The Alejandro Jodorowsky Collection
Alejandro Jodorowsky, while being
a prolific author, playwright, graphic novelist (in association with Jean Giraud)
and Tarot expert, is best known for his work as director, especially for his
1970 cult classic "El Topo".
Born in in Iquique, Chile, February 7, 1929, Jodorowsky moved to Santiago to
study at the university in 1942, but rather than pursuit an academic career, he
worked as a clown for some years, then moved to Paris in 1955 where he studied
mime with Marcel Marceau. It was also in Paris he met with Fernando Arrabal and
Roland Topor, with whom he in 1962 formed the Panic Movement, responding to
society with shocking theatrical and performance attacks, as surrealism had
become "petite bourgeoisie." Jodorowsky would continue to do avant-garde theatre
in Paris and Mexico, and ventured into film with "Fando y Lis" in 1967,
which caused riots after its festival screening.
Tartan's "Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)" contains the following
- Fando y Lis
- El Topo
- Soundtrack to El Topo (CD)
- Holy Mountain
- Soundtrack to Holy Mountain (CD)
- La Constellation Jodorowsky
directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky
Mexico 1968
Loosely based on a play written by
Fernando Arrabal, who was working with Jodorowsky on performance art at
the time of its production, “Fando y Lis” follows Fando and his
paraplegic girlfriend Lis on their journey to find the mythical city of
Tar.
It originally caused a riot after its screening at the 1967 Acapulco
Film Festival and was subsequently banned in Mexico. Looking at it
today, one wonders, as it is a mishmash of surrealism and weirdness
supported by its low budget style, and it certainly lacks the strength
of vision, which both “El Topo” and “Holy Mountain” has.
Posters
 |
Theatrical Release: June 8, 1972 (Mexico)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC
Big thanks to Henrik Sylow and Gary Tooze for the Screen Caps!
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
| Comments |
Restored by Tartan, in the last half of 2006, from the only available digital source. The result is that the flickering present in the previous DVD edition, as well as much of the film sparkle and noise has been significantly reduced. As the other films, Tartan is more neutral and has no contrast boosting. Additional material is an, once again, brilliant audio commentary - this time in English - by Jodorowsky, his short film from 1957, "La Cravate", also restored by Tartan late 2006, based on the novel by Thomas Mann, and restoration featurettes for both features. AB differs here by having the documentary “La Constellation Jodorowsky”, and having no restoration featurettes. |
DVD
Menus
Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset
(6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Screen Captures
(Tartan
(Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP
vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC -
BOTTOM)
captures unformatted in
720px (NTSC) and 768px (PAL)
|
|
|
|
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
|
|
|
|
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
|
|
|
|
directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky
Mexico 1970
Famed as the original midnight movie and one of the greatest cult films ever, “El Topo” is more than just cult, it is esoteric. Translated meaning the mole - the title refers to the story of a mole, spending his life digging tunnels to the sky, and when finally seeing the sun, it goes blind – the story is about a gunfighter, which path resembles the one of the mole, in his pursuit for revenge. For a virgin viewer, I felt like that mole, having spend my life awaiting to see this particular film, and finally having seen it, having no clue what it was about. While elements are recognizable, many others appear cryptic or out of place. Roger Ebert suggests it resembling T.S. Eliot use of fragments of mythology against the ruins of the post-Christian era in Wastelands, as Jodorowsky in a similar way employs motifs and symbols from the Old and New Testament, Buddhism, Greek mythology, everywhere, without any internal narrative logic to them. Nevertheless “El Topo” is mesmerizing; spellbinding you with its sharp visual and symbolic nerve, challenging the viewer to learn the cinematic dialect of Jodorowsky.
Posters
 |
Theatrical Release: April 15, 1971 (Mexico)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset - 6 discs) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Raro Video - Region 0 - PAL vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC
Big thanks to Henrik Sylow and Per-Olof Strandberg and Gary Tooze for the Screen Caps!
