ADDITION: Palm Pictures - Region 1- NTSC - July 06' - It is nice to have a competent DVD production outfit represent this film in the manner it deserves. The new Palm Pictures release is progressive and in the correct theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35. It sports optional audio in 2.0 or 5.1 track. It has the same interviews as the EDKO. The subtitle font (optional) is quite large and intrusive on the Palm edition.

Looking closely I *think* the Edko release is slightly sharper but it remains non-progressive. The EDKO is brighter and has more artefacts. The Palm Pictures has the, largely untested, 5.1 track. The Palm Pictures release has done the film justice with a progressive transfer. Tube owners may wish to purchase the EDKO at half the price of the Palm Pictures release, but may eventually wish to upgrade to the Palm when they advance their systems (and they will!). The Palm Pictures is the definitive digital release of the film to date - fans of the film shouldn't consider any other release.

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ADDITION: Edko - Region 3- NTSC - March 06' - well we are getting a lot closer. The very reasonably priced Edko (about half the price of the TVA) edition IS in the correct aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and you can see how much information is missing from the other two releases.

It is still not transferred in HD but will look quite acceptable for tube viewing - in fact it may be the sharpest of the three. A big bonus are all the extras - separate interviews with Maggie Cheung (13:49) Nick Nolte interview (6:59), and Olivier Assayas (20:14) - all in English! English subtitles are optional and displayed only when non-English dialogue is spoken. Overall for the price it is the best option - who knows when it will be transferred in HD and in original aspect ratio. We recommend!

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ADDITION: TVA - NTSC - March 06': ...and so it gets worse. Not only is the film still not in its original aspect ratio - it has not been transferred in HD and the image is filled with 'combing' in horizontal pans (see last capture below). Tack onto this subtitles are only when the chosen dialogue is not spoken AND there are no extras. The TVA release is a total DUD and I'm out $25.00 CAN. Thanks TVA. Our recommendation is to hold off or buy the French release HERE is you don't mind a little un-translated Cantonese and French. Patience grasshopper - I'm sure a decent release will be out soon - if it isn't already (can someone tell me?)

NOTE: There is an EDKO HK Region 3 edition HERE that may be our best bet. One site claims it has English subs but YesAsia says only Chinese. It is 2.35. I will get it in a week and confirm one way or another.

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NOTE: FLAW - The aspect ratio has been confirmed and the film should be in 2.35, so this image has been substantially altered. How foolish to make a stellar DVD and miss this key point. Disappointing.

Regardless still not the theatrical AR.

Picture quality is progressive and excellent as is the package, the audio options and the extras. Tight anamorphic 1.78 precisely filling the frame, muted colors and good contrast. This looks like a film not a DVD. All interviews I have listed to are in English (audio) with Korean subtitle option. Subtitles on the feature are excellent and the packaging reminds me of the Carlton "The Red Shoes" - in other words - best I have ever seen. If there is a flaw, it can look soft at times - a function of the shooting, not the DVD.

NOTE: (Thanks Jason!) Just looked at your review for the DVD of Clean, and wanted to point out what appears to be a major flaw in the DVD. I saw this in NYC last month, with Assayas present, and the film is supposed to have an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, not 1.78:1. If the DVD is in 1.78 (which it appears to be), this is not a good thing.
 

Gary W. Tooze