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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.
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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 - MIDDLE3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT
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Box Covers |
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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 |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,460,358,493 bytesFeature: 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:
Chapters
35 |
Release
Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio: Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: September 30th, 2003 Chapters 35 |
Release
Information: Studio: Universal
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,460,358,493 bytesFeature: 39,449,683,968 bytes Codec: VC-1 Video Total Video Bitrate: 19.19 Mbps Edition Details:
• 10 collectible art cards • 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 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. |
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 - MIDDLE3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 Anniversary Edition Gift Set - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 Anniversary Edition Gift Set - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 Anniversary Edition Gift Set - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal - Region 1 Anniversary Edition Gift Set - NTSC - MIDDLE3) 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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