A History of Violence DVD - GREAT features!

John C Lyons

Veteran
OK, this may be premature because I seriously haven't finished even the first special feature on the DVD, but this is REALLY a great disc for us filmmakers to pick up and learn from a modern master.

I watched the first 45 minutes of "Acts of Violence" (which looks like its gotta weigh in over an hour just by itself) before having to break for Scrubs and it goes through everything: directing actors, effects work, photography, shooting sex scenes. It's really great. Covers all the little details and it's edited really tightly too.

Also interesting how so much stuff Cronenberg puts together on-the-fly and that proces is all here to see. Good stuff, check it out. And it's a DAMN good movie too (probably the most underrated of last year) so you should be watching it anyhow.
 
I wanted to see that. I will rent it!


AND THOSE SEX SCENES! Gotta learn how to shoot those... first I need to meet a girl... first I need to know a girl... hmm
 
I want to buy this DVD, but man, I just can't get into the cover. The movie poster was SO much better:

B00005JOHR.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


Clearly, I won't let the cover deter me... I'm just sayin'.
 
LeSeulGiraffe said:
AND THOSE SEX SCENES! Gotta learn how to shoot those... first I need to meet a girl... first I need to know a girl... hmm
Shooting them is a lot easier than directing them. Or acting in them.

It's probably better if you don't know the girl. :)
 
My daughter and I saw this at the Creative Screenwriting screening in Hollywood. It was great... Afterward there was a Q&A with the writer. That was almost as good as the movie itself. I'm picking up the DVD tomorrow. :thumbsup:
 
Great flick. The lighting design really bugged me, though. The characters were all lit up in the foreground, but the backgrounds fell off way too much -- the school hallways, the locker room, the mall. Very unrealistic and overly dramatic. But I suppose maybe it was a metaphor for the character's past. Haven't watched the special features yet.
 
TC said:
I want to buy this DVD, but man, I just can't get into the cover. The movie poster was SO much better
TOTALLY agree with you on that one man. Yeah the theatrical poster was, again, one of my favs of the years releases.

John_Hudson said:
Sweet John !
I picked this up tonight and am getting ready to junky!
toss up a post when you get a chance to watch the "Acts" doc...
 
It's good to hear they are releasing them on the first issue with good special features. So many movies these days are releasing weak first issues, then coming out with the 3-disc mega version 2 months later...oh well, I guess that's the nature of the beast.

BTW, it was one of the best underrated films of last year. NPR's Terri Gross did an interview with him which was really excellent, you can listen here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5072484
 
oneinfiniteloop said:
It's good to hear they are releasing them on the first issue with good special features. So many movies these days are releasing weak first issues, then coming out with the 3-disc mega version 2 months later...oh well, I guess that's the nature of the beast.

BTW, it was one of the best underrated films of last year. NPR's Terri Gross did an interview with him which was really excellent, you can listen here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5072484
Thanks a lot for that link! And yes, you really MUST research DVD releases big time nowadays if you're any kind of features watcher.

If "History" would have gotten some of its earned Oscar nods I am sure we probably would have seen some "awards edition" set out sometime later, but as it is I think this will be what we get.

So get out there and buy it! Trust me on this one, and then chime in! I'm gonna try and watch more stuff in a bit...
 
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Just watched it. One of the better films of the year. I loved it. Much more serious than I initially anticipated.
 
John_Hudson said:
Just watched it. One of the better films of the year. I loved it. Much more serious than I initially anticipated.
ditto. and yeah I noticed him sporting the DVX in the doc too, good stuff!
 
I saw this at the theater and loved it. Just stuck the DVD in and started it. After I watch the movie again, I'll have a go at the extras since you guys are raving about them. :thumbsup:
 
I watched this on DVD last night and thought it held up well upon multiple viewings. Still like it a lot. Today, I guess I'll start to check out the extra features. :kali:
 
Blaine said:
Today, I guess I'll start to check out the extra features. :kali:
I agree, the movie really does hold up well....and "Acts of Violence" I know will be something I pull out from time to time.
 
I caught this in theatres and loved it. Picking up tonight to watch tonight. I thought Cronenberg deserved a best director oscar nod for his work on "History."
 
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