[quote=āStanton, post:241, topic:335ā]The DVD has a Pal running time (25 frames/ sec), the Blu not. The Blu has the same running time as a 35 mm film in a theatre with 24 fr./sec.
It seems that the DVD has also a lower bit rate than the Koch DVD, and is for that worse than the Koch DVD. I keep my Koch DVD, especially as this new edition is too expensive.[/quote]
Even if the DVD version is slightly sub-par to the Koch release, the blu-ray version that accompanies it is the best the film will ever look.
So many amazing aspects to this film - music, directing, story, performances, etc. But I think what I love the most about Gundown are the locations and overall set design.
Not only the āauthenticā feel of many of the sets - they donāt look like sets at all - but also the sheer variety of the sets and locations throughout the movie. There arenāt many SWs out there that have such depth of scenery.
This remains my favorite non-Leone SW out there (not an easy decision to come by) and watching it again tonight was a treat.
On a side note, it is truly incredible how many new things you pick up on when rewatching a film, even if youāve already seen it countless times. To me, the best movies always seem to be the ones where you find something new every time you watch. To me this is one of those films.
Just watched the German blu-ray release and I can safely say this is my favorite Spaghetti Western ever! Not a single wasted moment in the film, beautiful photography and incredible music. Unreal!
This one has GREAT turns from Van Cleef and Milian, but what I always think elevates this one, is the score. In fact, Iād wager to say it has my all-time favorite score of any SW! Of all the tracks Tarantino has lifted from 70ās movies, the two he took from this and plugged into Inglorious Bastards are my fave. When I heard the duel theme start when Christoph Waltz rode up in his nazi jeep I got chills down my spine.
I love the score but Iām not too crazy about the singing. Iām of the belief that adding vocals to Spaghetti Western scores makes it hokey, especially since the the instrumental alone sounds perfectly fine and the lyrics are incredibly laughable.
I totally agree with that Col. As I ALWAYS prefer instrumental to the singing versions. For example, the main theme in RETURN OF RINGO is one of the best themes Iāve EVER heard (in itās instrumental form), but all Iāve been able to get on CD and find on YOUTUBE is the version with lyrics which mucks it up and robs it I think. A more extreme case is KEOMAā¦I loathe the singing but when itās simply the dream-like score, itās beautiful stuff.
In general I would probably agree but there are plenty of themes which are terrific sung. I would argue that Return of Ringo is one of those and this one is another. Companeros springs to mind too. And anything sung by Raoul. I guess you either like that 60s cheesy style or you donāt. Personally, I love 'em.
I donāt like the singing either. Phil is right it is a bit cheesy/corny in La resa dei conti too. Works against the film.
The vocals in Companeros on the other hand are utterly great. But those are very different in their style and the opposite of cheesy. And to mention it again, I like the singing in both Keoma ans Mannaja (but never pay attention to the lyrics).
Cheese goes well with spaghetti, so I donāt tend to mind either. But thereās a fine line between cheesy and tacky. That Johnny Yuma song for example is just plain awful in my opinion.
Song from La Resa dei Conti is if not my favorite, then very close to it, SW song with vocals. I like the middle sections with fast low voice, and I like how it explodes in manic screaming in refrain. It is great track for rock cover versions. I think it has less cheese than most SW song with vocals, lyrics in particular are not cheesy as usual. And as Bad Lieutenant stated, cheese goes well with spaghetti anyway. On the other hand, I prefer Return of Ringo instrumental version, it is more delicately beautiful without vocals.
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