Joshua Tree - Dolph Lundgren [Archive]

Markgway

09-12-2008, 07:52 PM

Is there a 2.35 anamorphic dir's cut DVD of this film anywhere on this planet?

The US Disc is the 106m unrated dir's cut (yay!) but in their infinite wisdom Artisan (pron. Arsesthen) cropped the film to 1.33 and retitled it Army of One (boo!)

There's no UK disc - but then EIV's tape was censored and abridged (with re-shot "happier" ending).

AFAIK, all German versions are cut to hell.

The French DVD is 2.35 (not sure about 16:9?) but dubbed in Fr only (bah!) - also for some reason this print is missing a couple of mins of dialogue(!)

mark187

09-27-2008, 12:52 AM

good question, but I haven't heard of one. all I have is the old VHS from Live Home Video, and I'm not about to upgrade to a fullframe dvd of the same quality. but actually it's a really good movie, and contains probably the best John Woo inspired shootout I've ever seen in a US film. the soundtrack is awesome too, def. the best Dolph Lundgren movie I've seen!

Markgway

09-27-2008, 03:34 AM

Yeah, not many directors get as close to Woo as Vic Armstrong did with that garage gunfight. Shame he didn't continue to direct. Probably Lundgren's best film, but didn't even get a theatrical release in the US or UK.

oldeschool17

09-27-2008, 03:43 AM

Did U2 provide the soundtrack for this one :)

Markgway

09-27-2008, 02:16 PM

Don't laugh. That's apparently why they changed the title.

oldeschool17

09-27-2008, 04:09 PM

Don't laugh. That's apparently why they changed the title.
Lovely. What better way to blend cinema and music than to have "With or Without You" playing as Kristian Alfonso's body double is showering

spannick

09-27-2008, 09:39 PM

Markgway

09-28-2008, 01:41 AM

the 1.33 Version on US DVD is not cropped, it's open matte. you see a hell of a lot more Picture on it. just zoom it in and it looks fine. the 2.35 is matted too severe. also, there's a whole different ending on the US Version than on the German / old European VHS Versions.

Ah. Was it filmed in Super 35 then?

The DVD-R I have is the Unrated Dir's Cut (with ARMY OF ONE title) but it's matted (I had assumed it was cropped) to 1.78.

But now I'm thinking it's the 1.33 print that someone has 16:9'd. I have to say it does look pretty good.

So Spannick are you saying that 2.35 is NOT the original (intended) aspect ratio?

spannick

09-28-2008, 11:41 AM

well it could have been shot for 2.35 in mind, but i doubt it's correctly reformatted on the Video formats. i got a 2.35 Version from German TV (MGM) and it's matted even MORE than the French DVD... (and it has the other Ending!)

spannick

09-28-2008, 12:31 PM

here a shot to compare each Version:

http://www.LupiUpload.de/100209/k-SqCRjNFa.jpg (http://www.LupiUpload.de/file.php?dat=SqCRjNFa.jpg) http://www.LupiUpload.de/100209/k-IZNdTo6L.jpg (http://www.LupiUpload.de/file.php?dat=IZNdTo6L.jpg) http://www.LupiUpload.de/100209/k-X7njLjAY.jpg (http://www.LupiUpload.de/file.php?dat=X7njLjAY.jpg) http://www.LupiUpload.de/100209/k-bV21tK1p.jpg (http://www.LupiUpload.de/file.php?dat=bV21tK1p.jpg)

Markgway

09-28-2008, 03:20 PM

Judging by your caps (thanks, BTW) looks like it could be Super 35.

1.33 has significantly more info at the top and bottom and a sliver less at the sides (and that usually that spells S35 format).

Looks like 2.35 could be the intended ratio (anyone got Vic Armstrong's phone number? lol) but might play most comfortably at a little less (between 1.85 and 2.00 say)

Jox

10-22-2008, 08:04 AM

falkor

10-22-2008, 11:18 AM

Is this a good film? I only got to see Showdown In Little Tokyo re: Lundgren.

Karlos

10-22-2008, 11:47 AM

I got the Korean DVD from eBay back in Feb - it appears to be widescreen (No idea about ratios, I'm rubbish at all that!), but doesn't have the extra scenes at the end.

It is a gorgeous print, though! :D

I really enjoyed the film; certainly one of Dolph's best - along with Men of War, Showdon in LT and Punisher, IMO.

And who knew George Segal had such a potty mouth??! :o

Karlos

10-22-2008, 11:59 AM

Bah!

