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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Martin Scorsese 
U.S. 1988

The Last Temptation of Christ, by Martin Scorsese, is a towering achievement. Though it initially engendered enormous controversy, the film can now be viewed as the remarkable, profoundly personal work of faith that it is. This fifteen-year labor of love, an adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis’s landmark novel that imagines an alternate fate for Jesus Christ, features outstanding performances by Willem Dafoe, Barbara Hershey, Harvey Keitel, Harry Dean Stanton, and David Bowie; bold cinematography by the great Michael Ballhaus; and a transcendent score by Peter Gabriel.

Poster

Theatrical Release Date: August 12, 1988

Reviews                                                                         More Reviews                                                              DVD Reviews

 

 Comparison:

Criterion Region 1 - NTSC - vs. Columbia Tri-Star (Australia) Region 2/4 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Ole of DVDBasen for the PAL DVD Screen Caps!

1) Criterion Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Columbia Tri-Star (Australia) Region 2/4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

 Box Covers

   

 

Coming out by Criterion on Blu-ray in the UK in April 2019:

Distribution

Criterion Collection ( spine # 70 )

Region 1 - NTSC

Columbia Tri-Star (Australia)
Region 2/4 - PAL

Criterion Collection ( spine # 70 )

Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Runtime 2:43:25  2:36:29 (PAL 4% Speedup) 2:43:39.392
Video

Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1
Average Bitrate: 5.26 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1
Average Bitrate: 6.47
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P / Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,263,385,913 bytes

Feature: 44,359,649,280 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.63 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

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

Bitrate:

Criterion Region 1

 

Bitrate:

Columbia Tri-Star Region 2

Bitrate:

Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 5.1),

English (Dolby Digital 5.1) , Dubs in German, Italian, French and Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 4436 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4436 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English, None English, French, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, German, Dutch, Czech, Polish, Turkish, Hungarian and Bulgarian and none. English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Criterion Collection

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

  

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: Region 1
Layers: Dual

Edition Details:
• Region 1 encoding (US and Canada only)
• Commentary by director Martin Scorsese, star Willem Dafoe, screenwriter Paul Schrader and film critic Jay Cocks
• An extensive collection of research materials, production stills and costume designs
• Location production footage shot by Scorsese himself
• Video interview with composer Peter Gabriel, plus! a stills gallery of the instruments used in the films

 

DVD Release Date: April 25, 2000
Keep Case

Chapters 30

Release Information:
Studio: Columbia Tri-Star (Australia)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.83:1

  

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: Region 2 / 4
Layers: Dual

Edition Details:
• Theatrical Trailer (1.33:1, Dolby Digital 2.0) (1:38)

• Region 2/4 encoding (Japan, Europe, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean)


DVD Release Date: January 9th, 2001
Keep Case

Chapters 29

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion Collection

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

1080P / Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,263,385,913 bytes

Feature: 44,359,649,280 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.63 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• Commentary by director Martin Scorsese, star Willem Dafoe, screenwriter Paul Schrader and film critic Jay Cocks
• An extensive collection of research materials, production stills and costume designs
• Location production footage shot by Scorsese himself
• Video interview with composer Peter Gabriel, plus! a stills gallery of the instruments used in the films

• PLUS: An essay by film critic David Ehrenstein

 

Blu-ray Release Date: March 12th, 2012
Transparent
Blu-ray Case

Chapters 29

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' Blu-ray - February 2012: Firstly, as we received a couple of emails lately questioning our capture method I thought I would address it here. Our Blu-ray capture method has not changed in almost 3 years. We compared three ways of obtaining stills and have stuck with, what we thoroughly tested, as being the best or most accurate. This would cover our last 1400+ Blu-ray reviews and comparisons. To satisfy further - we have taken two of the stills and added a second method - from a totally different system. So on captures #2 and 4 I matched the same frame of the Criterion Blu-ray using VLC (a popular capture software). NOTE: The first Blu-ray capture was converted at 96% jpeg and the VLC at 97%. Visible differences from lossless PNG files are virtually indistinguishable as noted HERE. Now, there are differences using VLC - mostly in color timing - but it neither adds or detracts from sharpness of our consistently used method.

The Criterion is stated as 'Restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by cinematographer Michael Ballhaus and editor Thelma Schoonmaker, with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack by supervising sound editor Skip Lievsay'. The Blu-ray advances beyond the SD-DVD in most visuals areas though contrast levels don't appear as prominent as we might have anticipated. We can only assume that this is more closely in-line with the theatrical intent. Perhaps this is in keeping with the dusty geography and period (shot in Morocco). I think it definitely looks more film-like, especially in-motion. There isn't a preponderance of depth - but some exists. 

Peter Gabriel's score via a DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at 4436 kbps is magnificent. This should be noticeable by any who are familiar with the film. The impacting music is clear and very crisp with powerful bass and high-end. There is some separation in the Surround but, aside from a few notable scenes, is not a huge part of the presentation. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'A'-locked disc.

Supplements duplicate the 200 Criterion DVD with the excellent commentary by director Martin Scorsese, star Willem Dafoe, screenwriter Paul Schrader and film critic Jay Cocks. There is an extensive collection of research materials, production stills and costume designs, location production footage shot by Scorsese himself and a video interview with composer Peter Gabriel and an essay by film critic David Ehrenstein.

I love The Last Temptation of Christ and the 1080P and uncompressed audio presentation made this even more engaging. I'm thrilled to have this is Blu-ray format and it is certainly a film that encourages repeat viewing - a masterpiece. Strong recommendation.

Gary W. Tooze


Menus

(Criterion Region 1 Left vs. Columbia Region 2/4 - Right)

 

Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Criterion Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star (Australia) Region 2/4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM


 

1) Criterion Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star (Australia) Region 2/4 - PAL - SECOND

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - VLC produced Blu-ray capture - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Criterion Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star (Australia) Region 2/4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Criterion Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star (Australia) Region 2/4 - PAL - SECOND

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - VLC produced Blu-ray capture - BOTTOM

 


1) Criterion Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star (Australia) Region 2/4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Criterion Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star (Australia) Region 2/4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures


Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray

Extras: Criterion / Blu-ray

 

 Box Covers

   

 

Coming out by Criterion on Blu-ray in the UK in April 2019:

Distribution

Criterion Collection ( spine # 70 )

Region 1 - NTSC

Columbia Tri-Star (Australia)
Region 2/4 - PAL

Criterion Collection ( spine # 70 )

Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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Gary Tooze

Many Thanks...