'The Wicker Man' - High-Def Digest Review

[jed]

Peter's review of 'The Wicker Man' on HD DVD is up. He found the movie itself to be an unintentional campfest and a total misfire for noted writer/director Neil LaBute. As an HD DVD release, however, this one boasts decent enough audio/video, earning 4 stars (out of five) in both categories. Bonus for HD DVD fans: the HD DVD includes a Dolby TrueHD track, while the concurrently released Blu-ray does not.

Full review here:
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/wickerman2006.html

[BerserkerTails]

Such a shame of a movie... I was such a huge fan of the original, and enjoyed LaBute's previous work (Nurse Betty was a great movie!), but when I saw this in theatres, the most fun I had was spotting all the sly references to the original.

So this now begs the question, when are we going to see the original on HD-DVD?

[John32]

Well, it was a well-written review, but sorry I disagree yet again with Mr. Bracke's horror film reviews. I am a HUGE fan of the original '73 classic, but call me crazy (and no doubt you may) but, I liked this movie! I didn't this it was crappy, but I can certainly see if you have no connection with the original and absolutely no real yearning or understanding of a 'Wicker Man' flick then you'll think it is utterly a stupid film.

On the other hand....I think that if you enjoyed the original you'll dig this one and, pointed fact: when is it a crime to laugh at a movie and have a good time? Sorry, I don't get it. I have ordered this one all ready and will be receiving it in the next few days. Glad he said it's a good transfer though and I look forward to hearing the commentary. My two cents

[Blurry]

I saw the original and I remember how much it gave me the creeps back when I saw it. I saw this new one in the theatre and I don't think it captured the horror of the original, but I still like it. I have already ordered the HD DVD and it is on the way.

[John32]

Originally Posted by Blurry

I saw the original and I remember how much it gave me the creeps back when I saw it. I saw this new one in the theatre and I don't think it captured the horror of the original, but I still like it. I have already ordered the HD DVD and it is on the way.

*Spoiler Alert!*
I missed the music, Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland , the 1970's, and the religous overtones in it, but Cage's performance is on par with his in "8mm" where he played the clueless & disgusted outsider entering this world of paganism and women power or whatever. Ellen Burstyn wasn't quite in it enough to really be a decent villainess, either.

Dig those freaky animal masks though, and I did like the twist of an all-female society where men are subservient.

[unsmart thing]

Aside from all the plot holes it wasn't bad... I never saw the original so I would probably like that better.

[alfbinet]

Originally Posted by Blurry

I saw the original and I remember how much it gave me the creeps back when I saw it. I saw this new one in the theatre and I don't think it captured the horror of the original, but I still like it. I have already ordered the HD DVD and it is on the way.

I have the original on DVD - Christopher Lee in bad drag! Watched this one last night. I thought it was pretty good, but then I like cheesy horror movies. PQ was pristine, story not as bad as I was led to believe. Entertaining.

[Dave Mack]

Is this indeed a combo...?
I've seen 2 covers out there and people have said it's not now.

thanks!

[Blurry]

Originally Posted by Dave Mack

Is this indeed a combo...?
I've seen 2 covers out there and people have said it's not now.

thanks!

I just got mine in the mail today. Definitely not a combo.

[Dave Mack]

thanks. There's a guy on AVS stating that he got the COMBO for $19.99 and is all excited because this proves that combo prices have dropped.
others think he's insane.

weird, Peter bracke mentions in his review here that the HDdvd is a combo...

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture

Well, at least 'The Wicker Man' looks good. This is another one of Warner's HD DVD-to-Blu-ray replicants, where they simply take the original HD DVD encode and slap it on a Blu-ray disc -- identical bitrate and all -- and voila, two releases for the price of one. So the video quality of the two releases is frame-for-frame identical. (Note that this HD DVD version is a combo disc, with a standard-def DVD version on the flip.)

Is there any way to ask Mr. Bracke..?

[HovhannesB]

Originally Posted by John32

Well, it was a well-written review, but sorry I disagree yet again with Mr. Bracke's horror film reviews. I am a HUGE fan of the original '73 classic, but call me crazy (and no doubt you may) but, I liked this movie! I didn't this it was crappy, but I can certainly see if you have no connection with the original and absolutely no real yearning or understanding of a 'Wicker Man' flick then you'll think it is utterly a stupid film.

Yeah, my friend and I felt we wasted our money in the theatre big time. It was too bad, I liked the beginning of the movie when he was "seeing" things.

[PeterB]

Sorry for the editor's note, it should have read that 'Wicker Man' is NOT a combo. The database specs are correct. It was originally announced as a combo, but for whatever reason Warner went with a straight HD-30 release.

As for the movie itself, I don't know -- as a horror fan I think I've just had my fill of remakes. It's hard to get one's enthusiasm up. I don't mind a few, but it seems lately there is absolutely nothing original coming out. Looks like that might change, though, with some interesting horror releases ('The Messengers,' etc .) coming in the months ahead. I'll be crossing my fingers...

[Dave Mack]

the messengers does look decent. same guys who made the eye....

[Dave Mack]

edit: just read the reviews for The Messengers...
sigh...

[John32]

Originally Posted by PeterB

Sorry for the editor's note, it should have read that 'Wicker Man' is NOT a combo. The database specs are correct. It was originally announced as a combo, but for whatever reason Warner went with a straight HD-30 release.

As for the movie itself, I don't know -- as a horror fan I think I've just had my fill of remakes. It's hard to get one's enthusiasm up. I don't mind a few, but it seems lately there is absolutely nothing original coming out. Looks like that might change, though, with some interesting horror releases ('The Messengers,' etc .) coming in the months ahead. I'll be crossing my fingers...

I'm glad it isn't a combo disc I guess they figured (WB) Well, I know a reason that I didn't pick the standard release up is because I waited for the HD release.

Peter, The Descent.... Wolf Creek (Well, I know your thoughts on the latter ) but, I don't know I think that these two, while not the end-all be-all of horror are pretty good horror releases. Sure, there's an 'Omen 666' remake (crap) for every decent or semi-decent one, but I don't know as a horror fan I'll see most of it, support it, if it's not good I'll say so, but I think that some fans expect another 'American Werewolf,..." or "The Shining" or " The Excorcist" with every horror release and the fact is that many or most horror excursions are entertaining and not classic status and that's more or less how it's always been...