ADDITION: Optimum / Studio Canal - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - September 2010:

Firstly, the European Blu-ray - when inserted - gives the choices for 'France', 'Italia','Netherland' or 'United Kingdom'. Then after the enjoyable Studio Canal Collection advert and 2 warnings - you get the menu and options for your selected preference.

Some may find this a subtle visual improvement - but its is definitely there - in all the right places. Grain, colors (notably flesh tones) and detail showing many instances of information lost in the darker SD image rising to visibility in the 1080P transfer which also has real filmic depth. The 2007 DVD had the right idea - filling almost 8 Gig of the available dual-layered space with the feature film - but the Blu-ray increases that almost 5 fold and has space left over for some viable extras.

Audio is rendered in a DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 1950 kbps. The Badalamenti original score certainly benefits from the upgrade as do songs like Rebekah Del Rio's version of Roy Orbison's "Crying" - which sounds just amazing in lossless. This new audio transfer is a key factor in establishing moods and auras - the DVD DTS was good the HD is better - range, depth and bass.  As well as 2 foreign language DUBs (French and Italian) the Blu-ray contains optional subtitles and my Momitsu confirms that the disc is, unfortunately, region 'B'-locked.

NOTE: The flawed HD-DVD (see comments below) had 56 Chapter stops - however no chapter Menu option, being only selectable with forward/reverse buttons. The Blu-ray goes one step further with an image that allows you to select a portion through arrow clicks - producing a random chapter stop (of the like-wise 56 with only fast-forward or reverse). Cute - we get the idea, David.

With the DVD devoid of any supplements we are very pleased with what the Blu-ray is offering from a 10-minute introduction in HD by writer/director/actor Thierry Jousse in French with optional English subtitles to 'In the Blue Box' - a 1/2 Studio Canal presentation (in English and French with subs choice) - it has Richard Kelly (writer/director of Donnie Darko - which came out at the same time Mulholland Drive) writer, director Guillaume Nicloux and others giving input. On the Road to Mulholland Drive is a 23-minute piece in SD with Lynch, Watts supplying interview-style information - and thee are interviews with Mary Sweeny (6:03 in SD), Angelo Badalamenti (16:45 in SD) + audio only with Angelo Badalamenti (10 years later) - 16:30. Lastly is Back to Mulholland Dr. - about 25-minutes in SD with re-release theater patrons, and Lynch discussing Mulholland Dr. Included in the handsome cardboard book-style case is a 20-page liner notes booklet with photos, vast information and an essay by Adam Woodward.

The many fans of the film should rejoice at this new format transfer which doesn't seem to have any of the ailments of the previously released HD-DVD as identified by David Hare for DVDBeaver HERE - i.e. " 'Pitch glitch' problem. In simplest lay terms possible, their datacines, although transferred at film speed of 24 fps were taken from a 25 fps PAL master, consequently the audio has had to undergo a "retread" which gives it the same near semi-tone pitch rise as SD PAL 25fps transfers.". This is, indeed, in theatrical running speed and the image is a large step forward from the 2007 DVD. I don't see how the film could look much better - plus it has healthy lossless audio and substantial and viable extras. Studio Canal comes through again. Endorsed!

 - Gary W. Tooze