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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Le Mariage des moussons" )
directed
by Mira Nair
India 2000
Cultures and families clash in Mira Nair’s exuberant Monsoon Wedding, a mix of comedy and chaotic melodrama concerning the preparations for the arranged marriage of a modern upper-middle-class Indian family’s only daughter, Aditi. Of course there are hitches—Aditi has been having an affair with a married TV host; she’s never met her husband to be, who lives in Houston; the wedding has worsened her father’s hidden financial troubles; even the wedding planner has become a nervous wreck—as well as buried family secrets. But Nair’s celebration is ultimately joyful and cathartic: a love song to her home city of Delhi and her own Punjabi family. *** Perhaps the movie “Monsoon Wedding“ could be re-titled an “Ode to the Punjabi Life Style in Delhi” ! Mira Nair, with such directorial credits as “Salaam Bombay”, “Mississippi Masala“ and “The Perez Family“ has certainly created an ode which pays tribute to both her Punjabi family roots and to her original native city of Delhi. The main story line is a straight forward one of an Indian wedding complete with it’s attendant characteristics of color, costumes, culinary delights, music, dancing, flowers, garlands and the groom riding on a horse back to meet his bride to be – in other words, a complete package of Indian culture. However, Mira Nair has done a deft job of exploring a few other themes in the movie – 1. Relationships – The approach to arranged marriage as seen by the bride who is still in love with her married ex-boy friend and waits till the last minute to agree to marry the groom. The groom, an Indian living in the U.S.A who is shocked to realize that his bride to be would have been in love with someone else while agreeing to an arranged marriage. They do overcome their mutual reluctance and start to fall in love with each other. A neat lesson that before you marry someone, love does not have to be in full bloom but that there be a willingness to accept and love each other. Excerpt from Albert Michael's review on DVDBeaver located HERE |
Posters
Theatrical Release: August 30th, 2001 - Venice Film Festival
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Madman - Region 4 - PAL vs. Universal - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Film Four / VCI - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Big thanks to Peter Ax for the Region 4 and Ole Kofoed for the Film Four / VCI DVD Screen Caps!
1) Madman - Region 4 - PAL LEFT 2) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Film Four / VCI - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC - F OURTH5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT |
DVD Box Covers |
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Distribution |
Madman Entertainment Region 4- PAL |
Universal Region 1 - NTSC |
Film
Four / VCI Region 2 - PAL |
Criterion (2-disc) - Spine # 489 Region 1 - NTSC |
Criterion Collection - Spine # 489 Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:49:16 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:54:16 | 1:49:08 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:54:16 | 1:54:28.278 |
Video |
1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9
enhanced |
1.85:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9
enhanced |
1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
16X9
enhanced |
1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,207,785,984 bytesFeature: 24,668,190,720 bytesVideo Bitrate: 22.92 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Madman
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Universal |
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Film Four / VCI
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Bitrate:
Criterion
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Bitrate:
Criterion Blu-ray |
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Audio | Audio - Dolby Digital 5.1, DD 2.0 (cant find to set to 2.0 in menus :/) |
Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 |
Dolby Digital 5.1, DD 2.0 |
Audio - Dolby Digital 5.1 |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3952 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3952
kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps |
Subtitles | English (compulsory - not burnt-in), None | English (hearing impaired), French, Spanish and none | English (not removable). | English, None | English, None |
Features |
Release
Information: Studio: Madman Entertainment Aspect Ratio:
Edition
Details:
Chapters 16 |
Release
Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio: Edition
Details: Chapters
18 |
Release
Information: Studio: Film Four / VCI Aspect Ratio:
Edition
Details: DVD
Release Date: June 16th, 2003 Chapters
16 |
Release
Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: • Audio
commentary featuring Nair
DVD Release Date: October 20th, 200 9Custom Case (see image) Chapters 1 8 |
Release
Information: Studio: Criterion
1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,207,785,984 bytesFeature: 24,668,190,720 bytesVideo Bitrate: 22.92 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Audio
commentary featuring Nair
DVD Release Date: October 20th, 200 9Transparent thick Blu-ray Case Chapters 1 8 |
Comments |
ADDITION: Criterion - Region
'A'
Blu-ray
- October 09': With the production roots of the film being Super 16mm -
we feel the dual-layered Criterion transfer has probably max'ed out the
appearance quality via
Blu-ray.
Colors seem more vibrant with reds especially brighter and less orange.
Grain is dramatically more visible and gives the overall canvas a very
textured, and authentic, film-like look. This may be too heavy for
individuals more used t glossy, smooth, visuals as found on modern films
to 1080P. Detail tightens up and skin tones seem even more less-yellow
as they warm up a further shade. Expectantly the
Blu-ray
gives a superior representation of the theatrical intent of the film's
appearance. It's clean, gritty with vibrant, impressive, colors.
