' Sid and Nancy ' Criterion vs. MGM vs. Momentum

Directed by Alex Cox

U.S.A. 1986

'A lacerating love story, Sid & Nancy chronicles the brief, intense attachment of two of punk’s most notorious poster children, Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. Director Alex Cox balances a bleak evocation of star-crossed love with surreal humor and genuine tenderness, creating a compelling portrait of the late ’70s punk scene. With brilliant performances by Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb, the film’s haunting imagery and black comedy resonate long after the final frames.'

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DVD Comparison:

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Momentum - Region 2 - PAL

Screen Caps courtesy of Enrique B Chamorro. Thanks Enrique!

(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT -. MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE -. Momentum Picture Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Criterion Collection Spine # 20 Region 0 - NTSC	MGM Region 1 - NTSC	Momentum Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:53:17	1:53:12	1:48:08 (4% PAL Speedup)
Video	1.75:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.72 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate:4.63 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.20 PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
Bitrate: Criterion	NOT AVAILABLE
Bitrate: MGM NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Momentum
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0) + others
Subtitles	None	Spanish, French, None	English, (removable) + others
Features	Release Information: Studio: Home Vision Entertainment Theatrical Release Date: November 7, 1986 Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterbox - 1.75:1 Edition Details: • Color, Widescreen • Commentary by writer 'Abbe Wool', actors Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb, cultural historian Greil Marcus, filmmakers Julien Temple and Lech Kowalski, and musician \ Elliot Kidd • "England's Glory", a documentary about the making of "Sid & Nancy" • The infamous 1976 Bill Grundy interview with the "Sex Pistols" • A rare telephone interview with Sid Vicious • Interviews with Sid and Nancy from "D.O.A.: A Right of Passage" • Insert - 6 pages including article by Jon Savage DVD Release Date: October 20, 1998 Keep Case Chapters 25	Release Information: Studio: MGM/UA Video Theatrical Release Date: November 7, 1986 Aspect Ratio(s): Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen • Theatrical trailer • Full-screen and widescreen anamorphic formats DVD Release Date: December 19, 2000 Keep Case Chapters 32	Release Information: Studio: Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment Theatrical Release Date: November 7, 1986 Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Alex Cox Interview (10:00) •A 64-page limited edition book accompanies this disc (may not be available in later editions) • Commentary - Alex Cox and Andrew Scofield (who played Johnny Rotten) DVD Release Date: Feb 26th, 2001 Keep case Chapter stops: 18
Comments:	A quick bottom line says the Criterion is easily the best version. The contrast in it is much better than the other two versions which are anamorphic. The Momentum Region 2 PAL version has boosted the contrast level ridiculously (look at the fire in the bedroom captures). The trouble with the MGM version is they have adjusted the color. The Thames river is not blue... but green with filth. You can see this plainly in the R2 and Criterion versions. There is evidence that the MGM Region 1 version has also boosted its contrast levels. I truly don't understand what the DVD production idea behind doing those adjustments is. As opposed to making it look better, in my eye, it looks less real... plastic, artificial. As the Criterion came out so much earlier than the other two it is surprising that they are so much better. The Criterion extras outshine both others (none for MGM) and the messed-up R2 has a commentary and interview. The Criterion has no sub-titles and only the original English 2.0 audio but don't sell your Criterion! - Gary W. Tooze NOTE: The Criterion extras have public domain music in the background as opposed to 'The Sex Pistols' recordings for copyright reasons. NOTE: The Momentum Commentary track is a lot of fun and should be considered for purchase by real fans of the film.