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

ADDITION: Blue Underground - Region FREE - Blu-ray - September 11': This is a pretty dramatic increase in visual quality. The comparatively drab SD-DVD looks very weak beside the richer, brighter 1080P transfer from Blue Underground. There is a nice sheen of grain, depth and notably more information in the frame on all 4 sides. Certainly a solid upgrade that impresses. Audio again gives the option of English or Italian - but now both in lossless (remaining 2.0 channel) and sounding pretty 'hip' with a crisper edge for the bouncy score by Italian composer and jazz musician Piero Piccioni (Adua and Her Friends, Hands Over the City, L'assassino, The Moment of Truth). There appears to be a slightly different subtitle translation and SDH, French and Spanish are now added.

Supplements are also advanced with an 1 1/2 hour documentary on Marcello Mastroianni entitled Marcello: A Sweet Life. It is quite informative in Italian with English subtitles transferred in 480i. There are also HD trailers and Stills galleries.

Overall a very impressive package for this swinging, color-infused, pop-art, groovy adventure that so many other films have referenced. It's Euro-fun at its best and the Blue Underground Blu-ray release is highly recommended!

***

ADDITION: Blue Underground - July 2009: Firstly, the new 2009 Blue Underground is the exact same disc as the 2001 Anchor Bay with one small exception - it starts with the Blue Underground logo. Otherwise the single-layered transfer has no improvement whatsoever and the psychedelic menus, audio, subtitles and supplements are all exactly duplicated (see the bitrate graphs).

The image is a shade hazy but anamorphic and progressive. It looks dulled by age but in this time of 1080P it's easy to get picky - this DVD is certainly very watchable if exporting some noise and a flatness that identifies it as SD. There may be some boosting as there is are blown-out whites.

The 2.0 channel sound is similarly lifeless, but consistent and dialogue is completely audible. I didn't even try the English DUB. There are optional subtitles available (see samples below).

Extras consistent of an anamorphic trailer and text bios.

The film is wonderful with the sexy style evoking such nostalgia. It's hard to put into words but I can see this 'sub-genre' eventually being modernized and duplicated just as 'Grindhouse' is. There is a smidgeon of Seijun Suzuki here as well. It's all unapologetic and very cool with the saxaphone, Mastroianni and Andress. I was anticipating and upgrade in AV but if you don't own this the price is right for the value.

Gary Tooze