Tonight me and my boyfriend are going to watch LOST HIGHWAY and THE STRAIGHT STORY in a exhibition that takes place in an ex decadent theatre of Florence, my city. I just hope the showing will be of quality. It's very rare that a lynch movie gets chosen in a movie exhibition here in Florence. I am so excited!

I've never seen these two movies on the big screen. The only ones of Lynch that I had watched in a theatre are MULHOLLAND DRIVE (at its official italian release) and FIRE WALK WITH ME + ERASERHEAD during another exhibition.  I was wondering what about you? What kind of experiences are Lynch movies being shown in a theatre for you?

"Did they scoff the whole damn Smörgåsbord?" (Audrey) 

"Gimme a donut!" (Coop)

I've seen Blue Velvet, and Lost Highway on the big screen, but after I had seen them on DVD.  It was still great seeing them in a theatre, but I'd love to experience a new Lynch film to explore for the first time in a theatre.

I'd really love to watch Eraserhead in a theatre, although I haven't had any luck finding places in Australia showing it, dunno if there are any licensing issues.  I'd fly interstate if it meant I could see Eraserhead on the big screen!

That would be great!

 My Atacom dvd player says it's also HD compatible...

"Did they scoff the whole damn Smörgåsbord?" (Audrey) 

"Gimme a donut!" (Coop)

That's an interesting quote, John !

Correct me if I'm wrong but most soundtracks in surround (in theaters) are encoded in Dolby Digital SR-D, optically recorded on a 35mm. Those film prints use a fixed rate of 320 kb/s.

I agree that Dolby Digital 5.1 is usually quite poor on DVD (most people don't seem to be aware that it's a destructive format just like mp3), but the bitrate isn't - in most cases - lower than 320 kb/s. Usually it's 448 kb/s if possible.

So I don't see why there would be less compression in theaters... (as far as we're talking about Dolby Digital in both cases of course).

However, we have several Lynch DVD's (collector editions : Wild At Heart, Lost Highway, TP:FWWM) with terrific DTS soundtracks (half bitrate though : 754.75 kb/s), and they're far superior to the DD tracks in terms of dynamic range and definition. DTS is destructive too but less than DD (ok, it also requires more space but with the same bitrate, DTS usually does a better job than DD).

I've seen most of Lynch movies in theaters (in Paris) and thanks to the big screen and bigger sound, I usually really prefer theater over DVD (even with my great audiophile home cinema). What's the most annoying on DVD's is not the soundtrack to me (as the DD or DTS 5.1 tracks are not worse than the ones in theaters), but the mpeg2 compression of the picture. This is where I'm screaming for HD (either Blu-Ray or HD-DVD).

But I must confess that only the new MK2 limited edition of Lost Highway with its stunning DTS soundtrack makes me feel overwhelmed just like in a theater. When I play this soundtrack in the full DTS glory, my neighbours hate me. And I'm in heaven (or hell).

So to sum up, I'm not sure if your post is technically right John (regarding more compression on DVD soundtracks), but I do agree with you, seeing Lynch movies in a theater is the ultimate experience. Anyway, if I'm wrong, please correct me, you're the technical man

On the player it says: DIVX video compatible, HDCD and other things.

I don't know if it's the same for dvds. Anyway, my TV is a normal one (not plasma or other kinds of new technological stuff) and I think both dvds and videocassettes can be enjoyed fully with no gigantic faults visible. I mean, I can be quite punctilious on the look and sound of some dvds, but since money doesn't exactly run in my hands like water I can define myself pretty satisfied.

"Did they scoff the whole damn Smörgåsbord?" (Audrey) 

"Gimme a donut!" (Coop)

I confirm 100% that Studio Canal will release in the coming months (around September) both The Elephant Man and Mulholland Drive on HD-DVD. It has been announced officially by StudioCanal and it made the news here on several DVD and cinema websites. MD will benefit the most of it as the current DVD, all regions, leaves a lot to desire as far as its picture is concerned (way too much compression at least to me). I can't wait to have the specs, and not only for the picture. I'm dreaming about a terrific soundtrack (lossless MLP just like on DVD-A, or at least DTS 96kHz/24bits), to make justice to the incredible work of both Angelo Badalamenti and John Neff.

Just like you CCC, I will sit out this war, and will wait either for a winner, either for a player capable of reading both formats, just like I waited for high-end DVD-A and SACD compatible (at the same time) players. HD in music (DVD-A and SACD) remains a niche market, there was no real winner between both formats and I'm afraid that HD, whatever it is intended for (audio, video or both) might remain a niche market so there may well be no winner between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. I hope it will explode, but I don't have high hopes at this age of compressed and portable products everywhere (mp3 players, UMD's for PSP...). Masses just don't "see" or "hear" the benefit of lossless and high-def products, and I understand that as you need quite high-end products and some habit to fully appreciate them. But as CCC said, once you've tasted it, there is no going back.

