Criterion release Ken Loach's 'Kes' on April 19

[railroaded]

Kes – Blu-ray & DVD

Named by the British Film Institute as one of the ten best British films of the century, Kes, from Ken Loach (Hidden Agenda, The Wind That Shakes the Barley), is cinema’s quintessential portrait of working-class Northern England. Billy (an astonishingly naturalistic David Bradley) is a fifteen-year-old miner’s son whose close bond with a wild kestrel provides him with a spiritual escape from his dead-end life. Kes established the sociopolitical engagement and artistic brilliance of its filmmaker, and pushed the British “angry young man” film of the sixties into a new realm of authenticity, using real locations and nonprofessional actors. Loach’s poignant coming-of-age drama remains its now legendary director’s most beloved and influential film.


1969 • 110 minutes • Color • Monaural • 1.66:1 aspect ratio


DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• New, restored digital transfer, approved by director Ken Loach and director of photography Chris Menges, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray


• Making “Kes,” a new documentary featuring Loach, Menges, producer Tony
Garnett, and actor David Bradley

• The Southbank Show: “Ken Loach” (1993), a profile of the filmmaker, featuring Loach, Garnett, directors Stephen Frears and Alan Parker, and other Loach collaborators
• Cathy Come Home (1967), a feature directed by Loach and produced by Garnett, with an introduction by film writer Graham Fuller

• Original theatrical trailer

• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by Fuller


TITLE: Kes (BLU-RAY EDITION)
CAT. NO: CC2000BD
UPC: 7-15515-07051-5
ISBN: 978-1-60465-411-0
SRP: $39.95

PREBOOK: 3/22/11
STREET: 4/19/11
TITLE: Kes (2-DVD EDITION)
CAT. NO: CC2001D
UPC: 7-15515-07061-4
ISBN: 978-1-60465-412-7
SRP: $29.95
PREBOOK: 3/22/11
STREET: 4/19/11

[railroaded]

And includes Cathy Come Home!

[Cheeky Bob]

A word of warning - all of Criterion's Blu-ray releases are locked to Region A, so you'll need to have a multi-region setup.

The same goes for the DVD version, though that's less likely to be a problem for most British buyers.

[railroaded]

DVD Beaver compares the Criterion Blue Ray edition of 'Kes':

Kes Blu-ray - Ken Loach

[crunchie]

The Blu-ray might have a smidgen more detail to it but, to my eyes at least, this new Blu-ray release looks way too green-tinged according to the screengrabs on DVD Beaver. Especially the grey school jumper (now green) and the white window frames (tinged green).

[wearysloth]

Kes

yes, a bit green tinged ... but that makes the countryside rather pretty at least.

an excellent release though
Aveleyman - Kes

and Cathy Come Home
tve18262-19661116-1332.jpg

[Steve Crook]

Kes

yes, a bit green tinged ... but that makes the countryside rather pretty at least.

I've never seen a green kestrel before

It might make the fields look greener. It's a shame that so little of the film takes place in the fields

I'll be staying away from that one, it looks weird

Steve

[julian_craster]

It looks like they have 'prettified it' in order to appeal to US tastes....and is the soundtrack the original, or the 'clear English' one prepared for the US market ?

[wearysloth]

The audio includes options for either soundtrack ...

The included South Bank Show interview with Loach is good value, particularly given that Melvyn Bragg and Loach have some issues still over a documentary on the miner's strike commissioned by Bragg.

[JamesM]

It looks like they have 'prettified it' in order to appeal to US tastes....and is the soundtrack the original, or the 'clear English' one prepared for the US market ?

I assume you are not aware of Criterion's reputation then?

I can see the green tint though.

[Steve Crook]

I assume you are not aware of Criterion's reputation then?

I can see the green tint though.

I am aware of their reputation - and I am surprised that they are willing to risk that reputation by releasing such a bad print

Maybe they should call it "Kes - the story of a boy & his parrot"

Steve

[railroaded]

Probably it's not possible to release a better print. Ken Loach and Chris Menges supervised the transfer after all. And the kestrel looks alright in the HD trailer.

[crunchie]

"Probably it's not possible to release a better print. Ken Loach and Chris Menges supervised the transfer"

All I can say then is it's a pity they didn't just keep the original colour profile used on the previous DVD release instead of "souping up" the colours and boosting the green too much. If it ain't broke don't fix it!

[Film Man]

I was hoping for a great copy at last...why has it always looked poor??? Was it filmed on 16mm originaly? If Criterion can't improve it, then that is that!
Film Man.

[Steve Crook]

Probably it's not possible to release a better print. Ken Loach and Chris Menges supervised the transfer after all. And the kestrel looks alright in the HD trailer.

The shots of it outside look OK, but when it's on its perch in the shed there's a strong green tinge to it

Steve

[Steve Crook]

I was hoping for a great copy at last...why has it always looked poor??? Was it filmed on 16mm originaly? If Criterion can't improve it, then that is that!
Film Man.

It was filmed on 35mm but they may be working from a 16mm print

Steve

[captainhaddock]

ive always wanted to see kaffy cums ome to see what the fuss was about so i'll have to buy this !