi, Asia Argento, Lamberto Bava, and others, Stills gallery.

another reason to be 'all region - ntsc/pal' capable :D

AND, I just read this at the www.bbc.co.uk website:

"...It is also worth noting that unlike the cut German and US discs, the UK version is completely uncut."

strange... the UK version is listed as being 117min. and so is the U.S. version.
isn't a PAL DVD that is the SAME LENGTH as a NTSC DVD supposed to be shorter in running time because of the conversion rate difference? so does this mean that even though the running times of both PAL & NTSC discs are the same, the PAL is actually LONGER, therefore confirming the UNCUT claim?

[maringo]

strange... the UK version is listed as being 117min. and so is the U.S. version.
isn't a PAL DVD that is the SAME LENGTH as a NTSC DVD supposed to be shorter in running time because of the conversion rate difference? so does this mean that even though the running times of both PAL & NTSC discs are the same, the PAL is actually LONGER, therefore confirming the UNCUT claim?

Correct.

There's also an uncut Italian DVD where the Italian dubbing replaces the poor English dubbing (but you lose Von Sydow's performance). I think it has a DTS soundtrack too.

[Paff]

Also, I believe the VHS copy from Artisan is heavily cut. I've seen the Artisan DVD, and it looks intact (minus the horrible pan-and-scan of course). I could be wrong about that, but the Artisan DVD contains the extremely graphic violence, so it's hard to imagine that there are even more violent scenes that have been removed. You never know though...

I'd buy that UK version in a second, but the PAL conversion on my player sucks big time. I may still buy it anyway, just to have a good copy for when I eventually get a better player.

But if you haven't seen Sleepless yet, you should get a copy one way or another. Best version are the imports naturally, if you can convert PAL properly. While the Artisan release should be a last resort, it's better than not seeing the film at all.

[Andrew]

Artisan DVD is uncut, but the VHS is snipped to shreds. I have the disc, and it's not THAT bad. I mean it's like a good VHS.

Plus that EYE FOR HORROR documentary sucks. I payed $15 for the Image disc and was quite disappointed.

[zombi3]

I thought Eye For Horror was pretty cool. It had some decent interviews. I was surprised to see an interview with my old film teacher Maitland McDonagh on that disc.

[dwatts]

When in the US I boycotted the Artisan disc. I wiated until I could get the UK MIA disc - which is PAL, but region 0 (despite what the box art says).

Talking about bad dubbing on an italian film is a bit like contemplating why grass is green.

[Paff]

Originally posted by zombi3
I was surprised to see an interview with my old film teacher Maitland McDonagh on that disc.

Is she as dull and dry as an instructor as she is a writer?

Her Argento book is very deep and informative, but she also manages to suck the fun out of a lot of the movies. And sometimes I think she read WAY too much into the films. She knows her stuff, that's for sure, so I'd love to have her as an instructor, as long as I stayed awake...

[bloodthirsty]

dont worry about all the down talk about the superior UK edition... some people can't cope with not being able to play PAL discs, so they just bash em.
I wonder why the folks at www.bbc.co.uk would say the U.S. version was cut?

[dwatts]

Well - the edges are cut :D

I also have the German version - where they swap the documentary for the soundtrack.

[zombi3]

Originally posted by Paff
Is she as dull and dry as an instructor as she is a writer?

Her Argento book is very deep and informative, but she also manages to suck the fun out of a lot of the movies. And sometimes I think she read WAY too much into the films. She knows her stuff, that's for sure, so I'd love to have her as an instructor, as long as I stayed awake...

Actually, I took two classes with her when I was in college - Film 1 and Film Genres: Horror. The latter I took as a summer class to grab an easy 3 credits. I found these to be the most enjoyable film classes that I had taken. We watched and analyzed such films as Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Reflecting Skin, Near Dark, Nosferatu (1922),and Martin, among others. Anyway, as an instructor, Maitland definitely knows her stuff, but I think film professors always read way too far into movies. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, you know? ;)

[Werner Von Wallenrod]

I wonder why the folks at www.bbc.co.uk would say the U.S. version was cut? [/B]
Maybe they assumed the Artisan disc was the same as their VHS?

