"Funny Games"--BD Impressions

[Arkadin]

well I got this bd from Amazon.uk the other day, and just finished watching it.
Honestly, it's kind of hard to know what to say other than wow what an insane friggin' movie.
I mean without giving away the plot I'll just say it's a horror film that has love/hate written all over it. The beginning has to be one of the slowest openings I've ever seen. At many points during the initial 30 minutes I almost gave up on it because it was pretty damn tedious imo, but I was determined not to give up. Eventually I got pretty drawn in, and ended up being pretty amazed at just how extremely different from "standard" fare this movie really is. Also, it helped that Naomi Watts' performance is nothing short of a complete tour de force. I understand that this is an exact shot for shot remake of a 1997 film by the same director. I really would like to check out the original at this point.
As far as the actual bd transfer, I honestly have no idea how accurate it is. It is extremely flat and frankly not anything to write home about. There appeared to be some distracting digital noise early on, but the pq seemed better during the later half of the film. I can't currently judge the hd audio because I'm in the process of upgrading my receiver, and only have a sub hooked into my tv (which has its own sub port)
Anyway, in the end it's not an overly pricey import by any means, and I would recommend it as something entirely different, and as a film that should shock many with unpredictable violence and plot twists. Some scenes are beyond slow so be prepared.

[kannisto]

I received this earlier this week as well, but haven't watched it yet. I had the original version of Funny Games on DVD and I liked it overall when I saw it a few years ago though it had a couple of points I didn't like too much. Michael Haneke has directed many interesting movies, I'd blind buy anything new by him.

[Blacklac]

I just watched this in SD. I took it out after 20 minutes. My friends finished it another day, I didn't miss anything...

[me-uk]

Originally Posted by kannisto

I received this earlier this week as well, but haven't watched it yet. I had the original version of Funny Games on DVD and I liked it overall when I saw it a few years ago though it had a couple of points I didn't like too much. Michael Haneke has directed many interesting movies, I'd blind buy anything new by him.

Its a shot for shot remake as Haneke didnt think there were any problems with the first version apart from it was in the wrong language and thus wasnt being viewed by americans. Personally I dont think the problem was with the language just that the film really isnt very good especially compared to Portrait of a Serial Killer.

[kannisto]

Originally Posted by me-uk

Its a shot for shot remake as Haneke didnt think there were any problems with the first version apart from it was in the wrong language and thus wasnt being viewed by americans. Personally I dont think the problem was with the language just that the film really isnt very good especially compared to Portrait of a Serial Killer.

It didn't occur to me to compare it to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (I saw that one in a movie theatre in London once and on VHS a couple of times, a powerful film). I assume that's the film you referred to?

The parts that turned me off with the original Funny Games were especially the ones where:

Spoiler Below

the main character turns to the camera and starts making self-referential comments directly to the audience - that completely destroyed the mood...

I liked Haneke's previous movie Caché but I fell asleep when watching The Piano Teacher, something in that one didn't work for me.

[me-uk]

Originally Posted by kannisto

It didn't occur to me to compare it to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (I saw that one in a movie theatre in London once and on VHS a couple of times, a powerful film). I assume that's the film you referred to?

Did you not feel that Portrait of a Serial Killer tried to make the audience feel almost like an accomplace in what was going on. Difference was I didnt feel like I was being lectured to for two hours like I did in funny games.

I do find it odd that Haneke would go back to funny games after the films you mentioned. I havent seen The Piano Teacher but I heard it was a very tough (in a good way) experience.

[kannisto]

Originally Posted by me-uk

Did you not feel that Portrait of a Serial Killer tried to make the audience feel almost like an accomplace in what was going on. Difference was I didnt feel like I was being lectured to for two hours like I did in funny games.

I do find it odd that Haneke would go back to funny games after the films you mentioned. I havent seen The Piano Teacher but I heard it was a very tough (in a good way) experience.

I saw Portrait of a Serial Killer quite much earlier than Funny Games so I didn't think of them at the same time. I guess there was some similarity like you pointed out.

Yeah, I'd also prefer more fresh & original films from Haneke like Cache and The Piano Teacher were over this kind of a remake (even though something in The Piano Teacher didn't click for me).

[bevilacq12]

Does anyone here own the Blu-ray of this movie? I picked it up and it is indeed Region Free, but one special feature won't play for me. When I select the 'Michael Haneke Interview', the PS3 just acts like I didn't pick anything and stays at the menu. I thought maybe the special features were standard def PAL formatted, and this was the PS3's way of rejecting them, but the other features (the 4 trailers and the producers Q&A) all work fine.

Can anyone confirm this behavior, either on the PS3 or any other region A Blu-ray player?

[Arkadin]

I can put mine in and see if I can access it.
I'll try to get to it by tomorrow this time.

[kannisto]

Originally Posted by bevilacq12

Does anyone here own the Blu-ray of this movie? I picked it up and it is indeed Region Free, but one special feature won't play for me. When I select the 'Michael Haneke Interview', the PS3 just acts like I didn't pick anything and stays at the menu. I thought maybe the special features were standard def PAL formatted, and this was the PS3's way of rejecting them, but the other features (the 4 trailers and the producers Q&A) all work fine.

Can anyone confirm this behavior, either on the PS3 or any other region A Blu-ray player?

That sounds exactly like the one extra would be SD PAL, as that's exactly how region A PS3 behaves with PAL extras. Tartan wasn't supposed to use SD PAL on their extras anymore but maybe they did with this one specific extra. I also have the disc but I haven't played it yet. I'll try on mine as well later.

[bevilacq12]

Did either of you get a chance to check? Thanks.

[Arkadin]

sorry I actually just forgot. I'll do it now.

EDIT: ok, I get audio only (German)
when I look at the display option for subtitles I am not given any choices.
screen remains black.
there may be no picture anyway. hard to say. I've seen audio only interviews on dvds before. Anyway, that's what I get.
sorry for the lengthy delay.

[bevilacq12]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

sorry I actually just forgot. I'll do it now.

EDIT: ok, I get audio only (German)
when I look at the display option for subtitles I am not given any choices.
screen remains black.
there may be no picture anyway. hard to say. I've seen audio only interviews on dvds before. Anyway, that's what I get.
sorry for the lengthy delay.

Are you using a PS3 or a different player?

[Arkadin]

I'm using the Panasonic bd-30.