Films/DVD Asylum

"La Grande Illusion"

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rico

(A)

"Grand Illusion" is one of the most human films I have ever seen. While Criterion's laserdisc was passable, the current DVD is truly remarkable, with deep blacks and good sound. Jean Renor directed this grand daddy of prisoner of war films, where French and German Officers in World War I try to maintain a balance between gentlemanly chivalry and the duty to escape. Erich von Stroheim is wonderful as the flying officer turned warden and we feel his stiffness and each ache and pain as he moves about. The film is in French but occasionally shifts to English and other languages, as if to subtley suggest the commonally of men in wartime conditions. I always show the last part at Christmastime and have been a champion of this film from the moment I saw it.

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It's on my top ten list of all time... - RGA 07:07:45 05/31/06 (2)
The film indeed is heartfelt and serves a history of war that was quite different than what we have seen since. A code among men of decency and humanity mixed with the beastliness of war/murder.
It holds up amazingly well as a timeless story.
- A Grande Illusion in its portrayal of war, too. Oh, the tip of the - tinear 16:31:03 06/01/06 (0)
  hat gentlemanliness may have existed in a few instances, isolated, but mainly trench warfare was cold-blooded slaughter. On a scale never seen before as man came to grips with the efficiency of killing machines.
- I am sure right next to the 8 1/2 - Victor Khomenko 07:32:00 05/31/06 (0)
  There is that pre-modern feel about that movie, forcing one to disassociate from his present day life in order to get absorbed... it is perhaps the closest thing to Erich Maria Remark's WWI prose.
Yes, when the newly-restored version came out I made sure to see it in the thratre. Also... - clarkjohnsen 07:48:03 05/30/06 (9)
...the subtitles are much, much improved.
clark
- What did you see in the theater? - Victor Khomenko 06:06:15 05/31/06 (8)
  A restored film version?
  - What else? The very restoration being discussed! nt - clarkjohnsen 11:28:55 05/31/06 (7)
    d
    - I thought he was talking about the DVD... did you see a film version? - Victor Khomenko 11:30:08 05/31/06 (6)
      Did they restore both, or just the DVD?
      - Victor, they don't "restore the DVD". - clarkjohnsen 11:48:52 05/31/06 (5)
        
        In Reply to: I thought he was talking about the DVD... did you see a film version? posted by Victor Khomenko on May 31, 2006 at 11:30:08:
        
        They restore the film, then copies of that film are struck and sent to theatres in Boston, New York and L.A. -- maybe Chicago too -- and to the telecine outfit that cramps them onto a DVD.
        clark
        
        Are you entirely sure of that? - Victor Khomenko 13:05:55 05/31/06 (3)
        
        In Reply to: Victor, they don't "restore the DVD". posted by clarkjohnsen on May 31, 2006 at 11:48:52:
        
        I recall watching their restoration story, and of course that was years ago, but I thought restoration was done in digital domain...
        Not arguing, just trying to get to the bottom of it.
        
        Done in the digital domain or not, it ends up on celluloid for projection. Also... - clarkjohnsen 07:54:33 06/01/06 (2)
        
        In Reply to: Are you entirely sure of that? posted by Victor Khomenko on May 31, 2006 at 13:05:55:
        
        ...many if not most of the original frames on the negative are just fine and demand little additional work. The bear is when only a positive (print) is available; usually it's somewhat worn.
        clark
        
        Restoring in the digital domain is what I was referring to as DVD restoration - Victor Khomenko 11:40:01 06/01/06 (1)
        
        In Reply to: Done in the digital domain or not, it ends up on celluloid for projection. Also... posted by clarkjohnsen on June 1, 2006 at 07:54:33:
        
        What they do then with the now digital master is secondary question.
        
        Major misunderstanding on your part there, buster. nt - clarkjohnsen 12:04:47 06/01/06 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Restoring in the digital domain is what I was referring to as DVD restoration posted by Victor Khomenko on June 1, 2006 at 11:40:01:
        
        x
        
        Re: Victor, they don't "restore the DVD". - rico 12:01:58 05/31/06 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Victor, they don't "restore the DVD". posted by clarkjohnsen on May 31, 2006 at 11:48:52:
        
        From a wwrite up on The Criterion Collection:
        Restorations
        Criterion usually selects foreign films, established classics, and obscure critically admired movies over mainstream Hollywood fare, though it has released the occasional mainstream blockbuster, such as Armageddon and The Rock. Criterion is noted for spending a great deal of effort and money tracing the best source materials for classic films, and engaging in thorough restorations�a practice that has influenced other companies.
Another Film About Humanity. - AudioHead 15:43:07 05/29/06 (1)
There is a film about commonality of humans, "Merry Christmas" depicting the famous 'Christmas Truce' of 1914 where Brits, French and German troops temporarily put their differences aside, left the trenches and socialized, much to consternation of their commanders. You may want to scope it out if you're not already familiar with it.
~AH
- until... - dave c 20:30:41 05/29/06 (0)
  ... the class ridden nature of the higher officers caused them to shell their own troops rather than let peace break out.
  A great moment from the annals of infamy.

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