[Suicide]

There are two versions of the Artisan disc, theres the Uncut one, but my Best Buy has a R-Rated version also.

[bloodthirsty]

Originally posted by Chris Phelps
There are two versions of the Artisan disc, theres the Uncut one, but my Best Buy has a R-Rated version also.

you must be kidding!?!?!?! so Artisan wasted TWO versions of this and couldn't do one of them LBX? what a dump of a company!

I'm SO glad I can play any region/ntsc/pal DVDs! anything to screw over the U.S. majors and support the companies that truly CARE about the movies they put out by releasing the best possible version they can; which just shows they CARE about the people that buy them!

[Suicide]

Artisan used to be pretty good. Their Jacob's Ladder and Pi discs come to mind, but they definitely had something very bad happen to them. But yeah, theres R-Rated and Uncut. The Best Buy here only has the R-Rated one. I had the misfortune of seeing 30 minutes of the R-Rated video back when I worked at a video store, and it's cut so bad you really can't tell what is going on. They didn't even bother to try and make the cuts unnoticable.
I couldn't even get through it. I did enjoy the hell out of the theme music though.

I don't know too much about making DVDs, but would it kill them to just release discs with R-Rated versions on one side and Uncut versions on the other? Or Widescreen/Fullscreen. MGM does it with most of their DVDs, I know it's possible.

[jscott]

After reading threads about Sleepless on this board for the past year, I'm gonna bite the bullet & order the Artisan disc (no region-free player for me). I've heard too many positive things about the film to ignore a shoddy pan & scan release (at least the OAR is 1.85/1, imagine if it was shot in 2.35/1 & pan & scanned,eeekk!)

[dwatts]

You donj't need region free - just PAL conversion - the UK release is region 0.

[Paff]

Originally posted by dwatts
You donj't need region free - just PAL conversion - the UK release is region 0.

Yes, but it's anamorphic, which most PAL converters don't do properly. Which is worse? A stretched picture or a trimmed picture? Tomato, tomahto. Sucks either way.

I think the thing with Artisan is that they've supposedly partnered up with Blockbuster, thus explaining the R-Rated/Uncut issue and the fullscreen thing too. Not making excuses, it's still a BAD decision, but I think that's why they did it.

Considering that many of my first viewings of Argento films (Opera, Inferno, Two Evil Eyes, Cat O Nine Tails, Stendhal Syndrome) were not proper OAR, it doesn't kill me to have to watch a pan-and-scan Sleepless. Hell, I'm still waiting on OAR versions of Stendhal and Two Evil Eyes. I gotta get me a good PAL converting player though, then I'm all over that UK copy

[Andrew]

Chris - are you sure they only have the R-rated cut? Cuz that's where I got my disc, and I'm 99% sure it's uncut.

[bloodthirsty]

Originally posted by Paff
Yes, but it's anamorphic, which most PAL converters don't do properly. Which is worse? A stretched picture or a trimmed picture?

that's why I use my computer DVD-ROM drive to watch PAL anamorphics. I just mirror the monitor image to my TV. perfecto!

[Suicide]

I guess it probably depends. My Best Buy only had the R-rated version, but I'm sure some have the Uncut version. Most of the time Best Buy has Uncut stuff with my experience, so I think it's maybe a mistake here. Either way I'm extra confused now, I just saw Artisan's Deep in the Woods DVD (suprisingly enjoyable movie actually) and it has both Widescreen and Fullscreen on it, so someone's just being lazy apparently. Or what Paff mentioned about Blockbuster, but they have they Unrated version of Y Tu Mama Tambien which has a scene with two guys jacking it, so I don't know.

[DefJeff]

thanks for all the input

im probly gonna end up renting this one like Shannafey suggested

for some reason, i was thinking this wouldnt be available at Blockbuster

i havent been there forever, i have no idea what their selection is

[Werner Von Wallenrod]

My Blockbuster got it.

