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

ADDITION: - EiV - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - December 15': Although the EiV came out almost 7 years ago (actually a month after the New Line), I was suggested to look at it in that it may be a better transfer than its US counterpart - that and the reasonable price. Unfortunately, it is almost exactly the same, but slightly less technically robust (see Bello's face in the subtitle capture) - same VC-1 encode, same menus, same extras (commentary and same running times on the video supplements), same Dolby TrueHD (16-bit) audio encode. The image quality is slightly weaker with a few greenish artifacts visible. Other differences are the subtitles (see sample below) and the US also offers Spanish subs and while the New Line is region FREE - the UK is region 'B'-locked. The US Blu-ray also has second disc DVD and Digital Copy access.

So, bottom line I think this title, still, deserves an upgrade. It's an unforgettable film. The New Line remains the best, so far. I'd like to see a new Blu-ray release with AVC, DTS-HD Master... I think it is deserved.  

***

ADDITION: - New Line Blu-ray - February 09': Although the new Blu-ray is vastly improved over the DVD editions in terms of image - this is certainly not a stellar example of 1080P capabilities. New Line have developed a reputation for digital manipulations and this single-layered disc is softer than I think it should be - hints of digitization and minor boosting linger in the VC-1 rendering. On the positive the image does have some depth and colors, especially skin tones, are remarkably improved. This is the best I've seen it look but I can't shake the weaknesses.

Audio gets a bump to TrueHD and it did seem to have more range than the older 5.1 (also included as an option.) with some prominent scenes of 'violence' being the most noteworthy. The Blu-ray offers English or Spanish subtitles as the previous NTSC DVD.

Extras duplicate the previous releases with the commentary and 8 part scene dissections. Nothing is in HD that I tested.

Still a great film - with some deft directorial touches. The Blu-ray isn't up-to-snuff but is still the best A/V transfer available. The price is right!  

****

ADDITION: - SF-Film PAL - March 06': Color, sharpness, framing - all seem to be on a par or, at least, negligible difference. Extras are the same with the excellent commentary. PAL and NTSC appear to be treated quite equally on this under-recognized masterpiece - probably Cronenberg's best film.

NOTE: the extra ‘Violence’s History’ details the differences between the UK version and the MPAA-approved US edition; it actually comes down to the volume of blood and any specific cuts. Cronenberg felt the differences were too negligible to get upset about. It has some depth and colors, especially notable in skin tones, are improved.

***

ON THE FIRST DVD: A very decent package from New Line - a strong and acceptable anamorphic and progressive image if not exceedingly stellar (but appears un-manipulated), a very adept and detailed director commentary, and many relevant and well-thought-out extra features. On the negative the image has a slim black border surrounding it slightly limiting horizontal resolution and I find the subtitles (at least thankfully white as opposed to bright yellow) very large and a bit intrusive. Not much to complain about and for such a stacked DVD it makes our recommended purchase quite enticing. I strongly suggest it for the detailed featurette and commentary analyses of the film alone.

The questions we are asking in David Cronenberg A History of Violence are personal moral probes - do we have the nobility to opt for a simple pastoral lifestyle - desirous that the story steers in that direction? or do we overly-crave the heroic and vengeful manner of cinema violence? Innocence vs. corruption. Is it possible that Mr. Cronenberg can sate us in both arenas? Do we require the thriller aspects of film to escalate in rudimentary fashion - with it, infusing the usual run-in-the-mill seedy and evil gangster caricatures that we know so well - and love to hate? Can't we simply brush them aside... yet still somehow feed our inglorious hunger for the darker side of humanity. Can we disguise our ever-increasing passion for the human conflict and retire to a world where an amber light does not mean 'speed up'? Do we have the strength to be so guileless? I don't think Mr. C really thinks so - it's a desensitizing drug that we hunger for... and he's the pusher. But is he really telling us that by examining our desires it may be the first step to becoming cognoscente of where we focus our preferences. I'd like to think so anyway.

Gary W. Tooze