'Altered States,' 'The Astronaut's Wife,' and 'Brainstorm' are coming July 10

[Landy]

Altered States
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/3782/alteredstates.html

The Astronaut's Wife
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/3877...nautswife.html

Brainstorm
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/6781/brainstorm.html

[Josh Z]

Curious how the aspect ratio will be handled on Brainstorm. In theaters, the 1.85:1 "real world" scenes were pillarboxed in the center of the screen, and the picture would expand outwards during the 2.35:1 "brainstorm" sequences. The first Laserdisc edition recreated this, which meant that the majority of the movie was windowboxed in the middle of a (4:3, at the time) TV screen with black bars all around.

Later Laserdisc and DVD editions reversed the whole dynamic of the movie, so that the real-world scenes were larger and filled a 16:9 TV screen, while the brainstorm sequences were letterboxed.

[Godstar]

Curious how the aspect ratio will be handled on Brainstorm. In theaters, the 1.85:1 "real world" scenes were pillarboxed in the center of the screen, and the picture would expand outwards during the 2.35:1 "brainstorm" sequences. The first Laserdisc edition recreated this, which meant that the majority of the movie was windowboxed in the middle of a (4:3, at the time) TV screen with black bars all around.

Later Laserdisc and DVD editions reversed the whole dynamic of the movie, so that the real-world scenes were larger and filled a 16:9 TV screen, while the brainstorm sequences were letterboxed.

Oh man, I loved Brainstorm, it was also Natalie Woods last movie.

[project-blu]

Astronaut's Wife is my only MUST of these 3. Altered States didn't do it for me, have yet to see Brainstorm. May check it out for right price. AW, though, I really liked the pace and structure of it when I first saw it 5, 6 years ago, and would love to see it again.

[BrunoBruin]

"Altered States" blew the entire contents of my 20-year-old skull into the back of the theater seat. I can't even remember how many times I went back to see it again. The John Corigliano score alone was worth the price of admission. I wonder how well it holds up.

[thepartyover]

I love Altered States. It deserves a better release than the flipper disc it got back when dvds first came out.

[Doctorossi]

In theaters, the 1.85:1 "real world" scenes were pillarboxed in the center of the screen, and the picture would expand outwards during the 2.35:1 "brainstorm" sequences.

More importantly, I want them to use the Showscan version and transfer at 1080i60. I'm not naive enough to think that they will, though.

[HD Whore]

I was way off on the quality "Dangerous Liaisons" BD would be; hope I'm super surprised by "AS" BD as well!

[cheez avenger]

Astronaut's Wife is my only MUST of these 3. Altered States didn't do it for me, have yet to see Brainstorm. May check it out for right price. AW, though, I really liked the pace and structure of it when I first saw it 5, 6 years ago, and would love to see it again.

Wow. I should have walked out on Astronaut's Wife when I saw it in theaters. I hated it and hated the fact that they tried to remake Rosemary's Baby.

[The Limey]

"Altered States" blew the entire contents of my 20-year-old skull into the back of the theater seat. I can't even remember how many times I went back to see it again. The John Corigliano score alone was worth the price of admission. I wonder how well it holds up.

I was equally captivated with it and enjoyed uncounted repeat viewings of a 70mm print with a six track magnetic sound track. That track alone in DTS-HD Master should be mind blowing and don't even start me on the visuals!

[cheez avenger]

The Master Dick Smith did the make-up effects for Altered States, right? That I think I remember, but have never seen the film.

[BrunoBruin]

The Master Dick Smith did the make-up effects for Altered States, right?

Correct, and the Master Jordan Cronanweth was the cinematographer. Given the pedigrees of the people involved, I've never understood why the movie isn't better remembered.

[Josh Z]

More importantly, I want them to use the Showscan version and transfer at 1080i60. I'm not naive enough to think that they will, though.

Brainstorm was not shot in Showscan. It was originally planned to be, but Trumbull couldn't get the budget to do it and those plans fell through. Instead, he shot the real-world scenes in standard 35mm and the "brainstorm" scenes in 65mm.

[Doctorossi]

Brainstorm was not shot in Showscan. It was originally planned to be, but Trumbull couldn't get the budget to do it and those plans fell through. Instead, he shot the real-world scenes in standard 35mm and the "brainstorm" scenes in 65mm.

That's right- thanks for the reminder.

[laserboy_TO]

I also saw "Altered States" three times in 70MM in a theatre equipped with the "Megasound" process. It was a huge 1300 seat cinema (University in Toronto) and the sound in some scenes practically blew our hair and vibrated our diaphragms! Great movie too.
I worked at a cinema as an usher in the 80's that played "Brainstorm" in 70MM (Eglinton, Toronto). Much of the film was talking but when the brainstorm scenes came on the sound opened up and some of it was really good. The brainstorm scenes looked really good on a giant screen too.