Tuesday 10 March 2009

Another chance - Brokeback's new release

For all those who are technically equipped, Brokeback Mountain is available from today in Blu-Ray format. This release means something to me - today, a colleague asked me what my favourite film was. I said Brokeback (although it is somewhat tied with Zodiac) and their response was 'I didn't like Brokeback Mountain, they mumble and you can't hear what they say.' I started explaining about the words stuck in the mouth, how these are words unable to be expressed but desperate to be voiced, and gave up.


I don't know about you, but reactions towards Brokeback divide people on either side of an imaginary fence, and you (and I mean I today in this instance) have to think about how much significance to place on this rift. I'm hoping that a new release of Brokeback, in whatever format, will encourage new viewers or cause others to give it a second viewing. We are lucky, I think, to have found a film that moved us to change. Others are still waiting for that film. I hope it comes.


Forgive the short post - the result of technical issues, shortly to be resolved, I trust!


Includes pictures from IHJ.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to visit the mountain again in Blu-ray. Thanks, WDW. :)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Thanks so much for that comment, 20:16 :)

Anonymous said...

Do you know if the Blu-Ray version comes with different extra's? I'd do just about anything for more extras including getting a Blu-Ray DVD player!

Then my family and friends would REALLY think I'm nuts, they can't understand why I have 3 copies of BBM. I tried to explain the differences: there's a full screen version , a wide screen and the special edition. My sister kept saying: But it's the same exact movie! I decided not to explain to her that one of the perks of the full screen was that you could see more of the boys during the motel scene and that it showed more of Jake's hands in the bar scene in Signal. :)Ha...Jake's hands. Can never get enough of those.

And about Ennis' mumbling, I tried to convince a friend of mine to watch the movie in english instead of in french because you lose a lot of Ennis' personnality in french. His voice is so clear, you understand everything he says! That's not him, there's a reason he mumbles! Well she watched it in french and liked it enough but I'm sure the impact would have been greater in the original version.

I wonder if this is a problem with the french translation only.
Did anybody else see it in another language?

Olympia

Anonymous said...

Ennis' mumbling is integral to his character! This will be my third copy of BBM because each one offers something different. My first DVD I just had to have, the second one is a collector's edition, and the Blu-Ray will have better clarity of picture and amazing sound. If a collector's edition comes out with deleted scenes, I'm there for that too. Very very few movies get this kind of love from me, BBM is in my personal top three movies I've ever seen. Dances with Wolves, Platoon, and BBM. I may have a personal top 5 or 10, I'm not sure yet. ;)

My word is shoein. ;)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi Olympia! don't believe that the Blu Ray comes with any new extras, more's the pity. I'd buy a Blu-Ray player especially if that were the case.

OMG how many versions of BBM do I have...? Possibly too many but maybe not! I hadn't realised before how the mumbling gets in the way for some people - I wish they'd take a moment and just listen.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi 20:51! Postin at the same time... are you 20:16? I may have to give you a name, Blu-Ray! *) I definitely agree about the mumbling - it's vital. How can there be an eloquent and confident Ennis? He has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I love your selection of movies! I should do a post on this. Mr WDW loves those two as well, especially Dances with Wolves, while he loves the music to Platoon. They're not my choices but I'm so fascinated by how we choose these! Thanks so much for that :)

Anonymous said...

There should have been deleted scenes on the collector's edition, I don't know why there weren't. I actually decided to by a DVD player after seing BBM, I didn't own one. It was the first DVD I bought and watched. :) I was so giddy when I got it! :D

Olympia

Anonymous said...

Yay.. BBM post :)

Hee... I have 5 different versions of BBM DVDs...

I totally understand how you feel about that colleague's comment. I have very low tolerance level on peoples flippant comments about BBM, especially those who haven't even watched the film. And those who saw it but wasn't impressed or touched by it, I just find it strange and somewhat feel sorry for them, because I know they've missed out something... LOL.

oh... all those BBM memories. All my friends think I was nuts too (OK, they might still do, but I stopped talking about BBM with non-Brokies, so they thought I have moved on... *g*)

You know I am still waiting for a 10 year anniversary BBM special box set with all the deleted scene and a commentary!

