(aka "The Eighth Day" or "Gattaca - La porta dell'universo")

directed by Andrew Niccol
USA 1997

Andrew Niccol was working as a commercials director in London when he wrote the script for Gattaca and was subsequently invited to direct. He later achieved critical acclaim for his work on The Truman Show but Gattaca entirely failed to meet with box-office success. This is a shame because it is probably the most intelligent and insightful science fiction film made in the 1990s. Like all the best serious science fiction it is really a study of the social consequences of a particular technological development, in this case instant automated DNA analysis. Since it appears that technology is developing very much along the lines predicted here, do not be surprised if this prophetic film achieves cult status in years to come. In the meanwhile, enjoy it for the languorous pace, the fine acting, the beautiful cinematography and the timeless 1950s look.

Conrad McDonnell

Poster

Theatrical Release: October 24, 1997

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Columbia Tristar - Region 4 - PAL vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Columbia Tristar - Region 2 - PAL vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Mark Newland and  Conrad McDonnell for all the Screen Caps!

(Columbia Tristar - Region 4 - PAL LEFT vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 1 - NTSC - 2nd vs. Columbia Tristar - Region 2 - PAL - 3rd vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

 

HERE

    

 

 

 

 
Distribution

Columbia Tristar

Region 4 - PAL

Columbia Tristar

Region 1 - NTSC

Columbia Tristar

Region 2 - PAL

 Columbia Tristar
Region 2 - PAL
Runtime

1:42:09 (4% PAL speedup)

 1:46:20 1:42:09 (4% PAL speedup) 1:42:03 (4% PAL speedup)
Video

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: ?5 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.48 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 4.25 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.60 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
Bitrates:

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Columbia Tristar - Superbit (R1)

 Columbia Tristar (R2)

 

 

 

Columbia Tristar (Superbit)

 

Audio

English (DTS), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)

 English (DTS), English (Dolby Digital 5.1) English DD 5.1, English DD 2.0, German DD 5.1

English DD 5.1 & DTS 5.1
Subtitles

English, None

 English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Thai, None English, German, Czech, Hungarian, Icelandic, Hindi, Hebrew, Polish, Turkish, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Greek, None English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Columbia Tristar

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• No extras (Superbit)

 

DVD Release Date: January 2003
Amaray ('Keep case')

Chapters 28

 

 Release Information:
Studio: Columbia/Tristar Studios

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Color, Closed-captioned, DTS Surround Sound, Widescreen, Dolby
• Generic superbit informative booklet with 1 sheet scene selection insert in the booklet that is title specific
• Widescreen anamorphic format

DVD Release Date: December 11, 2001
Keep case

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: Columbia Tristar

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• 5 deleted / extended scenes
• 'Making of' documentary
• Filmographies
• Photo gallery
• Side B contains the full frame 1.33:1 transfer

DVD Release Date: 02/16/99
Crystal case

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: Columbia Tristar

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• No extras (Superbit)

 

DVD Release Date: 10/14/02
Amaray ('Keep case')

Chapters 28

Comments:

ADDITION: (Superbit Region 4 - Dec - 04) - Colors again appear brown-heavy and a shade dull in this Super Bit edition.  To my eye the Region 4 SuperBit release looks like a duplicate of the Region 2 SuperBit. It has less subtitle options, same great audio and no extras. We alter our scorecard to say pickup either PAL SuperBit - whichever is cheaper for you.

 

- Gary W. Tooze

****

 

ADDITION: (Superbit Region 1) - Colors appear muted and reddish/brown in all three releases. I still think the Region 2 SUPERBIT is the better image. It is slightly sharper and appears to have better balance although differences are quite negligible. It is so close that I wouldn't bother trading up.

- Gary W. Tooze

****

While the original Region 2 release represented astounding quality for its day, being among the very first DVDs released onto the UK market (some 9 months before The Matrix, for example), a comparison of the two Region 2 PAL versions showcases the improvements in transfer quality that the Superbit label signifies. The colour palette is virtually the same across both transfers, suggesting that both are derived from the same higher definition master, but the Superbit has additional detail in the image, a higher bitrate and less filtering, leading to less Gibbs Effect (also known as 'edge enhancement' or 'ringing'). Unless you require the minor extras or the full-frame transfer, the Superbit is the one to go for.

 - Conrad McDonnell


DVD Menus

(Columbia Tristar - Region 4 - PAL  LEFT vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT )
 

 

 

(Columbia Tristar - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

 

 

 

 

 

Screen Captures

(Columbia Tristar - Region 4 - PAL  TOP vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 1 - NTSC - 2nd vs. Columbia Tristar - Region 2 - PAL - 3rd vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)


 

 

 

(Columbia Tristar - Region 4 - PAL  TOP vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 1 - NTSC - 2nd vs. Columbia Tristar - Region 2 - PAL - 3rd vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(Columbia Tristar - Region 4 - PAL  TOP vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 1 - NTSC - 2nd vs. Columbia Tristar - Region 2 - PAL - 3rd vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Columbia Tristar - Region 4 - PAL  TOP vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 1 - NTSC - 2nd vs. Columbia Tristar - Region 2 - PAL - 3rd vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

 

(Columbia Tristar - Region 4 - PAL  TOP vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 1 - NTSC - 2nd vs. Columbia Tristar - Region 2 - PAL - 3rd vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Columbia Tristar - Region 4 - PAL  TOP vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 1 - NTSC - 2nd vs. Columbia Tristar - Region 2 - PAL - 3rd vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Columbia Tristar - Region 4 - PAL  TOP vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 1 - NTSC - 2nd vs. Columbia Tristar - Region 2 - PAL - 3rd vs. Columbia Tristar (Superbit) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

Hit Counter

Report Card:

Image:

R2 Superbit  or Region 4 Superbit (slightly superior to NTSC Superbit)

Sound:

R1 Superbit (for no speedup - if you are sensitive)
Extras: R2 (non SB)
Menu: R2 (non SB)

 

DVD Box Covers

    

 

 

 

 
Distribution

Columbia Tristar

Region 4 - PAL

Columbia Tristar

Region 1 - NTSC

Columbia Tristar

Region 2 - PAL

 Columbia Tristar
Region 2 - PAL


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