repost from thedigitalbits.com





A number of readers have seen this online (and thanks to all those of you who sent the link in), so we decided that it's finally time to comment on the subject. The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) has just cleared 84 minutes worth of special features for a little something it refers to as The Godfather Trilogy Restored 2008 Bonus Disc. Yes, you read that right - The Godfather. Restored.

We can, in fact, confirm that The Godfather Trilogy has indeed been restored, and that our very own Robert A. Harris was involved in the project - a project backed by director Francis Ford Coppola and even Steven Spielberg no less (you can read a bit more on that here). The BBFC notice means that Paramount is likely planning to being The Godfather Trilogy Restored to DVD (and possibly even Blu-ray Disc) later this year. Note that we're posting all this in The Rumor Mill today, because the DVD release - and indeed the restoration effort itself - hasn't officially been announced by Paramount yet. As such, we don't have any more information for you right now than what we're offering here. But when the studio gives us the okay, and takes the cloak of secrecy off the project, Robert assures us that he'll have lots to say about it all for you here at The Digital Bits. So for those of you wondering why Robert's Yellow Layer Failure column hasn't been updated as often in the last year or so, NOW you know why. Hey... some things are just more important.

Stay tuned!

http://thedigitalbits.com/



So you remember that Godfather restoration post we made in The Rumor Mill a couple weeks ago? Well... this morning brings interesting news on that front. It seems that Paramount's European arm has released official details of the DVD release of the restored trilogy there, and the title is now available for preorder at a number of retailers. The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration will contain all three films in the trilogy along with both new and old bonus material. It will arrive on 6/2 in the U.K. (priced at £29.99). The good news is that U.S. fans can almost certainly count on a DVD release as well, though of course Paramount Home Entertainment here in the U.S. hasn't yet officially announced the title, or even acknowledged that a restoration was undertaken. As for the possibility of a high-definition version, obviously the studio hasn't yet announced any new Blu-ray Disc releases either, though given this news from Europe, we would expect that the studio is going to have to break its silence on one or both subjects shortly.

In the meantime, the U.K. release will feature material recycled from the previous box set, along with new material as well. Recycled extras will include audio commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola on all three films, additional scenes, The Godfather: A Look Inside documentary, 5 featurettes (On Location with Dean Tavolarous, Gordon Willis on Cinematography, Music of The Godfather, The Godfather: Behind-the-Scenes 1971 and Puzo and Coppola on Screenwriting), storyboards and animatics, the Rogue's Gallery and The Family Tree features, the Acclaim & Response Gallery (including the Academy Award acceptance speeches), photo galleries, theatrical trailers and filmmaker bios. It's too early to say if it's everything from the original set, until we get more details from the studio. The new material includes 5 featurettes totaling nearly 75 minutes in all (Godfather World, The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't, When the Shooting Stopped, Emulsional Rescue: Revealing The Godfather and The Godfather on the Red Carpet), 4 short films (Godfather vs. Godfather Part II, Cannoli, Riffing on the Riffing and Clemenza) and a hidden Easter egg. And while we're at it, here's a look at the cover art for the box set...

THANK YOU!!

http://thedigitalbits.com/



Here's something you Godfather fans might want to check out this morning: A column

over on Blocks and Files (a data storage news website) about the recently completed restorations of the films, done over at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging. Of key note is this comment at the end:
http://www.blocksandfiles.com/article/5449

"The restoration effects are dramatic. The beautifully restored Godfather trilogy will be re-released in September, prompting, no doubt, hundreds of thousands of DVD sales and, hopefully, Blu-ray disk sales as well. Only with Blu-ray will the full richness of tone and detail in Coppola's masterpiece transfer to home screens. Perhaps this will be the Blu-ray offer that home movie screen viewers cannot refuse."

Indeed. We expect an official announcement from Paramount on this release very soon.

Blu Ray is definately coming my way!

Today I bumped into the DVD release of the Godfather films, The Coppola Restoration. I have a little question about it, is it worth buying the Coppola Restoration DVD box if I already have the good old DVD box?

