Part 1/4 : German HOOLIGANS Steelcase 2DVD Bonus Features

[karin-woywod.livejournal.com]

Hi there,

Did you know that there's a Region 2 German    '(GREEN STREET) HOOLIGANS'    Double DVD around ?

( Amazon Germany Link )

It comes in a steelcase with a small booklet (more like a leaflet, really) with a few photographs [ I might scan them for part 4/4 ]. Is it interesting for Elijah collectors ? - You bet it is !



Okay, what you can't use (if you don't speak German, that is) is the optional German audio commentary by director Lexi Alexander as one of the audio tracks. Also, in the interview part and in the part where storyboard pages and actual Wharf fight scene are compared / discussed, Lexi speaks German.

There are a few German documentaries about hooliganism on the DVD that won't be of much use to you, either.

BUT - as well as the actual film, all the cast and crew interviews plus the 1988 BBC film "THE FIRM" with a young Gary Oldman    [    who, despite the haircut, for some reason, made me think of a young Sirius Black ;o)   ]    are in English    with suppressable German subtitles.

More about Elijah's interview in part 3/4 . . .

The most interesting part of the bonus features are the two "Behind The Scenes" peeks / documentaries (without comment) that had been filmed with an additional camera. One of those documentaries shows what happened at the studio set for the pub scenes (12 minutes), and the other one documents the making of the fight scenes at the outdoor location at the Wharf (19 minutes).

I haven't got the hardware to make real screencaps, but here are 62 stills (done by taking photographs of the screen) showing the Elijah scenes from both documentaries, so that you can make your mind up whether a purchase is "necessary" for you or not :

link to the first screenshot in line

I've uploaded the screenshots in approx. 620 x 320 pixels, the link will take you to the first picture, in the upper right hand corner you'll find the "Next" button.

Examples :

 and  and  and  and

Note the date shown above : 22nd April 2004 .



The picture above was taken when Charlie had to hurl Elijah out of his chair. These guys, as well as serving as a backdrop to the scene, had to catch Elijah, and he smiled at them gratefully.

 and

Elijah had to straighten his sweatshirt, and then he stroke this pose - so adorable !

 and  and

Note the parka worn on top of his film clothing - it seems to have been very cold and wet !

 and

The same scene in rehearsal . . .



. . . and during the actual filming of the scene.

Again, my apologies for the bad quality of the screencaps. The material on the DVD is of course, in much better quality, although it has to be said that the documentary and interview material is a  tad less clear / sharp than the actual film. Maybe it was intentional to make this material look much "coarser" . . .

Whenever I'll find the time, I will post similar reports about the picture gallery / slideshow, about Elijah's interview and about the pictures accompanying the tiny booklet.

Love,

- Karin.

 

Comments

[frolijah-fan-54.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much Karin!! It is so frustrating when the non-US versions of the films have more extras than the US version. NOT FAIR!! Looking forward to your other reports.

And how cute is that Superman pose? *giggles*

[ladysnaps.livejournal.com]

too cool karin! why can't there be this kind of dvd for the rest of us? i'd love to hear the commentary... but in english. and nothing beats behind the scenes footage does it?

thanks for the info and putting the screen caps up too.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_celebrian/]

Thanks so much Karin. :-)

[bunniewabbit.livejournal.com]

I assume that this is Region 2? Because I'd definitely buy it if I could actually use it, but Region 2 is of no use to me. :(

[karin-woywod.livejournal.com]

Yes, as stated above, it's Region 2.

It's funny in that I own now a plain German version (Region 2) with NOT surpressable German subtitles, an American Region 1 version courtesy of yeuxdebleu, which I can only play on my region-free DVD player (as opposed to my laptop [Region 2]) AND now the steelcase deluxe edition.

Which goes to say that I, for one, longed for a Region 1 version at a certain time, because I like to watch my DVDs in English, sometimes with English subtitles, and I was extremely annoyed by the plain German DVD.

And now the Region 1 Elijah fans long for the deluxe German Region 2 version !

As a computer or laptop DVD drive / player will freeze the region after only 7 changes, it's sensible to keep your home region in your computer / laptop. However, if , for instance, I owned TWO computers / laptops with DVD drives - which I don't - , I would fix it for one to permanently play Region 1 DVDs and the other to permanently play Region 2 DVDs.

And a DVD player can so easily be changed to region-free. For mine, I could get the procedure in the internet, paying just between 5 to 10 dollars for it once and for all.

For "The Bumblebee Flies Anyway", I had to buy a Region 1 DVD, because at the time, a Region 2 DVD didn't exist. Although there's now a German Region 2 DVD of 'Bumblebee', it's dubbed in German and features the German language only, with no other language option. So I am still dependent on my Region 1 DVD.

What I mean to say is, as an Elijah fan, you are eventually forced to go 'multinational' anyway, either with region-free DVD players or with several DVD drives each playing a different region. *sigh*

Love,

- Karin.

[bellewood.livejournal.com]

Hi Karin

"And a DVD player can so easily be changed to region-free. For mine, I could get the procedure in the internet, paying just between 5 to 10 dollars for it once and for all."

