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    The Keep

    I watched this film a few years ago. It really captivated me, and left a lasting impression.




    It has such a unique atmosphere to it. The setting is dark, sinister, and very hypnotic. This transfixion is created by a fusion of brilliant cinematography, interesting story, and intense music. The whole experience is utterly compelling.

    I've just found out, it isn't on dvd. ... Michael Mann's original version was 3hours long. The studio were said to be very negative regarding the project- and wanted it cut to 1hr 30mins ft: ... They also didn't commit enough financial resources to the project.

    So, Paramount aren't eager to deliver a dvd. There has been one rumoured- I read it was supposed to be out now. Some people are saying it may be a deluxe version, a directors cut etc...

    I just hope it does get a dvd release. If anyone has information, please discuss.

    Cheers!

    #2
    This film has quite a few fans on here, especially of the soundtrack (was it Tangerine Dream or Philip Glass?). I thought the film was **** however, as it just didn't click with me and seemed like a bad tasting Dr. Who thing... and I hate Dr. Who.

    It's a shame it's getting messed around by the company though. Attitudes like that make me sick, especially considering the film's miniature cult status.

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      #3
      Yeah Tangerine Dream did the soundtrack. I think I've still got a copy of this on VHS somewhere. Bought it years ago from a company who specialised in doing laserdic transfers.

      Wouldn't mind watching it again but I don't have a VCR anymore.

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        #4
        Originally posted by DavidFallows View Post
        This film has quite a few fans on here, especially of the soundtrack (was it Tangerine Dream or Philip Glass?). I thought the film was **** however, as it just didn't click with me and seemed like a bad tasting Dr. Who thing... and I hate Dr. Who.

        It's a shame it's getting messed around by the company though. Attitudes like that make me sick, especially considering the film's miniature cult status.
        I've only watched it twice, and once was when I was too tired to concentrate properly, but I was spellbound by it's atmosphere. I'm a fan of fantasy films. This is pure fantasy, with its soundtrack and eerie dreamlike ambience.

        I guess some people like more down-to-earth experiences, and found this to be a bit vague and lacking in focus.

        It certainly isn't formulaic, and no one can say they've ' seen it all before ' .. That's the reason I find it so watchable, and also why some people probably don't feel much connection with it.

        I guess the film shows how safe studios have become these days. The Keep would probably be more like ' Aliens Vs Predator ' if it were made today. There would be macho soldiers, stupid monsters, and basically a simple testosterone fuelled waste.

        Making a film like this took guts, and it worked for me. It isn't perfect, but it does deliver something special, and I'm a big fan.

        Doctor Who? ... .... It's in another league!
        Last edited by Leon Retro; 21-01-2007, 07:01.

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          #5
          This was supposed to be released on DVD about a year ago - it was even listed at various e-tailers: Paramount canned it because they were waiting for Mann to find some time in his itinery to record a commentary, which he never did, so it remains unreleased. Or, at least, such was the gossip.

          There are plenty of Laserdisc (widescreen) rips floating about on eBay, if you want one. The sellers normally ask bum-rape prices for them, even though all they've done is burn the download that was floating around as a torrent not so long ago (that sadly is no longer seeded). The quality of the one I've seen is certainly okay, albeit very grainy and colour-noisy (it is an LD rip, after all).

          I doubt it'll get released non-HD now. I very much doubt Paramount will include any extras at all beyond director commentary - I can't ever see them funding a director's cut restoration, for example, on such a minor title. It's not Superman II, after all, and look how long it took WB to sort out Donner's cut on that.

          The main thing that lets this down (apart from McKellen's awful performance) are the FX, although some of the opticals (the reverse-motion smoke FX, for example) are pretty effective, and reimagining Rasalom as a cyber-demon rather than a ponce in a velvet cape (as he is in the novel: but then, he's trying to exploit local superstitions by posing as a vampire) is also interesting. Shame they had to whack lame glowy red/white eye opticals on everything.
          Last edited by anephric; 21-01-2007, 16:04.

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            #6
            Originally posted by anephric View Post
            This was supposed to be released on DVD about a year ago - it was even listed at various e-tailers: Paramount canned it because they were waiting for Mann to find some time in his itinery to record a commentary, which he never did, so it remains unreleased. Or, at least, such was the gossip.

            There are plenty of Laserdisc (widescreen) rips floating about on eBay, if you want one. The sellers normally ask bum-rape prices for them, even though all they've done is burn the download that was floating around as a torrent not so long ago (that sadly is no longer seeded). The quality of the one I've seen is certainly okay, albeit very grainy and colour-noisy (it is an LD rip, after all).


            The main thing that lets this down (apart from McKellen's awful performance) are the FX, although some of the opticals (the reverse-motion smoke FX, for example) are pretty effective, and reimagining Rasalom as a cyber-demon rather than a ponce in a velvet cape (as he is in the novel: but then, he's trying to exploit local superstitions by posing as a vampire) is also interesting. Shame they had to whack lame glowy red/white eye opticals on everything.
            I hope Mann isn't the reason the dvd isn't released. That would piss me off far more than the rumour that Paramount are being tossers.

            Why be ashamed of it? Films like AVP are a pile of crap- and far more deserving of hate and embarassment.

            It's not perfect, some people can pick at certain elements, but I find it to be far more worthy than 90% of the garbage I see.

            Sure... it isn't one of the best films ever made, but it does have fans. A dvd is needed, even if it's just the film, nothing else.

            Looks like Ebay hasn't got any LD rips

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              #7
              There was one there just the other day - I think it was something like £22... complete con, but there you go.

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                #8
                Any news on a dvd release? ... Last thing I heard was that Paramount and Mann have buried the hatchet; which gives hope for a dvd, or maybe a Directors Cut.

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                  #9
                  dont know if its received a dvd release but i noticed it was xbox sky player movies if anyone has that package

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                    #10
                    Sky have been showing it in sd for weeks now I posted it in a Mann thread (maybe public enemies) saved it on my hdd.
                    I have a laserdisc on the way also, always loved this flick

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                      #11
                      Thanks for the tip guys, i'm currently watching this now. Exactly the sort of film i was in the mood for
                      ----Member since April 2002

                      http://www.redbubble.com/people/adamstone

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                        #12
                        I saw it at the BFI a couple of months ago. There was still talk of the fabled special edition making an appearance sometime in the future. It's a great film but you can tell it's been cut together quite clumsily in places and Ian McKellen's accent is terrible!
                        I recommend the book too.
                        Don't look at me, I'm irrelevant.

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                          #13
                          It's not his voice is it? Thought it was dubbed over.

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                            #14
                            It's always been his voice in the versions I've seen.

                            The highlight of the whole movie for me is the ending theme - "Walking in the air" done by Tangerine Dream.. amazing!

                            The soundtrack is even harder to find than a good copy of the movie, there is a bootleg but the quality is terrible - the official release didn't actually contain much of the music in the movie, but is still stupidly rare. A dvd with a soundtrack only option would be the bees knees... you don't find many discs with that option any more though do you? Only one I have is Enter the Dragon.

                            I found a 2 disc VCD version for download a while ago which I re-edited into a single file and made a DVD, but the quality stinks. That moment when you first see the caverns under the keep is crying out for some high definition remastering. Then again the poor visual quality probably helps to mask the cheapness of the special effects, so hi-def may spoil it.

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                              #15
                              Never seen this, but I'm pretty sure it made Empire's book of the best horror films.

                              Worth finding?

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