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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Wes Anderson
USA 1998

Wes Anderson’s dazzling sophomore effort is equal parts coming-of-age story, French New Wave homage, and screwball comedy. Tenth grader Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is Rushmore Academy’s most extracurricular student—and its least scholarly. He faces expulsion, and enters into unlikely friendships with both a lovely first-grade teacher (Olivia Williams) and a melancholy self-made millionaire (Bill Murray, in an award-winning performance). Set to a soundtrack of classic British Invasion tunes, Rushmore defies categorization even as it captures the pain and exuberance of adolescence with wit, emotional depth, and cinematic panache.

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 17th, 1998 - Toronto Film Festival

Reviews                                                              More Reviews                                                         DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Buena Vista Home Entertainment - Region 2/4- PAL vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Touchstone / Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Thanks to Mark Newland for the PAL screen captures!

1) Buena Vista - Region 2/4 - PAL LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Touchstone / Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

 Box Covers

 

 

  

 

 

     

 

  

Coming out on Blu-ray in the UK, by Criterion in October 2018:

 

 

Distribution Touchstone / Buena Vista
Region 2/4 - PAL

Criterion Collection - Spine # 65

Region 1  - NTSC

Touchstone / Buena Vista
Region 1 - NTSC
Criterion - Spine #65
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray
Runtime 1:29:00 (4% PAL speedup) 1:32:42 1:32:42 1:33:01.617
Video

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

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

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.35 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

Average Bitrate: 5.37 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 47,696,560,400 bytes

Feature: 29,020,956,672 bytes

Video Bitrate: 35.04 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate:

Criterion

Bitrate:

 

BunaVista

Bitrate:

 

Blu-ray

Audio English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
DUBS: Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s), French Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
English (Dolby Digital 5.1)

English (Dolby Digital 5.1)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 4276 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4276 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Subtitles English, English for the Hearing Impaired, Danish, Italian, French, Dutch, Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish, French Titling, Italian Titling, none. English, and none English, and none English, and none
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Buena Vista

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterbox - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
None

DVD Release Date: Feb 3rd, 2004
Transparent Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by co-writer/director Wes Anderson, co-writer Owen Wilson and star Jason Schwartzman
• Production notes
• Theatrical trailer(s)
• Wes Anderson's Hand-Drawn Storyboards, Plus a Film-To-Storyboard Comparison
• Cast Audition Footage: Jason Schwartzman, Sara Tanaka, Stephen McCole, Ronnie & Keith McCawley and Mason Gamble
• Featurettes: The Making of Rushmore, an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary by Eric Chase Anderson & The Charlie Rose Show, featuring Wes Anderson and Bill Murray
• Max Fischer Players Present: Theatrical "adaptations" of Armageddon, The Truman Show & Out of Sight, staged especially for the 1999 MTV Movie Awards
Plus!: props, posters, photos & other graphic ephemera, Special Poster Insert (a map of Rushmore's key events)
• Widescreen anamorphic format

DVD Release Date: January 18, 2000
Keep Case

Chapters 24

Release Information:
Studio: Touchstone Video

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterbox - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Theatrical trailer

DVD Release Date: August 1999
Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 47,696,560,400 bytes

Feature: 29,020,956,672 bytes

Video Bitrate: 35.04 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• Commentary by co-writer/director Wes Anderson, co-writer Owen Wilson and star Jason Schwartzman
• Theatrical trailer (2:32)
• Wes Anderson's Hand-Drawn Storyboards, Plus a Film-To-Storyboard Comparison (1:55)
• Cast Audition Footage: Jason Schwartzman, Sara Tanaka, Stephen McCole, Ronnie & Keith McCawley and Mason Gamble (8:40)
• Featurettes: The Making of Rushmore, an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary by Eric Chase Anderson (16:49) & The Charlie Rose Show, featuring Wes Anderson and Bill Murray (54:20)
• Max Fischer Players Present: Theatrical "adaptations" of Armageddon, The Truman Show & Out of Sight, staged especially for the 1999 MTV Movie Awards (4:14)
Archiva Graphica: props, posters, photos & other graphic ephemera...

Blu-ray Release Date: November 22nd, 2011
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 24

 

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: These Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

 

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' Blu-ray (November 11'):  Strangely, what I first noticed while comparing the new Criterion Blu-ray to the previously released DVDs is the extra amount of information on the right edge of the frame (there is also a minor amount removed from the left side.) This is unusual but as the Criterion SD transfer is over a decade old - this appears to be from a new source. There is also a bit more on top and bottom of the Criterion 2.35:1 Blu-ray image. But it is a significant amount on the right edge. Other improvement attributes appear fairly modest - smoother in-motion than the SDs, some depth (see the capture of a peering Margaret Yang played by Sara Tanaka) and detail rises marginally - there is no real noise on the HD visuals - not that it was a prevalent issue on the DVDs. Colors seem to support the previous editions although they may be bolder in the higher resolution and the overall image is certainly brighter. The DVDs were pretty good but the Blu-ray is predictably clearer, sharper and the sense of depth signifies you are watching in hi-def.

 

What may be more notable is the DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 4276 kbps. Wes Anderson's eclectic music really benefits from the lossless rendering with Django Reinhardt to Chad & Jeremy, Cat Stevens + Donovan to The Who and The Rolling Stones. Magnificent audio - and I would say a most important benefit to this Blu-ray transfer. Separations are minimal but the depth and crispness of the songs are appreciated. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

 

Supplements appear to include all from the original Criterion DVD including the summer 1999 recorded commentary by co-writer/director Wes Anderson, co-writer Owen Wilson and star Jason Schwartzman. Also here is The Making of Rushmore, the exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary by Eric Chase Anderson (16:49) & The Charlie Rose Show, featuring Wes Anderson and Bill Murray (54:20) as well as the 'Max Fischer Players Present': Theatrical "adaptations" of Armageddon, The Truman Show & Out of Sight, staged especially for the 1999 MTV Movie Awards. All good.

 

When Blu-ray was first evolving I used to say that I wouldn't be interested in comedies as the jokes don't get any funnier in HD but I wasn't considering Wes Anderson and the energetic score that really brings this viewing up a significant notch. Rushmore is timeless - a film you can watch every year and enjoy as much as the first time you saw it. This is how I feel about Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox - pure entertainment pleasure. Strongly recommended!

***

ADDITION- Buena Vista - Region 2/4 - PAL - January -05 - The PAL edition does look crisp, and it is pretty even all round. The PAL edition seems to have the slightest degree of brightness boosting that has also changed the color balance to a very small degree. It is "remastered" and is very sharp, but has noticeable artifacts. Aliasing is present but again to a very small degree. So I still vote the Criterion for image, but it is a very negligible differences.  I'm guessing most viewers will not care or notice. The best feature of the PAL edition are the subtitles and DUB options, IF you require them. It has no extras. We suggest not scrimping on this fine cinematic offering and get the Criterion. It is a worthy enough to spend the extra $'s.

***

Okay, lets remember that the Criterion screen captures were resized altering the image quality just slightly enough to disguise that they are, in actuality, marginally sharper than the Buena Vistas'. Being anamorphic , this would especially be true if you were viewing on a widescreen television or front projection system. The Buena Vista DVD is slightly cropped on the top and left edge and shows even less cropping by the Criterion on the bottom and right edge - this is all quite negligible. Colors seem accurate with Criterion's red's showing a richer hue and their blues slightly muted next to the Buena Vista's. Extras, of course, go Criterions way as do the menus. Both offer a very full 5.1 audio track. I give our endorsement to the Criterion, but for a non-anamorphic DVD the Buena Vista looks very good - probably only worth upgrading if you have a supporting viewing system or are fans who want the bountiful Criterion extras. Great film and no large complaints of either disc. Nice to see.

 - Gary W. Tooze


Menus

(Buena Vista - Region 2/4 - PAL LEFT vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Touchstone / Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)


 

 

Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 


 

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

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Buena Vista - Region 2/4 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Touchstone / Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) Buena Vista - Region 2/4 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Touchstone / Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Buena Vista - Region 2/4 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Touchstone / Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) Buena Vista - Region 2/4 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Touchstone / Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Buena Vista - Region 2/4 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Touchstone / Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) Buena Vista - Region 2/4 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Touchstone / Buena Vista - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 

 

 


 Hit Counter


Report Card:

 

Image:

Criterion Blu-ray

Sound:

Criterion Blu-ray

Extras:

Criterion /  Blu-ray

 

 Box Covers

 

 

  

 

 

     

 

  

Coming out on Blu-ray in the UK, by Criterion in October 2018:

 

 

Distribution Touchstone / Buena Vista
Region 2/4 - PAL

Criterion Collection - Spine # 65

Region 1  - NTSC

Touchstone / Buena Vista
Region 1 - NTSC
Criterion - Spine #65
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gary Tooze

Many Thanks...