|
| The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill | 
| Actor: Mark Bittner
Studio: DOCURAMA
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.95
Buy Used: $10.44
You Save: $16.51 (61%)
New (41) from $12.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  153 reviews
Sales Rank: 6162
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Surround Sound
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Running Time: 83 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: NVGD9693D
ISBN: 0767085973
UPC: 767685969335
EAN: 9780767085977
ASIN: B000BB1534
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
Release Date: December 26, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Item in very good condition, rental overstock, may or may not include insert and/or stickers, 100% guaranteed.
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Great Parrot Footage for Bird Lovers. A Vivid Companion to Mark Bittner's Book. January 4, 2006
48 out of 52 found this review helpful
"The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" bears the same title as the 2004 book by Mark Bittner, the bohemian resident of San Francisco's Telegraph Hill who chronicled his experiences with a flock of cherry-headed conures whom he befriended and cared for. This film by Judy Irving begins later in Bittner's relationship with the birds and ends sooner than the book, which covers more time and goes into more depth in describing the individual birds' personalities. You don't need to have read the book to understand the film, though. Anyone who loves parrots will enjoy seeing the characters among San Francisco's wild flock. But I think the book does increase the audience's appreciation of the flock and Bittner's role in helping them along. If you have read the book, it is extraordinary to see the birds in action in this film, which includes a lot of colorful footage of these playful, vivacious parrots.
As the film starts, the flock numbers about 45 birds, cherry-headed conures plus one blue-crowned conure, Conner, and an occasional budgie. It ends around the time Mark Bittner moved away from Telegraph Hill due to renovations. In addition to observing the flock, we hear Bittner recount his life in San Francisco as a bohemian drifter in search of direction, which he finally found in the unlikely form of a flock of displaced parrots. Bittner does most of the talking about the parrots, through interviews and voice-over narration. There are also interviews with his Telegraph Hill neighbors, the curator of birds at San Francisco's Lorikeet Aviary, John Aiken, and a host of people speculating on the flock's origins. By the film's end, the flock included a mitred conure and hybrid offspring, and it's unclear to me how many birds it numbered. But the flock included around 160 birds by the time this DVD was finished.
It's incredible to see these birds living and thriving in an urban environment, feeding on fellow non-natives: the subtropical plants imported for landscaping. Judy Irving has captured some of the most engaging footage of parrots that I've ever seen on film. And this film adds some value to Mark Bittner's book beyond visuals: Bittner comes across as less reclusive and eccentric than he did in his book. And I got a much stronger sense of Conner's plight, as the flock's regal, thoughtful outsider, from the film than I did from the book, which I really appreciated. "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" is a vivid account of some very out-of-place parrots who have made a place for themselves in an urban jungle filled with humans and other oddities. A great film for bird-lovers -and take a look at the book too, if you can.
The DVD (New Video Group 2005): This DVD is loaded with extras as long as the film itself, and you won't want to miss them if you're interested in the origins of the flock, updates on the flock, or just want to see more parrot pictures. There is a "Flock Update" (7 min), containing info on the birds and Mark's move back to Telegraph Hill, which I believe is in the book but not the movie. There are 7 deleted scenes (25 min) available, including a long sequence, "Flock Origins" (14 min), on the early days of the flock, in which Laurel Wroten recounts her observations of how 2 apparently escaped cherry-headed conures became 7 and then were joined by Conner and his blue-crowned mate. This ends a lot of speculation about how the flock began. There are 4 short films (51 min) about Conner, Mingus' life at the Oasis Sanctuary, and "Mark's Home Movies", which include a lot of footage of birds discussed in the book. There is a Music Video (4 min) of a song about Dojen, Conner, and Tupelo, recorded by Roberta Fabiano. Also: a theatrical trailer (2 min), "Filmmaker Bio" (text), "About the Book" (text), including how to order a signed copy, "About the Soundtrack" (how to order), "About Pelican Media" (where to get t-shirts and other movie paraphernalia), and DVD credits. No subtitles.
 One of my, "Best of the Year" January 2, 2006
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I laughed out loud, sobbed shamelessly, ranted with fury and experienced the sinking in my stomach at the sight of hawks swooping in.
