"Great Expectations" 20th Century Fox Region 1 NTSC vs Fox Video Region 4 NTSC

directed by Alfonso Cuarón
USA 1998

"...extremely gifted young Mexican director named Alfonso Cuarón took the task of contemporizing the Great Expectations novel-to-film. The beloved story is that of a humble orphan who suddenly becomes a celebrated gentleman with the help of an unrecognized benefactor. He adapted the story into a modern film with modern motifs and values. It would be outside the realm of expectations to suspect that this would receive anything but failed reviews from critics comparing it to the highly regarded Lean classic of half a century before. I can't understand why a positive response for this updated version could somehow tarnish the status of the 46' film. The result is an unjust mistreatment of a marvelous and rewarding film. Cuarón's next project, Y tu mamá también, would belatedly catapult him to the recognizable status that he so richly deserved with his version of Great Expectations in 1998.

Excerpt taken from Gary Tooze's article entitled "Expecting Greatness" found HERE

The Region 4 is on the TOP 100 List of DVDs.

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Theatrical Release: January 30th, 1998 - Canada

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DVD Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Fox Video (Brazil) - Region 4 - NTSC

(20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Fox Video - Region 4 (Brazil) - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	20th Century Fox Region 1 - NTSC	Fox Home Video Region 4 - NTSC
Runtime	1:51:08	1:51:08
Video	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.25 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.11 NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: 20th Century Fox
Bitrate: Fox Home Video
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), DUB: Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), DUB: Portuguese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
Subtitles	English, Spanish and none	English, Spanish, Portuguese and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterbox - 2.35:1 Discographic Information: Layers: Single (DVD5) Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer DVD Release Date: May 21, 2002 Keep Case Chapters 22 (named)	Release Information: Studio: Fox Home Video (Brazil) Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Discographic Information: Layers: Dual (DVD9) Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer DVD Release Date: June 5th, 2002 Keep Case Chapters 22 (numbered only)

Comments:

This is quite interesting. Region 4- Brazil has been producing some anamorphic Hollywood titles that are not available in 16X9 in Region 1! This is an example. I was expecting the worst with simple porting from their PAL counterparts, but check the times - they are accurate! The image quality for this comparison is not the most accurate as the Brazil DVD native resolution is so much larger that it loses some sharpness in the conversion down to meet the Region 1's graphic size. So I don't need to tell you that the anamorphic DVD from Brazil will give a much superior image when shown through a widescreen TV or projection system. Now the image quality seems quite similar to the single layered Region 1 disc, but the Region 1 is slightly cropped on all edges. In close examination one of these versions have compressed the aspect ratio ever so slightly. I suspect it is the Brazil DVD to anamorphisize it. Both being from Fox the Extras are the same (just a trailer). Bottom line: If you require anamorphic (and it will make a difference in your playback) go for Region 4 - Brazil (no PAL speedup either!)

- Gary W. Tooze

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(20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Fox Video - Region 4 (Brazil) - NTSC - RIGHT)

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