Heavenly Creatures DVD Crusade

Greetings!

We the undersigned fans of Peter Jackson's film "Heavenly Creatures" urge you give this remarkable film the DVD release it deserves, and has yet to receive.

First and foremost, an anamorphic 16:9 transfer would be a prerequisite.The 1.33:1, pan-and-scan and full-frame transfers that have marked its previous releases are truly a travesty with a film as artfully shot as this. It's something that can now, finally, be corrected with a proper widescreen release.

Then there's the potential for extra features. The popularity of DVD's is largely due to the extras and additional features that it's possible to include, and with Heavenly Creatures, there are riches galore that have yet to be tapped:

- 10 minutes of footage were cut from the initial release, including several scenes that add background, whimsy, and an additional dose of black comedy to the tale. Of all the potential extra features, this is the one that we consider a "MUST SEE".

- Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh's experience researching the film, their dedication to telling this story accurately and fairly, and their experiences with then-unknown actresses Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey would make for a fascinating commentary track.

- A "video diary" of the film was made and hopefully material from this record could be included.

- Archival material about the real case, court records, contemporary photos and newspaper accounts, copies of the diary pages of Pauline Parker that were submitted as evidence at the trial... the list of ready-made material goes on and on.

Heavenly Creatures may have been a small film by Hollywood standards, but it was top-heavy with future star power. This is the film that introduced superstar Kate Winslet to the world, long before her fame reached its current Titanic level. It's the finest previous work of the man who has now achieved worldwide attention and almost universal critical praise for The Lord of the Rings. Heavenly Creatures continues to be discovered thanks to the ever-growing achievements of its stars and director. So it can be safely assumed that the level of interest for a quality release would extend far beyond just those who already know and love the film. Properly promoted, it could be one of your best-selling discs.

Heavenly Creatures is an amazing film that has been badly served so far by its few previous DVD releases. We hope and trust that you will more than make up for this with a release that truly does this brilliant film justice - the kind of release that fans like ourselves have been awaiting for a long, long time. We're ready to view it... and ready to buy it.

Miramax is already known for releasing distinctive, high-quality films. That reputation should extend to your films' video releases. We challenge you to rise to the occasion and give Heavenly Creatures the DVD treatment it deserves!