Image to release the OBC INTO THE WOODS performance on Blu-Ray

[Plexsis]

Posted: 9/5/14 at 9:58pm

I was never sure if this was recorded on video or film, so I'm not sure how much of an upgrade this will be.

I just bought the DVD since they removed if from NETFLIX. Should have just waited.
Release date - 12/2/14

http://www.amazon.com/Into-Woods-Stephen-Sondheim-Blu-ray/dp/B00NC9TU16/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1409968521&sr=1-1&keywords=into+the+woods

[Musical Master]

Posted: 9/5/14 at 10:31pm

This is a wonderful way for people to see this and with the upcoming Rob Marshall film in the same month, what perfect timing.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/5/14 at 10:43pm

Sadly, this was recorded/filmed on video so the quality will be slightly better than the DVD quality but hardly noticeable.

[jpbran]

Posted: 9/5/14 at 11:25pm

Will it be an upgrade at all? I'd assume the original recording is about the same resolution as a DVD, so the extra resolution of a BD would be wasted. (if I understand it correctly)

[binau]

Posted: 9/5/14 at 11:42pm

The one recording that will definitely benefit from a BD recording is PASSION, which was recorded on film and not tape. Unfortunately, last I heard Image Entertainment do not actually have any copies of PASSION on film to do the transfer.

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 12:18am

Fingers crossed (hopefully in vain) for an actor's or director's commentary track

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 1:38am

I've always hoped that when it's released on Blu Ray that we'll get a commentary track with Sondheim & Peters like we did for SUNDAY IN THE PARK (but without Mandy ruining it). However, I think it would have been in the press release if it was going to happen.

[vassey]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 9:47am

Pointless, as it was only taped in NTSC (720*480) back in the eighties. Very little benefit in upscaling to HD. Things worth releasing in HD are the recording of the 'Kiss Me Kate' revival with Brent Barrett, 'Hey Mr Producer!' and the 10th anniversary Les Mis concert. All of which were actually taped in HD.

[Gorlois]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 10:19am

I never bought the DVD so I'll pick up the Blu-ray.

[jpbran]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 11:07am

If recorded 720x480, wouldn't that be a step up from DVD? Also, wouldn't that be widescreen? (Which would be AWESOME)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 11:35am

Since it was originally filmed in 4:3 than it being in Widescreen would just be the picture stretched out, which would be awful.

[vassey]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 11:45am

No 720*480 is the digital resolution of NTSC and DVD, non-widescreen. That is even higher than the resolution of the analogue video tape used to record Into the Woods, so no quality loss there. Utter pointlessness releasing it on Bluray .
Updated On: 9/6/14 at 11:45 AM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 2:35pm

As everyone else has said--barely worth an upgrade. I would LOVE a commentary track though one could hardly be as funny as Sunday's with Sondheim constantly correcting Mandy's hyperbolic stories.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 2:36pm

And come on Image, get off your ass and finally release Pacific Overtures. They planned to and then said the quality of the video was too far gone and they couldn't afford a remaster--but the bootlegs circulating lately are of decent quality, and it deserves a release.

[Jingjo2]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 5:39pm

Can't be worse than the Blu-Ray of Cats...... Ugh

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 7:11pm

They took it off of Netflix?!? Now I'm depressed.

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 3:09pm

A Blu-ray release of INTO THE WOODS (Original Broadway Cast) could benefit most in the audio department if it is released with DTS Master Audio. The picture quality would be a slight upgrade from the DVD. Depending on how the shots were "framed," it might be possible to matte the top and bottom of the image and present it in an anamorphic widescreen aspect ration of 1.78:1. This is done often, but if the original shot is not framed for this, the results could be not-so-great.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 3:44pm

^^^^^^
I would hope that if it was shot is 4:3 they would leave it that way instead of cropping it into artificial widescreen.

Is there any chance it was actually shot in widescreen but edited down to 4:3 for TV? Unlikely I suppose since it was always intended for TV broadcast.

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 6:11pm

I can't imagine it was shot wide and edited to 4:3, considering it was taped on video. All we'll get from this is possibly slightly better audio and hopefully some extras, though I probably won't hold my breath. Not exactly the release of the century unless there's some curveball in there somewhere.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/12/14 at 11:02am

Have you seen the new cover art for this???



Ehhhhh....

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/12/14 at 12:06pm

Looks like they're piggybacking off of the Disney design.

As for extras, I wouldn't count in it since Image is notorious for its absolute bare bones releases. It would be nice but i think this is just a rushed release to profit off of the upcoming film release.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 9/12/14 at 12:36pm

Is it a horror movie where Little Red gets attacked by a vicious cow? Or is Little Red the mysterious threat that roams the woods? Can't wait to find out!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/12/14 at 1:01pm

Not a fan. They should have used the original artwork.

[Shannon Bo Dannon]

Posted: 9/12/14 at 11:42pm

what is going on with Red's legs...

[jpbran]

Posted: 9/12/14 at 11:56pm

She looks like a spinning top...