Doug Schiller
Supporting Actor
- Joined
- Dec 16, 1998
- Messages
- 766
Just got my copy yesterday and watched all the way up to when all hell breaks loose in the hospital.
I queued my Criterion version on my other DVD player and PIP'd them for a few scenes.
First, this looks like the exact same print.
It is a true anamorphic transfer (not a stretched 4x3 like the Ran Masterworks) I saw greater detail and the shimmer on the buildings on the Criterion were gone. I was worried when I saw the Mei Wah Laserdisc credit in the opening!
The color correction looks different. In most scenes, the new version had better colors (to my eyes) than the Criterion, in others the 16x9 version seemed faded.
The soundtrack seems to be the mono version just pumped thru a DTS decoder. I heard no audio, multi channel tricks or looped gunshots (which is a good thing). I flipped to the 2CH track and it sounded the same.
My biggest complaint is the horrible subtitle job. I've watched the Criterion version more times than I can count and felt like they were telling a different movie. When I had them both side by side (PIP) the differences in subs were dramatic. The new version would have 3 words, the Criterion would have a paragraph. Names seemed to be changed and I don't think they ever mentioned the coolest villian in movie history (Fox).
I'm debating whether to combine the 16x9 print with the subtitles from my Criterion version to make the ultimate edition on my DVDR.
For $10, I'm very happy with my purchase. And it was a great excuse to watch one of my favorite movies again.
Doug
I queued my Criterion version on my other DVD player and PIP'd them for a few scenes.
First, this looks like the exact same print.
It is a true anamorphic transfer (not a stretched 4x3 like the Ran Masterworks) I saw greater detail and the shimmer on the buildings on the Criterion were gone. I was worried when I saw the Mei Wah Laserdisc credit in the opening!
The color correction looks different. In most scenes, the new version had better colors (to my eyes) than the Criterion, in others the 16x9 version seemed faded.
The soundtrack seems to be the mono version just pumped thru a DTS decoder. I heard no audio, multi channel tricks or looped gunshots (which is a good thing). I flipped to the 2CH track and it sounded the same.
My biggest complaint is the horrible subtitle job. I've watched the Criterion version more times than I can count and felt like they were telling a different movie. When I had them both side by side (PIP) the differences in subs were dramatic. The new version would have 3 words, the Criterion would have a paragraph. Names seemed to be changed and I don't think they ever mentioned the coolest villian in movie history (Fox).
I'm debating whether to combine the 16x9 print with the subtitles from my Criterion version to make the ultimate edition on my DVDR.
For $10, I'm very happy with my purchase. And it was a great excuse to watch one of my favorite movies again.
Doug