Brokeback Mountain – 2-Disc Collector’s Edition (DVD-Video)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: B-     Film: B

 

 

As expected, Brokeback Mountain is back in an improved DVD edition.  This time, the sound and picture are better and a few new extras have been added for this new 2-DVD edition and the HD-DVD to be examined soon.  You can read about the film itself at my previous review through this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3578/Brokeback+Mountain+(Widescreen)

 

 

So how much is the playback of the actual film improved?  The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 picture image is slightly better, with slightly better color and a bit of a richer look, but detail is still an issue in too many shots.  The sound is another issue.  Now here in DTS 5.1, it is superior to the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix from the last disc that is recycled for this one, with richer, warmer sound comparatively, but too much of the dialogue is towards the front speakers.  This will make for an interesting comparison to the HD-DVD, which should be even better, but will it have DTS?

 

Extras include the previous featurettes from the first DVD and adds 8 collectible postcards inside the special DVD case, a brief montage of stills set to music and new featurette A Groundbreaking Success that looks at the surprise critical and commercial reception that made the film the talk of world cinema and especially a hot button in the U.S. at a “fascinating time” in its history.

 

The improvements are good enough to succeed the single DVD, but more extras would have been nice.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo