[Tim Willson]

This title isn't yet listed among the upcoming releases at Disney's B2B site, so I don't know what features will be included, or if the artwork will change. Wonder if there will be previews for Disney films before the main feature...

[MattPage]

Is it bad that I'm amused by the potential problems for all those "boycott Disney" types?

Good news though - the marketing of Gospel of John was a little too cynical and the description of Gospel of Mark sounds interesting.

Wonder whether the disney deal got eberts on board or whether Eberts got Disney on board?

Matt

[Tim Willson]

Interestingly, Amazon.com is offering the original three-disc set, "new and used", for US$41 and up (I think Amazon.ca charges a whopping CDN$80!), but they now also list a Buena Vista two-disc set for US$21, which is due to be released March 15.  I wonder if this means they are ditching the bonus features, or if they are going to put the entire three-hour movie on a single disc instead of splitting up (rather needlessly) between two discs.

The new Disney version of THE GOSPEL OF JOHN releases as two separate films (in one package) on March 15th at a new lower price, with a new cover and the following features:

This 2-Disc Set Includes The Never-Before-Seen 2-Hour Version And The Original Theatrical Version Of The Film
Historical Background
Production Design: "The Making Of The Gospel Of John"
Featurettes About The Cast And Filmmakers
Interactive Map Of The Holy Land: The Miracles Of Jesus
Glossary Of Historical Terms

Attached File(s)

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[Peter T Chattaway]

Tim Willson wrote:
: . . . with a new cover . . .

Looks darker. Reminds me of the poster for The Passion.

: This 2-Disc Set Includes The Never-Before-Seen 2-Hour Version . . .

[ boggle ]

Um, so, I guess it's still word-for-word, but just not ALL the words!? Kinda like the Pasolini film?

: Historical Background
: Production Design: "The Making Of The Gospel Of John"
: Featurettes About The Cast And Filmmakers

I wonder if these are the same featurettes that the other disc had.

So, Tim, who does one have to contact to get a review copy of this DVD?

[Tim Willson]

Hey Peter,

You're right about the Passion reference in the artwork -- I didn't make that connection.

You mention the 2-hour version -- no different than what VB did with Matthew and Acts. There is a theatrical-length version of each (Jesus the Christ and Falling Fire), released under circumstances that made them somewhat obscure.

As to review copies, check with the VB P-R person listed above or try to reach Disney. It's not clear to me yet how this will play out, given the entitities that have had distribution rights in the past; now that Disney's involved, I'm guessing they have the whole project under contract for all markets. (And our contact at VB is no longer there.)

[MattPage]

Interesting annecdote from "Jesus and Mel Gibson's the "Passion of the Christ": from Helen Bond (I think) who was on the advisory comittee. When getting the ADL's perspective the rep said it was anti-semitic, but then later admitted they had never actually read the gospel of John! Make of that what you will.

Matt

[Tim Willson]

Visual Bible is now in receivership. An Ontario court put the company into interim receivership on April 13th, and a receiver is attempting to sell the company as a going concern.

[MattPage]

Link to the new Visual Bible - Gospel of Mark thread.

What does it being sold as a "going concern" mean in layman's terms?

Matt

[Tim Willson]

The company has been active (I believe revenue last year was over $9-million), and someone who could afford to keep paying the bills could buy it and just carry on. Disney and Thomas Nelson -- maybe the International Bible Society -- might be interested, for example, but I think the debts are likely far too large. The assets of the company could be sold off to pay back lenders (again, Disney and Thomas Nelson might be the most likely buyers of the assets (esp. any films, the brand name and contracts).

The situation seems very difficult; I'm not very close to the situation, but an an interested observer for a number of years, I have seen this company go through an astonishing amount of money. I don't think they even have the rights to MATTHEW any more (maybe not even ACTS), since the resolution of a royalty dispute with the International Bible Society, and they just sold distribution rights of THE GOSPEL OF JOHN (plus the "upcoming" GOSPEL OF MARK) to Disney. What's left?

[MattPage]

Thanks for clearing that up tim

Matt

[MattPage]

: One topic per film, please.

Do you mean one film per topic?

Matt