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.

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 vs. Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Universal Home Video

Region 1 - NTSC

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

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

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

Universal Home PAL

Universal Home Video (DTS Edition)

Universal Home Video (Special Edition)

Blu-ray

Blu-ray

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

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• none

DVD Release Date: 16 March 1999
Amaray

Chapters 44
 

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
 

Chapters 44

Chapters 13

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray - November 18':  Arrow Video's Blu-ray of "Twelve Monkeys" is a brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original 35mm negative by Arrow Films, with the grading approved by director Terry Gilliam. The film is housed on a dual-layered Blu-ray with a supportive bitrate. The feature is shown in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Gilliam's wildly kinetic camera work is at play here and the new Arrow Blu-ray seems to do a better job of capturing the graininess and detail of film and its inherent texture (and sometimes lack thereof). There is definitely more grain in this release, as well as a boosted contrast. Certain scenes do appear a bit darker, but this is hardly noticeable nor is it a complaint. Though moments can look a little 'Vaseline-lens' fuzzy, that is due to the chosen aesthetic of the film, and not a fault of this transfer. Colors look better here too, notice that in the first capture (not counting the subtitle capture) how Bruce Willis' face goes from a somewhat basic reddish hue, to a more complicated and life like tone. This is not too showy of a transfer (which is odd in such a technically marvelous and "showy" film) but it is a good one.

The audio also gets a new transfer here, with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track as well as a 24-bit 2.0 linear PCM stereo option. To my ears, this isn't much different from the sound in the previous Blu-ray release, as both sound quite good. The film's sounds range from the minute to the cacophonous and they are both represented nicely here, as well as everything in between. There are optional English subtitles on this Blu-ray, available in both Region A (North America) and Region B (Europe) - essentially Region FREE.

Arrow Video carry over some of the previous extras to this new Blu-ray; the commentary with Gilliam and Roven is here, as is the feature-length documentary on the making of the film, as well as archival material and the film's trailer. There is also a brand-new 16-minute appreciation by author Ian Christie. Christie is the author of Gilliam on Gilliam. "The Film Exchange with Terry Gilliam" is a 24-minute interview with Gilliam and critic Jonathan Romney, recorded at the 1996 London Film Festival. The first pressing of this Blu-ray comes with an illustrated collector's bookley featuring new writing on the film by Nathan Rabin as well as archival materials. There is also a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the awesome Gary Pullin.

Arrow Video's improvements over the previous Universal Blu-ray may seem slight, but the film definitely benefits from the bump in image quality, and slightly more extras (as well as the old ones). Terry Gilliam almost achieves "Brazil" levels of greatness here, but is somewhat restrained by being in the shadow of Chris Marker's experimental photo-film La Jetée. Marker's unique still-photo technique somehow bests Gilliam's everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach, though the two works create a rather lovely symbiosis. Sci-fi fans should absolutely pick up this Blu-ray, and La Jetée while they're at it.

Colin Zavitz

***

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