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Miramax Films
Looking for the best info on new DVDs? Here's what the experts around the Web are saying about some recent releases: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Miramax) As far as I am concerned, when it came time to hand out awards for the films of 2007, there was no other choice for best director and screenwriter than Julian Schnabel and Ronald Harwood for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Their adaptation of Jean-Dominque Bauby's memoir is a masterful synthesis of film language, experience, and literary technique.... Video: The 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer of the movie could not be any better. Julian Schnabel uses a variety of color schemes and film stocks to achieve the many different aspects of Jean-Dominique's story he wishes to convey, and the DVD authoring keeps a close eye on the subtleties and the lushness of the cinematography. Sound: The DVD for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is especially tricked out in the audio department. The original soundtrack for the movie was in French, and that track is available on the disc in a 5.1 mix, alongside 5.1 English and Spanish dubs. The soundtrack is as meticulously designed as the visual style of the movie, and the rich remix here keeps every nuance intact. -- Jamie S. Rich, DVD Talk ... excels in its examination of a life and what it means to be alive. There isn't a frame that undermines reality or wavers into pretentiousness despite ample opportunity. The visual ingenuity that seems inherent to a film hanging onto consciousness is realized sensibly and effectively. The performances ring true, the focus is sharp and clear, and the themes are more compelling than just about anything found in the films of last year.... ... The first of four included supplements, "Submerged: The Making of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (12:40) is a general production featurette that allows a number of principal cast and crew members to sound off on the film and director Julian Schnabel.... "A Cinematic Vision" (7:12) discusses the unorthodox filmmaking techniques used to convey Jean-Do's point of view, from cameras with latex faces attached to letting its leading man react naturally in a soundproof room. Next is an audio commentary by director Julian Schnabel, which is highly unusual because it pairs a great film with a nigh-unbearably bad commentary.... Last but not least is "Charlie Rose interviews Julian Schnabel" (20:42), a relevant segment from a 2007 episode of Rose's PBS talk show. Identifying himself as a painter, the director speaks openly and at length about the film and his personal interest in it, while Rose encourages him with his customary highbrow tone and evident admiration. -- Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD ... You won't see many films as original, inspiring, moving and unforgettable as The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.... Despite being a dialogue-driven film, a unique touch is how Jean-Dominique's inner voice comes from the rear, creating even more an illusion of being trapped inside his mind. Dynamic range is minimal, but the clever use of surround technology is a definite boon.... -- Michael Jacobson, DVD Movie Central
... a beautiful transfer ... most of the film is wonderfully sharp and excellently rendered.... ... Both the Dolby Digital 5.1 EX track and the DTS-ES 5.1 track are superb.... [Among the "very generous set of bonus material"] ... "Armoured Bears" is an extensive look into the six months of the designing, model prototyping, and CGI work that went into making the ice bears used in the movie. We get to see both Ian McShane and Ian McKellen recording their lines for their characters, and there is also a step-through gallery of illustrations and film frames on the bears. -- Home Theater Forum ... There's approximately two and a half hours of material here, divided evenly between the cursory, surface-level EPK-style material and the in-depth, equally insightful material.... Most fortunate here is the participation of author Phillip Pullman who outshines almost everybody featured amongst these featurettes. He's gentlemanly, engaging, eloquent and perfectly reasonable in his explanations and justifications for why the film makes certain choices compared against the novels....-- IGN DVD ... Available in separate wide-screen and full-screen editions with no supplements. The "2-Disc Platinum Series" edition features commentary by writer/director Chris Weitz, who begins with: "I'm here hopefully to illuminate some aspects of the filmmaking, if I can manage." He manages very well, providing plenty of interesting detail on his thought process in adapting the page to the screen and the creative process of visualizing the characters and their world. The second disc features almost three hours of documentaries ... -- Sean Axmaker, MSN ... New Line have pulled out all the stops to provide an excellent package that, like the film, just stops short of greatness; an excellent extras package spread over two discs and all in HD is slightly let down but a decent enough, if not excellent picture and sound transfer. -- AV Forums (Blu-ray review) ... New Line's audio engineers present the sound in 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, which acquits itself nicely. The music blossoms pleasantly in the surrounds, the midrange is well focused, and the soundtrack capably distributes all sorts of noises among and between the main speakers, front and rear. The sounds aboard the Gyptians' old ship are especially impressive, and during the battle scenes we find a strong dynamic thrust and a fairly deep bass. -- DVD Town (Blu-ray review)
