The French Connection on Blu-ray

Mizu_Ger

Has anyone else seen the new French Connection Blu-ray? The image is interesting. When I watched the film I noticed a kind of glow around some of the characters and objects in the film, which looked a bit weird.

I watched the featurette ("Colour timing the French Connection", with Friedkin) explaining how they completely retimed the colour for the whole film on blu-ray. It involved mixing a black-and-white version of the film with a version that had the colours pumped up to the extreme and blurred (a lot!). I think the blurred colours gives the glowing effect. It's not intrusive, but it was definitely noticeable.

Also, the bluring of the colour component makes the picture look softer than I expected (but there is still a huge amount of grain in the picture, which looks right for a 70's film).

I am not sure whether I like the new look or not. Friedkin says in the featurette that it's not whether the viewer prefers this look or not, but that it's the look he wants and that's what matters!

Anyone have any opinions?

clusk007

No

Peteee

Mizu_Ger wrote: »

Friedkin says in the featurette that it's not whether the viewer prefers this look or not, but that it's the look he wants and that's what matters!

Anyone have any opinions?

He's right. He's the director he can do what he pleases with his film!

Basq

clusk007 wrote: »

No

If you've nothing useful to say... don't bother!

:rolleyes:

Not sure I like the idea of this.. especially after all the stick that digital restorations with alterations have gotten as of late.

Mizu_Ger

Peteee wrote: »

He's right. He's the director he can do what he pleases with his film!

I know he's the director and that this is how he wants it, but it does change the look of the film. So was wondering what others thought of it.