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

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (July 2017): The Criterion Blu-ray is described as a "New 4K digital restoration". It looks magnificent - a substantial upgrade from the MGM. Colors (flesh tones) are far more realistic, richer and deeper, it is generally brighter, contrast is vastly superior, visuals are much crisper and there is more information in the 1.85:1 frame. Wow... this looks fabulous in-motion. I paused many times to marvel at the image quality. It's on a dual-layered disc with a very high bitrate and is easily the best of all editions compared. Roger Deakins' cinematography is in its full glory here.

Criterion give the option of a linear PCM stereo track at 2304 kbps or a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround at a buoyant 3689 kbps (both are 24-bit). Both export the performances of Pray for Rain, The Pogues, Joe Strummer et all, with real energy and intensity. There is some notable separation moments in the surround. This sounds very good - and the option for the uncompressed stereo is appreciated. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles on the Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

Criterion include the two audio commentaries: one from 1994 featuring cowriter Abbe Wool, actors Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb, cultural historian Greil Marcus, filmmakers Julien Temple and Lech Kowalski, and musician Eliot Kidd; the other from 2001 featuring cowriter-director Alex Cox and actor Andrew Schofield. England’s Glory is a, rarely seen, 1/2 hour 1987 documentary on the making of Sid & Nancy directed by Martin Turner, who says: "The $500 budget was generously supplied by Alex Cox, no doubt in the hope of getting a rose-tinted, flattering portrait of himself in action, which he could show to his girlfriends. When he saw the final cut, he was so impressed, he gave me a million dollars and a Bentley." Included is the infamous 1976 Bill Grundy interview with the Sex Pistols on British television running just shy of 3:00. Fans will appreciate the rare, 13-minute, telephone interview, conducted by photographer Roberta Bayley, with Sid Vicious from January 19th, 1978, five days after the last Sex Pistols concert and three days after experiencing a nonfatal overdose. There are interviews with Vicious and Nancy Spungen from the 1980 documentary D.O.A.: A Right of Passage running over 10-minutes. We get a 2016 Interview with Alex Cox for shy of 25-minutes. The London Weekend Show - November 1976 piece about The Sex Pistols runs 14-minutes and there are, 14.5 minutes worth of, excerpts from Danny Garcia's 2016 documentary Sad Vacation: The Last Days of Sid and Nancy with accounts from Roberta Bayley, Victor Colicchio, Bob Gruen, John Holstrom among others. Lastly, is a trailer and the package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by author Jon Savage and a 1986 piece compiled by Cox about Vicious, Spungen, and the making of the film.

One of the most exciting Blu-ray releases of the year. Frankly, it shows how poor the MGM 1080P was and the Criterion extras are outstanding. Even seeing the film a dozen times previously, I was totally blown away by this package. It has our highest recommendation! 

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ADDITION: MGM - Region FREE Blu-ray - January 12': The MGM Blu-ray seems the most accurate although is marginally cropped on all 4 edges beside the Momentum. Colors have a brown bias but there is no boosting as seen in both the UK and reasonably hidden on the non-anamorphic Criterion transfer. This High-def seems to support the MGM DVD colors but with more detail, less noise and offers a dual-layered rendering with a very high bitrate. As with most MGM Blu-rays nothing appears to have been done digitally to enhance the image. The SD versions are 10-years old and I feel this Blu-ray, while imperfect, has bested the SDs in a major way.

Similarly the DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 3740 kbps has no apparent flaws. Depth and high-end have impressive moments. The disc sports optional English subtitles that also translate lyrics and this is a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

No commentaries but we get two 15-minute video pieces - For the Love of Punk and Junk Love with, mostly, the same participants reminiscing about Sid as well as the Punk movement. Both are quite informative. There is also a theatrical trailer.

The Criterion extras and commentary are excellent but fans more discerning on their HDTV viewing should probably pick up the MGM Blu-ray if only for the audio. Price seems reasonable for what is being offered.   

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