Neil Young's Human Highway Film Restoration

I know nothing about this film - but the restoration process looks like it was a lot of work!

http://www.pro-tools-expert.com/hom...io-restoration-of-neil-youngs-human-high.html

 

It's a strange film. I've got 2 different versions of it on VHS tapes in a box somewhere - one with a several generation copy of what I guess is the original edit, and the other is the commercial VHS release. I preferred the original edit....the commercial VHS version has the end sequence at the beginning and several other odd editing choices. I hope this new version they put together gets a release soon.

 

I'd like to see it for the Devo!

 

It would be great if they found the missing elements for Devo's parts in the film. Especially those few small pieces for the Worried Man intro and the beginning of the song where Devo had to use inter cuts with Rod Rooter and Donut when re-compiling the clip for We're All Devo back in 1983.

 

Kid's: Don't believe your own hype, and don't make a film when you're high. Didn't The Beatles teach you anything?

 

Journey through the Past was so incoherent it's a stretch to even call it a movie. Neil had no sense of how to structure a film, even a 'non narrative' film. Poorly shot too. I'm guessing that's his 'style'.

 

My VHS got eaten. Looking forward to DVD. Nifty film.

 

I have the laserdisc. It's a pretty challenging film. Now that I know of Neil's daily pot habit it all makes sense.

I need to dig it out and rewatch it.

 

What an awful film! Only worth it for the Booji and the Devo. The VHS goes for ridiculous prices, so I hope it gets a DVD/Blu-Ray release (on the cheap though, I wouldn't pay too much for this travesty!)

 

Why is this film being worked on (and perhaps released sometime) and the Trunk film (which I actually would love to see) remains in the vault?

 

I've just come from the Melbourne International Film Festival Screening. A few things about the directors cut:

• It's a much tighter film than the VHS/Laserdisc cut. The editing has more rhythm to it.
• The introduction with Booji Boy is now the ending (which makes more sense).
• The dream sequence has had some parts trimmed (the Devo/Young jam) and new parts added.
• The audience I saw it with loved the film. They laughed at all the right moments and applauded at the end (I was shocked).
• Without giving more away - there are new effects and some narrative devices to help the audience understand what's going on.
• Booji Boy now has subtitles.

Overall, it's a massive improvement over the home video cut. It's now a cool little oddball comedy, rather than the mess most of us are used to.

 

I have a copy of the old theatrical release on bootleg DVD and I own the 1995 laser disc.

I think it's an awful movie, but the message and a lot of the music is good.

I'll probably watch the new version at some point and decide if I need it for my Devo collection.

 

It sounds interesting. It may entice me to watch it again.

Hopefully Neil won't hold it up for whatever project has his attention this week.

 

You couldn't pay me to sit through that again.

 

You know Neil, there's more of a chance it'll be held up than released.

Re: my earlier post, I'd still like to see the Trunk Show released rather than this. Still waiting. . .

 

http://thecinematheque.ca/the-bernard-shakey-film-retrospective-neil-young-on-screen

There's a Neil Young film fest going on in Vancouver right now. Some hope for DVD releases of the ones that are tough to find.

I do snicker when I read them bragging that Muddy Track is a "theatrical premiere".

 

"Vancouver premiere" is what they said.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing the theatrical cut as well. Is it much different to the laserdisc version?

 

Human Highway is actually a good film. Neil plays his character nicely, and the final sequence of him beig a rock star is very nice. The jam with Devo - great. Moreover, the last scene depicts are remarkably gloomy scene... gloomy in the retrospective. People dance with shovels in the wake of the nuclear disaster. Next thing you know, several years later, soldiers are shovelig immensely radioactive graphite from the roof of Chernobyl.

The film would have bee better had real sets on the streets were built. Fake background detract from the atmosphere.

 

Just got an e-mail from CD Japan and it lists Neil Young's film, HUMAN HIGHWAY, as being released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in February 2026. I assume a domestic release date can't be too far behind.

Finally.

Mine's pre-ordered.

 

2016 or 2026?

 

Knowing Neil I'd put the money on 2026.