Blu-ray?
When? We need a restored HD edition!
Soon... but that's all I can say.
shareWhat do you mean. Have you heard anything?
shareIt would be quite unwise for me to say anything more than I already did, especially if it could jinx the project.
Couldn't risk imperiling the eventual release... if one's negotiable.
I will say this however: there are currently a few theatrical showings scheduled for the beginning of next year. So if anything happens, it'll probably be around then.
Ishtar is going to be released on blu-ray at the beginning of January. This could be interpreted as a good sign that Heaven's Gate could be considered as a blu-ray candidate.
sharebstephens, any hints on whether or not we'll ever get the original 5 hr. 20 min. version? Another post on here by someone said they saw it at a festival a few years back, so is that the one you're referring to in the theatrical showings you mentioned?
shareI still don't believe the 5 hr. 20 min. version is anything more than a rumor (although I believe that some people believe they've seen it). As for the release, I haven't heard anything for a while, so it's as much up in the air as when I first posted it, unfortunately. But some of the 35mm screening start to roll out this month (if you're in Boston, Cimino himself will be presenting "Year of the Dragon" tonight), so hopefully they're testing the waters once again.
One piece of possibly spiriting information: MGM has started blocking clips of the film from Youtube; this is in itself doesn't seem surprising (MGM blocks a lot of thing), but I find it curious that they've gone out of their way to block ONLY the clips that were very spoiler-ridden, leaving others in tact (while still claiming copyright on them), and they're doing it when a release should be imminent. Hopefully, this means they're trying to ready-up for a new release by blocking anything that ruins the film, while leaving enough clips to act as "advertising" for those who google the film.
Thanks, yes that is spiriting information. I live in LA but I have no doubt that if there are in fact restored prints hitting the market then we will get them for at least one of the several great theaters out here, most hopefully at LACMA which is my favorite and I will be first in line to get a perfect seat to view HG there which would be such a great experience to view on that screen.
shareOkay, let me clear up the 5-1/2 hour version story. That version was a ROUGH CUT shown to the UA Executives. At the time, Cimino said he could lose maybe 15 or so minutes from it. This version was never shown at any sneak preview or any other release - just to the UA executives. My own theory is that Cimino did this on purpose as he was contractually obligated to bring in a movie at 2 to 3 hours in length. He knew his film would run longer than 3 hours, so he showed a 5-1/2 hour version so that 3 hours and 40 minute wouldn't seem like he violated any contractual obligation (eventhough he did).....but once again, the UA Executives saw a 5-1/2 hour version and they are the only ones who saw it....
shareI still can't believe no one caught this little easter egg, from above:
Couldn't risk imperiling the eventual release... if one's negotiable.share
haha i did not catch that at all lol.
also i just saw that the new restored criterion print is going to be showing at the nyff. for the past two years ive been saying that i want to go and this year i might actually do it.
i would love to see this on the big screen! and who knows maybe cimino will be there. i also want to see passion so i might end up trying to go this year, i was really upset i diddnt go last year. lincoln center is a great place to see a film esp the walter reade theater. i could only imagine what heavens gate would look like on that screen.