The
Simon Wiesenthal Collection
(1982 - 2013/Docurama/Cinedigm DVD Box Set)/The
Way Things Go
(1987/Icarus Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
C+/B- & C Sound: C+/B- & C+ Extras: C/D Films:
B+/C
Here's
our latest documentary releases, both of which revisit works from a
while ago we covered before and then some...
The
Simon Wiesenthal Collection
(1982 - 2013)
is a solid set of films on Judaism, World Jewry and The Holocaust,
with 12 films in all, several of which we have been fortunate enough
to have covered. The films are as follows, including links to those
previously covered...
Genocide
(1981, Academy Award® Winner, Best
Documentary)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1451/Genocide+%28Documentary%29
Long
Way Home
(1997, Academy Award® Winner, Best Documentary)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1875/The+Long+Way+Home+%28Documentary%29
Liberation
(1994)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1452/Liberation+%28Documentary%29
Echoes
That Remain
(1991, Dir. Arnold Schwartzman, 1.33 X 1, Dolby SR theatrical sound,
no extras) Martin Landau and Mariam Margolyes narrate this solid hour
of the legacy of judaism against all odds and what that life entails.
Mostly made of stills, we also get some older film and never video
footage.
Unlikely
Heroes
(2003)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1932/Unlikely+Heroes+%28Holocaust+Documentary%29
Long
Way Home
(1997, Dir. Mark Jonathan Harris, 1.33 X 1, DTS theatrical sound, no
extras) is a two hour look at what Holocaust survivors had to endure
and what they experienced once they were freed. Morgan Freeman
narrates, joined by readings from Martin Landau, Mariam Margolyes,
Edward Asner, Nina Siemaszko, Helen Slater, David Paymer, Sean Astin
and Michael York.
In
Search Of Peace
[Part
One, 1948 - 67]
(2001)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1871/In+Search+Of+Peace+-+Pt.+1:+1948-67
Ever
Again
(2006, Dir. Richard Trank, 1.85 X 1, Dolby Digital theatrical sound,
no extras) has Kevin Costner narrating this solid look at the rise of
Neo-Nazis and related parties, bringing back the threat of more
murder and anti-Semitism that has jumped up exponentially since this
film was issued. Prophetic, accurate and a warning more on the money
than ever, it is as much of a must-see as all the vital films in this
important collection, even more amazing at only 74 minutes.
I
Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy Of Simon Wiesenthal
(2007, Dir. Richard Trank, 1.78 X 1, Dolby Digital theatrical sound,
no extras) takes a look at the life and incredible legacy of the man
who became known as a Nazi Hunter and never gave up, never let go and
now we know more than ever before, was building a legacy of truth
that a new movement of hate would dare to ignore, deny, lie about and
tear down. Running a rich 105 minutes, the amount of archival
footage is remarkable and the assembly of this all is exceptional in
its delivery and power.
Winston
Churchill: Walking With Destiny
(2010, Dir. Richard Trank?, 1.78 X 1, Dolby Digital theatrical sound,
no extras) takes a more positive look at the sometimes controversial
British Prime Minster who was no fan of Gandhi, was not voted in
again after WWII despite what he accomplished (many blamed him for
some of WWII and/or wanted change) and most of this 101 minutes is
spent on his good points.
It
Is No Dream: The Life Of Theodore Herzl
(2012, Dir. Richard Trank, 1.78 X 1, Dolby Digital theatrical sound,
no extras) is a documentary film about a man in 1895 (!) who believed
in the possibility of a Jewish nation-state before anyone could have
possibly believed it could happen. It did and this program takes us
to Vienna and Paris at the end of the 19th
Century helped form the foundation for Israel and so much more today.
Detailed, impressive and a highly undertold piece of history, it is
another vital gem in this collection and Christoph Waltz supplies
Herzl's voice. This runs 97 minutes.
The
Prime Ministers: Part I and II
(2013, 1.78 X 1, no extras) is a two-part documentary mini-series on
how certain key political figures, WWII, The Cold War and historic
figures affected and changed the world, especially with regard to
Israel. Voices
helping to tell the story in its 2 hours include the late, great
Leonard Nimoy, Sandra Bullock, Christoph
Waltz and Michael Douglas.
Peter
Fischli and David Weiss' amusing short film The
Way Things Go
(1987) is back on home video in a new edition, a short film we
covered many years ago at this link...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/163/The+Way+Things+Go+(science
Seeing
it in HD from its original 16mm color footage makes it more amusing
than ever, though a new DVD has been included, with a different
transfer than the old one (1.33 X 1 in a 1.78 X 1 frame vs. 1.33 X 1
on the old DVD). The Blu-ray is the best way to see it and there are
again no extras.
The
various aspect ratios on the Simon
set (1.33 X 1 to 2.35 X 1) look good for their age in the case of the
older releases and these transfers, though HD masters are eventually
going to be needed and necessary for archiving and preservation. You
should have no problems in viewing any of the 12 films in the set.
The
1080p 1.33 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer in a 16 X
9/1.78 X 1 frame on Way
can show the age of the materials used, but this is far superior a
transfer to all previous releases of the film
despite some softness for what was a simple, basic film shoot. The
anamorphically enhanced 1.33 X 1 image in a 1.78 X 1 image on the DVD
version of Way
is not as sharp or clear, but you also get some expected grain and
the age of the print.
All
presentations here are lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo or Mono in the
case of the older Wiesenthal
films, but the Way
Blu-ray offers PCM 2.0 Stereo a little more fullness and detail than
the rest despite simply being noise from the various devices moving
about.
-
Nicholas Sheffo
