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Region 2 (UK) DVD - Columbia Tristar
Region ABC (UK) BD - Sony Pictures

Cover

Cover

Version:

Region 2 (UK) DVD

Region ABC (UK) BD

Disc(s):

1x DVD9

1x BD50

Running time:

Approx. 98 mins (PAL)

Approx. 102 mins (24P)

Video format:

PAL 720x576 anamorphic

1920x1080 AVC MPEG-4

Aspect ratio:

2.39:1

2.39:1

Audio:

English, German:
- DD 5.1, 384 Kbps

English, French, German:
- Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Subtitles:

- English
- German
- Dutch
- Polish
- Czech
- Hungarian
- Icelandic
- Hindi

- English
- English SDH
- French
- German
- Arabic
- Danish
- Dutch
- Finnish
- Hindi
- Norwegian
- Swedish
- Turkish

Extras:

- Audio commentary
- Theatrical trailer
- Behind the scenes featurette
- Deleted scenes
- Music videos
- Talent profiles

- Audio commentary
- Behind the scenes featurette
- Deleted scenes
- Music videos

Screen Captures

Region 2 (UK) DVD:

Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison

Region ABC (UK) BD:

Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison Image Comparison

Note: Click the thumbnails above to enlarge images to full size. The BD captures are in their native 1920x1080 resolution with no image manipulation. The DVD captures have been scaled up to 1920x1080 from their original 720x576 to faciliate better comparison with the BD images, using Bicubic Sharper scaling in Photoshop. Because of the large image sizes, integrated roll-over comparisons would be impractical. However, you can recreate the effect by using tabbed browsing: simply open the corresponding images (e.g. DVD shot 1 and BD shot 1) as separate tabs in a new browser window and cycle between them using the Ctrl+Tab hotkey.

Commentary

In case it isn't obvious, a new master has been used for the BD release, taken from a different print source (differences in visible print damage, including damage visible on the BD that wasn't on the DVD - see Example 8). The colour timing differs noticeably, with the DVD tending to lean towards a brownish undersaturated look, while the BD often appears more pastel. The DVD also suffers from severe clipping of the whites, noticeable in virtually every shot. In the absence of any conclusive proof either way, I'd say that this makes a persuasive argument for the BD being the more accurate of the two. I presumably don't need to point out the clear improvements in detail on the BD compared to the subpar and slightly windowboxed (obscuring visual information at the sides) DVD. The DVD suffered from a heavy degree of ringing, which is completely absent on the BD, resulting in a far more natural, eye-pleasing and film-like image, even though there is an inherent softness to the image which prevents it from truly "popping".

The BD does lose the theatrical trailer and talent bios that were included on the DVD, but they're no big loss really, especially when you consider the massive improvement to picture quality that you're gaining in exchange. If you already own the DVD, throw it away and pick up the BD - this one's a no-brainer.