This is a top 5 horror movie of all time for me. The musical aspect of this film makes it endlessly rewatchable. The 4k upgrade to the non damaged elements look and sounded incredible. People complaining about this transfer are high af.
For me it’s a top 5 Christian film as it deals extensively with martyrdom and faith and the struggle against a barbarous paganism. There’s really nothing horror about it, except the horror of apostasy.
It's not a matter of the scenes not being fully restored. It's that they were missing or damaged in the original camera negative and had to be replaced with lower quality sources such as a second generation intermediate and other 35mm prints. They restored them the best they could, but obviously they won't look as good as the original camera negative.
Hello from Norway, you and your channel have been helping me through a brutal year. Open heart surgery, long recovery. Getting there, have a great weekend.
I agree Ken. Saw this for the very first time last week and there is something about this that really grabs you. The soundtrack I really love. Maybe a good record company can release us a 50th Anniversary soundtrack? I will grab the Best Buy steel book.
The soundtrack was released in two versions back in 1998 and 2002 on CDs. The 1998 one was literally a recording of the songs as they appeared in the film and frankly, it's rubbish. But at the time, it was all you could get and exciting to own. It's on Trunk Records, reference BARKED 4. The 2002 version is of the then recently rediscovered original studio recordings of all the songs in their complete form and they're slightly different from the film versions, but brilliant in their own right. There's also some of the incidental music from the film on this disc. This was on Silver Screen Records, reference FILMCD330. If you want the soundtrack, the 2002 CDs are the ones to look out for. There's an excellent booklet incuded with it too. I believe there's a more recent CD of the music on the 2002 disc still available on Amazon as I write this. We only have the longer versions of the film because the late American director Roger Corman had held onto a preview copy of the 102 minute version he'd been sent. The new owners of British Lion, who made the film, thought it too long in its original form and ordered drastic cuts before its release. Rumour has it the discarded parts of the film ended up as rubble under the M3 motorway. Unfortunately, the brief poor quality parts of the film are all that's left of those particular shots. Christopher Lee was convinced a copy of the original full length film would eventually turn up, but so far, it hasn't. I hope this is of interest
I wouldn't say it's the first 20 or 25 minutes. It's just 2 brief scenes. Maybe 6 minutes of screen time. And those scenes look bad because the elements are lost for those scenes. From what I've heard. There's still missing footage that has been lost. Only seen when it was released 50 years ago.
I have the box version you mention all three cuts and a soundtrack as well plus a book and a lovely pop up frieze and poster art I think Studiocanal were brave to include the lower grade elements in favour of keeping the continuity of the film, sadly the ocn for those brief scenes are lost for good. A true horror classic.
I actually prefer the theatrical cut, it is lean and mean. A perfect double bill with Nicholas Roeg's 5K of Don't Look Now. As it was originally shown at the cinema
I have this one and intend to watch it this weekend. Heard ya gotta get through the first 20 mins but having never seen this OG I’m pumped to check it out. These “cult-type” films get me every time too. Gonna enjoy this one!
I really wish they could have done the 4 disc like they did with The Mist. Really want the Directors Cut and Theatrical. Does anyone know what the directors cut adds?
I watched this and the 2006 Nic Cage version over the last couple days. The 1973 version is definitely way better. I agree it is a great movie. I had never seen any Wicker Man. I feel like I need to watch Midsommar now.
i imported the box set from uk even though already have the imprint version, i had the final cut bluray also hopefully this is the last time i have to buy. the first time i seen it was in the mid 80s in a crappy VHS bootleg copy of a copy i was 10 years old i couldnt stop thinking about brit ekland for weeks she got me thru a lot of lonely nights😂
I pre-ordered my copy after you announced it was available. My Best Buy doesn't sell movies anymore, so it was delivered by mail. Of course it arrived damaged. It was the first and last time that I order anything from Best Buy (even though they are discontinuing to sell physcial media) I still won't order from them again.
This is a top 5 horror movie of all time for me. The musical aspect of this film makes it endlessly rewatchable. The 4k upgrade to the non damaged elements look and sounded incredible. People complaining about this transfer are high af.
For me it’s a top 5 Christian film as it deals extensively with martyrdom and faith and the struggle against a barbarous paganism. There’s really nothing horror about it, except the horror of apostasy.
@@reginaldforthright805 Very interesting take.
The standalone steelbook from the UK has all three cuts in 4K and Blu ray on 4 disks. And it is one of the most beautiful steelbooks I've ever seen.
It's not a matter of the scenes not being fully restored. It's that they were missing or damaged in the original camera negative and had to be replaced with lower quality sources such as a second generation intermediate and other 35mm prints. They restored them the best they could, but obviously they won't look as good as the original camera negative.
Great film, great 4k. Sorry to correct you the island is off the coast of Scotland
It's all good. I apologize for getting it mixed up.
Hello from Norway, you and your channel have been helping me through a brutal year. Open heart surgery, long recovery. Getting there, have a great weekend.
I agree Ken. Saw this for the very first time last week and there is something about this that really grabs you. The soundtrack I really love. Maybe a good record company can release us a 50th Anniversary soundtrack? I will grab the Best Buy steel book.
