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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

directed by Brian De Palma
USA 1983

 

A beautiful, at times poetic exercise in excess from Brian De Palma. Based on the classic 1932 gangster film of the same name, the screenplay (written by Oliver Stone) follows the plot of its source almost to the letter.


Two-bit Cuban hood Tony Montana (Pacino) lies his way into the US, where he and his friend Manny (Stephen Bauer) soon enter the world of crime. They murder a political figure for drug dealer Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia) to get their green cards and are soon on his payroll. Tony's elimination of rival Colombian drug dealers gives him a more prominent role in the organization. His duties include serving as chauffeur to Lopez's beautiful but cocaine-addicted wife, Elvira (Michelle Pfeiffer). Tony's other female obsession is his sister Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). Tony's feelings for his sister are a bit on the incestuous side, and he dominates the girl, refusing to let her date. After a bad business deal and an argument over Elvira, Lopez attempts to have Tony killed. After killing the assassins, Tony murders Lopez, marries Elvira, and becomes the most powerful drug lord in Florida. The problems really begin to multiply then: Manny secretly dates Gina (though warned not to), Elvira has become increasingly zombie-like, and Tony's money is not earning the interest it should be. Moreover, he also has become a selfish, paranoid drug addict.

Jammed with action sequences and unbearably tense moments, the film depicts the seediest aspects of the American underworld. Stone's screenplay twists gangster movie conventions, and De Palma demonstrates an unusual understanding of the genre.

Excerpt from TV Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 9, 1983 - USA

Reviews         More Reviews        DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Universal - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal Anniversary Edition Gift Set - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (Steelbook) - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Ole Kofoed of DVD-Basen for all the DVD Screen Captures!

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Universal - Region 1 Anniversary Edition Gift Set - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

Box Covers

 

 

  

  

  

Distribution

Universal

Region 1  - NTSC

Universal
Region 1 - NTSC
Universal
Region FREE -
Blu-ray
Runtime 2:49:53 2:49:47 2:50:00.148
Video

2.31:1 Aspect Ratio

Bitrate: 4.48 mb/s


NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

Bitrate: 6.14 mb/s

16X9 enhanced
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,460,358,493 bytes

Feature: 39,449,683,968 bytes

Codec: VC-1 Video

Total Video Bitrate: 19.19 Mbps

Bitrate: Old
Bitrate: Anniversary Edition
Bitrate:  Blu-ray
Audio English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 Kbps)

English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 Kbps), DTS 5.1 (768 Kbps), Spanish and French DD 2.0 mono.

DTS-HD Master Audio English 5682 kbps 7.1 / 48 kHz / 5682 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS Audio English 768 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio French 768 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Spanish 768 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Express English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English, Spanish, French, English Closed Captions or none. English (Closed Captions), French, Spanish or none. English (Closed Captions), French, Spanish or none.
Features Release Information:
Studio: Universal

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen Letterboxed - 2.31:1

Edition Details:

  • The Making of Scarface (52:26).
  • Outtakes (17:03).
  • Production notes (14 pages of text).
  • Biografies & filmografies of cast and director.
  • 2 Trailers.


DVD Release Date: March 31, 1998
Keep Case

Chapters 35

Release Information:
Studio: Universal

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:

  • Scarface - The Rebirth (Total 10:09).
  • Scarface - Acting (15:04).
  • Scarface - Creating (29:34).
  • The TV version (2:48).
  • Deleted scenes (22:29).
  • Def Jam Presents: Origins of a Hip-Hop Classic (20:32).
  • Biografies & filmografies of cast and filmmakers.
  • Scarface 1932 original version (Only in the Gift Set).
  • 8 Lobbycards (Only in the Gift Set).
  • Money clip (Only in the Gift Set).

DVD Release Date: September 30th, 2003
Keep Case in Collector's Box

Chapters 35

Release Information:
Studio: Universal

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,460,358,493 bytes

Feature: 39,449,683,968 bytes

Codec: VC-1 Video

Total Video Bitrate: 19.19 Mbps

Edition Details:

• 10 collectible art cards
• Bonus DVD disc of the original 1932 Scarface
• Digital Copy of Scarface (1983) (expires 9/30/2012)
• U-Control: Scarface Scoreboard
• U-Control: Picture in Picture
• The Scarface Phenomenon (38:34 in 1080P)
The World of Tony Montana (11:38 in 1080P)
Deleted Scenes (22:29 in 480i)
The Rebirth (10:08)
The Acting (15:05 in 480i)
The Creating (29:35 in 480i)
The Making of Scarface: The Video Game (12:05)
Scarface: The TV Version (2:48 in 480i)
BD-Live
My Scene
Pocket BLU
U-Hear
D-BOX

 

Blu-ray Release Date: September 6th, 2011
Steel Blu-ray case inside cardboard slipcase

Chapters 35

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - August 11': Trying to squeeze this, close to, 3-hour film on SD seemed quite the challenge and while the new VC-1 1080P rendering from Universal is an obvious improvement - capitalizing in the extra file space - it still has some deficiencies. The black levels seem a bit boosted and there is evidence of edge-enhancement halos, BUT, let me tell you - this may only effect those who are sensitive to it. Perusing the static screen grabs without zooming in and this image is a step up from the SD treatments. Colors and detail are superior, there is some depth and the visuals smack of a definite superiority in some key areas.

Audio might be considered a more devastating improvement with a very dynamic DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 at a robust 5682 kbps. Like many De Palma's films the score is an integral part of the experience with Giorgio Moroder's efforts given a breath of life under the lossless transfer. I couldn't say if separation was a buoyancy hallmark but depth comes through with notable aggression.

Supplements through even more beyond the old extras with art cards, more new featurettes (ex. The Scarface Phenomenon, The World of Tony Montana etc.), U-Control features that run with the film, BD-Live, the previous DVD of the original Hawks version (as found in the 2003 Anniversary package), and a Digital Copy of the 83' version all wrapped up in Limited Edition Steel case box.

Despite the niggling manipulation - this should be more than enough to entice the large segment of fans for De Palma's opus - probably his best film - filled with memorable scenes and dialogue.  

***

ON THE DVDs: Well, none knows what Universal were thinking of with their first release of Scarface. For DVD fans, it was more than a disappointing joke.  With the release of their recent ostentatious Anniversary Boxset - we see how truly bad the old version was.... The big plus for many was the inclusion of the Howard Hawks original from 1932. Okay, the old 83' transfer is washed out, hazy, dull and any number of other strong adjectives to describe an incredibly sloppy DVD transfer. This was at the level of a Madacy or Front Row Entertainment. But probably having sold 50,000 or more of the initial version, they decided to make even more loot from their new Boxset. It is stacked with the most over-the-top packaging I've ever seen. Silly really. But we now have the Pacino film as well as the original, but better get out your pocketbooks. Universal is really quite shameful. There is no competition on which is the superior DVD version here.

 - Gary Tooze.

 


DVD Menus

(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Universal Anniversary Edition Gift Set - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)


 
 

 

Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 


 

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

 

Screen Captures

 

 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 1 Anniversary Edition Gift Set - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM


 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 1 Anniversary Edition Gift Set - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 1 Anniversary Edition Gift Set - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 1 Anniversary Edition Gift Set - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 1 Anniversary Edition Gift Set - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 

Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray

Extras: Blu-ray

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Region 1 - NTSC
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Region FREE -
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Gary Tooze

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