Just checked my disc - and it's FULL screen! :S

Man, my memory is BAD! :p

spannick

10-22-2008, 12:53 PM

btw, MEN OF WAR is ONLY available in its full unrated Glory (in 2.35 Format) on a Swedish 4 Movies on 2 DVDs set (!). the Touchstone DVD is severly overmatted and edited in lots of Violence for an R-Rating. only minor quibble: uncut DVD is 4:3, not 16:9

Jox

10-22-2008, 02:35 PM

btw, MEN OF WAR is ONLY available in its full unrated Glory (in 2.35 Format) on a Swedish 4 Movies on 2 DVDs set (!).
Swedish edition also available on a single disc. Also I'm pretty sure the Japanese DVD is widescreen 2.35 and uncut and possibly even 5.1 although I'm not 100% sure because I don't own it YET.

spannick

10-22-2008, 04:31 PM

hey, if you link me to a Catalog Number or Japanese link i'll happily try it out. love the Movie and tried out every possible Version you can think of ;)

Jox

10-22-2008, 05:06 PM

Be my guest ;)
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=GNBF-7331

spannick

10-22-2008, 07:18 PM

thanks.

spannick

10-22-2008, 07:19 PM

someone already tried:
http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=fassung&fid=472&vid=253479

JP DVD is sadly only the R Version :(

Karlos

10-23-2008, 10:18 AM

I got Men of War on Reg 1, which I believe comes in two flavors: full and W/S (Why??!)

Can anyone please tell me what's missing from the R rated version?

spannick

10-23-2008, 12:06 PM

http://www.schnittberichte.com/schnittbericht.php?ID=4420

Pictures and Timecodes should help

Markgway

10-23-2008, 02:03 PM

It WAS shot in Super35 (according the production notes) and screened theatrically in France in 2.35 (which, given that it is a modern day western was certainly the ratio intended, S35 just costs less than anamorphic).

Super 35 is a giant pain in the arse. It always causes framing issues and never looks as good as Panavision.

Is this a good film? I only got to see Showdown In Little Tokyo

Yes. It's a lot better than Little Tokyo.

btw, MEN OF WAR is ONLY available in its full unrated Glory (in 2.35 Format) on a Swedish 4 Movies on 2 DVDs set (!). the Touchstone DVD is severly overmatted and edited in lots of Violence for an R-Rating. only minor quibble: uncut DVD is 4:3, not 16:9

Dolph's second best movie and another that's been treated poorly by distributors. I saw the unrated version on TV but t'was full screen alas. This one was scope wasn't it?

Jox

10-23-2008, 02:08 PM

Yeah, and anamorphic scope this time (I think).

spannick

10-23-2008, 02:58 PM

yep, wonderful Scope Framing. that's why the matted US Version annoys me so much, all Heads are looped of and such shit. the French (based on unrated, but censored!) and Swedish are much better framed within in the 2.35 Ratio.

Jox

10-23-2008, 04:24 PM

Karlos

10-23-2008, 05:08 PM

Thank you very much, Spannick!! :D

Such a shame they felt the need for cuts - on the upside, all this talk about it makes me want to go back and see it again!!

So that's 4 of Dolph's best (Men of War, Joshua Tree, Punisher, Shooter) butchered on DVD - crazy!

spannick

10-23-2008, 05:17 PM

The French was made from their theatrical 35mm which is why I could never understand the cuts on the DVD (which very rarely happens in France) except that I suspect (as for Joshua Tree) they might have used the same master as one made for TV...

What do you mean by "all Heads are looped of and such shit"?

just see the first pix on my "schnittberichte" link and you will see how heads are shaved off on the US DVD's framing... he compares the image for two shots.

jiujitsu77

10-23-2008, 06:31 PM

i was unaware that my man dolph had such a following overseas

his last few direct to dvd films have done fairly well, but fall even below segal's standards unfortunately. his last one (i think it was called the missionary?....no no missionary man.)it was written and directed by him...almost a modern day spaghetti western.....noteable effort, but still dissapointing

his box art still manages to drag people in. however diamond dogs (his latest) is collecting dust on the shelves

just wish he would be cast in something that could push him further.

anyone anticipating the upcoming JCVD?

Jox

10-23-2008, 07:01 PM

He's always been bigger overseas (more of his flicks went theatrical).

Have you seen "The Defender" and especially "The Mechanik"? they're his first directorial efforts and show lots of skills and potential.

"Missionary Man" did not turn out as even himself expected because he didn't have much support from his producers, and even the lab managed to screw up the transfer from the approved HD master to the final DVD, so that explains the weird colors...

