Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1553 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1553 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

English (SDH), none

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Phillipa Berry
• Theatrical Trailer (2:08)

Bitrate:

1) Alive (4:3) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

Description: On the eve of her wedding to Ramu (Jon Hall), the beautiful Tollea (Maria Montez) is spirited away from her tranquil South Sea island to the mysterious, forbidden place of her birth, Cobra Island. Ramu follows and, with help from his young-but-not-too-bright friend Kado (Sabu) and their chimp Coco, manages to land on the island and avoid capture, which would mean death. It turns out that Tollea is the rightful high priestess of Cobra Island, the first born of two twin daughters of the earlier priestess. Tollea was not immune to the venom of the king cobra, however, so she was spirited away from the island as an infant to avoid her unnecessary death. Now her grandmother, the Queen (Mary Nash), has secured her return. Tollea's twin sister, Naja (also played by Montez), has turned cruel, greedy, and ambitious, and is killing, torturing, and tormenting her people and perverting their religion; Naja must be deposed, hopefully before the volcano on the far side of the island registers too loud an objection to her blasphemies. But Naja -- who is wanton enough to want Ramu for her own pleasure -- and her confederate, the evil, ambitious Martok (Edgar Barrier), don't plan on leaving quietly.

 

 

Curtain Mode

 

 

1.78:1 Widescreen Mode

 

 

The Film:

Excerpt from TV Guide located HERE

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

Cobra Woman gets a creative package on Blu-ray from Alive AG in Germany.  There appears to be three viewing options - although I had trouble accessing one of them. Okay, we get the film in the original 4:3 ratio, another in 'Curtain Mode' (see the title captures) with red curtains on the side edges to fill the 1.78 screen (this is the one I couldn't get to work through the complete film making me think it was seamlessly branched from the 4:3.) A 1.78:1 widescreen that only chops heads, adds artifacts and minimizes the viewing area is the last option. Let's forget the 'Curtain' and Widescreen - neither are appealing my opinion. But looking at the 4:3, even with a modestly robust transfer - it looks very good - almost exceptional considering the age. Colors are brilliant and depth is frequently apparent. It has dramatically more detail and sharpness than the SD. This 4:3 Blu-ray provides a very pleasing presentation.

Short story; the Kino is better, doesn't go for the 1.78:1 or "Curtain Mode" sticking with 1.33:1 (closer to 1.35:1). The US transfer bitrate is over double that of the Alive - showing in better richer, deeper colors - and this is of premium concern for the film representation. This looks ravishing now - many scenes are visually impressive with more vibrancy (slightly warmer skin tones) and appearing tighter with more layered contrast.