Malena
(2000/Miramax Region 1 vs. Spectrum Region Free/Zero/0 Special
Edition DVDs)
Picture/Sound/Extras/Film:
A-
Spectrum
B/B+/B
Miramax
B+/B/D
PLEASE
NOTE:
Both DVD versions of this film are long out of print, but a new
Blu-ray release from Via Vision/Imprint has been released and we have
reviewed it here at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/16301/The+Covenant+(2023/MGM/Warner+Blu-ray+w/DV
Director
Giuseppe Tornatore's 2000 film Malena,
was one of my favorite films from that year and among one of his
finest pictures. The film also went on to gain 2 Oscar nominations
that year, although it did not win either. This is a great
coming-of-age film that is just beautiful throughout and also
showcases Monica Bellucci before she became as well known as she is
now, especially after appearing in The
Passion of the Christ,
Tears
of the Sun,
[the
first two] Matrix
sequels, and a few other hot spots.
While
I would love to go on about how great this film is, the purpose of
this review is to compare the Miramax edition released in the United
States with that of the Special Edition released in Korea through
Spectrum. Even those without a Region Free player can play this disc
because it is a Region Free/Zero/0 disc, despite having a Region 3
listing on its packaging; sometimes just a legal matter.
First
the Miramax edition, which was a bit of a downer since it had no
extras and a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 audio option and 16 X 9
enhanced 2.35 X 1 scope transfer, which looked sharp and detailed.
The audio was a bit sparse and didn't give off the dynamics as it
should have, but overall that edition was suitable for the time.
However, the Spectrum Special Edition is just awesome in almost every
aspect. This is a 2-disc version, with the movie being all on disc
one, and is also about 11-minutes longer as this is more like a
directors cut of the film, versus an edited down U.S. release.
Also,
the Spectrum features three audio options, which include a lossy
stereo mix, lossy 5.1 Dolby Digital, and a preferred (lossy, but at
only 3-to-1 compression) 5.1 DTS mix. The DTS mix is quite
magnificent giving depth and clarity to Ennio Morricone's beautiful
and sophisticated score. Finally, the sequences towards the end with
planes bombing the town actually sound realistic and involved, versus
flat and limited.
While
I gave the score for the picture on the Miramax disc more than the
Spectrum this is really a preference. If you prefer a more saturated
look with your films, than you won't mind the Spectrum, but if you
like a sharper and more neutral color scheme than you might prefer
the Miramax. Personally, I love the look on the Spectrum, despite it
being a bit softer from time to time, but the fact that there is
better sound going on helps take my worries away.
Now
for the extras, which is hardly a comparison as the Miramax disc only
contains trailers for other films from Miramax. The entire second
disc on the Spectrum release is loaded with behind the scenes
material, interviews, and other little goodies that any fan will
appreciate. Beware though that there are no English subtitles for
the extras, but in most cases they are speaking English, so it
doesn't matter.
Let's
just face the simple fact that the U.S. never gets some of the
goodies that circulate elsewhere and even the case for the Special
Edition is quite nifty making this a must-have for any true fan of
the film. If you are really picky with the picture than you might
want to just go for the U.S. issue from Miramax or keep your copy you
have, but I'll be dumping mine off next chance I get.
-
Nate Goss