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Raro Video - Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
| Comments |
Reviewed Restored by ABKCO, who have spent more than two years on it, the image is nothing short of breathtaking. While there are minute compression artifacts, these are not visible during play. Details are crystal sharp, colours are vivid. There are two difference between AB R1 and Tartan R2. The first is the colour palette, which is more neutral in Tartan, and more "full" in AB. The second is, that AB appears to have slightly more contrast than Tartan. However, colours does not bleed, so I will not chose one over the other here. Sound is the restored original 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono, a 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround track, and a 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono English dubbed trach. Audio commentary is in 2.0 DD mono with English subtitles. Additional material consists of an Audio Commentary by Alejandro Jodorowsky, which is worth the DVD (box set even) alone. In almost documentary style, Jodorowsky accompanies the film with notations, then breaks away with directly commenting symbolism, then suddenly a foot note comment to assist a scene. This is followed by another stunning piece of material in form of a short interview with Jodorowsky, commenting on "El Topo" as the first Midnight Movie, then on the film itself. |
DVD Menus
Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6
discs) - Region 2 - PAL
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Screen Captures
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6
discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Raro Video - Region 0 - PAL -
MIDDLE vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) -
Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
captures unformatted in
720px (NTSC) and 768px (PAL)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Raro Video - Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Raro Video - Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(aka "La montaņa sagrada" )
directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky
Mexico 1973
Following the success of “El Topo” as a Midnight Movie, Beatles manager Alain Klein produced “La montaņa sagrada (The Holy Mountain)” with financial aid from John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
The story deals with a thief, resembling Christ, who is introduced to seven most powerful mortals, who then all travel to the Lotus Island to gain the secret of immortality from 9 immortal masters who live on a holy mountain, in order to replace them.
Both visually and symbolic, “La montaņa sagrada” is a far richer film than “El Topo”. It is a feast for the eye and the mind, with its larger than life absurd surreal satire. It is bizarrely grandiose.
Posters
|
|
|
 |
Theatrical Release: July 11, 1975 (Mexico)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Raro Video - Region 0 - PAL vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC
Big thanks to Henrik Sylow and Per-Olof Strandberg and Gary Tooze for the Screen Caps!
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Raro Video - Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
| Comments |
Reviewed Restored by ABKCO, who have spent more than two years on it, the image is nothing short of breathtaking. While there are minute compression artefacts, these are not visible during play. Details are crystal sharp, colours are vivid. There are two difference between AB R1 and Tartan R2. The first is the colour palette, which is more neutral in Tartan, and more "full" in AB. The second is, that AB appears to have slightly more contrast than Tartan. However, colours do not bleed, so I will not chose one over the other here. Sound here is either Restored 2.0 Dolby Digital Original Mono or a 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround track. Notice, that Tartan doesn't have subtitles for the feature itself, but only for the audio commentary. The additional material is once again a superb audio commentary by Jodorowsky, followed by a commented deleted scene and a commented note on The Tarot. Present here is also a detailed demonstration of the restoration process of the film. Again, superb additional material. |
DVD Menus
Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6
discs)) - Region 2 - PAL
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Screen Captures
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6
discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of
Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
captures formatted to
800px from 1024px
|
|
|
|
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Raro Video - Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Raro Video - Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Anchor Bay (The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
|
|
|
|
|
|
directed by Louis Mouchet
Switzerland 1994
Supported by backclapping comments by different artists (Fernando Arrabal, Marcel Marceau, Jean Giraud and Peter Gabriel), this "documentary" centers around an interview with Jodorowsky, where he answers a various of questions about himself and his art.
DVD Review: Tartan (Alejandro Jodorowsky Boxset (6 discs)) - Region 2 - PAL
Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the Review!
| DVD Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from:
|
| Distribution |
Tartan Region 2 - PAL |
|
| Runtime | 1:26:40 | |
| Video |
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
|
|
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
||
| Bitrate |
|
|
| Audio | 2.0 Dolby Digital | |
| Subtitles | English, None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Tartan Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 16 |
|
DVD Menus
|
|
|
Screen Captures
|
|
|
|
| DVD Box Covers |
|
| Distribution |
Tartan Region 2 - PAL |
Mail cheques, money orders, cash to: or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!
|
Gary Tooze
|
|
Thank You!
