Children of Men

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
USA / UK 2006

Set in 2027, Alfonso Cuarón's dystopian button-pusher Children of Men, adapted from a novel by P.D. James, posits a world in which women have mysteriously gone barren, so that the youngest human beings on the planet are now in their late teens. It is a world without hope, without vitality, without a future — and also, presumably, without anyone to man the cash registers at Taco Bell and the Gap. But so intent are Cuarón and his phalanx of screenwriters (five are credited) upon making glib visual reference to current events that they toss all logic aside, clumsily superimposing their own concerns onto James' blatant Christian allegory. And so we get nightmarish images of illegal aliens herded into cages, even though a moment's thought suggests that immigration would be the least of a depopulated society's worries. In this fashionable context, global infertility functions strictly as a plot device — a means of pushing various ill-defined characters through a bevy of contemporary sociopolitical bugaboos.

Excerpt from Mike D'Angelo's review at The Nerve Film Lounge located HERE.

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 3rd, 2006 - Venice Film Festival

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DVD Comparison:

Universal Pictures Video - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Universal - Region 1- NTSC

(Universal Pictures Video - Region 2,4,5 - PAL LEFT vs. Universal - Region 1- NTSC RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	Universal Pictures Video - Region 2,4,5 - PAL	Universal Pictures Video - Region 1 - NTSC
	Universal Pictures UK have released a 2-disc Special Edition PAL edition that appears to have the exact same extras as the Region 1 - but spread over 2 discs. The NTSC appears to be about a $8.50 savings.
Runtime	1:44:36 (4% PAL speedup)	1:49:04
Video	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.73 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.48 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: PAL
Bitrate: NTSC
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), DUB: German (Dolby Digital 5.1)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), DUBs: Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles	English, German, Dutch, None	English, Spanish, French, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Universal Pictures Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • "Men Under Attack" Featurette (7:35) DVD Release Date: January 15th, 2007 Keep Case Chapters: 20	Release Information: Studio: Universal Pictures Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Deleted Scenes (2:21) • Featurette: The Possibility of Hope - (27:14) • "Children of Men" - comments by Slavoj Zizek (5:44) • "Under Attack" Featurette (7:35) • "Theo and Julian" (4:39) • Futuristic Design (8:37) • Visual Effects: Creating the Baby (3:06) DVD Release Date: March 27th, 2007 Keep Case Chapters: 20

Comments:

Cuarón is a director who holds incredible promise and the manner of creation of this polarizing film almost equals its content. Highly unforgettable - the political imagery is wielded with a formidable and heavy hand. This is unlike any of his other work and dissimilar to much produced recently. Its exploitive violence is matched by its stark messages. A film well worth viewing if you are in prepared - although you really can't be.

****

ADDITION: Universal Region 1- NTSC - March 07' - Image-wise I see no significant difference. Universal are pretty consistent with parity between their PAL and NTSC editions. The NTSC is again progressive and anamorphic. There are some audio and subtitle option differences but both original 5.1 tracks sounded excellent.

The significant improvement is in the supplements. The NTSC, as well as including the 7:35 "Men Under Attack" featurette with input from Cuarón, cast and crew, in the PAL single disc - it also includes much more. On top of that shared extra we are given about 2:00 of deleted scenes, a good half-hour featurette called The Possibility of Hope with some interesting questions about the story, a 6 minute "Children of Men" which include comments by philosopher and culture critic Slavoj Zizek. Next is a short piece on "Theo and Julian" running a little over 4 minutes, some input from Cuarón - more production information on the Futuristic Design (8:37) and a little bit on creating the visual effects of the baby in the film (3:00). I am very keen on this film and I absorbed these extras enjoying the lot.

NOTE: The 2-disc SE in the UK seems to contain the extact same extras as the NTSC, but spread over 2 discs, and costs about $8.50 more.

Final note: Great film and the NTSC is the one to purchase (even ahead of the 2-disc SE from the UK).

***

I have been informed that my assumption was incorrect and the entire movie was shot on 35mm film. The DVD is progressive and anamorphic - it looks very strong. Aside from some occasional heaviness the image is pristine and is most probably theatrically true.

Your speakers get a full workout with the 5.1 track that is included (and a 5.1 German DUB). It appropriately sounds explosive and may shake your windows right out. There are optional English, Dutch and German subtitles. This PAL standard DVD is coded for region 2,4 and 5.

There is one extra (it includes optional subtitles) and it focuses on the inventive manner of filming - specifically the interior car scenes. It is quite ingenious with input from Cuarón, cast and crew.

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Universal Pictures Video - Region 2,4,5 - PAL LEFT vs. Universal - Region 1- NTSC RIGHT)

Subtitle Sample

NOTE: Not exact frame