Kubrick Blu-ray Anniversary Editions in 2012
HomeKubrick Blu-ray Anniversary Editions in 2012
Posted June 6, 2011 12:03 PM by Josh Katz
One week following its Blu-ray release of the Stanley Kubrick Limited Edition Collection, Warner Home Entertainment has announced that two of Kubrick's most beloved titles, 1962's Lolita and 1987's Full Metal Jacket, will receive deluxe Blu-ray treatment in 2012, just in time for Lolita's 50th anniversary and Full Metal Jacket's 25th anniversary.
Warner Home Entertainment has not specified a release date or any special features for either the Lolita: 50th Anniversary Special Edition or for the Full Metal Jacket: 25th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-rays, nor has the company addressed whether or not Full Metal Jacket will have an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 or 1.37:1.
This aspect ratio issue is one of much contention; According to Taschen's The Stanley Kubrick Archives book, Kubrick shot his Vietnam epic at 1.37:1 even though the current Blu-ray version frames it at 1.78:1. Below is a still from that book indicating the OARs for all his feature films beginning with Killer's Kiss - the image includes the OAR (slightly misrepresented as 1.33:1, which is the ratio for silent movies or television programs from the last century) for Full Metal Jacket.
Still, such Blu-ray announcements are encouraging for cinephiles everywhere considering the relatively spartan Blu-ray editions of these two films already available for sale - Lolita has only the film's trailer, while Full Metal Jacket has one commentary track and a half-hour featurette accompanying its theatrical trailer. Warner's announcement also suggests the possibility that Barry Lyndon, the only Warner-owned Kubrick title without a deluxe high-definition version, might receive a special edition Blu-ray upgrade in time for its 40th anniversary in 2015.
Check back later for further details.
Warner Home Entertainment has not specified a release date or any special features for either the Lolita: 50th Anniversary Special Edition or for the Full Metal Jacket: 25th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-rays, nor has the company addressed whether or not Full Metal Jacket will have an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 or 1.37:1.
This aspect ratio issue is one of much contention; According to Taschen's The Stanley Kubrick Archives book, Kubrick shot his Vietnam epic at 1.37:1 even though the current Blu-ray version frames it at 1.78:1. Below is a still from that book indicating the OARs for all his feature films beginning with Killer's Kiss - the image includes the OAR (slightly misrepresented as 1.33:1, which is the ratio for silent movies or television programs from the last century) for Full Metal Jacket.
Still, such Blu-ray announcements are encouraging for cinephiles everywhere considering the relatively spartan Blu-ray editions of these two films already available for sale - Lolita has only the film's trailer, while Full Metal Jacket has one commentary track and a half-hour featurette accompanying its theatrical trailer. Warner's announcement also suggests the possibility that Barry Lyndon, the only Warner-owned Kubrick title without a deluxe high-definition version, might receive a special edition Blu-ray upgrade in time for its 40th anniversary in 2015.
Check back later for further details.