I got the new Blu-rays of HERCULES (1958) and HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959) last week. They are combo Blu-ray and DVD. The packaging for both is stellar and the HERCULES package includes an amazing booklet. The packaging/booklet: 10 out of 10.
With that being said, there’s nothing else worth mentioning. The prints on those Blu-rays are identical to the problematic Japanese Blu-rays. Well, they’re not Japanese but those prints first appeared in Japan and have basically been the same prints recycled ever since. I already wrote extensively about those Japanese BDs and I have nothing else to add. It’s a major disappointment but not unexpected. There were rumours that the Artus Films’ prints were from Britain but this was obviously false.
So, to recap: the Japanese BDs were first with these blah HD prints. Then came copies from a RAI HD streaming service. Then I recently got the Spanish Blu-ray of HERCULES UNCHAINED and now I have these two. They’re all the same. It seems I’m repeating myself. As a collector, I’m ok with having these and I’m aware people in France won’t buy the Japanese BDs but also as a collector, I’m over it. I’m not buying anything related to the two Steve Reeves classics unless they’re clearly different/better prints.
Sorry to hear that, but not a surprise. Perhaps the French label didn’t use the reported materials from the BFI, but we’ll probably never know.
I had doubts about the BFI story. Remember, they would have had to add the French audio to it, since it’s released in France, which complicates things.
I watched a copy and found the French WS dvd much richer than the Bluray-stronger colour and crisp. Also, for those interested, the print used for that dvd has the euro-english dub track until the crew of the Argo awake from their drugged sleep. The audio then switches to the U.S. Levine voice track.
I agree.
Yes, the audio is odd because even with the Levine one goes back to the ‘Euro-English’ track during the storm on the sea sequence.
I bought the French BluRay from Artus Films. Video quality varies from scene to scene. My biggest complaint, are the dark scenes, where black levels and contrast ratios go bad. I’ve only seen them on my computer. Maybe the Auto Gain Control on a TV might look better. I doubt it, because adjusting levels via computer, are no better. I just wanted a disk rip for convenience. There’s no English audio, only the original Italian and French dub. Awfully expensive, for such a disappointment.
Yes. Big disappointment!