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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

('Almost Famous' or 'Untitled: Almost Famous the Bootleg Cut')

directed by Cameron Crowe
US 2000

Sixteen-year-old avid rock fan William lands an assignment from Rolling Stone to accompany a fledgling band from Michigan... called Stillwater on their first tour. As he becomes more involved with the band members, he loses his objectivity and is soon entangled in the infamous 70's rock scene.

***

Oh, what a lovely film. I was almost hugging myself while I watched it. "Almost Famous" is funny and touching in so many different ways. It's the story of a 15-year-old kid, smart and terrifyingly earnest, who through luck and pluck gets assigned by Rolling Stone magazine to do a profile of a rising rock band. The magazine has no idea he's 15. Clutching his pencil and his notebook like talismans, phoning a veteran critic for advice, he plunges into the experience that will make and shape him. It's as if Huckleberry Finn came back to life in the 1970s, and instead of taking a raft down the Mississippi, got on the bus with the band.

Excerpt from Roger Ebert's review at the Chicago Sun-Times located HERE

 

  Posters

Theatrical Release: September 8th, 2000 - Toronto Film Festival


Reviews                                                               More Reviews                                                        DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Sony Pictures (The Extended Cut) - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Dreamworks Video (The Bootleg Cut) - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray LEFT vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

DVD Box Cover

 

Distribution Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:41:29.721  2:41:30.681
Video

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 43,163,800,983 bytes

Feature: 40,104,886,272 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 24.98 Mbps

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,069,802,353 bytes

Feature: 41,902,872,576 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 26.88 Mbps

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

Bitrate: Japanese  Blu-ray

Bitrate: US  Blu-ray

Audio Dolby TrueHD Audio English 1654 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1654 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640
kbps / DN -4dB)
Dolby TrueHD Audio Japanese 1639 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1639 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640
kbps / DN -4dB)  
DTS-HD Master Audio English 4182 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4182 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / Dolby Surround
Subtitles Japanese, English, None English (SDH), English, French, Spanish, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Sony

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 43,163,800,983 bytes

Feature: 40,104,886,272 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 24.98 Mbps

 

Edition Details: (optionally subtitled)

• B-Sides (9:09 in 1080i)
• Interview with Lester Bangs (2:01)
• Preview Trailers

Blu-ray Release Date: March 5th, 2008
Standard
Blu-ray Case
 
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio: Dreamworks Video
 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,069,802,353 bytes

Feature: 41,902,872,576 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 26.88 Mbps

 

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary with Director Cameron Crowe

• Making of (24:50)
• 
Interview with Lester Bangs (1:55)

• Intro by Cameron Crowe

• Cameron Crowe's Top Albums of 1973

• Fever Dog Music Video (4:42)

• "Love Comes and Goes" (3:53)

• Rolling Stone Articles (3:52)

• B-Sides (5:21)

• Cleveland Concert "Small Time Blues" (15:44)

• Stairway (12:13) / Script / Theatrical trailer (2:33)

Blu-ray Release Date: October 4th, 2011
Standard
Blu-ray in cardboard slipcase
Chapters: 30

 

 

 

Comments:

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

Despite the varied names - for both Blu-rays this is the, longer, 2 hour 41.5 minute version also known as 'Extended', 'Director's' or 'Bootleg' Cut. The Japanese edition was released way back in 2008 - was region free and highly desirable at the time although it was pricey. The US edition was released as a Best Buy Exclusive in January of this year. This appears to be the exact same package. You can see the visual quality in the screen captures below so I will just mention some differences.

The Dreamworks (Paramount) is 1.78 - The Asian Sony Blu-ray is 1.85:1. The US release has a bit more information in the frame and a slight technical edge with a larger file size and bitrate but I think it's visual superiority may be more than simply the healthier stats. It's a bit sharper with superior contrast - notable even in the reduced caps. Both are quite strong without notable flaws of any kind. Simply put, though, the Paramount is better visually.  

Audio has more differences than the video with the older Japanese release in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 at 1654 kbps with a similar Japanese DUB. The US edition has a DTS-HD Master 5.1 at a whopping 4182 kbps with French and Spanish DUBs. If audio is your thing you'll be leaning to the Paramount with a more robust track - deeper and richer although separations are equally as well defined. It's hard not to be impressed by the US audio with nice balance and a solid higher-end in the music. It wins this category as well. While the US Blu-ray has optional English, French and Spanish subtitle options and the Sony also offers English subs - and both discs are region FREE.

Supplements also go the way of the Dreamworks Video Blu-ray that has everything I can remember from past SD editions including the 25-minute Making of..., the audio commentary with director Cameron Crowe with Scott Martin and Andy Fisher plus all the tidbits like the brief interview with Lester Bangs, an intro by Cameron Crowe, a listing of the director Top Albums of 1973. music videos, concert footage and text Rolling Stone Articles as well as the script. The Sony has nothing aside from the B-Sides, Lester Bangs piece and some preview trailers.

A pain that I didn't mention about the Sony are the menus that are NOT English friendly. I suppose it's overkill by now as everything - including price goes in the Paramount's favor. This is super film with wonderful art direction and detail. Strongly recommended!  

Gary W. Tooze


Menus

 

Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray LEFT vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT


 
 

 


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

 

Subtitle Sample (not exact frame)

 

Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


 

Screen Captures

 

Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 


Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 


DVD Box Cover

 

Distribution Sony Pictures - Region FREE - Blu-ray Dreamworks Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray



 

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