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Directed by Anthony Minghella
U
SA 2003

 

Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, this "stunning" (NEWSWEEK) wartime romantic drama directed by Anthony Minghella (The English Patient) stars heavy hitters Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, Jude Law, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Natalie Portman. At the dawn of the Civil War, the men of Cold Mountain, North Carolina, rush to join the Confederate Army. Ada (Kidman) has vowed to wait for Inman (Law), but as the war drags on and letters go unanswered, she must find the will to survive. At war's end, hearts will be dashed, dreams fulfilled and the strength of the human spirit tested, but not broken.

***

As he did with “The English Patient,” director Minghella performs a miraculous juggling act, balancing his epic, sweeping story with the subtleties of character and detail that make “Cold Mountain” breathe. We feel the unsettled tension seething inside of Inman, as he ponders whether Ada will even recognize his weathered skin, let alone accept him as her soul mate. Comedy relief is embodied by Philip Seymour Hoffman as a disgraced, lusty clergyman, and a similar lightness shines forth courtesy Brendan Gleeson as Ruby’s cheerful, fiddle-toting father. Even minor supporting roles such as Charlie Hunnam as a villainous, acrobatic albino flavor this cinematic potion with added vitality and depth.

Except from KJ Doughtonat FilmThreat.com located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 25th, 2003

Reviews          More Reviews         DVD Reviews

Comparison:

MiraMax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

Box Cover

 

 

Distribution MiraMax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Lionsgate / Miramax
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray
Runtime 2:34:05  2:34:18.874 2:34:26.340
Video 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.4 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Disc Size: 24,486,551,184 bytes

Feature Size: 24,414,394,368 bytes

Average Bitrate: 16.09 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4- AVC

Disc Size: 47,710,404,247 bytes

Feature Size: 32,907,018,240 bytes

Average Bitrate: 22.49 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4- AVC

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

 DVD

Bitrate: Alliance

 Blu-ray

Bitrate: Lionsgate / Miramax

 Blu-ray

Audio DTS 5.1. Dolby Digital 5.1 English, French 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio English 3996 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3996 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
DTS-HD Master Audio English 4067 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4067 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -4dB
Subtitles Spanish, French, None  French, None English, English (SDH), Spanish, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: MiraMax (2-disc Collector's Edition)

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1

Edition Details:

• Commentary with Director/Writer Anthony Minghella and Editor Walter Murch
Disc 2:
• Climbing Cold Mountain (1:14:03)
11 Deleted Scenes: (20:49 - play all option).
• The Words and Music of Cold Mountain (1:32:57)
• A Journey to Cold Mountain (29:39)
• Sacred Harp History (4:08)
• Storyboard Comparisons (The Siege of Petersburg - 3:56, The Swanger Torture Scene - 2:35, and Sara's Cabin - 3:45)

DVD Release Date: June 29th, 2004

Keep Case

Chapters: 28

Release Information:
Studio: Alliance

Disc Size: 24,486,551,184 bytes

Feature Size: 24,414,394,368 bytes

Average Bitrate: 21.09 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4- AVC

Edition Details:

• None

Blu-ray  Release Date: February 3rd, 2009
Standard
Blu-ray  Case
Chapters: 28

Release Information:
Studio: MiraMax / Lionsgate

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1

Disc Size: 47,710,404,247 bytes

Feature Size: 32,907,018,240 bytes

Average Bitrate: 22.49 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4- AVC

Edition Details:

• Commentary with Director/Writer Anthony Minghella and Editor Walter Murch
• Climbing Cold Mountain (1:14:03)
11 Deleted Scenes: (20:49 - play all option).
• The Words and Music of Cold Mountain (1:32:57)
• A Journey to Cold Mountain (29:39)
• Sacred Harp History (4:08)
• Storyboard Comparisons (The Siege of Petersburg - 3:56, The Swanger Torture Scene - 2:35, and Sara's Cabin - 3:45)

• Bookmarkable

Blu-ray Release Date: January 31st, 2012
Standard
Blu-ray Case

Chapters: 28

 

Comments:

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

 

ADDITION: Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (January 12'): Well, the Alliance does look moderately booted beside the dual-layered Miramax / Lionsgate Blu-ray. It's hard to be sure of what is closer to the theatrical intent, but the newer hi-def is richer with bolder colors - warmer skin tones and more layered contrast. It also has less artifacts. It has hues that are only moderately present on the Canadian HD.