He's trying to do different things and grow slowly but surely as a director. His last piece "Command Performance", even though a straight forward Die-Hard-like flick, should be pretty new and different, especially in terms of his character.

Then he's working on some action drama in the vein of "History of Violence" and "Leon"/The professional called "Icarus"...

just see the first pix on my "schnittberichte" link and you will see how heads are shaved off on the US DVD's framing... he compares the image for two shots.
Call me blind or stupid but to me the US one looks much wider and better and more like a proper 2.35 aspect ratio... The other (from which source?) looks more like a 1.85 or something between 2.35 and 1.85...

spannick

10-23-2008, 11:35 PM

it still is cropped very much at the top and bottom. now if you don't see THAT you can call yourself stupid ;)

and i don't care about the sides, as the other 2.35 Versions offer that Stuff too.

Jox

10-25-2008, 03:05 PM

I see that but that doesn't mean it's the intended ratio... just like many pan & scan or full screen versions will show you more on the bottom and top... and sometimes some boom mics will drop in the frame as well...

Jox

11-05-2008, 02:39 PM

To come back to JOSHUA TREE, I just heard that the film's rights were now split between two companies which makes it difficult to make any sequel (was told Vic Armstrong is not against it) or new DVD release...:S

Markgway

11-05-2008, 06:49 PM

Bummer.

TibetanWhiteCrane

11-05-2008, 07:13 PM

No love for RED SCORPION?? He shoots a guys arm off for craps sake!!

Karlos

11-06-2008, 03:18 PM

AICN has today posted an update on Universal Soldier 3.

According to Van Damme, Lundgren has not been asked to participate because, and I quote, "he has no value"!!

Ouch!! :mad:

TibetanWhiteCrane

11-06-2008, 04:20 PM

AICN has today posted an update on Universal Soldier 3.

According to Van Damme, Lundgren has not been asked to participate because, and I quote, "he has no value"!!

Ouch!! :mad:

And Van Damme has:D;):D;):cry::o:quiet:

Markgway

11-06-2008, 06:26 PM

You think he actually said that?

gunswordfist

11-06-2008, 08:22 PM

Is this movie better than Showdown In Little Tokyo (which is my favorite Hollywood MA movie along with Drive)

Jox

11-07-2008, 08:48 AM

AICN has today posted an update on Universal Soldier 3.

According to Van Damme, Lundgren has not been asked to participate because, and I quote, "he has no value"!!

Ouch!! :mad:
According to this interview the producers would have said that not, VD...

This is BS.

I KNOW FOR A FACT that Dolph was offered the part and as of a a few weeks ago he wasn't if wouldn't postpone his other project "Icarus" to film US3.

Karlos

11-07-2008, 10:01 AM

Markgway:

Here's the link:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/38992

:)

Markgway

11-07-2008, 03:44 PM

"However Dolph Lundgren, with whom he co-starred in the original Emmerich & Devlin UNIVERSAL SOLDIER film, won't be returning, per The Powers That Be."

“I told them, guys bring in Dolph! They said there’s no more value [to cast him]. I said, ‘it will have value with me!’”

That's completely different to the idea that Van Damme says Dolph has no value. I had a feeling his quote had been taken out of context.

Karlos

11-07-2008, 03:46 PM

Jox - you are right, the producers said this, and not JCVD - apologies if I insinuated otherwise.

Just for the record, I take no pleasure in posting the above - I just figured people would be interested in this news item, and I don't want it to look as if I'm enjoying the negativity of it.

As you can see from my other posts, I'm a Dolph fan, too!!

:)

Markgway

11-07-2008, 03:47 PM

Van Damme also confirmed rumors that Peter Hyams, who directed Jean-Claude in TIMECOP and SUDDEN DEATH, will serve as DP on the project for US3 director Simon Fellows (UNTIL DEATH, SECOND IN COMMAND). To the best of my knowledge, this will be the first time Hyams (who traditionally shoots his own films) has DPed for a film he did not also direct.

Umm... Wouldn't it be better to have Peter Hyams direct as long as he's attatched? I mean, he was responsible for two of Van Damme's best films (Timecop, Sudden Death). Simon Fellows, erm, wasn't. It's like Brian DePalma serving as DP for Uwe Boll!

Karlos

11-07-2008, 04:12 PM

Agreed - very odd!! :p

I had to read that twice to make sure I had indeed got it right!!

BTW (and apologies if it's off topic), did you or anyone else catch Double Impact the other night on TV? I'd forgotten just how much I love that film!!