...The most surprising thing about Albert Lamorisse's 1956 The Red Balloon (Le ballon rouge) is that it hasn't been available on quality home video until now. Many who attended grade school in the 1960s will remember being shown this classic in scratchy 16mm prints; only now can it be appreciated in its original, beautiful colors. Kids love the nonverbal story and adults will be mesmerized by the beautiful views of Paris circa 1956. Janus Films' new DVD replicates the clarity of the original, in beautiful Technicolor hues.... Maurice Le Roux's gentle score sounds fine and the few words of French dialogue are translated in a removable set of English subtitles. -- Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant ... Wonderful to have on digital now and a true pleasure to show my children. All yours for less than $10. Wow! -- DVD Beaver (includes specs and screen shots) ... It is still warm, it is still wonderful, it is still a classic.... That restoration I mentioned? It shows.... watch how the red balloon pops (no pun intended) from the screen, a burst of color that's more lively and bold than I've ever seen from this film before. And with such a short film spread out all by itself over the entire disc, there's not a single digital flaw to be found. -- David Cornelius, DVD Talk ... In something of a scandal, Red Balloon also won the 1956 Oscar for Original Screenplay, despite the film only having a few lines of dialogue. What the Oscar instead symbolizes to me is the film's great reliance on cinematic technique to tell the story, giving the non-verbal balloon human properties of playfulness and friendship, and setting up jokes as if the balloon were to join Chaplin and Keaton among the masters of silent comedy. The lack of dialogue also means that The Red Balloon's sense of humor and magical drama can appeal to kids of all ages, even if they can't yet read the subtitles for the French drama.... ... automatically superior to the worn-out tapes many families own. The Red Balloon's colors are perfect, with the balloon looking like the center of an otherwise drab and unsaturated universe.... -- gkids.tv The film is presented in a glowing 1.33:1 Technicolor transfer. You won't see reds more vibrant than the red of the title balloon, and skin tones are very natural and most appealing. True, lack of anamorphic enhancement accounts for the slightest line twitter in some wrought iron fencing, but other tight line structures like brickwork in the streets and siding on houses are solid and artifact-free. There's one slight hair I suspect was part of the original camerawork. Otherwise, it's a beautiful transfer. The very few English subtitles are printed in white and are easy to read. -- Home Theater Forum
... What a remarkable film this is. Not a scene is wasted, and Lamorisse packs more moments of beauty and revelation into this 40-minute film that most films can manage over much longer running times.... ... The film has been given a superb transfer by Janus Films and Criterion and looks just superb from start to finish. There are very few scratches or elements of damage, and there are no problems in terms of grain, either. The only minor thing I would point out is that a couple of scenes do seem just a tad too bright. The mono sound is effective enough, spotlighting the tender score by Maurice Leroux. In terms of extras, the only significant one is the option to hear English narration by Peter Strauss. This is actually a very good feature, as it will permit children who may not be able to keep up with the subtitles to understand the film.... -- DVD Verdict White Mane will appeal to kids interested in movies about animals, and who are willing to accept its relatively sedate pace. The film is just ambiguous enough to encourage metaphorical interpretations: the wild boy and horse choose an uncertain future rather than submit to the will of others. They ultimately take a stand for personal commitment, a sentiment easily accepted at this level of mythmaking.... Janus thoughtfully presents the show with two soundtracks. The original French version has removable subtitles and poetic narration read by Jean-Pierre Grenier. A newly recorded English track uses a narration read by actor Peter Strauss. -- Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant ... I approached White Mane as more of a mystery, having never been exposed to it as a young lad. Another prize-winning short film from Albert Lamorisse completed several years before his Red Balloon, this film feels darker and more mature, dwelling on the gritty realities of nature, but there's also the same wonderful exploration of friendship that made his later film so famous.... There is more French dialogue in this film, but the DVD also includes an optional narration by actor Peter Strauss, which basically involves him reading the subtitles aloud.... -- gkids.tv Editor's note: Criterion's blog indicates that The Red Balloon and White Mane may be bundled together for a single Special Edition release later this year.
