Strictly Ballroom

[James P]

Does anyone know if or when we can expect a decent, preferably special edition, version of this top film?

[Brian Blessed Badger]

it's out on Carton R2 now

anamorphic picture, DD 2.0 and a music video/bios as extras - it's not really that big a cult film, and it was done on a budget so i'm not sure what else they could add (trailers perhaps ?)

pretty reasonable as it was in the HMV 2 for 20/22 not that long ago

Phil

[Raphph]

i've got the carlton one and i dont think its anamorphic

[sspencer]

The box says it is anamorphic (not that that is anything to go by); I saw it in the HMV sale today at £9.99.

[Raphph]

mine's quite old, maybe they redid it.

[DavidMcGowan]

There's a review of it here (http://www.homecinemachoice.com/showtime/R2DVD/StrictlyBallroom.shtml), although it also manages to contradict itself by stating it's full screen in the specs, and then claiming it's 16x9 enhanced in the main body of the review. :confused: So you're back where you started really.

[Smiler]

Makes no mention of being anamorphic on my copy which is about 16 months old but in any case its still a good buy. It was selling at £6.99 in one of our hmv's at the weekend so if you can try another branch it may be a similar price.


Smiler

[James P]

Thanks for all your responses.

I saw the Carlton version at HMV, but having read less than favourable reviews about the disc, I wasn't convinced. Maybe I'm in the minority, but to me this film is crying out for a decent anamorphic transfer and DD or DTS sound - stereo just won't do it justice!

I'm pretty surprised that this isn't even out on R4.

[sspencer]

Had a look last night - definitely anamorphic widescreen and Dolby surround sound. Picture is not brilliant, but much sharper than my old video copy and considering that the film is a low budget Aussie flick its pretty good.

Obviously with Baz Luhrmann having a much increased profile there may be a SE somewhere, but at £9.99 this is worth holding in the meantime.

[Michael Brooke]

Since the film was made on a low budget in plain stereo, I really don't see what difference DTS will make.

Some people seem to assume that these magic initials will automatically improve any film - but, to be honest, you might as well release <I>Strictly Ballroom</I> in PCM stereo if you really want to wring the highest possible quality out of relatively mediocre material (from a technical viewpoint).

[John Nelson]

I agree.

People complained when Reservoir Dogs got released in R2 with a pro-logic soundtrack (the R1's not anamorphic, but it *is* in DD5.1!), forgetting that it was a low-budget film with a stereo soundtrack in the first place.

If a film had a mono or stereo soundtrack originally, that's how it should be presented on DVD.

-- John

[A²]

Isn't there a new box pack of the curtain trilogy thing on the way:
Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom, Romeo and Juliet

Did I make that up?

[DavidMcGowan]

Originally posted by arallsopp
Isn't there a new box pack of the curtain trilogy thing on the way:
Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom, Romeo and Juliet

Did I make that up?

From DVDFile.com (24th September):
"Fox will also release a three-disc box set with Moulin Rouge, along with Lurhmann's previous, acclaimed efforts Strictly Ballroom and Romeo + Juliet, the latter a new special edition (the previous DVD will be discontinued.) No further details are yet available on this set, but stay tuned."