Image comparisons
Over the years, I've amassed multiple copies of quite a few films. I set up this section to provide a way for people to compare the image quality across different releases.
Older (pre-2015) comparisons exist as standalone pages created for a much older version of the site. Given the amount of hassle that would have been involved in converting them over to the current layout, I've opted just to leave them with their old designs intact. Newer comparisons link to posts in the main blog.
It's worth noting that my opinions have shifted somewhat in certain cases, particularly as I've become more knowledgeable about the technical aspects of film and digital video. For example, I would no longer argue that the old non-anamorphic Criterion DVD of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is superior to its anamorphic counterpart from MGM. However, rather than simply brush these gaffes under the carpet, I've chosen to preserve them as a snapshot of my thinking at the time.
Last update: 9 March 2018.
Suspiria New
Region A USA Blu-ray (Synapse Films) vs. Region B Italy Blu-ray (VIDEA) vs. Region B UK (CultFilms)
L'amour braque
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 0 Italy DVD vs. Region 2 Japan DVD
Angel: Season 4
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD
Black Book
Region 0 UK DVD vs. Region ABC UK Blu-ray
Casino Royale
Region ABC Finland Blu-ray (2007 Sony Pictures) vs. Region ABC UK Blu-ray (2012 20th Century Fox)
The Descent
Region ABC Australia Blu-ray vs. Region B UK Blu-ray
The Devil's Rejects
Region 1 Canada DVD vs. Region A USA Blu-ray
Do You Like Hitchcock?
Region 0 Italy DVD vs. Region 2 France DVD
Eyes of Crystal
Region 0 UK DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD
La femme publique
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 France DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD vs. Region 2 Japan DVD
Four Flies on Grey Velvet
Region ABC UK Blu-ray vs. Region ABC Germany Blu-ray
Go
Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region ABC UK Blu-ray
Hannibal
Region ABC UK Blu-ray (old) vs. Region A USA Blu-ray vs. Region ABC Blu-ray (new)
Home Alone
Region A USA Blu-ray (Family Fun Edition) vs. Region A USA Blu-ray (25th Anniversary Edition)
L'important c'est d'aimer
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 France DVD vs. Region 0 Germany DVD vs. Region 2 Spain DVD
In My Skin
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 0 UK DVD
Inferno
Region 2 Italy DVD vs. Region ABC UK Blu-ray vs. Region ABC USA Blu-ray
Kingdom of Heaven
Region A USA Blu-ray (2006 Director's Cut) vs. Region A USA Blu-ray (2014 Ultimate Edition)
Panic Room
Region 1/3/4 USA DVD (Special Edition) vs. Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD (Special Edition)
Phenomena
Region B UK Blu-ray (2011) vs. Region B UK Blu-ray (2017)
Silent Hill
Region 0 Germany HD DVD vs. Region ABC France Blu-ray
Szamanka
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Japan DVD vs. Region 0 Russia DVD
Defunct comparisons
As some of these comparisons date back more than 15 years, a great many of the discs covered – indeed, the overwhelming majority – have now been superceded by superior releases on either DVD, Blu-ray or even 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. As a result, those marked as Defunct are provided for archival purposes only and should not affect your purchasing decisions.
Aladdin
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD Defunct
All the Colors of the Dark
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Germany DVD Defunct
Amelie
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD Defunct
An American Werewolf in London
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD Defunct
Asterix Conquers America
Region 0 France LaserDisc vs. Region 2 Germany DVD Defunct
Asterix vs. Caesar
Region 0 Australia DVD vs. Region 2 Germany DVD vs. Region 2 France DVD Defunct
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD vs. Region 2 Japan DVD Defunct
The Black Belly of the Tarantula
Region 0 Italy DVD vs. Region 1 USA DVD Defunct
Black Sunday
Region 0 USA DVD (Image Entertainment) vs. Region 1 USA DVD (Anchor Bay) Defunct
Blood and Black Lace
Region 0 USA DVD (Special Edition) vs. Region 0 USA DVD (Ultimate Collector's Edition) vs. Region 0 Germany DVD Defunct
The Card Player
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD vs. Region 2 Czech DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD Defunct
Danny the Dog / Unleashed
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region 2 France DVD Defunct
Death Carries a Cane
Region 2 Germany DVD vs. Region 2 Austria DVD Defunct
Death Walks at Midnight
Region 0 UK DVD vs. Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
Death Walks on High Heels
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
Deep Red
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Denmark DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD vs. Region 0 Italy WMV-HD DVD Defunct
Enemy of the State
Region 1 USA (Special Extended Edition) DVD vs. Region 2 UK (Re-Mastered Edition) DVD Defunct
Four Flies on Grey Velvet
VHS bootleg 1 vs. VHS bootleg 2 vs. Region 0 Germany DVD Defunct
Gangs of New York
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD Defunct
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
Region 0 USA DVD (Image Entertainment) vs. Region 1 USA DVD (Anchor Bay) Defunct
Hannibal
Region 2 UK DVD (original) vs. Region 2 UK DVD (Superbit) Defunct
Home Alone
Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region 1 USA DVD (Family Fun Edition) Defunct
House of Flying Daggers
Region 3 Hong Kong DVD (old) vs. Region 3 Hong Kong DVD (new) Defunct
Howl's Moving Castle
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region 2 Japan DVD Defunct
Inferno
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
Lady and the Tramp
Region 1 USA DVD (Limited Issue) vs. Region 1 USA DVD (Platinum Edition) vs. Region 2 UK DVD (Special Edition) Defunct
Lilo & Stitch
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
A Lizard in a Woman's Skin
Region 1 USA DVD (Disc 1) vs. Region 1 USA DVD (Disc 2) vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
Mulan
Region 1 USA DVD (Special Edition) vs. Region 2 UK DVD (old) vs. Region 2 UK DVD (Special Edition) Defunct
The New York Ripper
Region 0 Australia DVD vs. Region 0 Netherlands DVD vs. Region 2 France DVD Defunct
The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region 2 Denmark DVD Defunct
The Omen
Region 1 USA DVD (Special Edition) vs. Region 1 USA DVD (Collector's Edition) Defunct
Opera
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD Defunct
Problem Child
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD Defunct
The Red Queen Kills Seven Times
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
The Rock
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD Defunct
The Silence of the Lambs
Region 0 USA DVD (The Criterion Collection) vs. Region 2 UK DVD (MGM) Defunct
Silent Hill
Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region 0 Germany HD DVD Defunct
Phenomena
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region 2 Japan DVD Defunct
Sleepless
Region 0 UK DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
Spirited Away
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region 4 Australia DVD Defunct
The Stendhal Syndrome
Region 2 Netherlands DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
Suspiria
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD Defunct
Suspiria
Region B Italy Blu-ray vs. Region B UK Blu-ray vs. Region B France Blu-ray vs. Region 0 USA DVD Defunct
Tenebrae
Region 0 USA DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD vs. Region 2 Japan DVD vs. Region 2 Netherlands DVD Defunct
Trauma
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 France DVD vs. Region 2 Italy DVD vs. Region 2 UK DVD Defunct
Underworld
Region 1 USA DVD (Special Edition) vs. Region 1 USA DVD (Unrated) Defunct
Underworld
Region 1 USA DVD (Unrated) vs. Region 0 Germany HD DVD Defunct
Watership Down
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2/4 Australia DVD Defunct
What Have You Done to Solange?
Region 1 USA DVD vs. Region 2 Japan DVD vs. Region 0 Italy DVD Defunct