How..where??

[karin-woywod.livejournal.com]

Hi bellewood,



However, I wish you all the luck you'll need for your search . . .

Love,

- Karin.

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Never knew you could do this.

[chickenlegs-11.livejournal.com]

In some ways we are lucky in Australia. Due to demand (because so many Australians buy DVDs from overseas due to delays in release dates or limited range of DVD titles on sale here) almost all DVD players are now region-free. If not the sales assistant will provide the instructions on how to unlock the coding yourself - no charge. However this wouldn't need to be the case if the range of DVDs on sale here was better!

[bellewood.livejournal.com]

These screen caps are great considering the way they were done..whenever i try something like that the pictures are always blurred and fuzzy, with the light reflecting back at you..

I love his 'wicked' smile in pic 7..and pic 9 is gorgeous! I bet this dvd is a real treat. Looking forward to the next parts! Thanks Karin!

[karin-woywod.livejournal.com]

Hi bellewood,
Hope you have seen the other screencaps in my album (the link I provided above) as well ?

Because there are a few more shots there, when you can see that the sleeves of Elijah's sweatshirt are too long for him, and his fingers barely come out of them - these pics are sooo cute.

And I like the one in the album immediately before the "superman pose" shot, when Elijah straightens his sweatshirt and runs his hands over his chest - kinda hot !

I agree with 7 and 9 - wicked smile or moody, reflective expression - that's our Elijah !

There are a few times in the 'pub studio location' documentary, when you can see Elijah immediately before doing a scene for the camera - he's looking so concentrated, so focussed, on what he's going to do, really looking 'inward' - it's interesting to see the way he works, how he uses his 'craft' !

And then again, there are quite a few times, when Elijah (and the actor playing 'The Major' - is it Marc Warren ?) run out of the reach of the camera, while the other actors and extras have to finish the scene - and immediately after stepping out of the scene, they are cracking smiles and starting to make funny (silent) gestures for each other or for the documentary camera ! You can see the change of role to actual human being before your own eyes - it's in the 'mood', in the body language, in everything - one second they are one, the next second they are the other.

Sometimes it's the same at the start of the scene : immediately before the camera starts rolling, they are already in position, but sharing smiles and jokes, as soon as the camera rolls, they are in the serious mood that the scene dictates . . . - it's amazing to see that change !

Regarding photographing the screenshots - it's good no-one saw me doing it, it must have been looking ridiculous, for I had covered myself (with the camera) AND my laptop with a fleece plaid in order to minimise reflections :o)

Love,

- Karin.

[bellewood.livejournal.com]

ps..yes i saw your other screen caps too..they're all safely saved away! And i agree..HOT!! There's something really *tingly* whenever he touches himself..don't you think.. i mean, putting a hand to his face, the way he does, or even just scratching an ear while he's talking..*goosebumps*

[karin-woywod.livejournal.com]

Hi Belle,



:oD

;o)


Of course, all our goosebumps just come from being rather obsessed with him - him 'touching himself' (that expression makes my mind wander, probably caused by too much exposure to slash fiction - LOL !) shouldn't mean so much to us, it's after all a perfectly normal behaviour for a human being *writes it down and scratches her nose* . . . ;o) !


Love,

- Karin.


P.S. I've just watched 'Hooligans' with the German audio commentary by director Lexi Alexander, and I've gotten goosebumps all over again, the way she describes how Elijah works as opposed to, say, Charlie Hunnam - Charlie needs to retreat before doing a scene, shying away from company, to get himself in the mood for the following scene, running it over and over in his mind, whereas Elijah asks the director a lot of questions early on, then, immediately before a scene, is carefree and easy-going, and when the cameras start rolling, he's just there, bringing the character and the mood to life (not an exact quote, but just the gist of it). . .

I was interested to hear even about the rare occasion when Elijah had difficulties doing a later scene in the script (when the character of Matt has changed) at quite an early stage during the filming, and he needed several takes to get it right . . .

Oh how I wish I could have been a fly on the wall during ANY of Elijah's film recordings. They say filming is utterly boring, the amount of waiting and repeating you do, but to me (at least with Elijah as the actor) it would be the most interesting thing to watch in my entire life!

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

but to me (at least with Elijah as the actor) it would be the most interesting thing to watch in my entire life!

I could watch Elijah film until the cows came home!

[bellewood.livejournal.com]

"all our goosebumps just come from being rather obsessed with him"..
Me?? Obsessed?? Who told you that!! lol!

"'touching himself' (that expression makes my mind wander".... Mine too.. ;)

"it's after all a perfectly normal behaviour for a human being"
It may be normal to anyone else..but to us it's heaven!!

"whereas Elijah asks the director a lot of questions early on,"

I remember him asking loads of questions at Harrow..and seemed to 'get' what was wanted almost immediately.

"and when the cameras start rolling, he's just there, bringing the character and the mood to life (not an exact quote, but just the gist of it). . ."

Exactly..immediately the cameras start rolling..he's in character! Such a professional.

