(aka "12 Monkeys" )

 

directed by Terry Gilliam
USA 1995

Cole (Bruce Willis) is sent back in time to save the human race from a deadly virus that has forced mankind into dank underground communities in the future. Along his travels, he encounters a psychiatrist (Madeleine Stowe) and a mental patient, brilliantly portrayed by Brad Pitt, who may hold the key to the mysterious rogue group, the Army of the 12 Monkeys, thought to be responsible for unleashing the killer disease. Believing he can obtain a pure virus sample in order to find a cure in the future, he is met with one riddle after another that puts him in a race with time. This sci-fi masterpiece from the genius mind of Terry Gilliam is a modern-day classic.

***

We know by now to expect both visual daring and moral heft from Gilliam, who made "Brazil" and "The Fisher King." What's remarkable about "12 Monkeys" is that, despite its decade-hopping abandon, the film makes a chilling kind of narrative sense. To Gilliam's quiver of attributes this new movie adds a quality that's on the endangered list in today's Hollywood: coherence.

Excerpt from Scott Rosenberg of Salon.com located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 27 December 1995

Reviews         More Reviews        DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Universal (Special Edition - Limited Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL vs. Universal Home Video (DTS Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal Home Video (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow, Enrico and Gary Tooze for the DVD Screen Caps!

1) Universal (Special Edition - Limited Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL LEFT

2) Universal Home Video (DTS Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Home Video (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 
DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Universal

Region 2,4 - PAL

Universal Home Video

Region 1 - NTSC

 Universal Home Video (SE)
Region 1 - NTSC		 Universal Home Video
Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:04:08 (4% PAL speedup) 2:09:16 2:09:20 2:09:20
Video

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.51 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 8.4 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.85 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.30 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 42,447,380,218 bytes

Feature: 38,565,728,256 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.65 Mbps

Codec: VC-1 Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

 

Universal Home PAL

 

Bitrate:

 

Universal Home Video (DTS Edition)

 

Bitrate:

Universal Home Video (Special Edition)

 

Bitrate:

Blu-ray

Audio

5.1 Dolby Digital (384 Kbs) English, 2.0 Dolby Digital (192 Kbs) Spanish (dub), 2.0 Dolby Digital (192 Kbs) Italian (dub)

 English DTS 5.1 (fullrate), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround English (Dolby Digital 5.1), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 5.1)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 4192 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4192 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DUBs: DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Italian 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Spanish 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Spanish 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps
Subtitles English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, Bulgarian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, None none English, Spanish, French, none English, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, Greek, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Universal

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary by Terry Gilliam and Charles Roven
• The Hamster Factor (1:27:34 / 4:3)
• Production Notes
• Cast and Filmmakers
• Theatrical Trailer (2:20 / 4:3 P/S)

DVD Release Date: November 12, 2003
Amarey

Chapters 45

Release Information:
Studio: Universal Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• none

DVD Release Date: 16 March 1999
Amaray

Chapters 44
 

 Release Information:
Studio: Universal Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85

Edition Details:
• Commentary by director Terry Gilliam and producer Charles Roven
• The Hamster Factor and Other Tales documentary(1:27:27)
• Archives and production notes
• Theatrical Trailer
 

DVD Release Date: May 10th, 2005
Keep case

Chapters 44

Release Information:
Studio: Universal Home Video

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 42,447,380,218 bytes

Feature: 38,565,728,256 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.65 Mbps

Codec: VC-1 Video

 

Edition Details:
• Commentary by director Terry Gilliam and producer Charles Roven
• The Hamster Factor and Other Tales documentary(1:27:27)
• 12 Monkeys Archives
• Theatrical Trailer
 

Blu-ray Release Date: July 28th, 2009
Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters 44

 

Comments NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Addition: Universal Blu-ray - July 09':  Typical of a Gilliam film the camera is very fluid and the motion can inhibit a demonstrative expanse of detail in our screen caps. The Blu-ray does improve in the anticipated areas but it is the type of films where you may have to be fairly discerning to note the superiority. This came out in the now defunct HD-DVD format but this is surely a new transfer (although also VC-1 encoded) as the film takes up over 38 Gig of space on the dual-layered Blu-ray disc - surpassing the capacity of that other 1080P format. Grain is much more prominent than on any of the DVDs. Skin tones warm-up on the Blu-ray and comparatively the SE looks a shade greenish. Detail still advances an obvious notch.

NOTE: We often have some nay-sayers to our DVD vs. Blu-ray comparisons. Yes, it's true Blu-ray should always win this heads-up competition regarding image, and sound, quality but its the degree of superiority that makes it important to note for purchasers who might be considering a straight upgrade. Even though the hi-def format produces the higher resolution - we don't always feel a double-dip is necessary. But saying that - in this particular case - I think the Blu-ray is worthy for the strongly improved visuals. In motion it is definitely smoother but retains the films natural textures. This is a good high-definition transfer in my opinion.




 

The DTS-HD Master 5.1 at a whopping 4192 kbps blows away the DVD tracks more definitely than the image. It's far more dynamic and aggressive when called upon. Bass has some healthy moments and Paul Buckmaster's original score (that he also conducts) has some potent moments and the film flows beautifully in-sync with the tone of the soundtrack. There are a host of English and foreign language subtitle options (plus a French and Spanish DTS DUBs) and my Momitsu identifies this Blu-ray as being region FREE! 

Extras don't appear improved or added to in any way from the SE from 2005. The highlights are the commentary - listening to Gilliam is always a treat - and the "featurette" The Hamster Factor and Other Tales of Twelve Monkeys; a full length documentary (1:27:27) of the same people that did LOST IN LA MANCHA. It's fascinating to the see the evolution of this, another troubled, Gilliam effort thrust into the broader mainstream market - and it's battles to stay there and be accepted.   

I find my feeling about this are similar to other Gilliam films I've seen - the concept is magnificent and although he doesn't pull it off as I would have anticipated - it is nonetheless memorable with multiple diverging genre elements - in this you find noir, science-fiction, avant-garde, great characters and an often confusing subtext of animal rights and bourgeoisie agendas. This is a classic and the included extras are great to indulge in yet again. Gilliam remains a wonderfully introspective auteur. This Blu-ray is absolutely recommended!

 -GaryTooze

 

 

DVD Menus

(Universal (Special Edition - Limited Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL LEFT vs. Universal Home Video (DTS Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Universal Home Video (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)


 

 
 

   

 

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures

 

Subtitle Sample - NOTE: Can't get subtitle samples from Blu-ray yet!

 

1) Universal (Special Edition - Limited Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL TOP

2) Universal Home Video (DTS Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Home Video (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

NO SUBTITLES on DTS EDITION

 

 

1) Universal (Special Edition - Limited Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL TOP

2) Universal Home Video (DTS Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Home Video (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

 

1) Universal (Special Edition - Limited Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL TOP

2) Universal Home Video (DTS Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Home Video (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

 

1) Universal (Special Edition - Limited Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL TOP

2) Universal Home Video (DTS Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Home Video (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

 

1) Universal (Special Edition - Limited Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL TOP

2) Universal Home Video (DTS Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Home Video (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

 

1) Universal (Special Edition - Limited Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL TOP

2) Universal Home Video (DTS Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Home Video (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

 

1) Universal (Special Edition - Limited Edition) - Region 2,4 - PAL TOP

2) Universal Home Video (DTS Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Universal Home Video (Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures
DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Universal

Region 2,4 - PAL

Universal Home Video

Region 1 - NTSC

 Universal Home Video (SE)
Region 1 - NTSC		 Universal Home Video
Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

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