The Bird with the Crystal Plumage – The Reviews

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

This is the place to place your reviews and other ones you find around t'interweb.

[bgart13]

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage Blu-ray -Dario Argento

Was unable to post this in the review section as it's locked still. So here y'all go! Not only cropped, but colors are altered. And the snapshots are b&w now too, so...

[doolahrock]

This part amused me, especially the last line -

"Mention has to go to cinematographer extraordinaire Vittorio Storaro, who paints a wonderful vision. Dario Argento is, firstly, a visual director, but this would be nothing without a great cinematographer capable of filming what the director desires. Mr. Storaro is up to the challenge and helps create a visual feast of a story. Every scene is framed the way it should be to create maximum impact".

[PaulD]

Originally Posted by bgart13

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage Blu-ray -Dario Argento

Was unable to post this in the review section as it's locked still. So here y'all go! Not only cropped, but colors are altered. And the snapshots are b&w now too, so...

Interesting review. Seems fair and balanced when it comes to the Arrow version, complimenting the extras and going as far to say that it's a worth a look for Argento fans just to see the different impact the framing has. I hate to judge on the basis of screengrabs but the muted colouring looks a bit iffy to me, but I'll judge that properly when I see it on my tv.

Glad these reviews are trickling through now.

[springjack]

My god... the pain!

[ecc]

Originally Posted by doolahrock

This part amused me, especially the last line -

"Mention has to go to cinematographer extraordinaire Vittorio Storaro, who paints a wonderful vision. Dario Argento is, firstly, a visual director, but this would be nothing without a great cinematographer capable of filming what the director desires. Mr. Storaro is up to the challenge and helps create a visual feast of a story. Every scene is framed the way it should be to create maximum impact".

That is an extract from the review of the Blue Underground DVD edition.

[doolahrock]

Originally Posted by ecc

That is an extract from the review of the Blue Underground DVD edition.

Oh yeah, I'm aware of that. I just find it amusing that praise is heaped on Storaro for the cinematography and his vision just for him to go and butcher this vision in this recent release.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by doolahrock

Oh yeah, I'm aware of that. I just find it amusing that praise is heaped on Storaro for the cinematography and his vision just for him to go and butcher this vision in this recent release.

It is slightly ironic that he did such a superb job behind the camera, supervising the lighting, focus and other elements of why this film (and Apocalypse Now) is such a visual treat only to retrospectively offer an 'alternative' aspect ratio which he insists is the right one, though plenty would disagree!

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

My review is now up at Film 365. Despite the aspect ratio, it really is a terrific disc.

[BAKA]

From Sam Ashurst's weekly House Of Horror column @ Total Film:

The Bird With The Crystal Plumage

Out: Monday £24.99 Blu-ray

Sadly, Arrow’s latest Blu-ray release doesn’t live up to the relatively high standards they’ve set themselves.

Colours are washed-out, skin-tones occasionally look grey, text is blurry and even the aspect ratio feels off. If you told me I’d accidentally been sent a DVD, I’d believe you.

But despite the flaws in the Blu-ray delivery, The Bird With The Crystal Plumage remains a magnificent film.

Dario Argento’s assured debut is so intricate and satisfying that it’ll keep even the most ardent murder mystery fan guessing to the very end.

As such, it’s an essential addition to any Italian horror fan’s collection.

But if you do already own it, there’s nothing here to make you upgrade. If you don’t, you should probably pick it up on DVD, or at least wait until this release is a lot cheaper.

The first line of the next title reviewed (Who Can Kill A Child) seems to take a little pop too: "Eureka, on the other hand, have gone beyond the call of duty for horror fans, rescuing this absolute gem from obscurity". Shame Who Can Kill A Child isn't getting a Blu-ray release

Sam's column is well worth a read every Friday.