THE DVD Fox issues The Cabinet of Caligari in pan-and-scan and 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfers on opposite sides of the same disc.
Excellent 2.35:1
widescreen transfer on an RSDL disc features virtually zilch compression artifacts.
The 1:85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer on Disc 2 for starters is the better option, as it provides the original theatrical ratio and none of Disc 1's claustrophobia.
THE DVD Artisan's DVD release of Deep in the Woods is presented in both a 1.33:1 standard transfer and a 2.35:1 anamorphically enhanced
widescreen transfer on the same side of a dual - layered platter.
THE DVD Artisan presents a more than adequate 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer on DVD (as well as a 1.33:1 pan-and-scan on the same side of the platter) that belies the relatively low budget and production values of the film.
Not exact matches
But that, of course, is problematic
on home video, and it was quite apparent to those who saw the film in cinemas that the original
widescreen transfer of Se7en did not accurately recreate the intended look, mood or intention of the film.
While the previous
widescreen transfer looked perfectly fine, do an A / B comparison with this new one (a feat made easily possible by one of the wonderfully informative extras included
on the second disc) and you'll want to donate your previous copy to the Drink Coaster Society.
Seven makes its Blu - ray debut from Kino Lorber's Studio Classics line in an AVC encoded 1080p high definition
transfer framed at 1.78.1
widescreen on a 25 GB disc.
Human Nature is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen and fullscreen versions
on the same side of a dual - layer disc; compositionally, it's a toss - up between the two
transfers, since the latter opens up the bottom of the frame whilst cropping the vertical sides.
The DC distinguishes itself
on a technical level with the cleaner, more naturalistic 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer of the two.
THE DVD Anchor Bay reissues Johnny Suede
on DVD in a 1.75:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer that frankly does Joe DeSalvo's cinematography a disservice.
I wish the disc's 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer * better preserved all this mise - en - scène minutiae: the image is surprisingly soft, muted, and murky, if only mildly so
on each count.
THE DVD One of six films that won the second round of Amazon's DVD Decision 2006, Looker debuts
on the format in a handsome 2.37:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer that occasionally succumbs to pinholes and a high density of grain.
THE DVD Fox checks in with a spotty 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer of Dunston Checks In
on one side of a DVD and a fullscreen pan-and-scan version
on the other.
on a new 2007 DVD in a beautiful, black - and - white
widescreen transfer.
is showcased in an excellent 1.78:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer so fine in its shadow detail that every pock
on Burton's face is like a cave in a lunar landscape.
Undoubtedly, the 1.85:1
widescreen presentation handily bests the non-anamorphic
transfer on Disney's original DVD and I'd suspect the gains over Echo Bridge's own, in - print, 16:9 - enhanced DVD are also evident.
DVD Extras The real reason to get hold of Halloween - 25th Anniversary Edition is the new high definition digital
transfer, which offers superb sound and an enhanced
widescreen image (2.35:1), but there is also an exhaustive (and at times exhausting) range of extras
on this two - DVD set.
Disc One features a nice, solid, rain - streaked 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer that shows the wear of its origins (a Spanish / Italian production
on minimal funds and with time and subject limitations) yet acquits itself quite nicely and is arguably more lustrous than the Anchor Bay presentation.
THE DVDs Released
on DVD a few years back by DreamWorks in an «Awards Edition» now bundled as part of Paramount's «Best Picture: Academy Award Winners Collection,» American Beauty is crying out for a fresh run through the telecine (there's a hair in a couple of frames), its 2.37:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer conspicuously struck back in the nascence of the format.
The 1.78:1 16x9 - enhanced
widescreen transfer indeed dazzles and while the film's visuals aren't as stunning as some other CGI cartoons, they're easy
on the eyes and filled with vivid, pleasing colors.
Unsurprisingly for modern stop - motion animation, picture quality is excellent
on the DVD's 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer.
THE DVD Fox DVD presents Fathom in a brilliant 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer long
on vibrancy and short
on edge enhancement.
Presented
on two discs are the first season's eight episodes (four to a disc)
transferred over in a 4:3
widescreen video and a 2.0 Dolby soundtrack.
THE DVD Innerspace is available
on DVD from Warner Home Video in a presentation that contains a 1.78:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer of the film along with 5.1 Dolby Digital sound likely based off the six - track mix that accompanied 70 mm prints.
THE DVDs Fox presents A Farewell to Arms and Francis of Assisi
on DVD in glorious 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfers (the latter misidentified
on the box art as 1.85:1) that preserve their CinemaScope origins and, more, honour them with popping the colours and by saturating the screen with the curious sterility of the process.
A 2.35:1, anamorphically - enhanced
widescreen video
transfer, after a few line flaws
on the negative during the opening credit sequence, is remarkably clear and saturated with the deep greens of Argento's moody colour palette.
