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directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
USA 1997

Following up on his superb but overlooked first film, "Hard Eight", Paul Thomas Anderson takes us on into the adult film making and a journey thru time from the late seventies to the nineties, following not only the industry and its transition from film to video, from story to gonzo, but also the ups and downs of the people involved. Based on the career and life of porn legend John Holmes, Paul Thomas Anderson loves his characters and does little to hide their weaknesses, but never exploits them: These are not perverts, these are normal people who just happens to make porn for a living.

In only one year since he made "Hard Eight", Paul Thomas Anderson has taken seven league steps as a director: He has developed so much confidence, that he uses images freely on his canvas. He knows every way to swing a brush and he shows it. "Boogie Nights" is so full of technical bravura, that it almost is showing off. Long complicated tracking shots involving different actors and dialogue, fancy editing and amazing compositions makes him look more confident and savvy than directors with decades on their back. In fact, Paul Thomas Anderson does little to hide that he is ripping off compositions from everyone: It is very visible and on the audio commentary he even points out where he stole the scene from. But being a master filmmaker does not guarantee that the story is good: But it is. With almost casual ease, Paul Thomas Anderson weaves the lives of four main characters and a handful of supporting characters into each other, always paying attention to each and everyone of them, allowing them all to be in the center. In short, "Boogie Nights" is so full of confidence, technical wizardry and directorial skill, that Paul Thomas Anderson nailed his name down and became a keeper. He was a master at 26, now he is 27 and can play ball with the greatest. out of

Henrik Sylow

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 11th, 1997 - Toronto Film Festival - Canada

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Comparison:

New Line (USA) - Region 1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series"  vs. CiNexus (Korea) - Region 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition"  vs. Roadshow Entertainment (Australia) - Region 4 PAL vs. Kinowelt (Germany) - Region 2- PAL vs. New Line - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Thorsten Habelitz and Christian Liemke at at our German 'sister' site for the DVD

screen captures and  Brian Montgomery for the Blu-ray screen captures!

 !

1) New Line USA, Region 1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series" LEFT

2) CiNexus Korea, Region 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition" SECOND
3) Roadshow Entertainment (Australian) - Region 4 PAL THIRD

4) Kinowelt Region 2 -PAL Germany - FOURTH

5) New Line - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 
 DVD Covers

 

 

Distributor New Line, USA
Region 1- NTSC

CiNexus, Korea

Region 3 - NTSC

Roadshow Entertainment, Australia

Region 4- PAL

Kinowelt / Arthaus, Germany

Region 2- PAL

 New Line, USA
Region FREE - Blu-ray
Time 155:25 Min. 155:10 Min. 149:15 Min. [4% PAL-Speed Up] 148:20 Min. [4% PAL-Speed Up]  2:35:35.576
Bitrate - New Line + CINexus

      

Bitrate: Roadshow + Kinowelt

      

Blu-ray

Bitrate 5,88 MB/sec.
 		 5,13 MB/sec. 5,47 MB/sec. 5,60 MB/sec. 24.615 MB/sec.
DVD-Type Disc 1: DVD-9
Disc 2: DVD-5		 Disc 1: DVD-9
Disc 2: DVD-5		 DVD-9 DVD-9 37,435,499,554 bytes Dual layered
Aspect ratio 2.38:1 anamorphic [Original: 2.40:1]
 		 2.38:1 anamorphic [Original: 2.40:1] 2.31:1 anamorphic [Original: 2.40:1] 1.80:1 anamorphic [Original: 2.40:1]  2.40:1
Audio options 1) English DD 5.1 [448 KB/sec.]
2) French DD 5.1 [448 KB/sec.]
3) English DD 2.0 Surround [192 KB/sec.]
4) English Commentary #1 DD 2.0 Stereo [192 KB/sec.]
5) English Commentary #2 DD 2.0 Stereo [192 KB/sec.]		 1) English DD 5.1 [448 KB/sec.]
2) English DD 2.0 Surround [192 KB/sec.]
3) English Commentary #1 DD 2.0 Surround [192 KB/sec.]
4) English Commentary #2 DD 2.0 Surround [192 KB/sec.]		 1) English DD 5.1[448 KB/sec.]
2) English DD 2.0 Surround [320 KB/sec.]
3) English Commentary DD 2.0 Surround [384 KB/sec.]
4) kein Ton MPEG 2.0 [64 KB/sec.]		 1) English DD 5.1 [384 KB/sec.]
2) German DD 5.1 [384 KB/sec.] 		 Dolby TrueHD Audio English 1698 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1698 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB)
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB / Dolby Surround
Subtitles 1) English
2) French
3) Spanish		 1) English for Hearing Impaired
2) Korean
3) Koreans Commentary #1
4) Koreans Commentary #2		 None 1) German forced with English Audio 1) English
2) German
3) Spanish
Extras DISC 1
- Commentary with P.T Anderson
- Commentary with P.T. Anderson, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy and Heather Graham
- music-Highlights
- Color-Bars