These are not just birds. They are personalities and little creatures with amazing intelligence and passion. Their plights and escapades throughout this film have you tight-fisted with bated breath one moment and soaring great heights of delight in the next. So intensely real are the distinct characters depicted, that you fall in love with them from the start. That's the good and the bad of it. You must grieve the losses, as well.
Thank you.
S. A., MD
"Director's Cut: Full-Screen DVD" January 2, 2006
29 out of 29 found this review helpful
I'm Judy Irving, the producer/director of "Wild Parrots," and I'd like to address Wes's misconceptions in "Warning: DVD is not in wide screen." The film was shot in 16mm (1.66 to 1), which is the same shape as a tv screen. When it was blown up to 35mm for theatrical release, each shot in the movie has to lose 39% of its original image at top and/or bottom, to arrive at the 1.85 to 1 wide-screen aspect ratio. For each shot, I had to decide what to lose: head room? bottom? or a little of both? For the DVD release, I specifically requested that the film be mastered in its original 16mm dimensions, so that viewers could see 1) 39% more image, and 2) how each shot was originally framed. Wes's confusion may have resulted from IMDB stating that the film was shot in wide-screen. It wasn't. Enjoy!
 WARNING: DVD IS NOT IN WIDESCREEN!! January 2, 2006
8 out of 40 found this review helpful
My reply to director Judy Irving: If the original framing was indeed 1.66:1 then a slight cropping would result as 4:3 televisions are in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. While it's impossible for me now to compare what I viewed theatrically vs. this dvd framing, I posit that the image IS zoomed in. If the original negative ratio was indeed 1.37:1 (or 1.66:1), but was projected at 1.78:1 - 1.85:1 for theatrical release then I thank her for her explanation, but this "full-frame" just doesn't look right - it DOES look like a "pan & scan" transfer. It should have been transfered into a 1.66:1 WIDESCREEN aspect ratio - NOT left at 1.33:1
Amazon's own Product Details lists this dvd release as widescreen, in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. That is FALSE, an outright ERROR - WHY IS IT STILL LABELED AS SUCH?
Alright, I love this movie. I would happily give it 5 stars EXCEPT FOR ONE THING: THIS DVD IS NOT WIDESCREEN. Yes, it WAS filmed in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio (go to imdb.com for more technical specs), and I had absolutely no reason to believe this title wouldn't be issued as such but somebody at Docurama screwed up - BIG TIME. I mean, come on - it was filmed throughout beautiful San Francisco. Granted, some of it was shot on 16mm, but I remember seeing this in a theater where it was projected in its proper wide format. But no, you get a godawful, CROPPED "fullscreen" framing - that's it. There is NO EXCUSE for that. It's an outrage. For this, I'm giving it only 1 star. Such a shame for such a beautiful film...
By the way, the "music video" turns my stomach. WHAT an embarrassment.
A wonderful glimpse into parrot and human consciousness January 1, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
What distinguishes this film from so many other fine documentaries about animals (for instance, March of the Penguins) is that we experience the parrot flock through the eyes of Mark Bittner, a sometimes-homeless but well-read and intelligent seeker with a Zen approach to existence, who initially takes it upon himself to feed and study the birds, and eventually discovers that they have fully realized personalities, to the point where he forms exceedingly strong emotional bonds with certain individuals. His own evolution from bemused observer to someone who truly loves the birds and appreciates them as individuals is fascinating, and as persuasive evidence for animal consciousness (for those who still feel the need for such evidence) as anything I've seen. From Connor, the "Braveheart" of the flock, to the vibe-loving Mingus and the sweet, flower-loving disabled Tupelo [sp?], some of these birds just slayed me. There is a wonderful organic feel to the film, as it weaves in elements of the Telegraph Hill neighborhood, local businesses and government, the viewpoints of miscellaneous citizens and bird experts, combined with lovely photography and a pleasant soundtrack. And I won't give away the ending, but the story evolves into something even more meaningful for Bittner. A total delight, very moving -- quite possibly my favorite film this year.
|
|
|
Wildlife, nature and the Environment
Sponsored Links
Learn how to get your own Amazon Book shop | |
