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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
directed by Terry Gilliam
U.S. 1998
It is 1971, and journalist Raoul Duke
barrels toward Las Vegas—accompanied by a trunkful of contraband and his
slightly unhinged Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo—to cover a motorcycle race.
What should be a cut-and-dried journalistic assignment quickly descends
into a feverish psychedelic odyssey. Director Terry Gilliam and an
all-star cast headlined by Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro show no
mercy in bringing Hunter S. Thompson’s excoriating dissection of the
American way of life to the screen, creating a film both hilarious and
savage. *** “We were somewhere around Barstow when the drugs began to take hold.” It is 1971, and journalist Raoul Duke barrels towards Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, accompanied by a trunkful of contraband and his slightly unhinged Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo. But what is ostensibly a cut-and-dried journalistic endeavor quickly descends into a feverish psychedelic odyssey and an excoriating dissection of the American way of life. Director Terry Gilliam and an all-star cast (headlined by Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro) show no mercy in bringing Dr. Hunter S, Thompson’s legendary Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to the screen, creating a film both hilarious and savage. |
Poster
Theatrical Release Date: May 22, 1998
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. UFA (German) - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal - Region 1 - NTSC |
Big thanks to Gregory for all the DVD Screen Captures
Box Covers |
Coming to Blu-ray in the UK by Arrow in December 2019: |
||||
Distribution | Criterion Collection - Spine #175 Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
U niversal StudiosRegion FREE - Blu-ray |
UFA / 101 Distribution Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Criterion Collection - Spine #175 Region 1 - NTSC |
Universal Studios Region 1 - NTSC |
Runtime | 1:58:13.127 | 1:58:28.601 | 1:58:07.789 | 1:58:24 | 1:58:16 |
Video |
Disc Size: 47,572,578,345 bytes Feature Size: 28,555,997,184 bytes Total Bitrate: 23.98 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC |
Disc Size: 36,192,653,001 bytes Feature Size: 33,929,588,736 bytes Total Bitrate: 30.86 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray VC-1 |
Disc Size: 24,251,193,282 bytes Feature Size: 20,893,882,368 bytes Total Bitrate: 23.58 MbpsSingle-layered Blu-ray VC-1 |
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced |
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. | |||||
Bitrate:
Criterion Blu-ray |
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Bitrate:
Universal Blu-ray |
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Bitrate:
German Blu-ray |
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Bitrate: Criterion
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Bitrate: Universal |
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Audio |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3518 kbps 5.1 /
48 kHz / 3518 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps /
24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 2075 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2075 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 4245 kbps 5.1 /
48 kHz / 4245 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps /
24-bit) DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit |
DTS-HD Audio English 2046 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2046 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Audio German 2046 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2046 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) |
English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (DTS) | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) |
Subtitles | English, and none | English, Danish, Finnish, French, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish and none | English, German and none | English, and none | Spanish, French, English (captions) and none |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion Disc Size: 47,572,578,345 bytes Feature Size: 28,555,997,184 bytes Total Bitrate: 23.98 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVCEdition Details: Blu-ray Release Date:
April 26th, 2011 Chapters 22 |
Release Information: Studio: Universal Disc Size: 36,192,653,001 bytes Feature Size: 33,929,588,736 bytes Total Bitrate: 30.86 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray VC-1
Edition Details: • Spotlight on Location (10:35 in SD) • Trailers / Previews BD-LIVE capable / D-Box motion enabled
Blu-ray Release Date:
February 2nd, 2010 Chapters 30 | Release Information: Studio: UFA Disc Size: 24,251,193,282 bytes Feature Size: 20,893,882,368 bytes Total Bitrate: 23.58 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray VC-1
Edition Details: • Depp Interview (4:57) • Del Toro Interview (:36) • Gilliam Interview (2:44)
•
Trailer / Previews
Blu-ray Release Date:
October 23rd, 2008 Chapters 20 |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1
Edition Details: DVD Release Date: February 18, 2003 Chapters 22 |
Release Information: Studio: Universal Studios Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1
Edition Details: DVD Release Date: November 17, 1998 Chapters 30 |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were
taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray
Bottom line is that if you want the Criterion extras - their Blu-ray is the way to go but price-wise the Universal is significantly cheaper. So if you already own the Criterion DVD you may only wish to pick up the Universal Blu-ray which is less than $10 at the writing of this review. *** ADDITION: Universal Blu-ray January 10': Depending on the system there may not be excessive visual differences in the two Blu-rays but if you look very closely you may see the superiority of the Universal. This newer edition is dual-layered (as opposed to single-layered) and hence has a higher video bitrate. It is occasionally sharper with a tad more depth. Colors differences appear negligible. The Universal may be marginally smoother in motion but for most this probably won't be a deal-breaker. Audio seems a more significant bump over the German release with a strong DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at, a healthy, 4245 kbps. I found this notable in playback on my system with the North American transfer producing a more robust and deeper sound. There is a French DUB. The Universal has some Scandinavian subtitle options (among others like English) and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide. The Criterion is still tops with the extras and we only get a deleted scene and 'Spotlight on Location' featurette (both in SD) running over 20-minutes in total. There are Previews, the disc is BD-LIVE functional and D-Box Motion enabled. Great price on this for those that didn't get the UFA edition. This Universal Blu-ray looks and sounds top notch and the film is a ride you don't soon forget. Recommended! *** ADDITION: UFA Home Video Blu-ray February 09': This is being distributed in the US from 101 Distribution that are taking some region-free Blu-ray titles from locations outside North America and exposing them, through Amazon, for purchase. It's not a bad idea as shipping across the pond from Germany, where this UFA single-layered Blu-ray originates, can be excessive for some reason (much more than, say, the UK or even France - I've never known why).