Different habits, different uses. There should be room for every types of media (compressed and lossless). I have a mp3 player AND a high-end, audiophile, set-up at home. So I just hope that HD products will have enough success just to be able to survive for those who can enjoy them. 

Now, regarding mr.silencio post, I'm 100% positive that his player isn't HD capable at all (either Blu-Ray or HD-DVD). Not only his model has nothing to do with HD (there is no Atacom players capable of HD-DVD or Blu-Ray), but I think that mr. silencio got confused with the HDCD format.

This has nothing to do with Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. It does mean High Definition Compact Disc and this format was released in 1995 (it belongs to Microsoft since 2000, though). Without getting too technical (as some people don't like that here), it enables the traditional CD audio signal to have a 20-bit quantization instead of the usual 16. If your drive is HDCD compatible, then you will take advantage of the additional 4 bits, if not, the HDCD will just be read like a Red Book CD (16 bits). You probably have some HDCD's at home as it has been quite widely used on remasters (King Crimson for instance).

"Did they scoff the whole damn Smörgåsbord?" (Audrey) 

"Gimme a donut!" (Coop)

And you know, Orson Wells once said something to that effect about restaurants and eating, CCC.  When he was near the end of his epicurean life, a lover of fine food and wine, he was interviewed by Los Angeles magazine.  One question always stayed with me.  When asked if he'd prefer the best food in a shabby setting or less than the best food in a fabulous setting, he surprised me by opting for the latter.  He preferred the finer ambience to that supposed primary goal of consuming tasty food.

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Thanks fro clearing up mr. silencio's confusion YmSeb. I was goign to explain it to him/her but you already did. YAY, less typing for me!

As far as Lynch films on DVD versus in the theatre, I completely disagree with Neff. I have never, not even once, had a better movie watching experience on film in a theater versus a dvd at home. And don't go thinking that these are shotty theater's I'm watching the films in either. These films were watchign at a Theater/museum that was owned my Eastman Kodak himself! Isabella Rossellini is a benefactor of this theater. They've got the entire MGM catalogue on film underground in their many safes. So like I said, this place is a film museum!

Regardless, everytime I watched a Lynch film there, I wanted to leave, go home, and watch it on DVD because they were MUCH better. Sound? I don't have the discerning ear that Neff does. Video? That's what I pay attention to. Let's face it, I don't care if you've got the best voice in the world, if you're an ugly toothless whore, I'd still preferr a more attractive women who may not sing quite as good.

For those who care, here are my film watching experiences of 4 Lynch films in that theater:

Eraserhead at the George Eastman House
Blue Velvet at the George Eastman House 
Wild at Heart at the George Eastman House 
Mulholland Drive at the George Eastman House 

I have seen all of Lynch's films at the cinema. Since Wild at Heart I have managed to see all his flicks on the opening night. I relly don't think there is a better way to experiance his films, seeing them with an big audiance adds an electricity to the atmosphere that is missing at home no matter how big the screen is.

Some related points:

I have seen Eraserhead 4 times at the flicks, the first time I saw it I was soooo blown away I got to the lobby and turned round and want back in straight away! I have never seen it on video or DVD, I like to keep that film a purely cinematic experiance. One time that I saw it was on a 16mm print that was really dirty and scratched with an even higher contrast than normal (I'm sure Mr Lynch would not like that one bit) but I loved it, it kinda was in keeping with the industrial tones present.

I shed a tear for The Elephant Man, the end was even more touching when on the silver screen.

I saw Dune when I was 9 and although at that point I was a Star Wars kid I thought it was Epic! We had to que up round the block to get it, so was suprised when it became a huge flop!

I was Blue Velvet on video first and it instantly became one of my favourite movies ever, but I was not prepered for its impact on the big screen. Jeffery in the closet peeping out really brought home the inherent voyeristic nature of the cinema, I felt like him, peeping into something I perhaps should not be seeing, such a thrill! Then half way through 'that' scene with Frank and Dorothy half a dozen people all got up and walked out! Strangely it added to to the experiance of the film. I also heard one of the best cinema heckles ever during this screening, being the fan boy I was back then I was really pissed off that someone was taking the piss but in retrospect it was a really cool thing. Anyway, the heckle? When the ear gets taken to the forensics guy and Jeffery asks 'What can you tell about the person from the ear?' Somebody behind me goes 'He sure does not wear any glasses!'

When The Straight Story came out I booked tickets for the opening night fearing that it might sell out. Me and my (then) girlfriend went in and was suprised that we were the first in to an empty cinema, time went on and nobody came in, eventually the film started and we were the only ones there for the entire film! This has never happenend to me before or since, it was really wierd to say the least but such a beautiful and strange experiance, kinda like a Lynch movie itself.

Mullholland Drive was one of those experiances that shows how different audiances can react to a film. I first saw it at a standard multiplex and loved it BUT many of the audiance were really non-plussed by it, there was a collective 'WTF?' as the credits rolled. I heard people saying 'pretentious crap', 'I like my art house but that was too much' and 'I want my money back' etc Now, I went awhile later to an art house screening and the audiance were tripping of that flick, excitment was thick in the air, at the end it got a standing ovation!! And that NEVER happens in the UK. The moral of the story? Go see mainstream Hollywood at a standard cinema but if it is a challenging film try and see it at an art house.

Finally I had the immense pleasure of seeing a Lynch week at now defunct art house in liverpool. Every night for 5 nights they put on a different Lynch film in the order they were made, from Eraserhead to Wild at Heart. Everyone who went seemed to be a Lynch fan, bliss!

I have seen all Lynch's films in cinema except for Dune and perhaps that's why I feel sometimes as if I've never seen it.

Basically I watch films in cinema... that's why I don't watch them often but when I do I try to select what I watch with quite some awareness, to avoid loss of time and money as much as possible. Unlike JLyon I don't like watching films at home - well, perhaps I DO like watching films that I had seen before. It's plain relax for me then, like visiting a friend.

But cinema is different because I treat it as going to the museum, to the gallery, to a church - whatever, it cannot be compared to seeing works of art in any other way. I treat it as sacrum I think ;-)

Eraserhead - first time on video because it was impossible to find in Poland, some time later - big screen, later repeated.

Elephant Man - my first Lynch in cinema, right after Twin Peaks had finished on TV... (1991). Later repeated on TV and video and much later - once again in cinema during a night marathon.

Dune - only at home..

Blue Velvet - cinema, a few weeks later cinema again... then a few times in different places... not so long ago cinema again :-) It's a great watch at home because the film has so many layers and you can analyse and discuss meanings etc., however, when it comes to atmoshere, the darkened room of a cinema works much better. The tension!!!

Wild at Heart - twice on big screen and this one I'd say, gains particularly much in this way. Is not boring at all (which it kind of was for me on little screen).

Fire Walk With Me - although this one even more ;-) I've seen it twice, one by one, when it came to cinemas in Poland, and then... it was never again :-(
The film was as unpopular here as anywhere :-(((((

Lost Highway - four times in cinema... Uncompeted. The impression it made at home was imcomparably weaker.

Straight Story - only once, at the premiere, later on TV again. Surprisingly, it was as pleasant an experience as n big screen.

Mulholland Drive - twice.

Bobi 1 Kenobi

B. Beware
O. Of
B. BOB 

My first was Lost Highway, with a friend in NY.

Then I started going to fests, so I've seen Fire Walk With Me a couple times, Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, the Twin Peaks pilot  and Eraserhead.  It's always neat when the actors that were in the movie are in the theater with you. 

I also got to see Mulholland Drive with Josh Eisenstadt and Mike Anderson in LA.

You guys are really lucky to live in places where they actually show all the Lynch films in theaters; Nebraska is not very progressive.  They also censor John Waters movies.

Movies I got to see in a theater:  Dune, Elephant Man, Wild at Heart, Boxing Helena, FWWM; in every case but Dune, I was one of the few in the audience and ran back to the theater to see them again in the same week before they left.  Dune was really crowded; I realize I'm in the minority here, but I love that movie and it's what got me started on reading Frank Herbert and watching more DL.

Keep your eye on the doughnut, not on the hole -- DL

LA Film Festival - Majestic Crest Theater in Westwood -

Blue Velvet, Thursday, June 29 at 7:00 PM.

Guess who is going to be on hand?  Hint:  Initials = DL

Mum's the word. 

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

WHAT?!?!

 There's gonna  be a 20th-anniverary celebration at the Nuart Theatre the week it re-opens, but consider me there.

Buy now or forever hold your peace.  Uh, what I mean to say is, it's probably gonna sell out. 

Scroll down to the fifth film listing on this page... 

http://www.lafilmfest.com/tixSYS/2006/filmguide/title-detail.php?PageNumber=2&Range=
AB&Category=ALL&FilterVenue=ALL&Day=22&Month=06&Year=
2006&Genre=ALL&FestProgram=&ShowShorts=Y&ShowPast=Y 

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin