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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (March 2019): Criterion's new Blu-ray is described, like the 2007 DVD, as a "High-definition digital restoration, supervised and approved by director Jim Jarmusch". It is from the same restoration but is now in the higher resolution with about 5 times the bitrate of the SD. There is improvement in the expected areas; detail rises, contrast is more layered, skin tones warm slightly and it looks much smoother in-motion. The 1080P, obviously, looks better.

Audio goes lossless DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel. The bookending of Tom Waits singing fits the film to a 'T' and it sounds wonderful in the lossless. Really just another upgrade from the DVD. The Blu-ray offers optional English (SDH) subtitles for the entire film or English for the non-English language scenes in the Night on Earth.  This Blu-ray is Region 'A'-locked.

Same supplements as the DVD - which include a select-scene audio commentary by director of photography Frederick Elmes and location sound mixer Drew Kunin. It totally stops between chapters 4 - 6 and chapters 9 - 11 (an ominous voice states - 'the commentary will resume in chapter X'). What is discussed is very good - sometimes Jarmush's eccentricities are brought up - some details of the production technical(s), shot making and even about the performances. I enjoyed it. There is an audio only Q&A, in which Jarmusch's responds to questions sent by 23 fans from a different city around the world as organized by Criterion in March 2007 and read by Jarmusch. There is about 6 minutes of a 1992 Belgian television interview with Jarmusch - it has burned-in French subtitles. Finally a liner notes booklet featuring new essays by Thom Andersen, Paul Auster, Bernard Eisenschitz, Goffredo Fofi, and Peter von Bagh, and the lyrics to Tom Waits' original songs from the film.

The Blu-ray presentation definitely improved the film experience but the endorsement is probably limited to those who don't yet own the DVD or are serious Jarmusch fans. Night on Earth remains a sensational film with a sensitive international flavor and fabulous earthy performances of five cities, stories and languages... strongly recommended!

***

ON THE DVD: Unfortunately this is one odd case where I don't own any of the other editions of this film on DVD ( and there is a UK, German, Scandinavian and an Aussie digital release). From what I have been told - none are stellar and even this Criterion shows the limitations for the shooting process. But still it would be hard to pick flaw, as like Stranger Than Paradise compared HERE, the cover has a small round sticker 'New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Jim Jarmusch'. I feel fairly confident that this edition looks about as close as the finished film product could on dual-layered, progressive and anamorphic DVD. Almost exclusively shot at night with less-than-stellar lighting it is, expectantly, a little clouded and rough appearing at times - giving the film a strong realistic feel but colors look acceptable and contrast very good. The audio is clear and clean  - stated on the Criterion website as 'restoration tools were used to reduce clicks, pops, hiss, and crackle'. Dialogue is quite audible and there are optional English subtitles.

Supplements include a select-scene audio commentary by director of photography Frederick Elmes and location sound mixer Drew Kunin. It totally stops between chapters 4 - 6 and chapters 9 - 11 (an ominous voice states - 'the commentary will resume in chapter X'). What is discussed is very good - sometimes Jarmush's eccentricities are brought up - some details of the production technical(s), shot making and even about the performances. I enjoyed it. There is an audio only Q&A, in which Jarmusch's responds to questions sent by 23 fans from a different city around the world as organized by Criterion in March 2007 and read by Jarmusch. There is about 6 minutes of a 1992 Belgian television interview with Jarmusch - it has burned-in French subtitles. Finally a 42-page liner notes booklet featuring new essays by Thom Andersen, Paul Auster, Bernard Eisenschitz, Goffredo Fofi, and Peter von Bagh, and the lyrics to Tom Waits's original songs from the film.

A great DVD package from Criterion although we obviously are thirsting for more input from Mr. Jarmusch himself. Highly recommended!  

Gary W. Tooze