"Raging Bull" MGM (1.33:1) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (1.85:1) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (20th Anv.) - Region 2

directed by Martin Scorsese
USA 1980

“I remember those cheers. They still ring in my ears. And for years they'll remain in my thoughts. Cuz one night I took off my robe. And what'd I do, I forgot to wear shorts. I recall every fall, every hook, every jab, the worst way a guy could get rid of his flab. As you know, my life was a jab. Though I'd rather hear you cheer, when I delve into Shakespeare, "A Horse, a Horse, my Kingdom for a Horse." I haven't had a winner in six months . I know I'm no Olivier, but if he fought Sugar Ray, he would say, that the thing ain't the ring, it's the play. So gimme a stage, where this bull here can rage. And though I can fight, I'd much rather recite. That's entertainment. That's entertainment.”

Jake LaMotta

Considered Scorsese's masterpiece and one of the best films of the 1980's. A candid and frightening tale of insecurity, denial and self punishment through the guise of a cult boxing hero - one of the toughest fighters of his era. Scorsese's constant intense focus on the main character, Jake LaMotta, is both revealing and hypnotic. De Niro's performance may be recognized as the greatest of his career. Overall this is fantastic cinema. out of

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 14, 1980

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DVD Comparison:

MGM (1.33:1) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (1.85:1) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM (20th Anv.) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Enrique B Chamorro and Henrik Sylow for all the Screen Caps!

(MGM (1.33:1) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. MGM (1.85:1) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (20th Anv.) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	MGM Region 1 - NTSC	MGM Region 1 - NTSC	MGM Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	129 min	129 min	123 min (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.33:1 Open Matte format Average Bitrate: 4.80 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.16 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.52 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes
Bitrate: MGM (1.33:1) .
Bitrate: MGM (1.85:1)
Bitrate: MGM (20th Anv.)
Audio	English 2.0, French, Spanish 1.0	English 2.0, French, Spanish 1.0	English 2.0, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch 1.0
Subtitles	English, French, Spanish	English, French, Spanish	English, French, Spanish, German, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Static menus • Theatrical Trailer 2:02 • Accurate English Subtitles • 8 page booklet DVD Release Date: March 25th, 1997 Plastic Keepcase Chapters 30	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Static Menus • Theatrical Trailer 2:02 • Accurate English Subtitles • 8 page booklet DVD Release Date: March 25th, 1997 Plastic Keepcase Chapters 30	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Static Menus • Theatrical Trailer 2:04 • Summarized English Subtitles • Also on DVD trailers 4:33 • On Disc 2; Jake's Jokes 5:51 • The Bronx Bull Interviews 26:44 • Easter Egg 1 - 6 recent photos of LaMotta • Easter Egg 2 - Movietone clip from Jake LaMotta vs. Laurent Dauthuille Sept. 1950 fight 0:55 • 16 page booklet • 3 B&W postcards DVD Release Date: 11/27/02 Fold out digipac Chapters 30

Comments

A strange phenomenon is exhibited that many of us have noticed previously. On DVD editions that have both a widescreen and full-frame version - the full frame version is actually sharper. I have never been told why this is, but we have another example here. This was an early DVD made way back in 1997, so I expect a superior transfer and DVD (extras) to be forthcoming. So the Open Matte version of raging Bull seems to have almost nothing removed from the left edge, but quite a bit from the right edge. Amusingly enough, subtitles are even different as they Open Matte version can fit two lines (data space on the widescreen). The Region 2 is quite tight as well, but a very small notch below the corresponding Region 1 releases. The Region 2 does a host of subtitles and has superior extras but no where near what could be, if you look at the Criterion laserdisc, which contain:

Commentary track with Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker
Film clips with commentary by Scorsese from Force of Evil, On the Waterfront, and The Quiet Man.
LaMotta Interviews clips from the 1990 doc. Knockout; Hollywood's Love affair with Boxing
Clips from boxing bouts with Tiberio Mitri 07/12/50 and Laurent Dauthuille 09/13/50
2 clips from Siskel & Ebert reviewing Raging Bull
10 newspaper print reivews
The Shooting Script, Storyboard diagrams, and Production Photos

Given the great detail that went in the sound mix, a careful 5.1 could make a great addition. A new Special Edition is hoped for an I suspect it will be a real knockout!

- Enrique B Chamorro and Gary W Tooze

DVD Menus

(MGM (1.33:1) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. MGM (1.85:1) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. MGM (20th Anv.) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)