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Thanks for that, Olympia! Brokeback made us all quite different.

Hi Winterbird :D I told her what my favourite film was in answer to her question and then just sat back and willed myself to ignore the reaction - at least she'd seen it, I thought. But then, if you have seen it, how can you be so immune? I don't know - we're all wired so differently, but some of us the same so BBM speaks to us - we're lucky, we really are. I know some of my friends think I'm nuts - I think that's part of my charm!

Anonymous said...

Hi WDW, lovely pics! I watch BBM on my laptop with earphones, the sound is wonderful. Unfortunately its a bit difficult to recommend that way of watching it!

Can I ask about the crew pic at the end, are Jake and Heath in that pic (next to the dog), does anyone know? Also that crew one taken at the bar(?), I think maybe Jake is in that but not Heath?

Been wanting to ask about that for ages.

My word is 'nomping'! Sounds like something Harry Potter would do...

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi TDigs :) That's Jake and Heath in the front row of the group pic, on the right by the dog. You're right. There are a couple of stand ins but those are the real ones.

I'm not certain which other pic you're referring to with the bar. I'd love to see that one :D I have seen pics from a BBM party in Canada but both Jake and Heath are in those.

All typose are the fault of my scary new monster laptop!

Anonymous said...

Hi WDW, I'd love to send you the other pic of the crew. Maybe its not 'of the bar' (my mistake), but instead on a set, with what looks like the outside of a bar in the background. Potential-Jake is in the 'divorce scene' clothes, in a directors chair. I dont' know why I got the impression it was taken in Canada...anyway, (feebly) how do I email you? I'm not sure...
BTW, sympathies about your laptop troubles, there is almost nothing worse.

Anonymous said...

PS, I'd love to see the BBM party pics...!!?

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hey TDigs! That'd be so kind to email it to me - my email address is wetdarkandwild@googlemail.com I'd love to see this picture :)

Thanks for the commiserations - I have most of my laptop files backed up (not all unfortunately) but it feels daunting getting everything onto the new one. It'll take ages. I didn't realise quite how much Jake stuff I have!

Wet Dark and Wild said...

PS (posting at the same time) I'll post the BBM party pics :) They're lovely!

sheba said...

I was told by HMV staff that you need a Blu-ray player in order to get the full effects. I'm still patiently *drums finders slowly* waiting for River Road and Focus to release more extras. I hope they don't wait for the 5 or 10 year anniversary 'cos I hate waiting.

You raise an excellent point WDW. The phenomenon that hit us is delightful to watch when others are impacted in the same/different way we were. I love it. Brokeback Mountain was, is and always will be inexplicable, intangible, unexplainable. So many people have called me asking me to explain their feelings about seeing the film. I just say, it's you're own personal journey I can't explain your feelings to you. So to find 'that' film that changes your whole life and way of thinking is a blessing for us. May they find theirs :)

Oh, I hope you didn't lose too many Jake pics on your LLL. RIPieces LLL.

Anonymous said...

Olympia, I agree, the only way to really appreciate the film and evaluate its every aspect is to see it in original version. Few months ago I tried to watch BBM in TV. It was awful because our television uses a lector (I'm from Poland). I really hate it - you practically don't hear actors' intonation, great accent, the music is lower... So i just turned off tv and watched my dvd version :D Btw I have only two versions :)

Oh, I don't know why I always thought that Heath is in the last row, next to the horse. :/

I guess I've never seen pic from a party (?), so I'd love to see them too.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Morning everyone! Is it Friday yet...

Morning Sheba! We certainly do get used to waiting, unfortunately. I didn't lose too much but even a little bit feels like too much . Now I just have to fill up the new one!

Hi Agnes! That sounds like the right choice - the voices are important. There are a couple of doubles in the crowd - I suppose they were standing in for some of the horse scenes. I'll post some of the party pics!

Talking of pics, thanks ever so much, TDigs, for sending me that picture - I'd not seen that before and will post that later as well.

Have a good day everyone!

Sara Andrea Vera said...

Hello everybody!!

Thanks for the post WDW. I knew about the Blu-Ray edition but anytime is a good time to talk about BBM.

