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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
directed by Peter Weir
Australia 1977
The
4K UHD of Peter Weir's The Last Wave is reviewed HERE
Occult Aboriginal mysticism. Dreams . Reality. Conflict.
*** Australian lawyer David Burton agrees with reluctance to defend a group of aborigines charged with murdering one of their own. He suspects the victim was targeted for violating a tribal taboo, but the defendants deny any tribal association. Burton, plagued by apocalyptic visions of water, slowly realizes danger may come from his own involvement with the aborigines and their prophecies. ***
"Dream is a shadow of something real." Chris Lee (David
Gulpilil) Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Peter Weir (Oscar® nominated
director of
Picnic at Hanging Rock,
Gallipoli and
Witness) explores a startling world on the brink of apocalypse in The
Last Wave, a time and place where Mother Nature and human nature are destined to
collide in catastrophic disaster.
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Posters
Theatrical Release: November 5th, 1977 (Paris Film Festival)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Gaumont Boxset (France) CTHV - Region 2 - PAL vs. Umbrella - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Box Cover |
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Bonus Captures: Also available in Germany on Blu-ray from Koch Media: |
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Distribution |
Criterion Collection - Spine # 142 Region 1 - NTSC |
Gaumont -
Columbia Tri-Star HV Region 2 - PAL |
Umbrella - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:45:40 | 1:41:09 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:45:07.134 |
Video |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced |
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 45,709,712,467 bytesFeature: 28,865,605,632 bytes Video Bitrate: 32.97 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate Criterion: |
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Bitrate Gaumont: |
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Bitrate Blu-ray: |
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) | DTS-HD Master Audio English 1800 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1800 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) |
Subtitles | English, None | French, and none | English, None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 24 7 |
Release Information: •
Trailer (same as Criterions) •
Bibliography (moving text screens) |
Release Information: Studio: Umbrella
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 45,709,712,467 bytesFeature: 28,865,605,632 bytes Video Bitrate: 32.97 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• Interview featurettes with: Lead Actor Richard Chamberlain in
conversation with Paul Harris (22:11)
Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 13 |
Comments: |
The 4K UHD of Peter Weir's The Last Wave is reviewed HERE
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
NOTE: The presentation starts with a text screen that states "ABORIGINAL
AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER VIEWERS ARE WARNED THAT THE PROGRAM AND EXTRAS ON
THIS DISC CONTAIN IMAGES AND SOUNDS THAT MAY RELATE TO DECEASED PERSONS.
"
NOTE: We have added 68 more large
resolution Blu-ray captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE
On their
Blu-ray,
Umbrella use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original
English language (with some Italian + Aboriginal). The score is by
Groove Myers (as Charles Wain) - one of only two film composure credits.
But this is an excellent soundtrack with, often violent, nature effects
(frequent rain and thunder) and (cited on the back cover of the
vinyl
soundtrack cover): "tense atonal electronics, synthesizer drones and
manipulated Didjeridu all perfectly capture the film’s ominous
atmosphere, punctuating the slow hypnotic pace of this brooding
supernatural thriller." It sounds very atmospheric and impacting in
the 24-bit lossless transfer. Umbrella offer optional English
subtitles (see sample below) on their Region FREE
Blu-ray.
The Umbrella
Blu-ray has the
multitude of supplements. These include a brand new 22-minute interview
with actor Richard Chamberlain in conversation with Paul Harris
(remotely for the lockdown) where the he tells us memories of the
production and relevant, lesser-known, details. "Riding the Wave"
is a 39-minute interview with Producer Jim McElroy and "Lighting the
Cave" spends 25-minutes with Director of Photography Russell Boyd
who shares some insights into his work on the film and Peter Weir. We
also get a brief piece with critic David Stratton on The Last Wave.
There is an episode of 'Trailers From Hell: The Last Wave' with
director Brian Trenchard-Smith (Turkey
Shoot) plus a 7-minute edit from the 50-minute 1980 documentary
about David Gulpilil; Walkabout to Hollywood made in 1980 by Bill
Leimbach. There is a theatrical trailer and stills gallery.
I was so glad to watch
ON THE DVDs: The Gaumont doesn't look bad considering it is from a low definition source. We can categorically state here that the French subtitles are removable. There is a little bit of cropping at the bottom edge of the French DVD. The French has some unclean frame shifts (see very last capture). The Criterion is sharper with better skin tones and an obvious HD sourced tape was used. Criterion's 5.1 mix is marvelous, and also added an original option (but no menu option for it - must do it 'on the fly'). Extras go to the French with over an 1 hour long featurette, trailer and filmographies. Subtitles look well done on both, but the overall winner here is Criterion, unless you are keen on the Gaumont Extra featurette (more about history than the film). The Weir interview is more fitting. |
Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC
Gaumont - Columbia Tri-Star HV Region 2 - PAL
Umbrella - Region FREE - Blu-ray
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Gaumont Boxset (France) CTHV - Region 2 -PAL -MIDDLE 3) Umbrella - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Gaumont Boxset (France) CTHV - Region 2 -PAL -MIDDLE 3) Umbrella - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Gaumont Boxset (France) CTHV - Region 2 -PAL -MIDDLE 3) Umbrella - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Gaumont Boxset (France) CTHV - Region 2 -PAL -MIDDLE 3) Umbrella - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Gaumont Boxset (France) CTHV - Region 2 -PAL -MIDDLE 3) Umbrella - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE
Box Cover |
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Bonus Captures: Also available in Germany on Blu-ray from Koch Media: |
|
Distribution |
Criterion Collection - Spine # 142 Region 1 - NTSC |
Gaumont -
Columbia Tri-Star HV Region 2 - PAL |
Umbrella - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |