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

ADDITION: Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray: March 2011: Firstly, this Criterion Blu-ray is described as a "Director-approved digital transfer, from the UCLA Film and Television Archive restoration" and although The Times of Harvey Milk is filled with imperfect vintage news clips of inferior quality is a wonderful example of the difference between SD vs. HD quality. The Blu-ray image has thick, textured grain and colors are rich and full unlike the flatter, and boosted, DVD appearance. It is a pretty dramatic difference visually.

The audio is in a DTS-HD Master and while there are no effects or aggression - the narration and dialogue from older clips seems much more discernable than the older DVD. As well, Criterion have included optional subtitles to aid in this. As with all Criterion Blu-rays to date - this is region 'A'-locked.

The same audio commentary from the New Yorker DVD is available - featuring director Robert Epstein, coeditor Deborah Hoffmann, and photographer Daniel Nicoletta discussing Milk and the film process. It is quite good. There are some interview clips not used in the film including a 3-minute 'Postscript' that was eventually removed from the final version. Harry Britt was appointed to succeed Harvey Milk as Supervisor. He was a human rights activist, like Milk, and was in his position for 5 more years. We get a 10-minute excerpt of a speech Britt delivered in 2003 for an event marking the 25th Anniversary of Milk's assassination. Included are news clips and a Panel Discussion on Dan White who served 5 years in prison (2 years later, in October 1985, he committed suicide) - participants in the discussion clips of his trial include his two attorneys and the deputy district attorney recorded at the University of San Francisco. We see an 8 minute video piece on the film’s Castro Theatre premiere and the 1984 Academy Awards - where it won best documentary. The largest extra are, 1 hour 20-minutes worth of, excerpts from Epstein’s research tapes, featuring Milk partner Scott Smith that also include 6 people's interviews not included in the film and 5 of Milk's colleagues representing a range of gay life and social politics in San Francisco. There are also some audio and video recordings on events that shaped his political activism. There are 23-minutes of excerpts from the twenty-fifth anniversary commemoration of Milk’s and Mayor George Moscone’s assassinations, a 7.5 minute Candlelit Memorial, theatrical trailer and a new 23-minute program about The Times of Harvey Milk and Gus Van Sant’s Milk, featuring Epstein, Van Sant, actor James Franco, and Milk friends Cleve Jones, Anne Kronenberg, and Nicoletta. lastly is a 30-page liner notes booklet featuring an essay by film critic B. Ruby Rich, a tribute by Milk’s nephew Stuart Milk, and a piece on the film’s restoration by UCLA’s Ross Lipman included in the transparent keep case.

Simply put this is a great documentary - one of the best I've ever seen and Criterion have added value to their package with the vastly improved a/v transfer, added subtitles and plethora of supplements. We very strongly recommend!

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