I have owned the 'laserdisc' version of this film, as well as the VHS version and the earlier, dreadful, dvd version of which I was highly critical.
However, all is forgiven with this latest release. The 'blu-ray' edition is nothing short of stunning, both visually and aurally.
The joins of the 3 strip process have been all but removed, with the often slightly different saturation levels of the backgrounds similarly blended to appear as one, correctly color balanced,
giant frame. One thing overlooked by others is the geometric errors introduced by the 3 camera process have been carefully corrected (the final scene of the 'fly under' of the Golden Gate bridge was 3 distinct straight lines joined as one. Now the curve is perfect.(incidentally, this is the reason Stanley Kubrick declined the 3 camera process for 2001...)
The soundtrack is the most perfect I have ever heard, it's sonically brilliant save for a little clipping on a few of the heavily modulated high levels.(from the original soundtrack)
The previously missing correct rear channel information is all there.
The only minor critique, as one other has pointed out, is the really obvious opening scene 'ball of fluff' which was obviously on the cinerama lenses. Could have been easily fixed.
If you have a good projector, and good audio, you simply won't believe the picture detail and giant 'scope' of this movie. The plot is dreadful, some of the acting a bit wooden.
But this is still one of the, if not the, cinema masterpieces of the 20th century.
I have owned the 'laserdisc' version of this film, as well as the VHS version and the earlier, dreadful, dvd version of which I was highly critical. However, all is forgiven with this latest release. The 'blu-ray' edition is nothing short of stunning, both visually and aurally. The joins of the 3 strip process have been all but removed, with the often slightly different saturation levels of the backgrounds similarly blended to appear as one, correctly color balanced,
giant frame. One thing overlooked by others is the geometric errors introduced by the 3 camera process have been carefully corrected (the final scene of the 'fly under' of the Golden Gate bridge was 3 distinct straight lines joined as one. Now the curve is perfect. (incidentally, this is the reason Stanley Kubrick declined the 3 camera process for 2001... )
The soundtrack is the most perfect I have ever heard, it's sonically brilliant save for a little clipping on a few of the heavily modulated high levels. (from the original soundtrack)
The previously missing correct rear channel information is all there. The only minor critique, as one other has pointed out, is the really obvious opening scene 'ball of fluff' which was obviously on the cinerama lenses. Could have been easily fixed. If you have a good projector, and good audio, you simply won't believe the picture detail and giant 'scope' of this movie. The plot is dreadful, some of the acting a bit wooden. But this is still one of the, if not the, cinema masterpieces of the 20th century.