20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Region 1 - NTSC

1.33:1/4:3 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.51 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.33:1/4:3 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.22 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Studio Classics series)

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital mono) DUBs: French (Dolby Digital Mono), Spanish (Dolby Digital Mono)

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1/4:3

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Robert Wise and Nicolas Meyer
• 70-minute "Making The Earth Stand Still" documentary
• Movietone Newsreel (1951)
• Restoration Comparison
• 5 Still Galleries
• Shooting Script
• Theatrical Trailer

DVD Release Date: 4.3.2003
Keep case

Chapters 16

Chapters 15

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1/4:3

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Director Robert Wise and Nicolas Meyer
• Commentary by Film & Music Historians John Morgan, Steven Smith, William Stromberg & Nick Redman
• Isolated Score Track 5.1
• The Making of " The Day The Earth Stood Still" (23:51)

Disc 2 (single-layered)

NOTE: Blu-ray Reviewed HERE

ADDITION: Fox 2-disc Special Edition DVD: For many patiently awaiting the Blu-ray - this is kind of anti-climactic. Firstly, I should state that our initial comparison (Studio Classics vs. PAL edition) was done a long time ago - yes, its been over 5 years since we've had a new edition of this sci-fi masterpiece in NTSC! - I have no recollection as to why Jarkko, the original contributor, resized his captures to 800 pixels wide (when the native is ex. 720 for the Studio Classics).  Regardless, I don't think it indicates much of a difference with the new Special Edition along the lines of image. It will certainly be considered dramatically less different than the upcoming 1080P transfer (you think?). So while I believe this new SE is a marginal improvement, better and more pure contrast, over the Studio Classics edition - it's going to seem like nutt'in next to the eventual Blu-ray. Come on Fox - we're salivating here...

More significantly than the image improvement is the audio with a new 5.1 bump. Now, as you know, this is a fake mix but it sounds okay to me. It has a couple of more aggressive moments but not a lot of subtle action for the rears. Another area where I expect the Blu-ray may advance. What is paramount is that they left the mono option in available to purists. There are also two mono foreign language DUBs and subtitle options slightly differently rendered for this DVD (see samples below.)

Okay onto the 'meat' - there are plenty of extras to feast on - with a few duplicated - including the Wise/Meyer commentary and 'Making of..." (although edited on the SE?). Now we get a second optional commentary covering some of the music and other production detail minutia. The participants are film and music historians John Morgan, Steven Smith, William Stromberg and Nick Redman. Redman is knowledgeable and the only one I believe that I have heard previously. I *think* I still prefer the original more 'basic' commentary although this has some definite merit. Bernard Herrmann's isolated score is a great idea and despite owning so much of the composer's soundtracks on CD - this is a new keepsake for me. There is some filler here - but it may appeal to some classic sci-fi aficionados - include in that category The Mysterious, Melodious Theremin with Peter Pringle for about 5 minutes, plus the audio only presentation of the original short story and even Pringle conducting The Day the Earth Stood Still Main Title in a Live Performance for about 2 minutes (I admit to enjoying this a great deal). The 30 minute Race to Oblivion: A Documentary Short Written and produced by Edmund North on disc 2 is in rough shape but very cool with Burt Lancaster. Geeks, (like moi?) will get a kick out of Decoding "Klaatu, Barada, Nikto"; Science Fiction as Metaphor (16:13) and there are two separate featurettes - one on Edmund North (15 minutes) and the other on Harry Bates (11 minutes). There are trailers and quite a few galleries with stills.

So, this new SE is the definitive DVD presentation of this classic at a fabulous price considering the film value and supplements.... and we'll get to the Blu-ray as soon as we can folks. Klaatu, Barada, Nikto.   

***

ON THE STUDIO CLASSIC AND PAL EDITION: The image differences are pretty small, but in the final tally the NTSC version inches ahead with slightly better contrast, black levels and is minimally sharper with some film grain showing. Both have noise evident. In the audio, the NTSC offers 2 versions of the original English as well as some DUBs also offered by the PAL (which also includes Italian). The Region 1 also has better extras with the "Making of.." documentary. Both issues have the same commentary track. Menus are a wash, but we will give it to the PAL for being widescreen (although the film is not.)

Some films are not worth upgrading, but I believe that this one would be worth if not for the improved image, then for the extra featurette.

- Gary Tooze