... This three-hour-plus production focuses on the transition from Caesar Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness), presented here as an almost saintly idealist, to his decadent, arrogant son Commodus (Christopher Plummer), who equates power with tyranny and drives the provinces into rebellion as he transforms Rome into his kind of party town. The same figures also anchor Ridley Scott's "Gladiator," and there are plenty of gladiators to be found in this film, but the hero here is a loyal general (Stephen Boyd) who serves his inconstant Caesar despite his misgivings or his ruler's betrayals. Top billing, however, goes to Sophia Loren as Commodus' sister, who plots his overthrow from the beginning. Mann's direction is strong, and the lavish sets and costumes and massive crowd scenes are truly magnificent -- it's surely the most gorgeous period piece of its era.... -- Sean Axmaker, MSN ... Empire is not the best of the Bronston movies but it's easily the most impressive; as William Bayer said, grandiose movies can be pleasurable for their very grandiosity. There's no substitute for director Anthony Mann's authoritative crane shots over huge sets filled with thousands of fully costumed extras.... ... Two featurettes compare the film's vision of the Roman Empire to what we know about the real thing. According to the assembled historians, the idea that Rome would let the barbarians become citizens is not all that farfetched. Only Marcus Aurelius and Commodus were real people. Commodus did indeed fight in the arena but his combats were rigged. And his sister did try to stab him to death. -- Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant ... There's good news and bad news with Empire's transfer. The good news is that we finally get a chance to see Mann's epic canvas in its original 2.35:1 ratio. The bad news is the color is not all it could be, with a tendency toward browns, and there are some occasional contrast problems in some outdoor scenes (notice especially the massed warriors during the Barbarian skirmish -- the trees in the background virtually fade into the sky).... ... The remastered 5.1 soundtrack is incredibly robust, with fantastic separation and fidelity. Listen in the battle scenes for the sounds of the marauders moving between channels, or in the chariot race, the great snap of the whips. Then there's Tiomkin's music, which is quite simply overwhelming at times.... ... Miriam/Genius really went all out on the extras on the 3 disc set.... -- Jeffrey Kauffman, DVD Talk TV on DVD Pick of the Week:
To say that Chris Haddock's Canadian TV series "Intelligence" is as good as any American crime show is unfair to Haddock. It's better, smarter and more sophisticated than its American counterparts, more clever in its tangle of narratives and less showy in a visual style. Set in the shipping hub of Vancouver, British Columbia (the home of Haddock's previous series, "Da Vinci's Inquest"), "Intelligence" is a domestic espionage show about the groundwork of intelligence agents after the kind of international crime that Jack Bauer is too busy to bother with: gun running, drug smuggling, human trafficking.... ... Features the two-hour pilot film and the 13 regular episodes of the first season in a box set of four discs in four thinpak cases. The season ends on a fabulous cliffhanger, but fear not: The show's second season completed its run on Canadian TV earlier this season. Also features 13 "Behind the Scenes" promotional featurettes, which all run about or under two minutes, and text-only character bios of the major players, a Chris Haddock bio and cast filmographies. -- Sean Axmaker, MSN ... The best new television crime drama since HBO's The Wire came and went before many viewers south of the 49th parallel even heard of it. That show, originally aired by the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, was Intelligence.... Acorn Media has provided a good release of an outstanding series which should appeal to a broad range of fans of organized crime dramas and intelligence agency dramas. Intelligence: Season One is on par with the best shows in either subgenre. Check it out and you too will surely be bemoaning its untimely demise.... Highly recommended. -- Chris Neilson, DVD Talk Comments
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Disco PigsIn Film.com's latest movie of the week, Disco Pigs, two Irish kids (Pig and Runt), inseparable since birth, find their close relationship challenged by growing pains.
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The Golden Compass (New Line Cinema) 
The Red Balloon (Janus Films/Criterion) 
White Mane (Janus Films/Criterion) 
The Fall of the Roman Empire (Special Edition and Limited Collector's Edition) (Weinstein Co./Miriam Collection) 
Intelligence: Season One (Acorn Media) 