 

I couldn't distinguish any differences in the audio although the Miramax / Lionsgate is marginally more robust (technically). Both uncompressed tracks sound marvelous. The Alliance only offered French subtitles but the US - region 'A' - Blu-ray has English, English (SDH) and Spanish subs.

 

Extras duplicate the 2004 2-disc DVD package with the excellent commentary from director/writer Anthony Minghella and editor Walter Murch plus over 4 hours of video extras including the 1 1/4 hour Climbing Cold Mountain, the 11 Deleted Scenes, the 1.5 hour The Words and Music of Cold Mountain and the 1/2 hour A Journey to Cold Mountain plus the Sacred Harp History and the 4 Storyboard Comparisons.

 

This is another incredible Minghella film - the 'epic' sensibilities that we've seen so rarely since David Lean. It is wonderfully acted, beautifully realized by the filmmakers - including impressive cinematography. The Miramax / Lionsgate Blu-ray is less than $10! - and I'd pay that for the supplements alone. Strongly recommended!  

***

 

NOTE: Distribution 101 (who took a while delivering my German Blu-ray of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) - have this listed for Feb 17th, 2009 on Amazon.com. It is the exact same package/disc. The Canadian edition through Amazon.ca (which does deliver to the States) is significantly cheaper - without even taking into account the low Canadian dollar - which would make it even a better buy (around $10 savings).

Unfortunately the Miramax DVD release of Cold Mountain was very substandard. It was unable to give justice to the magnificence and breathtaking quality of the landscape shots or John Seale's triumphant cinematography. While it's obvious that the new Blu-ray definitely improves digitally in the visual appearance of the film - it still leaves much to be desired. Colors and detail show improvement on this Alliance (Canada) 1080P rendering but the image remains flat without as much depth as I would have anticipated. I would even suggest that some DNR has been applied but I am not certain that is the cause of the softness. Zooming-in displays an odd digitization that supports manipulation is the culprit. It appears to be too clumpy to be grain. I didn't see this theatrically but I can't imagine that this how the film actually looks. I had hoped, for better things from high-definition for Cold Mountain. With my griping out of the way - I can relate a thoroughly improved presentation of a magnificent film.  Contrast is not well defined and there is some noise but the Blu-ray towers over the DVD in terms of image quality if, however, I remain unconvinced that it couldn't look even better with dual-layering for the 2.5 hour film.

Audio-wise the DVD's DTS was exceptional in supporting Gabriel Yared's power-packed score - showing some surprisingly depth and range.  The Blu-ray has gone one step further with a DTS HD Master and it also sounded very crisp but I admit to an inability to noting an abundant difference in the tracks. To my ears the mix does sound, more-or-less the same. I noted a tightness in the dialogue and music that I didn't mention about the DVD - still the disparity will be very slight for most people. Bottom line though, the Blu-ray is marginally better.            

ON THE DVD: The DVD package for extras was very strong - a solid commentary from Minghella (R.I.P.) - a highly intelligent man that was always a pleasure to listen to. There are also deleted scenes, two separate hour-long-plus documentaries on a second disc - and more. Typical of Alliance's previous HD offerings their Blu-ray is totally bare-bones with nothing in the way of supplements. NOTE: These extras are very satisfying to those who enjoyed the film and I recommend indulging in them if you have the opportunity.

What a great film. Really.  All that the Blu-ray can boast is improvement over an already weak digital image. This, however, is enough for a superior viewing of Cold Mountain. While all performances are solid - both Kidman and Zellweger help justify my recommendation of owning both the DVD (for the commentary and extras) and the Blu-ray for the improved visuals. I don't do that often - but in this case, I believe it is justified and the price is reasonable enough to support that.    

Gary W. Tooze

 


Menus/ Extras


 

Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample - Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Lionsgate / Miramax - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


Box Cover

 

 

Distribution MiraMax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC Alliance - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Lionsgate / Miramax
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray




 

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