[The Chaostar]

Originally posted by Paff
...she also manages to suck the fun out of a lot of the movies. And sometimes I think she read WAY too much into the films.

Just wanted to add something on that - not just because I love her book and her writing. Anyone can read a lot into film for a very simple reason: After a film is out in the theatres or in DVD it does not belong to the director anymore, but to it's viewers. Tom Holland says that THINNER is about redemption but I could not see that in the film. It works the other way around. Someone could see something that was not "planted" there by the director. That's why movies ARE fun!

[jscott]

Originally posted by Paff
Hell, I'm still waiting on OAR versions of Stendhal and Two Evil Eyes.

Paff, I know you have the Japanese LD of Stendhal Syndrome, are you saying that it's a full frame presentation? If so, you should pick up Troma's DVD release. It's framed at 1.66/1, or is Stendhal supposed to be framed in a different ratio???

[Paff]

Originally posted by jscott
Paff, I know you have the Japanese LD of Stendhal Syndrome, are you saying that it's a full frame presentation? If so, you should pick up Troma's DVD release. It's framed at 1.66/1, or is Stendhal supposed to be framed in a different ratio???

I have both the Japanese LD and the Troma DVD. They're the exact same transfer.
You'll see the boom mike in several shots, usually a dead giveaway that the transfer opened up too much.

[jscott]

Originally posted by Paff
You'll see the boom mike in several shots, usually a dead giveaway that the transfer opened up too much.

Wow, I've never noticed any boom shots before, but I'd rather have the transfer opened up too much rather than being cropped too much/pan & scan. Thanks for the scoop Paff.

[EPKJ]

Originally posted by Chris Phelps
There are two versions of the Artisan disc, theres the Uncut one, but my Best Buy has a R-Rated version also.

This is odd. I can't find one single reference to an R rated version of Artisan's release of Sleepless online. I have never seen one. I bought my copy at Best Buy, and they only had one version. It was unrated. As far as I know, there is only one version. Can you show a link to a source which will verify your statement?

[dvdasia62]

There is two versions put out by Artisan. A cut version for some rental stores and an uncut version. It's just fact.

[EPKJ]

Originally posted by dvdasia62
There is two versions put out by Artisan. A cut version for some rental stores and an uncut version. It's just fact.

Your response is not helpful. Evidence would be. Can you show a link to a site which verifies this? As I stated, I can't find one. It is not "just fact" simply because you say so.

[dvdasia62]

Originally posted by EPKJ
Your response is not helpful. Evidence would be. Can you show a link to a site which verifies this? As I stated, I can't find one. It is not "just fact" simply because you say so.

OK dude, have it your way. :)

[Shannafey]

Can't we all just get along?

[Paff]

Originally posted by EPKJ
This is odd. I can't find one single reference to an R rated version of Artisan's release of Sleepless online. I have never seen one. I bought my copy at Best Buy, and they only had one version. It was unrated. As far as I know, there is only one version. Can you show a link to a source which will verify your statement?

This is from IMDB (who are admittedly not the most reliable source, but it is an alternative nonetheless):

http://us.imdb.com/AlternateVersions?0220827

That's as much research as I'll do, 'cause I'm not gonna go digging around for a CUT version of a film.

[Suicide]

The R-rated version exists, I'll see if I can find a link to show you. Try Lake Ridge Blockbuster, they should still have a copy on the shelfs.

[Suicide]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005RDRD/qid=1040962400/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/102-7449935-9097759?v=glance&s=dvd
Scroll down to the disc details, it says "R" on that page somewhere.

[EPKJ]

Originally posted by Paff
This is from IMDB (who are admittedly not the most reliable source, but it is an alternative nonetheless):

http://us.imdb.com/AlternateVersions?0220827

That's as much research as I'll do, 'cause I'm not gonna go digging around for a CUT version of a film.

I appreciate your effort to actually supply evidence, however, the link you posted is referring to the actual film version, and not a DVD version.

[EPKJ]

Originally posted by Chris Phelps
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005RDRD/qid=1040962400/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/102-7449935-9097759?v=glance&s=dvd
Scroll down to the disc details, it says "R" on that page somewhere.

