Badlands Blu-ray - Martin Sheen

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Terrence Malick
USA 1973

When Terrence Malick's first film, "Badlands," came out in 1973 many critics lauded the effort. Although the plot, based on a true story about a killing spree of a young couple, had been done many times - "Thieves Like Us" and "The Sugarland Express," for contemporary examples - Malick's understated style was well appreciated. Today the film doesn't so much seem dated as it does dull.

Malick was a Harvard graduate and Rhodes scholar in his 20s when he shot the film, apparently so certain of his vision that he fired two cinematographers before he was satisfied. Yet for all its lazy beauty, the movie is rooted in the personalities of its lead characters and they, unfortunately, are bloodless, affectless, emotionless dopes who turn their considerable lack of scruples on the business of senseless killing, for which they seemingly have no remorse.

Excerpt from Barbara Shulgasser (SF Examiner) found HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 15, 1973

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Warner Brothers - U.K. - Region 2 - PAL vs. Warner Brothers - U.S. - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Warner Brothers - U.K. DVD Screen Caps!

1) Warner Brothers - U.K. - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT

2) Warner Brothers - U.S. - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A'- Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Covers			Also coming to Blu-ray in the UK by Criterion in May of 2019:
Distribution	Warner Brothers - U.K. Region 2 - PAL	Warner Brothers - U.S. Region 1 - NTSC	Criterion Collection - Spine # 651 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:29:54 (4% PAL speedup)	1:33:39	1:33:58.049
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.11 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.90 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 47,323,704,913 bytes Feature Size: 27,531,257,856 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.96 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Warner Brothers - U.K.
Bitrate: Warner Brothers - U.S.
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.0), French and Italian (Dolby Digital 1.0)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 1.0)	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English, French, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Romanian, Bulgarian, none	English, French, none	English, none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Brothers - U.K. Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Absence of Malick featurette • Trailer DVD Release Date: May 26, 2003 Snapper Chapters 28	Release Information: Studio: Warner Brothers - U.S. Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Full Screen and Anamorphic versions DVD Release Date: April 27, 1999 Snapper Chapters 28	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Disc Size: 47,323,704,913 bytes Feature Size: 27,531,257,856 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.96 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P Edition Details: • “Making “Badlands,” a new documentary featuring actors Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek and art director Jack Fisk (41:25) • New interviews with associate editor Billy Weber (21:52) and executive producer Edward Pressman (12:34) • “Charles Starkweather,” a 1993 episode of the television program American Justice, about the real-life story on which the film was loosely based (20:47) • Trailer (2:56) • PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by filmmaker Michael Almereyda. Blu-ray Release Date: March 19th, 2013 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters: 13

Comments

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

ADDITION: Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray - (March 2013) - Criterion brings Terrence Malick's masterful Badlands to 1080P Blu-ray with a new restored 4K digital transfer, approved by the director. The most obvious difference from the past DVDs is the richness of the colors on the HD transfer. Contrast is also notably improved and hence detail rises - there is some depth in the outdoor sequences. There does seem to be a shade cropped off all sides of the frame on the Blu-ray, but it is negligible. There is no noise on the 1.85:1 frame and overall I would say this is a big difference from the digital version we have had in the past.

Audio is in the form of a new linear PCM in the original mono. It is authentically flat, and consistent, in the lossless transfer. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'A'-locked disc.

The Criterion has some wonderful supplements. “Making “Badlands” is a new documentary featuring actors Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek and art director Jack Fisk discussing the film, separately, for over 40-minutes in total. There are new interviews with associate editor Billy Weber (21:52) and executive producer Edward Pressman (12:34) and a 1993 episode of the television program American Justice, about the real-life story on which the film was loosely based. It runs over 20minutes and is entitled “Charles Starkweather”. There is also a trailer and the package contains a liner notes booklet featuring an essay by filmmaker Michael Almereyda.

This is such a pleasure to re-watch the beautifully shot Badlands with the improved colors. Malick's films are so visual that this vastly improved video presentation can significantly boost appreciation and the impact of the viewing. Criterion adds valuable extras and we give this Blu-ray a very strong recommendation.

***

ON THE DVDs: The Region 1 sharpness exceeds the Region 2 so significantly that it is the only real mitigating factor in the comparison. The skin tones in the PAL version appears to be slightly redder.

The NTSC seems slightly cropped on the top, bottom and right edges. Extras go to Region3 for the 'Absence of Malick" Featurette. Subtitles appear different to some degree, but I have no idea to what extent. Same extras of 1 trailer. Both are anamorphic.

-Gary W. Tooze

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(Warner Brothers - U.K. - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Warner Brothers - U.S. - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)