Which release of Andrei Rublev? [Archive]

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xtrmntr

16-11-2002, 14:10

which version of this film would you recommend - the 185 minute artificial eye version or the longer criterion edition? i don't care greatly about special features but i am slightly put off by the supposedly inferior picture quality of the criterion.

kanttila

17-11-2002, 09:33

I would recommend both versions :D

The problem is that the Criterion disk has a lot of footage in the film that is missing from all other versions. I admit, that the picture quality is one of the weakest efforts that Criterion has ever made - but it's still watchable. I have a lot disks that have still weaker pictures, weak Criterion disk means something other than weak Image Entertainment disk ...

The Ruschico disk has a lot better image, but it is the version that was shown in theatres, missing about 15 minutes of footage shown on the other disks. I don't usually care about extras, so no comment on them.

Make your pick based on if you want the long version or the better picture ... Hint: I have both :lol:

Michael Brooke

17-11-2002, 11:42

I also have both, and I don't think there's any way round this.

I actually prefer the shorter theatrical version in many ways, though this may well be because it's the version I've grown up with - I'm extremely familiar with it, having seen it three times in the cinema and several more on my old taped-off-BBC2 copy, so I found the Criterion somewhat jarring (it's not just a case of additional footage: the editing is noticeably different throughout).

The jury is also out over the bona fides of each version - as far as I can make out, the Criterion is Tarkovsky's initial cut while the Ruscico/Artificial Eye is the final cut. Obviously, there will have been a certain degree of powers-that-be censorship between those two stages - but it's also true that Tarkovsky himself signed off the final cut, and there's every likelihood that parts of the shorter version are closer to his ideal than the equivalent scenes in the longer version, even if he was also forced to remove additional elements that he wanted to retain.

For instance, I much prefer the editing of the prologue in the shorter version - just to give one brief example, the shot of the horse rolling slowly onto its back just after the peasant balloonist has plunged to earth is pitched absolutely perfectly in the short version - it's a moment of breath-catching beauty whose essentially fleeting nature is what made it so effective (at least to me), whereas in the long version it's much more drawn out.

As for the extras, both versions are pretty well endowed - the Criterion is better on Tarkovsky and critical analysis of the film itself, the Ruscico/Artificial Eye better on historical and cultural background detail. If I had to choose between them, I'd be tempted to favour the Ruscico disc(s), but it's a very tough call, and others may not share my opinion of the shorter version (it's a bit like Touch of Evil - I know the Walter Murch cut (the only one available on DVD) is "better" in theory, as it's closer to Welles' specifications, but there are elements of the older version that I really miss!)

xtrmntr

17-11-2002, 13:19

Thank you for that people - I think I'll go with the Artificial Eye, I always tend to be a purist when it comes to films which have been edited by the studio (I am very fond of the DVD release of Touch Of Evil), but in this instance neither version seems to be entirely representative of Tarkovsky's intent, although the nostalghia.com website suggests that the 185 minute version comes closest. The superior picture quality and lower price also help :)

A bit of useless trivia too - the Criterion version is apparently sourced from a print acquired by Martin Scorcese.

JayLunar

24-11-2002, 22:33

I own the Korean Regio 3 NTSC Ruscico/Spectrum DVD of Andrei Rublev which only has a running time of 175 mins (I just double checked). Does that make sense? I'm a bit worried now... :noid:

Joe91

24-11-2002, 23:42

Originally posted by JayLunar
I own the Korean Regio 3 NTSC Ruscico/Spectrum DVD of Andrei Rublev which only has a running time of 175 mins (I just double checked). Does that make sense? I'm a bit worried now... :noid: That's also the run time of the Ruscico/Artificial Eye releases, due to PAL speed up (see review .here (http://www.celtoslavica.de/chiaroscuro/vergleiche/rubl.html)) . The Korean disc must be a PAL to NTSC conversion

Shakey21

24-11-2002, 23:47

what's the best place to get the Ruscico release from?

Thanks.

Joe91

25-11-2002, 00:53

Your best bet would be to get the UK Artificial Eye release - it's identical to the Ruscico version. Splash seem to be the cheapest at £16.95.

erlryd

01-08-2004, 23:34

02-08-2004, 20:37

Moved to world cinema :)

Njål

07-08-2004, 22:31

I realize I’m reviving a 2-year old thread here, but I see that koreandvds.com have the Spectrum release mentioned by JayLunar for a little over US $20 delivered. I was wondering if someone who owns this release could comment on picture quality, anamorphic status etc. I don’t feel like watching 2.35:1 non-anamorphic NTSC on my 16X9 TV so any info on this spectrum release from Korea would be most appreciated.

Thanks :)
The Spectrum release is a direct port (with added Korean subtitles) of RUSCICOs NTSC conversion of their original PAL master.
A direct port of the original PAL (like the Artificial Eye is) will have better picture quality.
How well the standard conversion is done here I don't know.