Aside from being somewhat glossy at times, this transfer is extremely strong. Detail on this SD approaches reference levels for that format. I can see the, simultaneously released, Blu-ray HERE potentially being sharper - and we will compare if we get the opportunity, but I'll wager the differences will be at the short end of the scale. Contrast and colors look 'spot on' and I can't see to many individuals being displeased with this SD presentation of the feature film. Noise is minimal, low-lit scenes suffer a shade but overall it looked quite magnificent on my system - expectantly super clean, bright and film-like.

Audio gives the, now, standard 5.1 track and it is quite buoyant. Decent separation with healthy rear channel explosions and the like. It suited the film to a 'T'. The varied soundtrack, with such inclusions as The Kinks, "Unchain my Heart" by Natasha Miller and some J.S. Bach, is well supported in 5.1. There are optional English (only) subtitles supporting the clear and clean dialogue.  

I may have been a bit spoiled by recent Criterion commentaries but this one with director Donaldson, actress Saffron Burrows and composer J. Peter Robinson didn't do to much for me (well, it made me sleepy). Just standard fare, with monotone discussion and a few gaps - but it is more, obviously, unprepared and off-the-cuff. I can expect something illuminating and erudite each time but anyway I wasn't real keen on this one - lasting so long I found myself skipping ahead. The featurettes I enjoyed more; 'Inside the Bank Job' is almost 20 minutes and gives a nice overview with interview sound-bites from Donaldson and other on production details. Just the right length and fairly compact. More from the London historical standpoint of the 60's is a 15 minutes piece on 'The Baker Street Bank Raid' and this I actually wished was longer. Plans, details, the ingenuity and resourcefulness of some criminals plus other tidbits flowed nicely. There is also 6 minutes of deleted and extended scenes with an optional commentary (only way to watch them) and finally on disc one is a 2.5 minute theatrical trailer.

The second disc holds the digital copy of the feature film able to download to your favorite portable player (NOTE: watching this, or any, films via cell-phone or other tiny-screened device is not endorsed by this website - let's all put our heads on straight).

I was in the mood for this and enjoyed the film quite a lot without it being a typical action-fest. Poetic license on the true facts but performances seem strong and the story is a good one. Sure, for the striking image and decent bank-heist thriller - you can't go wrong.  

Gary W. Tooze