Blu Ray?
I just watched Buster Keaton's awesome 1926 movie The General on Blu Ray and it looked fantastic, do you think Modern Times will be getting that kind of treatment soon?
shareYes, this film is scheduled to get a Criterion release (on both blu-ray and standard DVD) in November.
http://www.criterion.com/films/27526-modern-times
Yes, but before you get too excited it will be the cut, reissued version, like the WB/MK2 dvd, missing scenes from the original theatrical release, including the last verse of the nonsense song. The Chaplin estate is continuing to license only the versions re-cut by Chaplin in the '50's. This has been confirmed by Criterion. Criterion is touting Blu-ray and special features, hoping buyers won't notice that it's just another butchered version. True fans of silent and Chaplin films should refuse to buy these re-edited DVD's and demand the original films be released.
shareI got the Blu-Ray on Monday and i thought it looked great
There are two kinds of people in the world my friend those with loaded guns and those who dig
I get the gist of what you're saying and to a point I agree, but ignoring this release, all you're really doing is missing out on a GORGEOUS transfer of the film and many wonderful supplements, including both 'cut' scenes as "deleted scenes".
shareFor me, a re-release or blu-ray DVD, has to offer something more than the DVD I already own. In Criterion’s case, they want me to spend more for less just because it’s blu-ray. Gorgeous transfer that it may be, I would still prefer to watch my uncut Image DVD. I understand that there are many people that only know the edited version and will therefore be happy with the Criterion disc. For me, there is nothing more infuriating than seeing that abrupt jump during the poorly edited nonsense song. I therefore choose to spend my money on restored silent films being released by Kino and Flicker Alley over these edited Criterion discs. If, in the future, Modern Times and the other Chaplins are restored back to their theatrical versions, I may reconsider. Until then I am quite content with my Image DVD's.
share