I guess it depends on whether or not you want to spend the money for the new "extras" that are included. The quote below points out what those extras are:

Ok, but the quality difference of the films itself aren't that big then I guess?

http://thedigitalbits.com/






Well... we've known that this news was coming for months now, but we're thrilled today to say that it's FINALLY official: Paramount has just announced the DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration Collection on both DVD and high-definition Blu-ray Disc on 9/23! The 5-disc DVD set (SRP $72.99) and 4-disc Blu-ray set (SRP $119.99) will contain all three films in the series, along with an archive of the previous DVD extras and all-new bonus material as well (the new material will be in high-def on Blu-ray). The remastered films will also be available individually on DVD only (SRP $19.99 each). And let me tell you... this new restoration looks simply FANTASTIC.

Remember last year, when Jahnke and I had that amazing movie experience, except we were sworn to secrecy about it, but we promised that you would all get to experience it yourselves eventually? THIS is what we were talking about. We've seen the first two restored films (a restoration personally supervised by The Digital Bits' own Robert A. Harris), presented on the big screen. The result is just breathtaking. You may recall that there was a lot of talk, back when these films were first released on DVD, that the image quality was underwhelming, and how sad it was that the films had deteoriated so badly. Simply put, they've now been saved. The films haven't looked this good since their original theatrical release. If you're a fan of The Godfather Trilogy, trust me - you're going to LOVE these discs.

We should note that the restoration effort will soon be the topic of one of Robert's new Yellow Layer Failure columns here at The Bits, so be sure to watch for it.

Here's a look at the final U.S. packaging for the DVD version (now available for pre-order on Amazon.com). The art is close - but not the same - as the European packaging we've posted previously. You'll also find Paramount's official press release below. We'll post the final Blu-ray art as soon as it's available. Here you go...

DIRECTOR FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA'S EPIC TRILOGY
DEBUTS ON DVD AND BLU-RAY IN ALL
NEWLY-REMASTERED VERSIONS

THE GODFATHER: THE COPPOLA RESTORATION

Cinematic Classics Return to their Original Pristine Glory with All-New Special Features

Must-Own Collections Arrive September 23, 2008

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (June 30, 2007) - More than three decades after they won the Academy Award® for Best Picture, director Francis Ford Coppola's classic films The Godfather and The Godfather, Part II will once again be enjoyed by audiences as they originally were meant to be seen, thanks to a meticulous restoration by Paramount Pictures, overseen by Coppola himself. On September 23, 2008, both fully restored films will debut on DVD and Blu-ray, along with a newly remastered version of The Godfather Part III, to be included as part of The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration Collection. All three films will be available individually or in a five-DVD collection or four-disc Blu-ray collection, which are loaded with a host of all-new special features.

The Godfather and The Godfather, Part II underwent extensive frame-by-frame examination and restoration utilizing state-of-the-art digital technology in this historic preservation effort, which required more than a year to complete. Robert A. Harris of the Film Preserve supervised the restoration under the direction of Coppola and cinematographer, Gordon Willis. Harris' restoration credits include Lawrence of Arabia, Spartacus, Vertigo and Rear Window among others.

The new special features created by Kim Aubry, founder of Zoetrope Aubry Productions, explores the complexities of the restoration process and provides new insights and perspectives about how the film almost didn't come to pass as we know it. The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't relates the unlikely events, intrigue, allegiances and luck that put together the unknown director with the "unwanted" cast and contains interviews with most of the living players and many of the film' admirers. Other featurettes include �when the shooting stopped and Godfather World, which take a look at The Godfather's influence on popular culture today. Each film includes a commentary by Coppola.

