ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray September 15': Firstly, this is cited as being 'a new, restored 4K digital transfer, approved by director Gus Van Sant and director of photography Eric Alan Edwards'. So, no more golden hues and the new 1080P image is remarkably different than the older DVD presentation. Colors, and skin tones, move to normalcy, it tightens up a bit although there is some thickness to the visuals with a low-ish bitrate. We gain a sliver of information on the left edge of the frame. It looks a shade softer than I would have anticipated but the landscapes are still extremely impressive in the higher resolution. The transfer is in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and looks excellent in-motion, if not as crisp as I was hoping for.

Criterion give the option of a DTS-HD Master stereo track at 2039 kbps or an even more robust 5.1 surround in a DTS-HD Master at a whopping 3560 kbps. There are notable separations in the latter and it does help develop atmosphere. The film's score is credited to Bill Stafford, but there is a cornucopia of selections in My Own Private Idaho including Tom Dokoupil and Udo Kier's Mr. Klein and Der Adler, Bill Stafford's version of America, the Beautiful, Madonna's Cherish, Elton John's Blue Eyes and more. It all sounds wonderful via the lossless. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is region 'A'-locked.

We retain all the extras from the 2005 2-disc DVD (but all on one lone, dual-layered, Blu-ray) with the 53-minute audio conversation between Van Sant and filmmaker Todd Haynes discussing Van Sant's unique cinematic vision for the film, the 45-minute Making of “My Own Private Idaho,” documentary, also from 2005, featuring directors of photography John Campbell and Eric Alan Edwards, as well as the production designer David Brisbin as they recall the development, production and postproduction of My Own Private Idaho. also included is the 20-minute conversation (from 2004) between producer Laurie Parker and actor River Phoenix’s sister Rain discussing the late actor's commitment to My Own Private Idaho as well as an audio conversation between writer JT LeRoy and filmmaker Jonathan Caouette running short of an hour. There are 6, unrestored, deleted scenes containing instances of missing sound and/or picture - plus there is a trailer. The 3/4 of an hour Kings of the Road is a 2005 interview with film scholar Paul Arthur on Van Sant’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV and Orson Welles’s Chimes at Midnight (Falstaff) in My Own Private Idaho as well as influences of the road movie and western on the film. The package has a liner notes booklet featuring essays by film critic Amy Taubin and LeRoy; a 1991 article by Lance Loud; and reprinted interviews with Van Sant, Phoenix, and actor Keanu Reeves.

With the endorsement of the director and DoP, it's hard to fault the new look for those used to the older SD treatment. I would say it positively provides a different experience from the viewer's standpoint. One I am glad to have indulged in. We recommend this fascinating Blu-ray package!

***

ON THE DVD:" Looks like a yellow filter was used and I assume it was deliberate. Very cleaned and sharp image with some nice film grain peeking through. Deep blacks and excellent subtitles. Massive extras that I will be wading through in the future. Van Sant fans should feel quite fortunate that Criterion picked this one up with the substantial extras in the 2-disc package.

Gary W. Tooze