Badlands - Martin Sheen

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

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DVD Comparison:

Warner Brothers - U.K. - Region 2 - PAL vs. Warner Brothers - U.S. - Region 1 - NTSC

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

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

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Warner Brothers - U.K. Region 2 - PAL	Warner Brothers - U.S. Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:29:54 (4% PAL speedup)	1:33:39
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
	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.
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.0), French and Italian (Dolby Digital 1.0)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 1.0)
Subtitles	English, French, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Romanian, Bulgarian, none	English, French, 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

Comments

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

DVD Menus

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