Mondo Macabro

Region 0 - NTSC

1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.65 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.25 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.78:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.5 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.

Mondo Macabro

Neo Publishing (English Version)

Neo Publishing (French Version)

US English, Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)

French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.66:1

Edition Details:
• English theatrical trailer
• 3 Alternate scenes (French bridge scene, US cut hallucination scene, French title sequence)
• Biographies
• Photo galleries
• Other Mondo Macabro releases

DVD Release Date: March 16, 2004
Keepcase

Chapters 16

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.66:1

Edition Details:
• English and shorter French version
• English theatrical trailer
• Photo gallery
• Filmographies

 

Chapters 12

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• English and shorter French version
• English theatrical trailer
• Photo gallery
• Filmographies

 

Chapters 12

*****

A difficult comparison because we actually have three different versions of the same movie here. First we have the Mondo Macabro DVD which, according to the liner notes in the extras, restores all sections that were removed for the US release except a bridge scene which was never dubbed in English. Next we have the Neo Publishing DVD containing both a French and an English version, which appears to be the US release. However, both DVDs seem to contain all the different scenes in one way or the other.

The French version on the Neo Publishing is no match for the English version or the Mondo Macabro. The image is not as sharp and cropped to about 1.78:1.
The real competition is between the Mondo Macabro and the English version on the Neo Publishing. The Mondo Macabro contains slightly more picture on top and bottom, but the main point of discussion is the colours. I'm inclined to think the Mondo Macabro is more correct than the brownish tinted Neo Publishing, especially when looking at screenshot 4.
Sharpness and the amount of print damage seems similar on both releases except for screenshot 5 where the Mondo Macabro looks quite bad. The explanation is that there are 2 versions of this hallucination scene. Mondo Macabro has a different and shorter version, labeled "US cut", as an extra. Neo Publishing however has this US cut in the English version while the French version contains the alternate cut. A strange decision from Mondo Macabro since the US cut is of much better image quality.

On to the sound. The Mondo Macabro contains a UK and US English track but most voices are done by the same actors, Prof. Gregorius Wahl being the most obvious exception. There is also a French track which reverts to English in a couple of scenes. In this case, you can select English subtitles for the French scenes or French subtitles for the English scenes.
The Neo Publishing on the other hand allows you to choose between the US English and Italian track with removable French subtitles. There are no subtitles on the shorter French version which naturally only contains the French track.

In the extras department Mondo Macabro has the upper hand with its well written biographies and a wealth of publicity material, of which the Neo Publishing photo gallery contains only a small fragment. Both DVDs have the same trailer but for some reason the trailer on the Mondo Macabro plays in an incorrect aspect ratio. Also note that all 3 alternate scenes on the Mondo Macabro can be seen in either the French, albeit without English subtitles, or in the English version on the Neo Publishing. Another thing that will interest fans is that the notorious nipple scene included by Mondo Macabro is also available in the French version on the Neo Publishing.

Overall, both releases have their strengths and weaknesses. If you do not speak French, Mondo Mabraco obviously wins due to the English subtitles and 2 different English dubs. Neo Publishing limits you to the US English dub. If however you do speak French, the Neo Publishing contains an Italian track and gives you the possibility to view the US and French version of the film in their original form.

 - Pieter Boven