There will come a day when Blu-ray discs are thought of as old hat in the same way that we now consider videotapes and will soon consider DVDs. Of course, when that day comes, it won't be a day for mourning, but there is part of me that wonders how much better the quality of an image can get. I'm not foolish enough to think that there are even further lengths to which we can improve colors, lighting, and so on. That said, Blu-rays seem to have opened our eyes up in such a way that future technology can seemingly only dream of. Two examples of the format at its best were released this summer from the Criterion Collection, now reissuing some of its older releases in the exponentially worthy Blu-ray: The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus.
I rarely buy DVDs and Blu-ray discs (I do still consider buying the former, it's true) without first having seen the movie or TV show, but the few times that it's happened, I've mostly found myself on the winning side of things. Most of you probably haven't seen either The Red Shoes or Black Narcissus, two of the great British films of all time--well, scratch that, two of the best films of all time, period. More people have over the years, partly thanks to Martin Scorsese publicly embracing the works of the filmmakers behind these films, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Back when they made films in Great Britian, they were known as the Archers, having made other classics like A Matter of Life and Death and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. All four of these films are excellent, but the Blu-ray transfers of both The Red Shoes (which is getting lots of name-checks with the recent release of Black Swan, a film which at least has been somewhat influenced by the older film) and Black Narcissus are remarkable.
What makes the transfer so notable and so welcome is that here are two older films that may not be as well-known in their use of color by the masses as, say, The Wizard of Oz or Gone with the Wind, but deserve the upgrade anyway. Chronologically, Black Narcissus comes first, having been released in 1947. The Red Shoes came the year afterwards, and their shared, dynamic, and breathtaking use of color remain as vital today as they did in the 1940s. I've waxed rhapsodic about the two films previously on this blog, but make no mistake: you may not find the prospect of a movie about nuns or a movie about ballet exciting, but you should ignore the little voice casting such doubts. The films are not just marked by compelling, twisted, unique stories, but also by notable performances from Deborah Kerr, Moira Shearer, and Anton Walbrook.
But first and foremost, the color. Oh, the colors in these films. Nuns in India and a ballerina in Europe offer Powell and Pressburger very different, expansive palettes with which to paint. The cinematography in both films, from Jack Cardiff, is frequently jaw-dropping. Consider, when you look at either or both, in their stunning new upgrades, that these movies are from the 1940s. Consider that the bare minimum of effects were used, and they were seamless when utilized. The Criterion Collection is almost always going to live up to your expectations. They do exactly that with The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus. Over 60 years have passed since their releases, and they still hold a shocking power today. Kudos to Criterion for updating both films' discs. Now go check them out.
No comments:
Post a Comment