Hidden-Feature:
- Outtakes [2:48 Min., 2.35:1]

DISC 2
- "The John C. Reilly Files" [14:40 Min., 2.35:1]:
   • "Swim Trunks"
   • "Waiting for Todd"
   • "Mixing with Nick"
-  10 deleted scenes Commentary of P.T. Anderson [29:07 Min., 2.35:1]:
   • "Scene 3: Ham and Cheese"
   • "Buck and Amber in the Van"
   • "Brock and Chico 16mm"
   • "The 2nd Awards Ceremony"
   • "New Years Eve"
   • "Fire with Fire: The Brock and Chest Story"
   • "Maurice and Rollergirl"
   • "Mixing 'Feel the Heat'"
   • "Under the Table"
   • "Becky/Jerome Carcrash"
- Biografien / Filmografien:
   • Burt Reynolds as Jack Horner
   • Mark Wahlberg as Dirk Diggler
   • Julianne Moore as Amber Waves
   • Melora Walters as Jessie St. Vincenti
   • Don Cheadle as Buck Swope
   • Heather Graham as Rollergirl
   • Luis Guzman as Maurice T.T. Rodriguez
   • Philip Seymor Hoffman as Scotty J.
   • Nicole Ari Parker as Beckky Barnett
   • William H. Macy as Little Bill
   • John C. Reilly as Reed Rothchild
   • Philip Baker Hall as Floyd Gondolli
   • Thomas Jane as Todd Parker
   • Alfred Molina as Rahad Jackson
   • Ricky Jay as Kurt Longjohn
   • Robert Ridgley as The Colonel
   • Paul Thomas Anderson
   • John Lyons
   • Joanne Sellar
   • Lawrence Gordon
   • Daniel Lupi
   • Robert Elswit
   • Bob Ziembicki
   • Mark Bridges
   • Dylan Tichenor
   • Karyn Rachtman
   • Lloyd Levin
   • Michael Penn
- music video "Try" of Michael Penn with optional Commentary of P.T. Anderson
- DVD-Credits [3 in Slide Show]

 DISC 1
 - Commentary with P.T. Anderson
- Commentary with P.T. Anderson, Mark Wahlberg , John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy and Heather Graham
- music-Highlights

DISC 2
- "The John C. Reilly Files " [14:37 Min., 2.35:1, UT]:
   • "Swim Trunks"
   • "Waiting for Todd"
   • "Mixing with Nick"
- with optional Commentary of P.T. Anderson. [29:07 Min., 2.35:1,  Commentary with UT]:
   • "Scene 3: Ham and Cheese"
   • "Buck and Amber in the Van"
   • "Brock and Chico 16mm"
   • "The 2nd Awards Ceremony"
   • "New Years Eve"
   • "Fire with Fire: The Brock and Chest Story"
   • "Maurice and Rollergirl"
   • "Mixing 'Feel the Heat'"
   • "Under the Table"
   • "Becky/Jerome Carcrash"
- Biographies [Korean] / Filmography [English]:
   • Burt Reynolds [9 in Slide Show]
   • Melora Walters [2 in Slide Show]
   • Don Cheadle [4 in Slide Show]
   • Mark Wahlberg [5 in Slide Show]
   • Julianne Moore [5 in Slide Show]
   • Heather Graham [3 in Slide Show]
   • Luis Guzman [5 in Slide Show]
   • Philip Seymour Hoffman [3 in Slide Show]
   • William H. Macy [5 in Slide Show]
   • John C. Reilly [5 in Slide Show]
   • Philip Baker Hall [4 in Slide Show]
   • Thomas Jane [2 in Slide Show]
   • Alfred Molina [4 in Slide Show]
   • Ricky Jay [2 in Slide Show]
   • Robert Ridgley [3 in Slide Show]
   • Paul Thomas Anderson [2 in Slide Show]
- music-Video "Try"  of Michael Penn with optional Commentary of P.T. Anderson

