darn it. already ordered the US best buy one. might gonna double dip with this one. depending on the extras and the glossy/matte treatment
Looks like the "Extras" are particularly thin-on-the-ground with this release - so thin in fact that "Special Features and Extras" have been marked 1 out of 5 on a sister site.
How thin ?
2 supplements - that's how thin:-
1) BEYOND THE EIGHT: A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK - a brief promo featuring interviews and snippets from the film (HD 4:58)
2) SAMUEL JACKSON'S GUIDE TO GLORIOUS 70MM - information about the "retro" Ultra Panavision look of the film (HD 7:49)
No Commentary from QT or anyone else, which is unfortunate though not a big surprise, and the film is massively long (though not when compared to some of those real epics from the era of the epics - the 1960s) and of course many of us buy these magical shiny discs more for the films than for anything else . . . but, still, if that's correct that's less than 15 minutes of extras which seems a bit mean for this big-style production.
If you want slightly more for your money there are two other options:-
1) Target Exclusive with "Extra Bonus Features" though what these are I have no idea.
2) BestBuy Exclusive Steelbook with "Exclusive Bonus Features" which are also TBC but I think includes "AN INSIDE LOOK AT QUENTIN TARANTINO'S 8TH FILM"
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Regarding the FEATURE LENGTH: 168 mins. listed for the U.K. steelbook / 187 mins. listed for the U.K. Amaray . . .no clue as to why the different runtimes or if it's just an error in the listing . . .
Regarding the Ultra Panavision 70mm film used: Not used today, so "retro" in its use here taking us back to the times of the true epics of 50 and more years ago - to the 1950's and 1960's - with BEN-HUR, MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD, KHARTOUM, HOW THE WEST WAS WON, THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE as examples.
THE HATEFUL EIGHT is apparently the first 70mm Cinerama release since KHARTOUM in 1966.
Regarding the ASPECT RATIO: Apparently showing in its original aspect of 2.76:1 in the Blu-ray which will look just fine on a large display of maybe 65" and bigger but maybe not so great on a regular size display with half of the screen taken up by the horizontal black bars . . .
Regarding the ROADSHOW production with its INTRODUCTION / OVERTURE ENTRE'ACTE and EXIT music, here courtesy of the great Oscar-winning Ennio Morricone: Personally hope some of this epicness finds its way onto the Blu-ray - haven't been to the cinema to see this so don't know if there are three musical "breaks" or if the music is to a blank screen or if it's showing in all cinema presentations and not just for the Roadshow. No harm IMO to have this on the BD and people can just fast-forward if too boring . . .
This type of musical interlude was seen in most of the massive film productions of the era of the epics - the 1950s,1960s and a few in the 1970's - even if was just as an INTERMISSION (with music from the great Miklos Rosza and others) including:- BEN-HUR, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, KING OF KINGS, THE BIBLE, EL CID, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, CLEOPATRA, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, HOW THE WEST WAS WON, STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, GONE WTH THE WIND, DR. ZHIVAGO, WEST SIDE STORY, THE GUNS OF NAVARONE, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, OLIVER! . . .
In past times, before multiplexes, ROADSHOWS were THE way to see the big movies in single screen cinemas, massive auditoria with literally hundreds and hundreds of seats - a real event, with folks dressing up in their best togs, with the Overture music playing while they were being shown to their assigned seats by the ushers - the music and closed curtain in front of the giant Cinerama screen taking the place of the modern adverts and previews . . . , with an Entre'act Intermission half-way through to allow for bathroom breaks and for the popcorn, hot dogs and other goodies to be brought around by the ushers and, finally, the Exit music as everyone made their way out.
The Roadshow event, inspired by opera, operettas and musical theatre, was designed to get people away from the TV and back into the cinema because in 1946, for example, 61% went to the cinema at least once a week while in 2010 that figure had shrunk to 8% approx.
If you couldn't get to such an event there was always the regular screenings but maybe not "events" as such.
Best quote on the film I've read so far - "Throw a bunch of wackos into a space together, stir the pot and let it boil over"
