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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
directed
by Stan Brakhage
USA 1954 - 2001
Working completely outside the mainstream, the wildly prolific, visionary Stan Brakhage made more than 350 films over a half century. Challenging all taboos in his exploration of “birth, sex, death, and the search for God,” he has turned his camera on explicit lovemaking, childbirth, even autopsy. Many of his most famous works pursue the nature of vision itself and transcend the act of filming. Some, including the legendary Mothlight, were made without using a camera at all, as he pioneered the art of making images directly on film, by drawing, painting, and scratching. Criterion is proud to present twenty-six masterworks by Stan Brakhage. ***
Stan Brakhage is one of the true giants of the American
avant-garde cinema, a pioneer who constantly pushed the envelope and who, in
the process, forever altered our conception of what cinema can be. Like John
Cage in music and Jackson Pollock in painting, Brakhage always tried to widen
the boundaries of his medium, a relentless innovator who actually challenged
the ways in which films are conceived. He pioneered the process of
hand-painted films, in which he painted directly onto the filmstrip itself,
and broke all rules of cinematography, editing, sound and framing. But
Brakhage did not only innovate the technical aspects of filmmaking; he also
challenged all taboos as to what art can be, and presented us with factual
images of sex, childbirth and even an autopsy, taking in question the moral
boundaries of art. Whatever you think of his work, it cannot be easily
discarded, for his work is not only totally unique, it presents us with the
endless possibilities of the wonderful medium that is film. |
Comparison:
Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT
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Distribution |
Criterion Collection Spine #184 Region 0 - NTSC |
Criterion Collection Spine #518 Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 3:55:27 (total) | 3:55:27 (total Vol. 1) |
Video |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
Disc Size: 48,686,331,717 bytes Feature Size: 19,932,303,360 bytes (Dogstar) + Average Bitrate: 22.95 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC 1080P |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Audio | Monaural/Silent | Monaural/Silent |
Subtitles | None | None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion Collection Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 4X |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion Collection
Disc Size: 48,686,331,717 bytes Feature Size: 19,932,303,360 bytes + Average Bitrate: 22.95 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC 1080P
Edition Details: |
Comments |
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc. ADDITION - Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray May 2010: Selfishly, I have only re-watched 'Vol. 1' hoping to enjoy Vol. 2, the second and third disc of this double-part set, this weekend by lonesome - with the family asleep. I concur with Maikel's comments below in regard to not being able to make any definitive statements as to what these works were intended to look like - but we can compare to the previous DVD (Vol. 1 an easy addition to our Desert Island Disc listing HERE). Probably the most distinguishing characteristic between the two (SD vs. HD) in this case is the rendition of colors in the more 'painterly' features. These works penetrate on an almost exclusively visual level and the higher resolution benefits the presentation more than one might anticipate from looking at the screen captures below. The majority of the shorts are in 16mm and hence the grain is brought out to a more prominent degree giving the films some wonderful texture and depth. It took a cuss-of-a-time matching the un-timed screen captures below and I don't think I can add much more about the video. We've been here before with transfers of this nature - and detail seems like the lesser attribute of improvement. However, if you have any ambivalence as to the superiority of the 1080P consider that the entire contents, almost 4 hours, of the first DVD package is housed on one disc plus you get the second volume - which amount to a m ammoth set containing:DESISTFILM Tack on 94-page liner notes booklet featuring a foreword and program notes by Marilyn Brakhage, film capsules and an essay by Brakhage expert Fred Camper, and an essay on the films’ preservation by Mark Toscano of the Academy Film Archive. It's impressive. In conclusion, those 'indoctrinated' into Brakhage's American avant-garde cinema, and have drank deeply from his pool of work, probably don't require me to extol it to make a purchase decision - but for those less initiated - we can encourage as a collection that may never grow old and one you can revisit... for the rest of your lives. It will hold an esteemed, and unique, place in any digital library. Personally, I have not had success at showing parts of this to friends (I know -"get new friends") but I don't mind at all. This is a solitary appreciation - one I view totally by myself and for myself - like a sweet treat of indulgence. It's a must-own in my opinion. NOTE: I may separately review the other 2 discs but I'd prefer not to think of that right now. I intend to let it soak-in over time. **** ON THE DVD: While it is often very hard to say anything conclusive about the image quality of avant-garde films, it is virtually impossible in the case of Stan Brakhage: his films are manipulated to such a degree, that it’s impossible to know how they should look like. Although this is not one of Criterion’s ‘Director Approved’ discs, it was made in close collaboration with Brakhage authority Fred Camper, so we just have to assume the films are presented in their most authentic form. Sound is also impossible to describe, because the majority of these films are simply without sound. The supplements are substantial however, and include essays by Camper on the various films, short reflections by Brakhage on most films and some video interviews with Stan Brakhage (conducted just before his death) which all give a nice peek into Brakhage’s way of thinking and working. Criterion really went out on a limb on this one and the result is one of their most daring and lovingly made releases in an already eclectic and outstanding Collection. One could only wish they would do more stuff like this. |
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