"Solaris" - Krupnyi plan (Russia) - Region 0 - Andrei Tarkovsky Solaris DVD Review comparison Andrei Tarkovsky Solaris DVD Review comparison Andrei Tarkovsky Solaris DVD Review comparison Andrei Tarkovsky Solaris DVD Review

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(aka 'Солярис' or 'Solyaris' or 'Solaris')

USSR 1972

Ground control has been receiving strange transmissions from the three remaining residents of the Solaris space station. When cosmonaut and psychologist Kris Kelvin is sent to investigate, he experiences the strange phenomena that afflict the Solaris crew, sending him on a voyage into the darkest recesses of his own consciousness. In Solaris, legendary Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky creates a brilliantly original science fiction epic that challenges our preconceived notions of love, truth, and humanity itself.

Poster and Book Cover

Theatrical Release Date: March 20th , 1972

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DVD Comparison:

MK2 (France) - Region 0 - PAL vs. RusCiCo Region 0 - NTSC vs. Artificial Eye Region 0 - PAL vs. Criterion Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Ole of DVDBasen and Pavel Borodin for the Screen Caps!

DVD Box Cover Click logo to order from:
Distribution	MK2 (Russia) Region 0 - PAL	RuCiCo Region 0 - NTSC ( North America )	Artificial Eye - Region Free - PAL	Criterion Collection, spine #164
Runtime	2:39:40 (4% PAL speedup)	Total of part 1 + part 2 of film: 2:39:27 minutes	Total of part 1 + part 2 of film: 2:39:36 minutes	2:46:35
Video	Aspect ratio: 1.95:1 Anamorphic Average Bitrate: 5.38 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	Aspect ratio: 2.20:1 Anamorphic Average Bitrate: 8.14 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	Aspect ratio: 2.20:1 Anamorphic Average Bitrate: 8.14 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	Aspect ratio: 2.30:1 Anamorphic Average Bitrate: 5.53 mb/s ( interviews disc 6.98 mb/s ) NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: MK2 Disc 1
Bitrate: MK2 Disc 2
Bitrate: "Solaris" RusCiCo Disc#1
Bitrate: "Solaris" RusCiCo Disc#2
"Solaris" Artificial Eye Disc#1
"Solaris" Artificial Eye Disc#2
Bitrate: "Solaris" Criterion Disc#1
Bitrate: "Solaris" Criterion Disc#2 Interviews disc

Kurpnyi Plan - LEFT RusCiCo and Artificial Eye - MIDDLE Criterion - RIGHT

Audio	Russian, Dubs in English and French. All in (Dolby Digital 5.1)	Russian (Dolby Digital 1.0)
Subtitles	Russian, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese ( You cannot choose 'NONE' )	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: RusCiCo / Artificial Eye / MK2 Bonus Materials: Biography of director Andrei Tarkovsky Biography of sci-fi writer Stanislav Lem 10 min Documentary on actor Donatas Banionis, The Master of a Small Town Interview with actress Natalya Bondarchuk Interview with Andrei Tarkovsky's sister, Marina Fragment from another film based on S. Lem's novel, Investigation of Pilot Pirx(1979) Archive Photo Album Filmographies of principal actors, director, camerman, composer, script writer Trailers of films by A. Tarkovsky	Release Information: Studio: Home Vision Entertainment Package Type: Keep Case Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Region 0 • DISC ONE: New digital transfer, enhanced for widescreen televisions • Audio essay by Tarkovsky scholars Vida Johnson and Graham Petrie, co-authors of The Films of Andrei Tarkovsky: A Visual Fugue. It is in 8 Chapters as follows: Tarkovsky's Collaborators Donatas Banionis The Soviet Film Bureacracy The issues of Special Effects Narrative Consistency Tarkovsky and his Parents Moral Knowledge Russian and Western Audiences • New and improved English subtitle translation • Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition • DISC TWO: Nine deleted and alternate scenes ( not restored ) Berton's Flight ( 3:05) Kris' Takeoff from Earth (4:23) Something to Eat (1:08) Beginning of Part 2 (:59) Kris and Harl's Meal (2:21) Kris' Delerium/The Mirror Room (4:25) Mother (6:00) Further Philosophy (1:02) Video interviews with: • Natalya Bondarchuk (32:20) • Cinematographer Vadim Yusov (33:54) • Art director Mikhail Romadin (16:46) • Composer Eduard Artemyev (21:43) • Documentary excerpt with Solaris author Stanislaw Lem (4:55)
Sundry:	DVD Release Date: MK2 was 25th May 2005 Slim Digipak with no sleeve 16 in Part 1, 16 in Part 2 - total = 32 Chapters 2 Discs	DVD Release Date: November 26th, 2002 Double Keep Case 33 Chapters ( 33rd is Color Bars ) 2 Discs

Comments:

ADDITION: (MK2 - Region 0 - PAL - June 2005) - The MK2 is, again, an exact port of the current RusCiCo - as is the Artificial Eye. All PAL RusCiCo's are original PAL source and all NTSC RusCiCo's are from PAL sources (unconverted). All have the 5.1 surround in both Russian and English and French Dubs. The only recommendation is the Criterion in every department.

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The RusCiCo and Artificial Eye versions are slightly cropped vertically reducing it from its aspect ratio of roughly 2.25 (2.30?) to 2.20 . Although the PAL - AE is superior to the RusCiCo NTSC, it is obvious to see the striking quality of the Criterion in comparison. I have gone through all the extras of the Criterion (and they are extensive), and they blow away the RusCiCo/AE. RusCiCo/AE does offer multiple sub-titles as well as dubs in English and French (if you are into that) but I still couldn't find a way to totally remove the subs from the RusCiCo. Thank goodness the Criterion finally came around with this one, the sharpness and attention to detail are outstanding. Might be their best disc of the year!

RusCiCo also changed the mono soundtrack to 5.1. It sounds very good, but not accurate and they don't offer the ability to choose the mono.

Regarding the Menus: The Criterion have limited animation, often with a shadowy Khari appearing and disappearing. However the resonance of the 5.1 in the RusCiCo/AE menus is quite stirring. I liked the RusCiCo better. It appears as though more work has gone into them.

DVD Menus

NOTE: RusCiCo / AE ? and MK2 menus are exactly the same.

RusCiCo / Artificial Eye / MK2	Criterion

Film Screen Captures

( NOTE: I found it extremely hard getting exact frame captures with the aspect ratio being incompatible. They are as close as I was able to get. )