R2 La Dolce Vita (1 Viewer)

[Dean Harris]

I picked up the R2 La Dolce Vita dvd after tiring of the wait for something along the line of a Criterion job and am pretty pleasantly surprised.

The aspect ratio is 2:1, significantly better than the 1.77:1 listed on the cover (the film should be framed at about 2.35:1, though I'll admit that the framing doesn't look at all tight, save one brief scene at the very beginning of the film, here), and the subtitles are below the image, in the lower black bar. While not a perfect transfer by any means, this looks better than any I have seen yet.

As a mid-priced disc, I'd heartily recommend it to anyone who loves the film, at least until something definitive comes along.

-Dean

 

[andrew markworthy]

I'd second that opinion, Dean, but for slightly different reasons. I'm not a huge fan of Italian cinema (I prefer Bergman's Scandanavian gloom), and for me the R2 La Dolce Vita is fine - an acceptable transfer that's adequate for a movie I won't watch a large number of times.

 

[Jay E]

I also bought this DVD and was also surprised at how nice it looks. For some reason I was expecting a lot worse.

 

[Ted Todorov]

...and the subtitles are below the image, in the lower black bar.

Should I surmise from this that it is a non-anamorphic tranfer with subtitle positioning that will screw up anyone with a widescreen TV?

If so, I'll just have to wait for Criterion...

Ted

 

[Dean Harris]

good question. The package doesn't say, and I don't have a widescreen television, so I don't have an answer to that one. Anyone else?

-Dean

 

[Hendrik]

"I picked up the R2 La Dolce Vita dvd..."
...ahh... a small reminder: there is no such thing as "the" R2 LDV dvd...
http://www.dvdfr.com/dvd/fiche.php3?id=452
. . . . . .

 

[Ted Todorov]

good question. The package doesn't say, and I don't have a widescreen television, so I don't have an answer to that one. Anyone else?

To find out if a DVD is anamorphic on a 4:3 TV -- set your DVD player to 16:9 mode. If the picture looks normal, the same as before, it is not an anamorphic DVD. If everyone is now tall & thin, it is anamorphic.

(Warning: this trick will not work with a Malata or simillar player which creates it's own anamorphic picture out of 4:3 material. However, it's sophisticated display feature, probably tells you if the source is anamorphic or not).

Ted

 

[Dean Harris]

how right you are! I have the Malata player and found that the display feature indicates a 4:3 ratio with the UK R2 "La Dolce Vita" disc playing. An anamorphic disc indicates 16:9, so this release is apparently not anamorphic.
-Dean