The Red Shoes: R2 SE vs R1 Criterion

[feverpitch96]

Now I know the R1's a Criterion, but it's also a non-anamorphic 4:3 NTSC print. I've also read that the Criterion transfer is so good that this doesn't seem to matter.

Just saw the R2 SE from Carlton and much of the transfer looks a little soft...there are bound to be differences in the extras for these two editions, but taking transfer sharpness into account as well, can anyone recommend one over the other?

[samuelowens]

Originally posted by feverpitch96
Now I know the R1's a Criterion, but it's also a non-anamorphic 4:3 NTSC print. I've also read that the Criterion transfer is so good that this doesn't seem to matter.

All 4:3 stuff, by its very nature, is non-anamorphic, and The Red Shoes is always going to be 4:3 anyway. I haven't seen the Carlton edition but the Criterion transfer is very good. Anyway, the two unique sets of extras lends this title to being purchased twice.

[Richie]

Can one of you list what is on the Carlton edition please :)
thanks
Richie

[jonathan.e]

There will be a new edition of The Red Shoes hopefully in 2002 using a new colour saturation method which should put any existing transfer in the shade. No other details at the moment as tests are still going on.

[Michael Brooke]

I haven't seen the Carlton disc, but the Criterion extras alone wipe the floor with it - one of the best commentaries I've ever heard, a superb multi-angle feature that lets you compare the ballet sequence with the original sketches, tons of stills and memorabilia, and by far the best filmography I've ever encountered on a DVD: initially looking like the usual IMDB-sourced list of titles... until you click on them and discover that every single one has at least a stills gallery and more often an actual film clip!

Also note that the Criterion transfer was personally supervised by cinematographer Jack Cardiff, and the Carlton one wasn't. And not only would anamorphic enhancement be totally unnecessary, it would be actively damaging with 4:3 material, as it would reduce the overall image resolution by shrinking the picture so it could fit in a 16:9 frame.

[feverpitch96]

Originally posted by Michael Brooke
And not only would anamorphic enhancement be totally unnecessary, it would be actively damaging with 4:3 material, as it would reduce the overall image resolution by shrinking the picture so it could fit in a 16:9 frame.

Yes, what I had in mind when I wrote my post was that non-anamorphic NTSC (as almost all 4:3 NTSC DVD material is) can sometimes look pretty dire, so I was wondering how it compared to the PAL version in this instance. The extras are certainly a major selling-point for the Criterion, but as someone else, said, the extras unique to the Carlton disc make that intersting as well.

This new SE sounds good too...sigh...

[cervaro]

On BBC2 this morning at 10:45 for those, like myself, who don't have this title on DVD. Only seen bits of the movie in the past. Might tape it as I'll be too tired to concentrate after coming home from work. Waiting for the special edition seems to be the best option for me.

[samuelowens]

The Carlton DVD is available in HMV's sale for 7 quid (feverpitch96, you may be interested to know that VAT is removed by hmv.co.uk).

[feverpitch96]

Originally posted by samuelowens
The Carlton DVD is available in HMV's sale for 7 quid (feverpitch96, you may be interested to know that VAT is removed by hmv.co.uk).

Thanks samuel. I've actually had two copies of the Carlton edition from HMV.co.uk already as part of an earlier sale. Both arrived on this side of the world with the special cardboard case crushed - clearly HMV's rather basic non-reinforced Jiffy-bag postage doesn't work for the more fragile items (although very well for many more standard packages I've bought from them). :( I'm not keen to try them yet again for this disc (I'm one of those fussy folk who doesn't want a box he can't replace elsewhere ruined before it arrives), and I don't really want to pay 15 quid elsewhere, so I was casting about for information to persuade me to spend 25 quid on the Criterion...
:)

[samuelowens]

I've got the Criterion and I'm a happy chappy. You won't regret the purchase. (How's that)