Miramax

Region 1  - NTSC

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.39 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Average Bitrate: 20.11 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3053 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3053 kbps / 24-bit
(DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Theatrical trailer

DVD Release Date: April 2nd, 2001
Keep Case

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: Alliance (Universal)

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

Edition Details:

• None

Blu-ray Release Date: March 3rd, 2009
Standard Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 28

Comments

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

ADDITION: Alliance Blu-ray - February 09': Okay, this is another Canadian Alliance bare-bones single-layered Blu-ray. MiraMax have already scheduled their US BR on April 14th, 2009 HERE. With present conversion the Alliance is listed at $17.95 CAD = $14.11 US where the upcoming MiraMax will be $25.95 US - over $11 difference. I don't know positively, but expect the MiraMax will port over the existing extras from the CE DVD. Bottom line here is that it's nice to have the option.

This 10-year old film has never looked pristine - perhaps with an intentional rougher look to support the seedy dive locales of Rounders. There are light speckles visible - even on the Blu-ray. It improves in the usual areas - detail and better depth but I don't think this is every going to look dynamically sharp. The Blu-ray is the best digital representation so far and I don't know that dual-layering with superior compression will do a heck of a lot more. Skin tones are typically warmer. I don't see manipulation in the Alliance and it is most-likely reasonably faithful to the theatrical. I'll probably compare this MPEG-4 AVC rendering with the hi-def MiraMax but I don't expect a miraculous turn-around of visual improvement.

Audio offers a bump to DTS-HD Master but the film soundtrack doesn't have an immense amount of aggression of moments or separation. It is mostly dialogue and the sound of poker chips. Even Christopher Young's score is passive but suits the film well. This won't give your Surround system excessive work. There are no subtitles offered on the Alliance.

There are no extras at all and the price reflects that. It's decent to have the choice IF the supplements will be repeated from the CE DVD (and you already own them - or don't care to indulge). As I said the image may be improved but it wouldn't surprise me if it was very similar. I like this film and enjoyed my viewing. Norton and Damon make a decent combination here with support from Malkovich and Turturro. I'm content to own the Canadian edition at this point.

***

ON THE DVDs: The newer Collector's Edition will show its image superiority most prominently on a widescreen or projection system. Its apparent softer appearance is essentially because of decreasing the image to suit the web format. The original release was not particularly poor, it just was not anamorphic and often its sharpness masqueraded as digital noise and it could look a bit dirty at times. Colors seem duplicated on both and there is no cropping to speak of. Both releases are tight to the frame maximizing horizontal resolution and both are a perfect 2.35 aspect ratio. The extras are vastly superior on the new edition although not totally free of filler-style unimportance (with the game and 5 second tips etc.). The new CE offers a French audio DUB and more subtitle options although I prefer the white font of the old release.

Frankly it's nice to see an 'updated' release that improves in every area, especially image and extras.

 - Gary Tooze