Since the blu-ray format was introduced I haven’t been buying DVD’s as frequently. Mostly because I have this idea that I want to wait for certain films to be released on blu-ray before purchasing them.
Here are five titles that I think really need to be released on blu-ray. They aren’t available right now or in really crappy versions hence the call-out.
Heavens Gate 1980
This might qualify as one of the biggest box office bombs in the history of cinema. I won’t go to deep on the production notes but it was definitively a disaster shoot like the one depicted in Lost in La Mancha. The only difference being that they never pulled the plug on this one.
Michael Ciminos (Director) previewed a 5 hour and 20 minutes cut of the film for the United Artists Execs that of course was furious. The film ended up being released theatrical in several versions ranging all from 149 to 228 minutes.
I have seen it and its definitively not as bad as its reputation but I did find it a bit confusing story wise. So I’d wish for a maxed out restored Criterion release a la Fanny och Alexander or Brazil presenting both the long and short version of the film in all its glory. Who knows, someone maybe even can dig up the 5 hpur Cimino version of it.
Prefered extras: Michael Cimino commentary track, Stephen Bach commentary track, Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven’s Gate (feature length bts documentary). Check it out in its entirety here.
Victoria (1979 and 1987) 
Simply told Victoria is Sweden’s Heavens Gate. It was directed by Bo Widerberg and was produced by a German producer. As in the case with Heavens Gate the film exists in several versions (none released on DVD) but because of a conflict between Bo and the producer it was never released in a version that Bo approved of.
To top it off it was released theatrically in Sweden in 1987, 8 years(!!!) after its world premiere at the Cannes film festival in 1979.
Prefered extras: Harald Hamrell commentary track (Is today one of Swedens most prominent directors, on Victoria he was Bo’s right hand man working as 1st AD), Mårten Blomqvist commentary track (Author of a recent autobiography on Bo Widerberg and married to his daughter Nina).
Le Grand Bleu (1988)
This one was recently released on blu-ray unfortunately it was not treated very well. The film features several languages and on the blu-ray version they have chosen to dub it into one. Until they fix that I’m holding on to my region 1 Directors Cut dvd.
It could (and should) also get the Criterion treatment since it exists in two very different versions.
Preferred extras: Luc Besson (Director) commentary track, Jean-Marc Barr (Male lead) commentary track.
Andrey Rublev (1966 and 1971)
Another classic film being released in different editions. I have the Criterion dvd release of it which is the longest version (205 minutes) ever released. Its uncertain if its a Directors Cut, Its rumored that Tarkovsky would have preferred it being shorter (this version was restored after his death).
However, I’m a big fan of this version but unfortunately the Criterion dvd is not anamorphic which is a pain in the ass considering the cinematography. I also wish for a complete restoration of image and sound for the blu-ray.
Prefered extras: Commentary track by any surviving cast or crew member.
SubUrbia (1996)
This is the forgotten (hidden away?) Richard Linklater gem and not the more famous film Suburbia. I saw this when studying in Topeka their college library had a VHS version of it that I borrowed after seeing Waking Life.
I find it really strange that its not available on dvd since I remember it as being quite good and Linklater is not a nobody. I probably wouldn’t buy it until revisiting it but as of now its completely impossible to get a hold of.
Prefered extras: Richard Linklater commentary track (Duh!)
You have any dream releases or blu-ray upgrades you are dying to get your hands on?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting selections, Joel. Put me down for as another one for ‘Le Grand Bleu’, too. My pick: Anthony Mann’s ‘El Cid’ (1961). This one seemingly took forever to get a decent Region 1 disc in 2008. I know there is Region 2 BD out there, but where is ours
. Thanks.
Good call. I think I have a bare bones dvd of El Cid in the wrong aspect ratio. =)
Oh I forgot all about Le Grand Bleu which I saw during my childhood. That movie could definitely use a blu-ray release!
Yes but beware of the current on that was released (at least in Europe).
It seems like Heaven’s Gates reputation has improved somewhat over the years. But after being labeled ”the film that destroyed Hollywood” it had nowhere to go but up.
Yes its quite infamous! =)
Le Grand Bleu looks amazing! I have never heard of that movie before
Its worth it and should be available in the bargain bins even in Indonesia.
I agree that Heaven’s Gate, as flawed as it is, deserves a Blu-Ray release but I think it should have more than that. I would say go for an all-out Criterion release. The first disc being the full version of the film with audio commentary by cast and crew members plus one by Michael Cimino. The second disc should be the shortened version with a commentary track by someone who is an expert of the film. The third disc should be interviews and such about the film plus footage from that long, five-hour version that Cimino originally wanted including the Final Cut documentary.
Thanks Steven, I’m totally for a version like that and would preorder it tomorrow if it was announced I hope it will be soon.
Do you have any other film you like to see released or get this kind of treatment?
Well, I would definitely like a Criterion release for SubUrbia as well. And since there might be a sequel for Before Sunset, why not have a Criterion DVD release for both Before Sunrise and Before Sunset into a box set? That’s money there man! In fact, I posted a wishlist of films that I think should be released for Criterion back in July where I mentioned an upgrade for Andrei Rublev (which I just bought a couple of weeks ago). In fact, I did mention upgrades for Rushmore and Traffic where the latter is coming out. Plus, I heard rumors that Badlands is coming out on Blu-Ray soon, hopefully from Criterion.
Ok but that Andrey Rublev criterion version you bought is still the old one that I have got? Or has it been re-released?
I think you meant Disturbia instead of another Suburbia, but I got what you meant.
Strange, though – I had all but forgotten about SubUrbia. The main thing I recall is that Eric Bogosian had a hand in it (I wanna say it was a play first?). Perhaps that’s why it’s not mentioned with Linklater’s other (self-penned) films? Though his Bad News Bears is a remake, so who knows.
I’ve seen most of Besson’s work, so I ought to see Le Grand Bleu, in whatever format.
Hmmm I could have sworn there was another Suburbia movie released after the Linklater one that got a little more famous but you are right it was probably Disturbia I thought of.
You are right its based on a Bogosian play but he also wrote the script for the film. I’m not that familiar with him though but I think this might be Linklaters best film to date so thats maybe a good thing that he hasn’t written it himself.
From what I have heard about the crappy version of Le Grande Bleu its really terrible. However, my copy of the good version was purchased when I lived in the U.S so you should be able to get a hold of a copy on DVD at least. Its worth it but a lot of people don’t seem to like it. To me its Bessons finest film as a director.