"Audition" Universe Region 3 NTSC vs. Chimera / Ventura Region 1 NTSC

(aka 'Oodishon' or 'Audition' or 'Ôdishon')

directed by Takashi Miike
Japan 2000

Posters

Theatrical Release: January 28th, 2000 - Netherlands (Rotterdam Film Festival)

DVD Comparison:

Tartan (Collector's Edition) - Region 0 - PAL vs. Universe - Region 3 - NTSC vs. Chimera / Ventura - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman and Ole Kofoed and Henrik Sylow for the Screen Caps!

(Tartan (CE) - Region 0 - PAL LEFT vs. Universe - Region 3 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. - Chimera / Ventura - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
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Distribution	Tartan Region 0 - PAL	Universe (Hong Kong) Region 3 - NTSC	Ventura Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:50:49 (4% PAL speedup)	1:55:20	1:55:24
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.77 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.56 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.17 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Tartan
Bitrate: Universe
Bitrate: Chimera / Ventura
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital Japanese, 5.1 Dolby Digital Japanese, DTS Japanese	Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0	Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0
Subtitles	English, None	English, Chinese or none.	English or none.
Features	Release Information: Studio: Tartan Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Miike on Miike: Interview at IFFR 2002 (11:25) • Original theatrical trailer (1:21) • Miike Takashi trailer reel • Liner notes by Joe Cornish DVD Release Date: une 28, 2004 thin case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Universe Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (Letterboxed)- 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Trailer (1:42). Keep Case Chapters: 8	Release Information: Studio: Chimera / Ventura Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (letterboxed) - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by Takashi Miike dubbed/translated in English (37:20). • Interview with director Takashi Miike from the American Cinematheque Theatre (23:47). • Tour of Egyptian Theatre (8:07). • Photo gallery. • International and Japanese Trailers for Audition. • 5 additional trailers for other releases from Chimera. • Miike Bio/Filmography. • Liner notes by Chris D. Keep Case Chapters: 24

Recommended Reading for Japanese Film Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

The Japan Journals : 1947-2004,

by Donald Richie

The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film
by Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp

Kon Ichikawa (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs)

by James Quandt, Cinematheque Ontario

Shohei Imamura (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs, No. 1)
by James Quandt

Eros Plus Massacre: An Introduction to the Japanese New Wave Cinema (Midland Book, Mb 469)
by David Desser

The Films of Akira Kurosawa by Donald Ritchie

Tokyo Story

by Yasujiro Ozu, Kogo Noda, Donald Richie, Eric Klestadt

Ozu by Donald Ritchie

A Hundred Years of Japanese Film by Donald Richie

Check out more in "The Library"

Comments:

ADDITION (Tartan - July -04):

Where the old Tartan DVD suffered from an incredible bad picture, the new Tartan DVD is a vast improvement, with a balanced colour scheme, which is more softer and clearer next to the Chimera DVD. The Tartan frame differs slighty (0,7% to the right) from the Chimera.

The DTS track on the Tartan DVD is surprisingly flat. While the normal stereo track is quiet effective and the 5.1 track is very spacial, the DTS lacks definition in the rears.

The interview with Miike is a nice addition. The questions are standard, but Miike's answers give us a good feel about his approach to film and directing. As a trivia note: The interview was held at the Nordam room at the Westin hotel in Rotterdam.

- Henrik Sylow

Region 1 disc has better picture, but unfortunately it's not anamorphic. It's also sharper than Mei Ah disc. The added extras - an interview with the director and a commentary for the last 40 minutes -makes Chimera disc a clear choice between two releases.

- Gregory Meshman.

DVD Menus

(Tartan (CE) - Region 0 - PAL LEFT vs. Universe - Region 3 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. - Chimera / Ventura - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)