Criterion's lossless DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at 3952 kbps takes just as big a leap from the SD-DVD as the image quality does. There is far better range, with deeper bass - notable in the party and music sequences although not being an action film the separation remains limited to the film's intent. Dialogue is still scattered a bit and this remains a function of the production - no fault of the transfer. As usual, Criterion includes optional English subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked. The extensive extras are duplicated on the DVD as discussed below with the shorts in HD and a Blu-ray specific Timeline feature - appearing as a pop-up menu (accessible via the red remote button) with bookmarking available with the green remote button. As opposed to having the extras housed on 2 DVDs you have them all available on the one Blu-ray. The liner notes booklet is also included. So, is the Blu-ray worth the upgrade? Well, it's $3 cheaper than the DVD package and improves in every single area - so this is obviously what we recommend. The film tends to come to life more with the HD resolution - in both video... and audio. It's surely the best way to see Monsoon Wedding in your home theater. *** Essentially the Criterion looks the best but I expect the forthcoming Blu-ray to be the biggest difference between the editions. The NTSC Criterion transfer is the only one that is both anamorphic and has totally removable subtitles. It is on a dual-layered DVD, progressively transferred and 16X9 enhanced. Unfortunately this original comparison is quite old and we shrunk the other anamorphic captures to about 720 pixels wide, so have done so with the Criterion as well. It doesn't hinder the color comparisons though with the Criterion being both brighter and with more natural flesh tones. Contrast is also superior although detail doesn't improve an extravagant amount. The Blu-ray should fill in some gaps on the visuals - stay tuned. The Criterion audio is expectantly acceptable - without an abundance of separation but is quite clean and crisp throughout. The Criterion English subtitles are optional. Where Criterion vaults ahead, as usual, is in the extras. Mira Nair gives a decent commentary on many facets of production. She has a very pleasing voice that fans of the film will enjoy indulging in the full-length optional commentary. The Laughing Club of India from 2000 is a 4:3 35-minute documentary that explores the power of laughter through the strangely popular phenomenon of laughing clubs in contemporary Bombay. You may choose an optional director introduction that runs about 4-minutes. Naseeruddin Shah is interviewed (2009) by director Nair for 21-minutes and he talks to her about his experiences onstage and in film. Cinematographer Declan Quinn and production designer Stephanie Carroll talk about creating the look of Monsoon Wedding for about 10-minutes - shot in 2009. There is also an anamorphic theatrical trailer running 2-minutes on disc one.
Disc two contains six other
short films by director Mira Nair divided into 'Documentary" (2) or
"Fictional" (4) and all offer an optional introductions by Nair.
So Far
From India runs almost 50-minutes and is the story of Ashok Sheth - one
of many Indian immigrants working in subway newsstands in New York City.
This documentary follows his first journey back home to Ahmedabad, where
he is forced to confront the conflicts between his ancestral culture and
his new life in America. India Cabaret is almost 1 hour and examines the
line separating "good" and "bad" women in Indian Society, specifically
by focusing on the dancers at a Bombay strip club, a frequent patron,
and his stay-at-home wife. The Day the Mercedes Became a Hat is less
than 12-minutes is a tale of one family as they leave South Africa on
the day of Chris Hani (South Africa's Communist Party leader) funereal
after his assassination in April of 1993. 11’09”01-September (Segment
'India') is based on the true events surrounding the September 11th, 2001
disappearance of Salman Hamdani, a young Pakistani American man from
Queens NY. This films portrays his Mother's struggle with terrorist
allegations, her own fears, and her son's fate that day. It was
pre-determined to run 11-minutes. Migration runs just shy of 20-minutes
and is part of the four-film series on the Aids epidemic in India. This
short examines the virus as Indian society's greater class leveler
following its transmission through interweaving stories that link urban
and rural India. How Can It Be will runs 9 minutes and is one of eight
shorts commissioned by the United Nations on themes concerning global
society. This film explores gender equality through the story of Zainab
and Arif - who live with their son Munna in Brooklyn. Zainab makes the
complicated decision to leave her protected life and follow her heart.
Included is a 30-page liner notes with essay by critic and travel writer
Pico Iyer.
I really enjoyed the short film supplements on the Criterion and look
forward to seeing the film again in 1080P resolution as I expect the
color vibrancy to standout even more prominently. Please stay tuned for
as we add the Criterion
Blu-ray
to this comparison as soon as we can. |
DVD Menus
(Madman -
Region 4 - PAL LEFT
vs. Universal
- Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Film Four / VCI - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
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Criterion Disc 1
Criterion Disc 2
Criterion DVD package
Screen Captures
1) Madman - Region 4 - PAL TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Film Four / VCI - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC - F OURTH5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Madman - Region 4 - PAL TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Film Four / VCI - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC - F OURTH5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Madman - Region 4 - PAL TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Film Four / VCI - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC - F OURTH5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Madman - Region 4 - PAL TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Film Four / VCI - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC - F OURTH5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Madman - Region 4 - PAL TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Film Four / VCI - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC - F OURTH5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Madman - Region 4 - PAL TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Film Four / VCI - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC - F OURTH5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Madman - Region 4 - PAL TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND3) Film Four / VCI - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Criterion (2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC - F OURTH5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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Report Card:
Image: |
Criterion Blu-ray |
Sound: |
CriterionBlu-ray |
Extras: | CriterionBlu-ray |
DVD Box Covers |
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Distribution |
Madman Entertainment Region 4- PAL |
Universal Region 1 - NTSC |
Film
Four / VCI Region 2 - PAL |
Criterion (2-disc) - Spine # 489 Region 1 - NTSC |
Criterion Collection - Spine # 489 Region 'A' - Blu-ray |