It does say R, however, it also says 117 minutes for the running time, which is the same as my uncut version. So, while I appreciate your attempt to provide evidence, I remain skeptical.

[Suicide]

I assure you a R-Rated version with a shorter running time exists, I've watched it. Okay well I watched half of it because the cuts were so poorly done I couldn't see what was going on.

Further proof, I went to Hollywood video today looking for "Cutting Class" and saw Sleepless sitting there, I checked the box, Rated-R 116 minutes. You say you live in Woodbridge right? Go to the Hollywood video by the mall, look in the horror videos section and there you go.

[mutleyhyde]

This thread is funny. :)

And what's the difference? Both the uncut and the, as far as EPKG is concerned, fabled cut version are pan & scam. Who cares whether some of the scenes are cut, when the whole damned movie is "cut"?

[EPKJ]

Originally posted by DefJeff
ive never seen this movie and i really want tooooooooo

but ive been holding off on the disc thats out now

anyone know if there is any chance of us seeing a better Region 1 NTSC version of this disc or should i just go out and get the Artisan one ?

I say get the Artisan disk. Aside from it not being widescreen, it is a good transfer. Sleepless is one of Argento's best films. It is unfairly attacked by many. It is interesting to note that many who savage Sleepless also rave about the horrid The Stendhal Syndrome. I highly recommend that you buy Sleepless. I hope that it finds a Region 1 widescreen release, but, I will take the film in its current form rather than do without.

[dvdasia62]

Originally posted by EPKJ
I say get the Artisan disk. Aside from it not being widescreen, it is a good transfer. Sleepless is one of Argento's best films. It is unfairly attacked by many. It is interesting to note that many who savage Sleepless also rave about the horrid The Stendhal Syndrome. I highly recommend that you buy Sleepless. I hope that it finds a Region 1 widescreen release, but, I will take the film in its current form rather than do without.

Just make sure you don't pick up the "R" version.

[zombi3]

Good movie, but I was very disappointed with the Artisan disc, especially since they originally announced a widescreen transfer with a bunch of cool extras. Then they yanked the rug out at the last minute and released a bare bones, pan and scan dvd. Not good business.

[Rainbowthief]

I should have my R2 PAL disc by Tuesday (as long as UPS doesn't screw me again). I'm really looking forward to it.

[Andrew]

I still say the Artisan disc should be viewed like a really nice VHS. The pan and scan isn't unbearable, and this is how we watched most movies on VHS anyway. The picture isn't great (what you actually see - kinda washed out and grainy), but I'm still glad to have this movie.

STENDHAL rocks.

[Werner Von Wallenrod]

I thought the DVD was uncut and the VHS was R... So there would be no R rated disc.

[newt]

I think this movie gets a bad rap. I have the R1 P&S. I like the cinematography, music, gore, story, & I think Max did a great job playing the retired cop.

Now if we could get a wide R1:banana:

[zombi3]

Originally posted by AndrewBBD
I still say the Artisan disc should be viewed like a really nice VHS. The pan and scan isn't unbearable, and this is how we watched most movies on VHS anyway.

But I'm sure that some people may have gone and pre-ordered the disc thinking they were getting a widescreen SE. Artisan changed their press release just before the dvd came out and if I remember correctly some of the on-line retailers still listed it as being WS, etc. at the time of release. I don't think that was right.

[Andrew]

Oh believe me, I feel the pain. If I remember right, I cancelled my order before it shipped. But yeah, that's gotta suck. I'm not saying it's a good DVD, just not unbearably bad...and very much watchable.

[Joel Groce]

...this with your dollars - "Sleepless" deserves a decent widescreen R1 release - I know this has been beaten to death, but it is very heinous when it's an Argento film.

[DefJeff]

great avatar Newt, that kids awesome in everything ive seen him in, and he always has the worst dub jobs around

can you guys believe i STILL didnt pick this disc up! haha i really gotta get off my ass and rent this or something

i heard the soundtrack is amazing!