ADDITION: Warner (40th Anniversary) Region FREE - Blu-ray - May 2011: Short story is that despite the slight difference in file size for the feature - the bitrate on the VC-1 encoded A Clockwork Orange is exactly the same as the 2007 edition. We tested a few captures comparisons below and I can determine no visible difference. What Warner have done is to have moved the 1.5 hour O' Lucky Malcolm documentary to a second BD disc still encoded at 1080i and added the 2 hour 22 -minute documentary on the director "Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures" to that same second single layered Blu-ray - but in 480i. Also new are that these discs are housed in a handsome 34 page DigiBook with many color photos, bios and an essay - "A Clockwork Controversy: Kubrick and the Banning of a Classic".

So why the file size difference if the video encode is exactly the same? It must be the audio which is no longer in a robust linear PCM surround track - but a DTS-HD Master 5,1 at 2066 Kbps. I couldn't note any disparity between the two (although it probably exists). The Anniversary edition adds a Portuguese DUB to the list of existing tracks. Subtitle options appear the same and the disc is still region FREE.

BOTTOM LINE: You now get the DigiBook and fabulous documentary Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures with O 'Lucky Malcolm moved to a second Blu-ray. For those that don't own this in the new format (are you crazy?) then this would be the edition to get for the additional documentary and impressive booklet - for those that already own the 2007 Blu-ray - they should weigh the value for themselves. Many will bear out that the documentary is fantastic - described as "Jan Harlan's Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (Harlan is a world renown film producer and the brother of Christiane Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick's widow). Kubrick's career comes into sharp focus in this compelling documentary narrated by Tom Cruise. Fascinating footage glimpses Kubrick in his early years, at work on film sets and at home, augmented by candid commentary from collaborators, colleagues and family."

***

ADDITION: Warner (US) Region FREE - Blu-ray - October 2010: After revisiting this title I'm still of the opinion that it appears to have benefited the least of all the Kubrick films that have moved to 1080P. There are a number of factors why I reached this conclusion. The previous DVD was quite decent in replicating the color balance very well for that SD format. The manner in which A Clockwork Orange was shot doesn't lend itself to pristine visuals - it's a gritty, anarchistic expression and doesn't support the same sensibilities if the cinematography was extremely tight and sharp. They were certainly capable of this (see Alex as a vampire below from a montage sequence) but it was not the stylistic intent. So, in the final estimation - I certainly don't blame Warner's HD transfer for the lesser visual improvement - but saying that it is superior to the DVD rending. It is dual-layered and the 2 1/4 hour feature takes up over 30 Gig. It shows more grain, slightly more information in the frame and things do marginally tighten-up. It looks impressive in-motion and as close as we are likely to find the film's authentic appearance for your digital home theater. The larger the system you see this on, and the more discerning your visuals tastes - the more you will appreciate the Blu-ray transfer over the previous DVD.

NOTE: This title marked the first inclination of the demise of the HD-DVD format as Warner (up until then 'neutral') spread the film over 2 discs of that now defunct format. The feature file size in VC-1 actually exceeded the dual-layered capacity of HD-DVD (30 Gig).

Audio is a much more definitive jump over the DVD than the video. We get a lossless linear PCM track at 5.1 and a whopping 4608 kbps. All the music of the film can really belt out with solid depth and there are even segments of range that surprise and delight - adding a wonderful aura to the viewing presentation. Warner adds some foreign language Dolby DUBs and many subtitle options and my Momitsu has verified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

Supplements are the same as the SD Special Edition - informative commentary by Malcolm McDowell and historian Nick Redman. McDowell, as in the Caligula commentary, is his usual frank and honest self - not shying away from discussing details of the explicit nudity and violence scenes of the film. He paints a more approachable vision of Kubrick than others have. It is fun and casual for the most part. Redman is able to support McDowell with extraneous factoids and details of the other performers. The lone Blu-ray disc also houses the three featurettes - a 45 minute Channel Four documentary entitled Still Tickin': The Return of Clockwork Orange with input from a few talking heads about the impact of the film etc. The second featurette: Great Bolshi Yarblockos!: Making A Clockwork Orange has further input from important directors and others about the making, rating and screening of the film. Finally we have a career profile of Malcolm McDowell called O Lucky Malcolm! - it runs a full 1.5 hours and has input from the man, his friends, colleagues and others. There is also a theatrical trailer in HD.

Another Kubrick masterpiece that grows in appeal over time. While I may have reservations for some to double-dip because of the video - the audio is worth it alone. An important addition to any Blu-ray library.

***

ADDITION: 2-disc Special Edition - Region 1,2,3,4 - October  07': The original NTSC DVD was not anamorphic and had some visible digital artifacts. The new, 2-disc SE release, aside from appearing slightly softer in the captures below, vaults ahead of the old DVD in many areas. It is progressive (like the original), on a dual-layered disc and, as we stated, 16X9 enhanced. It is coded for regions 1 thru 4 and has the same audio options as the previous (a 5.1 track and similar French DUB option). Warner have removed the Portuguese option for subtitles but the English, French and Spanish remain.

The 1.66 ratio is supported again but colors and brightness are improved as well as having a slightly stronger bitrate in the Special Edition. It is still very clean but much smoother and looks quite good overall.

Audio is still not offered in the original mono but the 5.1 is not extravagantly separated and infrequently tested although it supports the music very well. Dialogue is clear and audible.

Supplements are part of the big sell here with an informative commentary by Malcolm McDowell and historian Nick Redman. McDowell, as in the Caligula commentary, is his usual frank and honest self - not shying away from discussing details of the explicit nudity and violence scenes of the film. He paints a more approachable vision of Kubrick than others have. It is fun and causal for the most part. Redman is able to support McDowell with extraneous factoids and details of the other performers. There is also a theatrical trailer on disc one.

Disc 2 is dual-layered but interlaced and has three featurettes - a 45 minute Channel Four documentary entitled Still Tickin': The Return of Clockwork Orange with input from a few talking heads about the impact of the film etc. The second featurette: Great Bolshi Yarblockos!: Making A Clockwork Orange has further input from important directors and others about the making, rating and screening of the film. Finally we have a career profile of Malcolm McDowell called O Lucky Malcolm! - it runs a full 1.5 hours and has input from the man, his friends, colleagues and others.

The anamorphisizing <sp?> of the transfer and the extensive extras make this yet another must-own from the Warner Home Video Director's Series: Stanley Kubrick Collection  that is kind of an essential for Kubrick fans who aren't consider the hi-def route just yet.

Gary Tooze

****

About the original DVD release: According to his personal assistant, Leon Vitali, Kubrick wanted all his movies viewed the way he saw them through the viewfinder. This does not explain why A Clockwork Orange, which is not full-frame, did not receive an anamorphic transfer.

The re-mastering done in 2001 for this release presents the non-anamorphic image with amazing clarity. Detail is sharp, color accurate and film grain is minimal. Magnifying the image on a widescreen TV does little to degrade the image quality. Still, it would be nice to see Warner release this so it can be viewed in all its glory on newer sets.

A new Dolby 5.1 mix was created from the original mono source. It does a nice job of lessening the tinny sound of previous releases.

Aside from the Theatrical trailer and a list of awards the film received there are no other extras.

 - Gregg Ferencz