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Robert Altman Collection
M*A*S*H A Perfect Couple Quintet A Wedding
| Overall the Robert Altman Collection is hit and miss. First of all, they chose to include a single disc edition of M*A*S*H while a 2-disc set was available previously and can still be found in some stores. The single-disc edition is just the first disc of that set. At least it has some extras - an excellent Altman commentary and so-so AMC Backstory featurette. The video and audio quality is excellent - the intentional grainy look of the film is well preserved. Actually, all films in the boxset look somewhat grainy, but it's no fault of transfers, just the way films were shot. A Perfect Couple is an interesting romantic comedy, slowed down by too many end-of-1970's music numbers. Quintet has all the ingredients of a great film: international cast, interesting art direction, apocalyptic atmosphere. Unfortunately, they don't mesh together well. A Wedding is a movie in a true tradition of Altman - a satirical drama/comedy with a huge cast of interesting characters. Fox provided featurettes on each exclusive film as well as theatrical trailers for all four of them. MASH is better in 2-disc edition and A Perfect Couple and Quintet worth a look, but A Wedding is a standout in the set and is highly recommended. |
(aka "MASH" )
directed by Robert Altman
USA 1970
Clever camera setups, Altman's patented overlapping dialogue, wonderful sight gags and situations, and universally fine ensemble performances combine to make this one the most enjoyable war-themed films ever. What makes M*A*S*H so extraordinary, however, is that beyond its hilarious antics and rich characters, the film offers a poignant portrait of the madness of war. This film was Altman's first major hit; the strength of this film made his subsequent career over the next decade possible.
Excerpt from TV Guide located HERE
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Theatrical Release: 25 January 1970
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Fox (Robert Altman Collection) - Region 1- NTSC
Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!
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Mash was also released in a 2-disc 5-Star edition in January of 2002. Available HERE:
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Fox Region 1- NTSC |
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| Runtime | 1:55:48 | |
| Video |
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0) | |
| Subtitles | English, None | |
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Release Information: Studio: Fox Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 40 |
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| Comments |
Fox is always good at maintaining aspect ratios and the image looks good , if not stellar. It appears to be the same as the 2002 releases (albeit this is only the feature disc). Some cleaning appears to have been done but its not especially sharp - a definite function of Altman production shoots. Colors look true. Nice to have the Altman commentary although it is the same as the previous edition. Real fans of the film may opt for the two-disc'er if they can still nab it. |
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directed by Robert Altman
USA 1978
An ensemble comedy based around a society wedding where everything goes wrong. Directed by Robert Altman and featuring Mia Farrow.
When it was first released A Wedding received a cooler reception than director Robert Altman was used to with previous films Nashville and 3 Women. It is frenetic and confusing with Altman himself confessing, "It probably had too many characters and it gets a little unwieldy." With no fewer than 48 significant speaking parts, that was something of an understatement. However, even with its flaws, this is one of Altman's funniest and most ebullient films.
The ceremony that unites the Corelli and Brenner family gets off to a terrible start when "fuddy-duddy" Bishop Martin (an amusingly vacant Cromwell) fluffs his lines. The presiding matriarch of the Corelli household, Nettie Sloan (a suitably waspish Gish), then proceeds to drop dead. However this doesn't stop guests from attempting to converse with her and they're encouraged to do so by Dr Meecham (Duff). He's determined to conceal her lack of life signs so as not to spoil the party.
It helps that the guests are necking drink and drugs like there's no tomorrow. Fraught wedding planner Rita (Chaplin) looks set to crack as secrets and infidelities are revealed, feuds break out and a drunken aunty insists on singing. On top of that, the overzealous security staff begin to turn on the guests; "Sir, I don't want to have to neutralise you," says one the less confrontational bouncers.
Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE
Posters
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Theatrical Release: 29 August 1978
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Fox (Robert Altman Collection) - Region 1- NTSC
Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!
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CLICK to order from:
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Also now available individually:
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| Distribution |
Fox Region 1- NTSC |
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| Runtime | 2:04:48 | |
| Video |
2.32:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) | |
| Subtitles | English, Spanish, None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Fox Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 28 |
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| Comments |
Decent transfer - a few speckles and some digital noise, but colors look good and the image exhibits occasional sharpness. A 20 minute featurette is included and some trailers. |
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directed by Robert Altman
USA 1979
When shy bachelor Dooley meets raucous rock star Heflin via a dating agency, opposites attract, although obviously the partnership has its pitfalls. Altman's film takes itself very seriously indeed, in spite of the comic potential of the pairing and is a bit too reliant on Heflin's band strutting their stuff. However, it's redeemed by a fine script that cleverly explores the ups and downs of romance.
Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE
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Theatrical Release: 6 April 1979
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Fox (Robert Altman Collection) - Region 1- NTSC
Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!
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CLICK to order from:
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| Distribution |
Fox Region 1- NTSC |
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| Runtime | 1:51:36 | |
| Video |
1.83:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0) | |
| Subtitles | English, Spanish, None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Fox Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 20 |
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| Comments |
It is hard to know where 'realism' production methods end and DVD transfer weaknesses begin. Contrast is quite poor and colors seem dull. This may be very close to how it looked theatrically. A 16 minute featurette is included and some trailers. |
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directed by Robert Altman
USA 1979
A bizarre addition to Altman's CV, this gloomy, snail's-paced sci-fi adventure won't do much for those who prefer their futuristic fantasies laden with action and non-stop thrills. It requires patience. Newman stars as the adventurer in a post-apocalyptic ice age who is struggling to keep himself and his pregnant wife alive on a dying planet whose cities are being destroyed by glaciers. It's crammed full of seriously weird imagery - check out the man and woman ignoring the corpse seated next to them while they talk - and is thought-provoking, frightening stuff. Worthwhile if you have the time to spare.
Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE
Posters
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Theatrical Release: 9 February 1979
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Fox (Robert Altman Collection) - Region 1- NTSC
Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!
| DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
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| Distribution |
Fox Region 1- NTSC |
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| Runtime | 1:58:24 | |
| Video |
1.82:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (Dolby Digital 2.0), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0) | |
| Subtitles | English, Spanish, None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Fox Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 24 |
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| Comments |
Some might consider the film to have 'soft focus' overkill but the DVD image is faithfully reporting that aspect. The transfer is on a par with the rest of the set - pretty good and Altman's penchant for steering clear of intense clarity is again noted. The DVD sports a 15 minute featurette and some trailers. |
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| DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
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Fox Region 1- NTSC |
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