"They say filming is utterly boring, the amount of waiting and repeating you do, but to me (at least with Elijah as the actor) it would be the most interesting thing to watch in my entire life!"

It's such an amazing experience, i can tell you, something i'll never forget. For the whole time we were there, i didn't take my eyes off him..DEFINATELY not boring!

[bellewood.livejournal.com]

Hi Karin..

So that's your trick..fleecies eh!!! I'll have to give it a go..lol!

The way you've described Elijah work i have to say i've been lucky enough to see with my own eyes.. on set at Harrow. A truly magical privilege indeed. He is exactly as you've descibed..completely focused one minute, then relaxed smiling, cracking jokes the next. He can be laughing and fooling around, or maybe engrossed in what he's doing ( in our case it was the crossword) but the instant he hears the word.."rolling"..he's in position, ready and waiting for his cue..and 'action'.. The change, as you say..really is amazing...it was an honour to witness it..A true professional!

This dvd is looking all the more attractive.. i fear i'm going to have to see these scenes for myself..watch him 'at work' again..bring back some really special memories..

Thanks you so much Karin.. ♥

[chickenlegs-11.livejournal.com]

The Australian DVD had absolutely no extras - very boring! Great that the German one had all this great stuff and it's lovely of you to share as much as you can here! Thanks Karin.

[karin-woywod.livejournal.com]

Hi chickenlegs_11,

The German 'Hooligans' DVD that was released over here first, is very plain, and it's still being sold over here.

It came dubbed with German, and whenever you changed to the English language version, it had annoying non-suppressable German subtitles (I would have preferred English subtitles or none at all). The contents were very simple - the film, a few trailers / teasers, a picture gallery / slideshow, the 6 minutes' "making of" (the same as in the US version of the DVD) and two interviews with Charlie Hunnam (8 minutes) and Elijah Wood (4 minutes), presumably recorded during the Edinburgh Film Festival in August 2005, judging by their clothes.

The new steelcase 2DVD deluxe edition has only been available for - I've just checked it - apparently 9 months (the plain DVD was released 12 months earlier), so it has been released for the collectors and film fans only (considering it's more expensive as well).

Even though 'Hooligans' [apart from the odd film festival] was never released in the German cinemas / movie theatres and went straight to DVD, I think, the subject (Germany has its own fair share of hooliganism) and the nationality of the film's director made it predestined to fare / sell better in Germany than in other countries. That and Elijah as a big name pulling may be the reason that Germany has more 'Hooligans' DVD editions and more bonus features than other countries . . .

But, as I stated above, when I was replying to Bunnie's comment, when it comes to Elijah's other films, it's often no fun being dependent on the German DVD industry !

Love,

- Karin.

[chickenlegs-11.livejournal.com]

Even the German plain DVD had way more than the Australian one. We just got the film but nothing else! I was tempted to buy the Region 1 version at the time from Amazon but didn't bother. But the new German one is very tempting. Yes I see what you mean about this film being of such interest in Germany. Nice to have the best on offer locally for a change! :D

"º@"

[yenizenca.livejournal.com]

"(^^)"

[mumis.livejournal.com]

Thank oyu so much Karin!:)

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Karin. This is quite interesting! Although, I won't be able to play it since it's a region 2 DVD, I would have liked to have had it.

"Note the date shown above : 22nd April 2004 ."

I wonder if it possibly sys 22nd July 2004? I know they filmed it during the Summer of 2004, but I don't think it was being filmed in April.

[karin-woywod.livejournal.com]

Hi Prim,

The date is correct.

I own the to selected dates of filming.

The "in the tube" scenes (quote "Pete doesn't think much about baseball" or "Matt stares blankly out of the window") were shot Sunday 18th April 2004, the external "Brigid Abbey Pub" scenes (quote "Pete tells Matt of his dislike for journalists", "Pete takes Matt off to the game", "Matt sprints past the Abbey") were shot Monday April 19th 2004, the Leadenhall Market and Times Street scenes (quote "Dad & Matt trade verbal punches", "Ned sees Matt and his Dad outside the Times", Bank Tube Station : "Matt meets Shannon") were shot Saturday 3rd April 2004, some of the Wharf scenes (quote Street near Wharf : "Matt arrives. The lads are glad he's there.", Wharf : "Tommy hits Pete with a cosh. Bovver arrives to help") were shot Sunday 4th April 2004 and so on - I've got a few call sheets more . . .

Hey ! I've only just now discovered that I've got the call sheet to that exact day, ! ! !

:o)

(quote Internal - Brigid Abbey's Pub : "Bovver watches Pete laughing with Matt", " 'The Major' takes Matt to one side, gets a standing ovation.", "Matt tells them he's not a journalist. Bovver bashes Matt")

It's really exciting to see how that film was done !

Love,

- Karin.

[sorceress1986.livejournal.com]

OK, someone tell me why WE don't get 3-discs with all this goodness in America!?! I think I'm going to cry!

[neuce61.livejournal.com]

Karin, thanks for the info. I can't believe the paltry DVD we got here in the states. It's shameful. Enjoy the deluxe edition!