The soundtrack was released in two versions back in 1998 and 2002 on CDs.
The 1998 one was literally a recording of the songs as they appeared in the film and frankly, it's rubbish. But at the time, it was all you could get and exciting to own.
It's on Trunk Records, reference BARKED 4.
The 2002 version is of the then recently rediscovered original studio recordings of all the songs in their complete form and they're slightly different from the film versions, but brilliant in their own right. There's also some of the incidental music from the film on this disc.
This was on Silver Screen Records, reference FILMCD330.
If you want the soundtrack, the 2002 CDs are the ones to look out for. There's an excellent booklet incuded with it too.
I believe there's a more recent CD of the music on the 2002 disc still available on Amazon as I write this.
We only have the longer versions of the film because the late American director Roger Corman had held onto a preview copy of the 102 minute version he'd been sent. The new owners of British Lion, who made the film, thought it too long in its original form and ordered drastic cuts before its release. Rumour has it the discarded parts of the film ended up as rubble under the M3 motorway.
Unfortunately, the brief poor quality parts of the film are all that's left of those particular shots. Christopher Lee was convinced a copy of the original full length film would eventually turn up, but so far, it hasn't.
I hope this is of interest
I wouldn't say it's the first 20 or 25 minutes. It's just 2 brief scenes. Maybe 6 minutes of screen time. And those scenes look bad because the elements are lost for those scenes. From what I've heard. There's still missing footage that has been lost. Only seen when it was released 50 years ago.
Agreed. It isn’t that big of a deal and only a small amount of screen time.
Love the 4K box set by studio canal and saw it recently on a projector it was amazing
I have the standard studio canal release , and it three seperate cuts of the movie ! Fantastic set
I have the box version you mention all three cuts and a soundtrack as well plus a book and a lovely pop up frieze and poster art I think Studiocanal were brave to include the lower grade elements in favour of keeping the continuity of the film, sadly the ocn for those brief scenes are lost for good. A true horror classic.
The rough stuff is ok. It’s what they had to work with. It’s only a few scenes and doesn’t really take away from the movie.
I actually prefer the theatrical cut, it is lean and mean.
A perfect double bill with Nicholas Roeg's 5K of Don't Look Now.
As it was originally shown at the cinema
@4:26 lol, I took this exact same frame (honestly, looks like the exact timecode point) on my iPhone from watching the other day.
I really liked Britt Ekland in this role, a lot, a lot to see.
Accept she used a body double for the back shots of her ass for some reason 🧐
Hopefully they didn’t use a double but I think they did
@@reginaldforthright805 yep she was alright showing herself topless but not her ass.
@@MikeBarratt-lk3gt how strange is that!
The studio canal set has three cuts of the movie its worth the money to get that over this one that has only one cut
I have this one and intend to watch it this weekend. Heard ya gotta get through the first 20 mins but having never seen this OG I’m pumped to check it out. These “cult-type” films get me every time too. Gonna enjoy this one!
Box set I think is better than the steel book tbh....great reissue.
Yeah I was tempted, but 80 vs 20, I took the $20 release. Lol
@midlevelmedia i don't blame you, i was lucky and managed to get it yesterday for just £40/$52 still sealed online.
In my top 20 movies of all time 👍
Off the coast of Scotland, not Ireland!
G'Day Mate! Let's put Another Shrimp on the Barbie!
Sick steel!
Hey ken.
I have the same tv and soundbar you have can you tell me please what soundmode you use on the soundbar then your reviews are good for me
I really wish they could have done the 4 disc like they did with The Mist. Really want the Directors Cut and Theatrical. Does anyone know what the directors cut adds?
😮😮
I watched this and the 2006 Nic Cage version over the last couple days. The 1973 version is definitely way better. I agree it is a great movie. I had never seen any Wicker Man.
I feel like I need to watch Midsommar now.
Hi have you reviewed the scream 4k box set , it’s really got mine for $46.99 Also the blob 4k fantastic transfer
i imported the box set from uk even though already have the imprint version, i had the final cut bluray also hopefully this is the last time i have to buy. the first time i seen it was in the mid 80s in a crappy VHS bootleg copy of a copy i was 10 years old i couldnt stop thinking about brit ekland for weeks she got me thru a lot of lonely nights😂
I pre-ordered my copy after you announced it was available. My Best Buy doesn't sell movies anymore, so it was delivered by mail. Of course it arrived damaged. It was the first and last time that I order anything from Best Buy (even though they are discontinuing to sell physcial media) I still won't order from them again.
Sorry to inform you but there only stopping non exclusive titles
@@nocotureDoesn't matter. I won't be spending my money there anymore.
@@nocotureI’m sorry, what are you saying here?
The first 25 minutes, a little “rough?” According to some CZcamsrs, you must be a HD fan, but not a “movie” fan.
Edward Woodward was the original Equalizer, and won the best actor Golden Globe for that role.
By far one of the best shows from the 80s. William Zabka plays his son, which I always liked for some reason.
Coast of Ireland? It’s Scotland! They’re all speaking with Scottish accents 🫠. Nothing remotely Irish.
It helps if you can get the country right Ken.
Cant wait to see it . Mine just came in....