Film Weekend

[Graham Ritchie]

Well its been a while since I ran the Ernemann 2 as "Sleepless In Seattle" had been sitting on the platter for its first run for months now two weekends ago the Ernemann was again back into action. I wasn't expecting to much from this print, but to my surprise apart from a couple light base scratches every so often, the print was very good and went through the projector just fine. I had watched "Sleepless In Seattle" on blu-ray in the past, but the 35mm was better The film also has a great soundtrack and was a real pleasure to watch, I must do it again "soon" I did take a couple of screen shots.

[Graham Ritchie]

Its Sunday and at last we watched E.T. The print quality looked great, its a real treat to screen such a film. The Ernemann 2 and the platter ran like a swiss watch. Another thing you notice is the sound quality from a film print, seems a lot better than a blu-ray through the same amp.

It always takes a bit time to make up or break down films, but the end result has always been worth it, tonight screening was one of them
Here is a previous screening of the same print.

The Ernemann 2 will be 100 years old in 2026, amazing.

[Graham Ritchie]

One thing I forgot to mention about this 35mm print, is that its the 20th Anniversary. Now as we all know there were a few changes to the original release, two of the most annoying to me were the extra scenes. One where ET is in the bath, the other is when Elliot mother goes looking for him at Halloween, that part with all those youths going overboard with the street celebrations was a bit much.

Right although I have run this print a number of times with those scenes, might be time to see if I can get rid of them. I watched the original edit on blu-ray, that gave an idea were the the start and stop of those extras scenes. When I looked at the print I found the exact spot. The had not completely butt spliced , there was a gap.....brilliant . I cut exactly on that frame line, found the same gap at the end as well. It was the same for those two extra additions.

Now that's the easy bit, now comes the soundas we all know the analogue sound track is ahead of the image, what would be the result of me removing those extra scenes. I have to add I was very reluctant to cutting this film to begin with, its something I would try to avoid. You can get yourself in a real pickle sound wise. Right I thought its done, the proof of the pudding as they say is trying it. If I had made a mess of it, I can always put them back in.

So to the screening....I concentrated on the picture and the big one being the sound. I could not pick out any faults the scenes flowed well, the sound, well, for a tiny fraction of a second I could hear a door shut. Apart from that it was perfect, The end result for me, is the film is a lot better to watch it flows better without them.

It was quite a relief after watching it, I had got away with it regarding the analogue sound, thanks to those gaps in the butt joins where the added those extra scenes. It was great way to get to the exact frame for a cutting reference. Apart from that I am quite happy with the film print. I did ask Steven after we watched it the other night, what he thought about the removal of guns for walkie talkies, he thought that was a good idea.

So there you have it folks, I was lucky to get away with the analogue sound.

[Graham Ritchie]

Removed from the feature. I will keep them safe somewhere

[Graham Ritchie]

Well its been sitting on the platter for a while now, so thought, right lets screen it this would be its first home screening. The Ernemann 2 and the platter ran like swiss watches two nights ago. I had watched Wild Hogs it in the past on blu-ray, but the 35mm print, viewing wise, is in a different league altogether. The last time I had watched a film print of this title was back in 2007 I think. Its a fun movie, we ran it for months it did so well. In fact I want to run it again in a few days time, very happy to be able at last to get a film print of this title, it really looked and sounded great.

[Graham Ritchie]

As much as I enjoy blu-ray projection it cant compare with 35mm film, so last night I just had to screen again The Last Starfighter, for me its a real treat to run 35mm, especially using a platter and a projector that is getting very close to being 100 years old. So here again is a short video of a previous screening, it has brilliant soundtrack I should add.

[Chip Gelmini]

We should all be watching films this weekend as the 28th gathering of Cinesea is in progress!

[Graham Ritchie]

Took some photos of that last screening.

Although the print has a bit of fade, its still pretty good, but most of all running the Ernemann 2 is a real joy

[Graham Ritchie]

Well its Sunday night and just finished watching Episode One, hard to imagine its been 25 years since we first watched it at the cinema. One of the great things about using a platter, is the fact that I can sit back and enjoy watching a film from start to finish without the need to do much, leaving both the Ernemann 2 and platter to do there thing.

I really enjoyed watching the 35mm print of the film tonight, its in excellent condition. Although I do also have the blu-ray, I much prefer the film print. Its a pity cinemas no longer run film, digital is fine but 35mm, well that's something else its in a class of its own.

I did take a couple of screen shots tonight as shown below, the last one with the film being just finished screening sitting on the platter..

[Graham Ritchie]

When we went to the cinema back in 1999 to watch The Phantom Menace the session was sold out. To pass the time until the next one we went to Pizza Hut, as we entered Jar Jar was on display as a prize. Weeks later Yvonne got a call that she had won and where did Yvonne want it? Jar Jar now lives in our home cinema, been living there for a while now and seems to be a talking point when folk come here to watch a movie. Jar Jar belongs to Yvonne .