The film over which this is heard is exhibited in both 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen and fullscreen
transfers on opposite sides of the platter; although the picture was shot in Super35 (as opposed to «scope), there is more horizontal information restored and less vertical information cropped than usual for the format, making the decision to stick with letterbox a definite no - brainer.
Not much to report
on either end of the A / V spectrum here: the perfunctory - feeling, windowboxed 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer reproduces Kondo's muted colour palette with some fidelity, while music is the only thing giving the rear speakers any kind of workout as far as the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is concerned.
THE DVD Paramount releases D.A.R.Y.L.
on DVD to unsuspecting nostalgia collectors in a clean 2.35:1 anamorphic
transfer that nevertheless demonstrates director Simon Wincer's gift for squandering the
widescreen format.
Disney presents the film
on DVD in a luscious 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer * — gone is the excess filtering of their more recent live - action fare, replaced by an unobtrusive, mood - setting mist of grain.
The print used for the 1.78:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer is free of debris, but it looks worn all the same, with fleshtones
on the pink side and an absence of deep blacks.
THE DVD DreamWorks presents Millennium Actress
on DVD in a 1.78:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer that is as sharp and colourful as the palette warrants, though edge enhancement does prove occasionally distracting.
THE DVD Fox releases Dying Young
on DVD in a vanilla 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen presentation long
on Schumacher's over-saturated colours and short
on subtlety, which is, of course, not the
transfer's fault; its softness — that impression that the lens has been smeared with Vaseline, «Glamor Shots» - style — is something you can't really win by being faithful to.
The 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer is velvety smooth and three - dimensional, the best a Mann film has yet looked
on the format and in the top - tier of Columbia TriStar's efforts — it's that good.
While The Shaggy Dog took quite a bit longer than most films to land
on disc, the wait seems acceptable, as Walt's first all - out comedy is treated to a delightful
widescreen transfer and three worthwhile bonus features.
THE DVD by Bill Chambers Columbia TriStar distributes the enjoyable Laurel Canyon
on DVD in a delectable 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer that makes the film look expensive.
THE DVD by Bill Chambers Hitting DVD in world - class 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen and pan-and-scan
transfers (sandwiched together
on the same side of a dual - layer platter) from Columbia TriStar, Identity aims to please its fans
on disc via the debut of a special extended version that cohabits with the theatrical version through the miracle of seamless branching.
THE DVD Appearing
on Paramount DVD in fullscreen and 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfers compressed
on one side of a dual - layer platter, The Wild Thornberrys Movie looks sharp and lovely
on disc.
And sate it does, at least from a technical standpoint: The 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer * is the finest for one of the film's theatrical cuts — a remarkable feat considering it's the longest instalment of the trilogy (and thus harder to squeeze onto a single - sided, dual - layered platter), though perhaps not so astonishing in light of two years having passed since The Fellowship of the Ring debuted
on the format.
Offered
on one platter in 1.85:1 and full - frame versions, the
widescreen video
transfer, enhanced for 16x9 displays, exhibits a certain degree of grain endemic from the low - budget source material, but it does offer considerably bright flesh tones and vibrant colour depth.
THE DVD Released
on a double - sided platter
on the Fox Family Feature imprint, The Pagemaster's 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer is dull and undistinguished.
THE DVD by Bill Chambers Paramount presents K - 19: The Widowmaker
on DVD in a low - contrast 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer that looks soft and muddy - brown throughout, which seems to be the developed aesthetic of cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth (Fight Club, Panic Room), son of Blade Runner DP Jordan Cronenweth.
THE DVD Fox presents Wrong Turn
on a flipper disc containing the film in 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen and fullscreen
transfers.
Genius - level cinematographer Vittorio Storaro receives due treatment from not only Harlin (who implies that the chance to work with Storaro was one of his main reasons for agreeing to do the film), but also the folks in mastering: The 2.36:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer * is incredibly rich from beginning to end, with shadow detail occasionally collapsing into inky pools of black
on purpose, if I'm to parse Harlin's notes
on the digital grading correctly.
The mastering
on this 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer appears to have paid fine attention to colour saturation, but that doesn't mean the movie's Technicolor looks any more vivid than, say, an episode of «Emergency!».
Fox's 2.35:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer of The Towering Inferno is every bit as sophisticated as their work
on The Poseidon Adventure.
According to the press release, the final retail version of the Unrated DVD edition offers only a 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer, whereas the Theatrical Cut holds that and a 1.33:1 fullscreen version
on opposite sides of a flipper disc.
THE DVD by Bill Chambers Columbia TriStar presents the gentle Broken Wings
on DVD in a 1.78:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer.
THE DVD by Bill Chambers Sony presents Junebug
on DVD in a lovely 1.78:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer.