Highlight Video (Premium Edition) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Columbia Tri-Star - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Momentum Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray

2) Columbia Tri-Star - Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE

3) Momentum Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

Highlight Video

Region 2 - PAL

Region 1 - NTSC

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.37 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

Dual-layered Blu-ray VC-1

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

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - Original aspect ratio 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• See Comments*

DVD Release Date: March 17, 2005
Cardboard Digipack

Chapters 36

Chapters 28

Chapters 35

NOTE: I can confirm that the Momentum (UK) Blu-ray is region free and will play on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

ADDITION: Momentum (UK) - Region FREE Blu-ray (January 2009): the captures support an improvement in the image quality for the Blu-ray - more in terms of the film's textures than extravagantly in detail - although the Momentum 1080P visuals are tighter with better color gradation - most notable in skin tones and uniforms. I expect the dual-layered Blu-ray disc (taking up over 41GIg of space) is probably as digitally faithful as we are going to get to a theatrical experience for now.  Certain scenes, usually the darker segments and close-ups, tend to bring out the good film grain although the entire of Downfall on Blu-ray supports substantial grain. Brighter sequences bring up detail to modern-film expectations (see bonus captures at the very bottom.) The Blu-ray has a modest bitrate in the mid-twenties quadrupling the German Premium edition. Although not as evident in the screen captures I found the film experience far more impacting in high-definition. It was such a pleasure seeing Downfall again - and having it look this 'real'.

The audio is a standard 5.1 and no superiority was audible over the Colombia DVD. I don't own the Premium edition myself so can't comment on that version's DTS track. Like the US DVD this Blu-ray has burned-in English subtitles - looking to be the same font and translation as the Columbia DVD.

I think it is fabulous to include the supplements from the Premium - but now they are available with English subtitles. It is in this area that the Blu-ray shows even more dominance over both DVD editions. Notably the hour-long Making of... has strong value for further appreciation of the film. There amounts to over 2.5 hours of accessible supplements - NOTE: I expected these to be in the PAL format but all extras played on my North American Blu-ray player without encumbrances. None appear to be in HD.

Not much more to say - tremendous film and tour-de-force Ganz performance, looking true-to-form and supplying a host of viable extras - all on one disc. This is the way to go - even worth a double-dip for the improved image and extensive featurettes and interviews. This Blu-ray is strongly recommended!   

ADDITION: Columbia Tri-star - Region 1 DVD (Aug 2005):

The Columbia image is marginally less sharp than the PAL edition. The Columbia has non-removable subtitles but the extras (a few less interviews etc. than the Highlight Video) are subtitled where in the Highlight Video they are not. We can't see the image discrepancy as being overwhelming and the English subbed extras make this NTSC version the most viable for some purchasers. It is quite an odd choice for Columbia to have the subs be non-removable, however if this is an issue and you understand German then you may want the PAL edition instead.

*****



 

Highlight Premium DVD Release:

The Image
In all aspects a stunning DVD presentation. Image is despite the films running length and the DTS track basically flawless. I've not been able to spot any compression artifacts. There are two points to note about the film and the image: It is dark, but this is how the film looks, and one could have wished for more sharpness, but again, this is also how it looked at the cinema.

The image of the Premium Edition is marginally softer than the Standard Edition, due to a more compressed image, because of the additional 5.1 Dolby Digital Voice Over track. However it is only notable when making a still and zooming in. When playing, no difference is visible.

The Sound
Sound is 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS. Both are extremely dynamic, using all channels to their limits. The DTS is superior to the 5.1 Dolby Digital, being slightly more precise. This is one of the best DTS tracks I've heard in a long time. During the combat sequences, the rears and the sub really come to live.

Additional on the Premium Edition is a 5.1 Dolby Digital Voice Over track (Hörfilmfassung), which enables people with bad sight or blindness to "watch" the film. A very welcomed feature.

The Extras
The Standard Edition has a short "Making of" (10 minutes) and a few interviews excerts (4 minutes).

The Premium edition comes fully packed with over 2½ hours of extras.

Premium Edition extras
Hitlers letzten Tage - Making of (58:33)
Melissa Müller on Traudl Junge (8:21)
Production featurettes with audio commentary (48:02):
- Shooting in Russia (17:59)
- Behind the Scenes (30:03)
Interviews (46:11):
- Bruno Ganz (6:18)
- Alexandra Maria Lara (1:42)
- Corinna Harfouch (4:31)
- Ulrich Matthes (1:52)
- Juliane Köhler (2:27)
- Heino Ferch (2:34)
- Ulrich Noethen (1:49)
- Thomas, Kretschmann (1:13)
- Thomas Thieme (1:55)
- Bernd Eichinger (4:19)
- Joachim Fest (13:27)
- Oliver Hirschbiegel (4:04)
Virtual tour of Der Führerbunker
The historical figures and their actors
Biographies of Bernd Eichinger, Joachim Fest, Oliver Hirschbiegel
8-page booklet

Notes
The Premium DVD Edition comes with English subtitles for film only. Only German subtitles on Extras.

Especially for Scandinavian readers, Sandrew Metronome is currently preparing the Scandinavian DVD, to be released late August / early September, which will be 100% identical with the Premium Edition, except for no German Voice Over and with Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish subtitles.

NOTE: Currently a three hour version of “Der Untergang” is being prepared. While not date is set yet, it will most likely be aired on German television around Christmas in two parts of each 90 minute . Highlight DVD will then later in 2006 release this three hour version on DVD.
 

 - Henrik Sylow