NOTE: I can confirm that the UFA Home Video Blu-ray
is region free and will play on Blu-ray machines worldwide.
The
Blu-ray
image quality is demonstratively superior than either of the DVDs as the
screen captures should easily bear out. Detail, colors and just about
every facet of the visuals, including slightly more information in the
frame, leans heavily to the hi-def release. Audio
get a beneficial bump to DTS-HD and a German DUB is optional. Both
English and German subtitle choices are available.
This
Blu-ray
has some extras (in English) with Deleted Scenes (also found on the
Criterion) and three short interviews with Depp, Del Toro and Gilliam.
There are also some trailers. Criterion with the commentaries obviously
eclipses the
Blu-ray
in the supplement department with the commentaries etc.
Bottom line is that it looks just too superior to pass up for this
ad-hoc masterpiece. Fans should strongly consider indulging - it's close
to watching a whole new film. *** ON THE DVDs (from 2003): I don't see a lot of difference in the image quality of these two DVDs but of course the Extras are all in favor of the Criterion Double disc set. NOTE: The promo "Spotlight on Location" (10 minutes) and Spanish and French subs are unique for Universal. Criterion wins the sound with a 5.1 soundtrack to the Universal's 2.0 . Personally I like the easier to read Universal menus... but that is just me. Fans of the film should obviously get the Criterion. Casual viewers the Universal. |
Menus
Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray
Universal Blu-ray Menus
(Criterion R1 - NTSC-Left vs. Universal Region 1 - NTSC-Right)
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Screen Captures
1) Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray - TOP 2) Universal Region FREE Blu-ray - SECOND 3) UFA Region FREE Blu-ray - THIRD4) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - FOURTH5) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM |
1) Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray - TOP 2) Universal Region FREE Blu-ray - SECOND 3) UFA Region FREE Blu-ray - THIRD4) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - FOURTH5) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM |
1) Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray - TOP 2) Universal Region FREE Blu-ray - SECOND 3) UFA Region FREE Blu-ray - THIRD4) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - FOURTH5) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM |
1) Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray - TOP 2) Universal Region FREE Blu-ray - SECOND 3) UFA Region FREE Blu-ray - THIRD4) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - FOURTH5) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM |
1) Universal Region FREE Blu-ray - TOP 2) UFA Region FREE Blu-ray - SECOND3) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD4) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM |
More Blu-ray grabs!
1) Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray - TOP
2) Universal Region FREE Blu-ray -
BOTTOM
1) Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray - TOP
2) Universal Region FREE Blu-ray -
BOTTOM
1) Criterion Region 'A' Blu-ray - TOP
2) Universal Region FREE Blu-ray -
BOTTOM
Report Card:
Image: | Universal Blu-ray |
Sound: | Blu-rays |
Extras: | Criterion Blu-ray |
Box Covers |
Coming to Blu-ray in the UK by Arrow in December 2019: |
||||
Distribution | Criterion Collection - Spine #175 Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
U niversal StudiosRegion FREE - Blu-ray |
UFA / 101 Distribution Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Criterion Collection - Spine #175 Region 1 - NTSC |
Universal Studios Region 1 - NTSC |
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