- Commentary with P.T. Anderson
- 9 deleted scenes with optional Commentary of Regisseur P.T.A. [22:27 Min., 2.35:1]:
   • "Scene 3: Ham and Cheese"
   • "Buck and Amber in the Van"
   • "Brock and Chico 16mm"
   • "The 2nd Awards Ceremony"
   • "New Years Eve"
   • "Fire with Fire: The Brock and Chest Story"
   • "Maurice and Rollergirl"
   • "Mixing 'Feel the Heat'"
   • "Under the Table"
 - 6 Interviews:
   • Mark Wahlberg [1:09 Min.]
   • Burt Reynolds [0:58 Min.]
   • Julianne Moore [1:50 Min.]
   • John C. Reilly [0:48 Min.]
   • Heather Graham [0:39 Min.]
   • Paul Tomas Anderson [1:10 Min.]
 - Biographies/Filmography:
   •Mark Wahlberg [2 in Slide Show]
   •Burt Reynolds [6 in Slide Show]
   •Julianne Moore [3 in Slide Show]
   •Heather Graham [3 in Slide Show]
   •Paul Thomas Anderson [3 in Slide Show]
 - Trailer "Boogie Nights" [2:10 Min., 1.85:1] 		 - 8 Interviews:
   • Mark Wahlberg [1:09 Min.]
   • Burt Reynolds [0:58 Min.]
   • Julianne Moore [1:50 Min.]
   • John C. Reilly [0:48 Min.]
   • Heather Graham [0:39 Min.]  
   • Don Cheadle [0:18 Min.]
   • William H. Macy [0:38 Min.]   
   • Paul Tomas Anderson [1:10 Min.]
- German Trailer "Boogie Nights" [2:10 Min., 1.85:1]
- Germane Trailers for "The Mask", "The Rainmaker", "Kundun", "Scream 2", "Dances With Wolves" 		 - Commentary with P.T Anderson
- Commentary with P.T. Anderson, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy and Heather Graham
- "The John C. Reilly Files" [14:40 Min., 2.35:1]:
   • "Swim Trunks"
   • "Waiting for Todd"
   • "Mixing with Nick"
-  10 deleted scenes Commentary of P.T. Anderson [29:07 Min., 2.35:1]:
   • "Scene 3: Ham and Cheese"
   • "Buck and Amber in the Van"
   • "Brock and Chico 16mm"
   • "The 2nd Awards Ceremony"
   • "New Years Eve"
   • "Fire with Fire: The Brock and Chest Story"
   • "Maurice and Rollergirl"
   • "Mixing 'Feel the Heat'"
   • "Under the Table"
   • "Becky/Jerome Carcrash"

- Outtakes [2:48 Min., 2.35:1]

- music video "Try" of Michael Penn with optional Commentary of P.T. Anderson

Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:24)
Chapters 37 37 37 26 37
Date Released August 29th, 2000 April 14th, 2003 February 18th, 2000 December 14th, 1998 December 2009
Comments: NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: For whatever reason New Line has chosen to release the Blu-ray edition of P. T. Anderson’s second film as a Best Buy exclusive for 3 months, available both online and in brick and mortar stores. However, as the purchase link indicates, the disc can also be picked up through Amazon marketplace. Regardless of its source, I was looking forward to having this masterpiece of late 90’s cinema in high definition. This edition will likely satisfy most fans. While the extras are identical to the single-disc Platinum Edition DVD, both the image and sound are noticeably improved in the higher resolution (However, this edition does have slightly different framing from the other releases. While closest to the New Line standard definition release, it has a barely discernible amount of information missing on the sides, but a small amount more on the top and bottom). Predictably, the 1080p/VC-1 transfer, at 5 X the DVD bitrate, has more vibrant, tighter and warmer, colors and it shows some desirable depth in the presentation. However, the grain levels can be radically inconsistent from scene to scene - some have a fine cinematic texture, and others look clunky and it appears New Line have again sunk to some DNR which has stripped away what was formerly there. We presume that this could look even better.

The audio is certainly a positive, with the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 doing justice to the films sweet 70’s soundtrack with depth and decent range although, like the image, it could be improved upon. Personally, I prefer the DTS Master lossless over the TrueHD flavor but there is some adequacy here at 1698 kbps - just not enough to really have me crank the volume.

As Henrik states about the 2000 Platinum DVD supplements which are mostly duplicated on this Blu-ray - "They (commentaries) are recorded especially for the DVD and differ from the audio commentary on the Criterion Laserdisc. The deleted scenes are to some degree the same as those on the Criterion Laserdisc, but here there are 10 deleted scenes running 29 minutes with optional audio commentary by Paul Thomas Anderson. Sadly the 30 minute documentary about John Holmes, which is on the Criterion Laserdisc, isn't present on this DVD.
NOTE: The documentary was present on a special prerelease version of the DVD.
The "John C Reilly Files " are nothing but 14 minutes 41 seconds of homage to Reilly as an actor, especially as supporting actor, especially as improvising actor, especially as the best actor alive (so says PTA). It is ported from VHS and looks like shit, but it is great to watch and offers one a rare glimpse at the process of creating a scene."

Even with the handheld camera usage there are scenes that have a softness that I wasn't anticipating and filtering may very well be the culprit - tack onto that no new viable extras after 9 years since the last New Line DVD which had me slightly disappointed. Does it look better than the DVDs? - absolutely, and that will be enough for many fans and I doubt it will be improved upon anytime soon. I admit this, personally, did give me a very enjoyable presentation and I hope it will for you as well.

***

NOTE: Korean version is censored! It has zoomed in on a specific scene to remove the title character's penis. DON'T BUY !

On 7 April 1998 New LINE published a "Boogie Nights" DVD (images not shown in this comparison) under "NEW LINE Platinum Series" label, however it was only a single DVD offering with audio commentary, nine deleted scenes, biographies, direct access to the music pieces in the film and a music video of Michael Penn. Paul Thomas Anderson did not approve of this transfer, because on 29 August 2000, new LINE introduced a new Special edition, this time consisting of two DVDs, brought approximately two years later on the US market. It still has some slight edge enhancement but is far superior to the initial release.

The Korean CINexus appears to be an exact port of the New Line including duplicate menus. The difference is in the audio and subtitle options as well as the lesser extras on the Korean. It is possible that the New Line - Region 1 has very slightly superior contrast.

The Australian Roadshow Entertainment edition likens itself to the initial US release but is a poor PAL transfer and is no where near as sharp. Colors have been adjusted and skin tones are red.  It is a single edition with weaker extras than both the Korean and US editions.

Extremely poor and violently cropped is the German Kinowelt edition that came out way back in 1998. We can dismiss it for color manipulation and aspect ratio adjustment. The DVD appears to have been zoomed in at times. Let's just forget that this exists.

Our recommendation is the US edition as the Korean has zoomed in on a specific censored scene (title character shows his penis), so although the running time is equal the version is still censored. Overall the NEW LINE is the definitive edition.

- Gary W. Tooze 

DVD Menus

(New Line USA, RC1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series" LEFT vs. CiNexus Korea, RC 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition" RIGHT )

(Roadshow Entertainment Australian, Region 4 PAL LEFT vs. Kinowelt Germany, Region 2- PAL - RIGHT)

 

 

 

 
   

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

1) New Line USA, Region 1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series" TOP

2) CiNexus Korea, Region 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition" SECOND
3) Roadshow Entertainment (Australian) - Region 4 PAL THIRD

4) Kinowelt Region 2 -PAL Germany - FOURTH

5) New Line - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) New Line USA, Region 1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series" TOP

2) CiNexus Korea, Region 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition" SECOND
3) Roadshow Entertainment (Australian) - Region 4 PAL THIRD

4) Kinowelt Region 2 -PAL Germany - FOURTH

5) New Line - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) New Line USA, Region 1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series" TOP

2) CiNexus Korea, Region 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition" SECOND
3) Roadshow Entertainment (Australian) - Region 4 PAL THIRD

4) Kinowelt Region 2 -PAL Germany - FOURTH

5) New Line - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) New Line USA, Region 1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series" TOP

2) CiNexus Korea, Region 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition" SECOND
3) Roadshow Entertainment (Australian) - Region 4 PAL THIRD

4) Kinowelt Region 2 -PAL Germany - FOURTH

5) New Line - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) New Line USA, Region 1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series" TOP

2) CiNexus Korea, Region 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition" SECOND
3) Roadshow Entertainment (Australian) - Region 4 PAL THIRD

4) Kinowelt Region 2 -PAL Germany - FOURTH

5) New Line - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) New Line USA, Region 1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series" TOP

2) CiNexus Korea, Region 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition" SECOND
3) Roadshow Entertainment (Australian) - Region 4 PAL THIRD

4) Kinowelt Region 2 -PAL Germany - FOURTH

5) New Line - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) New Line USA, Region 1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series" TOP

2) CiNexus Korea, Region 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition" SECOND
3) Roadshow Entertainment (Australian) - Region 4 PAL THIRD

4) Kinowelt Region 2 -PAL Germany - FOURTH

5) New Line - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) New Line USA, Region 1 NTSC "2-DVD Platinum Series" TOP

2) CiNexus Korea, Region 3 NTSC "2-DVD Special Edition" SECOND
3) Roadshow Entertainment (Australian) - Region 4 PAL THIRD

4) Kinowelt Region 2 -PAL Germany - FOURTH

5) New Line - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

More screen caps from the Blu-ray

 

 

 

 

Hit Counter

 

Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray
Extras: New Line  / Blu-ray

 

 DVD Covers

 

 

Distributor New Line, USA
Region 1- NTSC

CiNexus, Korea

Region 3 - NTSC

Roadshow Entertainment, Australia

Region 4- PAL

Kinowelt / Arthaus, Germany

Region 2- PAL

 New Line, USA
Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gary Tooze

Many Thanks...