THE GODFATHER: The Coppola Restoration DVD Collection

The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration DVD Collection, enhanced for 16:9 TVs, with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and English Mono (The Godfather and The Godfather, Part II) and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The DVD disc breakdown is as follows:

Disc 1:

- The Godfather feature film
- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 2:

- The Godfather, Part II feature film
- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 3:

- The Godfather, Part III feature film
- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 4: (previously released special features)

- Making of The Godfather
- Additional Scenes
- Filming Locations
- The Corleone Family Tree
- The Music of The Godfather
- The Godfather Historical Timeline
- Profiles on the Filmmakers
- Photo Galleries and Storyboards

Disc 5: (new special features)

- Godfather World
- The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't
- ...when the shooting stopped
- Emulsional Rescue: Revealing The Godfather
- The Godfather on the Red Carpet
- Four Short Films on The Godfather
--- The Godfather vs. The Godfather, Part II
--- Cannoli
--- Riffing on the Riffing
--- Clemenza

THE GODFATHER: The Coppola Restoration Blu-ray Collection

THE GODFATHER: The Coppola Restoration Blu-ray four-disc set is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Mono (except The Godfather: Part III) and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The following special features are presented in high definition as noted:

Disc 1:

- The Godfather feature film
- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 2:

- The Godfather, Part II feature film
- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 3:

- The Godfather, Part III feature film
- Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola

Disc 4:

- Godfather World (HD)
- The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't (HD)
- ...when the shooting stopped (HD)
- Emulsional Rescue: Revealing The Godfather (HD)
- The Godfather on the Red Carpet (HD)
- Four Short Films on The Godfather
--- The Godfather vs. The Godfather, Part II (HD)
--- Cannoli (HD)
--- Riffing on the Riffing (HD)
--- Clemenza (HD)
- The Family Tree
- Crime Organization Chart
- Connie and Carlo's Wedding Album

2001 DVD Archive:

-Behind the Scenes
-- The Godfather Family: A Look Inside
-- On Location
-- Francis Coppola's Notebook
-- The Music of the Godfather
-- Coppola & Puzo on Screenwriting
-- Gordon Willis on Cinematography
-- Storyboards from The Godfather, Part II
-- Storyboards from The Godfather, Part III
-- The Godfather: Behind the Scenes 1971
- The Filmmakers
-- Francis Ford Coppola
-- Mario Puzo
-- Gordon Willis
-- Dean Tavoularis
-- Nino Rota
-- Carmine Coppola
- Additional Scenes
- Acclaim & Response
- Trailers (HD)
- Photo Gallery
- Rogues' Gallery

About Paramount Home Entertainment

Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. PHE is responsible for the worldwide sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Studios, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS, PBS and Hasbro and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.

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Thank you!!!

Now I know what the Col. is gonna buy me for a early anniversary present.

Thanks for the good news.

http://thedigitalbits.com/


How's about a look at the cover art for The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration Blu-ray Collection? This comes straight from the studio, but we suspect there will be one minor change on the final version - that DVD logo on the spine will be a Blu-ray logo. In any case, here you go...

wohooo! i have this copy already..and its a mass! recommended!

No, you don't already have it. Stop it.

yeah.i have this lol ..there are tons of features and easter eggs etc etc

u want me to take a picture with me handling my boxset dvd:))

anyway how expect me to post that pictures and video without the dvd
don't you know me? don't you know that that's an impossibility?
That I'd use all my power to happened

Yes, that's exactly what I want you to do.

I just got aroused.

"Mini" is that you?

And if he actually comes through, so will I!

My Blu-ray pre-order is in.

Bitch! I didn't link to Amazon Blu-ray yet! (cuz it's not there yet )

You mean this: Amazon.com

Y'know what? The Amazon webmaster "tools" are worthless then... sorry... Thanks!

Would it benefit you if I cancel my pre-order, and order through the banner?

Of course

...despite my apparent retardness...

It's still Amazon, right? Cuz otherwise what else would it be??

... I pre-ordered mine.. and free shipping! Can't wait!

No problem.
...Yup. I order almost everything on Amazon. The only thing that sucks is Amazon now charges tax.

WHAT?? Last I heard they refused to charge tax!! WTF??

...guess it is good to be in NJ for once?

Effective June 1, 2008, Amazon.com LLC will begin collecting sales tax on items shipped to destinations within the State of New York as New York has enacted a new law requiring out-of-state sellers to collect and remit sales tax based on advertising. Amazon has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of this provision. However, as required by the law, we must still begin collecting New York sales tax beginning on that date.

Time to move back to Jersey.