This is my favorite movie although I have watched it complete only 2 times. I watch parts every now and then but my heart can't resist watching the whole movie in one sit. The first time I saw it, it destroyed me.

I have taken my share of heat due my love for BBM. My boss and co-workers know that I love it and they have been no shy to say that they haven't seen it and they wouldn't do it because "it's disgusting just to think of two men kissing". Here in Chile is not considered incorrect to make homophobic jokes anywhere so you can imagine I have heard the most (to use their word) disgusting jokes about BBM. It's so frustrating and heartbreaking that sometimes I want to punch somebody just to relieve some of the anger I feel. >:O(

Oh! About Ennis and the mumbling. I knew a guy that was just like a Ennis (only older and I don't know if he was gay). But this guy talked, walked and even had the same facial (non)expressions that Ennis had!! the mumbling is so essential to the character that I don't understand how people can't see that.

Now, back to the Blu-ray edition. I don't have a Blu-ray player but I have considered buying BBM in that format just to have it. I'm waiting for the players' price to go down a little but I could start buying the movies now just to have some work done... right?

winterbird, can you tell which are those 5 versions you have in DVD? I own the Brokeback Mountain (Widescreen Edition) and the Brokeback Mountain (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) . I know there is also a Brokeback Mountain (Full Screen Edition) . So which one are the other two? I'm interested in all things BBM so I would appreciate that info.

Again, thanks a lot WDW for this post.

Hugs,

SARA

Anonymous said...

BBM....sigh. Still gets me every time I watch it.

Thanks for the memories...:)

xoxoxo

Anonymous said...

Sara, the 5 BBM DVDs I got is:

- Oscar "for your recommendation" copy (err, illegal?)
- Pirate copy from with the craziest nonsense subtitles (err, illegal?)
- US wide screen
- UK wide screen (different cover)
- Special Edition

I guess you didn't miss anything :)

paulh said...

Heath Ledger's ability to get past the words and into the character's inner life was part of what made "Brokeback Mountain" a great film. If you miss a few words here and there, it's not as big a loss as it might have been with a lesser performance.

WDW, are you saying that you're a charming nut? ;-)

Anonymous said...

Hey, Winterbird, is your pirate copy from Malaysia by any chance? I remember reading about crazy subtitles on a bootleg copy from someone at Bettermost. Those were insane! I almost died from laughter reading how the story had been translated! A lot of sentences didn't make any sense and were just plain hilarious. For example:

LINE: I am pretty good with a can opener though..

SUBTITLE: I'm am pretty good with a canoe though...

or:

LINE: We can hunt in November, kill us a nice elk...

SUBTITLE: We can hug on November, caress and nice oak...

I think that one's my favorite :DD

Olympia

Anonymous said...

Off topic - did you read about Gemma Arterton? How she thinks Jake was the lucky one to have her tongue stuck into his mouth?? I mean...duh?? It's definitely the other way around!!

Such a snotty newcomer, she is... *apologises*

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

Ok...As you can see, the link is all wrong. LOL!
So here: http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/celebrity/jake-gyllenhaal-surprised-by-kiss.html

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi everyone! How I hate my technical troubles - I'm almost there now, but I'm having to reinstall everything and resave a lot of stuff. It's a pain in the bum but I'm getting there.

Thanks so much for that, Sara, and for provinding a view point from Chile, which is such a long way from me and I love to hear how things are there for Brokies and Jakers. And yet, even in southern England, where you'd have thought we should know better, you reveal that you're a big fan of BBM and you get the same old worldwide jokes - I had a bit of that today even.

Thanks, Get Real - me too :)

Hi Paul! I fear I am a bit of a n ut, it's nice to be called a 'charming' nut!

Hey Get Real - I have that Academy versiojn of the film too - it got me through hard times while I waited for the US release. It makes me quite emotional rmembering those days actually. And the wait.

Hey Olympia! I love that! I always knew Jack would be good in a canoe...

Hi Elfie! It's such a funny story - I'd love to hear Jake's side of things :D It's the new post.

Everything is a bit delayed at the moment as I'm having to replace or refind all my files. But I'm getting there.

Hey Monnie O! It's in the new post - I am sorry I'm late tonight :) It's been a bit like reinventing the Jake wheel tonight!