Almodovar on DVD

[Matt]

Pepi, Luci, Bom: Am I to understand that the UK version is as good as any?

As far as I know, this is the only one available with English subs.

[Gigi M.]

Picture quality on the Wellspring WHIDTDT disc is perfectly acceptable. Unfortunately, I think it may be OOP.

The disc is not OOP. By the way, the AV is above average.

[ByMarkClark.com]

Sorry - this title must have simply been dropped by my usual sources.

[kekid]

The UK 2-disc set of Volver has received good reviews. The R1 Sony is announced to be a one-disc edition only. I do not know what is on that single disc edition. Does anyone know if Sony is putting everything on one disc or whether it has less extras than the UK version?

[tavernier]

The Sony R1 will have these bonus features:

• AFI Tribute to Penélope Cruz
• Director and Cast Interviews
• “Making Of 'Volver'"
• Audio Commentary with Pedro Almodóvar and Penélope Cruz
• Photo Gallery

[Lino]

I can't find a readily availble version of High Heels.

Help me!!

Here you go, kid.

[Rich Malloy]

I can't find a readily availble version of High Heels.

Help me!!

Here you go, kid.

That may be a decent enough transfer in motion, but it looks kinda dodgy in those stills. I wouldn't nitpick, but this is a pretty pricey amazon.de or xploited title (around $30 shipped). There appears to be some sort of "vertical combing" that's really obvious around any fairly sharp vertical borders. Look around the edges of anything bright red, like Paredes' outfit in the second still, and any other vertically oriented sleeve or pantleg (the dance number). Can anybody vouch for this transfer "in motion"?

[zombeaner]

It is also available as part of the wave of Almodovar titles released in Australia last year. Has no one picked any of those up yet?

[Le Samouraï]

What is the consensus on the two R2 Optimum sets versus the big R1 set from Sony?

I get can some of the titles cheap here in Denmark, but would rather buy a box (or two) to avoid double dipping.

[Lino]

Well, I haven't got the Optimums but you can check DVDBeaver for comparisons and then decide, I guess.

Speaking for myself and regarding the new Sony set, I couldn't be happier! I've been devouring the set over the last week and I found myself flabberghasted at how good the movies look. All the prints used are in excellent condition and I will keep my fingers crossed for a possible Volume 2.

Besides, I think you can save a lot of money if you can catch some of the bargains that some stores are offering right now. Hey, I bought my set for €28 including P&P, which is unbelievable. Certainly a lot less if I went for the UK sets!

[Rich Malloy]

To second Lino, I love the Sony set and all sources I've read claim it to be superior to the Optimums and other releases. It appears to me that some of the titles are slightly misframed ("Women on the Verge") and I hate the yellow subs that Sony invariably uses, but those are all rather small criticisms compared to my immense enjoyment of this set and overall satisfaction with the quality.

Of course, the Optimum sets include some titles that aren't in the Sony set, particularly Volume 1. I'm tempted, but haven't yet decided to purchase it, particularly as some of the titles in both volumes are available separately. In fact, I ordered the Optimum release of "Kika" the other day, and will report back on the quality.

While I liked Almodovar well enough previously, having only seen "Bad Education", "Talk to Her", "Women on the Verge", and "Matador", I absolutely adore him now as a result of seeing all these films in such a short period of time. My wife and I simply kept returning for another Almodovar, and another, and another, night after night, until we watched the entire set. It was one of the best week's of DVD watching we've had, and to think I might not have purchased this set had it not been for the Tower Records $26 deal. Knowing now what I didn't know then, it would have been worth it to me for the full $80-90 retail price. I'm just nuts for these films.

[Lino]

I love Almodovar ever since I first watched Law of Desire in the mid-eighties on a late night TV showing. It's such a joy for me to see him getting this kind of recognition and DVD treatment more than 20 years on. It makes me kind of wish that I could have a relationship with someone this long.

[Le Samouraï]

Thanks for your replies, guys. I havde decided to go for the Sony set.

[Lino]

Volver DVD back cover:

[Lino]

This bit of news came out just in time as I was definitely leaning on buying a bootleg that I've come across of this most rare of Almodovar's movies.

Tartan Video have announced the UK DVD release of Labyrinth of Passion for 28th May 2007 priced at £19.99.

Pedro Almodóvar's second feature film is presented in anamorphic widescreen and includes the original trailer.

[Lino]

DVDTalk reviews the R1 edition of Volver.

[Lino]

DVDBeaver compares the R1 and R2 editions of Volver.

[patrick]

I can't wait to get my copy of Volver on Friday, if Sony did as good of a job on it as they did with Bad Education, it should be a visually stunning release.

Even with some minor flaws (barebones discs and minor misframing issues) the Almodovar box is an early frontrunner for the top of my "best of" list this year.

[zombeaner]

DVDBeaver compares the R1 and R2 editions of Volver.

I was already leaning toward the R2, though I am glad to have it confirmed. Now I just need to wait a few weeks till the price drops.

[patrick]

I watched the R1 Volver last night and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it unless you refuse to watch yellow subtitles (I guess I'm one of the few people who don't really mind them). The image is one of the sharpest transfers I've seen in a minute and stands up next to the gorgeous Bad Education disc. I was going to pick up the R2, but honestly I don't see the need, especially when most places are going to have the R1 for around $15 this week.

I can't wait for Labyrinth of Passion in May.

[patrick]

Looks like Labyrinth of Passion has been pushed back a month.

I might have to start picking up some of the Optimum releases for the amazing cover art alone. I'm sure no one in R1-land will ever use those covers, which is a shame.

[Rich Malloy]

Looks like Labyrinth of Passion has been pushed back a month.

Too bad... but only a week away now! Any idea whether there may be a few other releases on the near-horizon to compare quality?

I might have to start picking up some of the Optimum releases for the amazing cover art alone. I'm sure no one in R1-land will ever use those covers, which is a shame.

I received "Kika", and am really satisfied with the whole package. The source materials and transfer are not quite at the level of the Sony R1 set or the R2 Pathe "Volver", but I'm nonetheless very pleased overall. I'm viewing this on a 54" screen, video upscaled to 1080i.

Like you say, Patrick, I'm thinking of filling the Almodovar gaps in my collection with the Optimum titles. Thing is, all of the early ones seem to have something wrong - wrong aspect ratios for "Pepi, Luci, Bom" (1.66:1 instead of 1.33:1, and non-anamorphic to boot) and "Dark Habits" (1.94:1 instead of 1.66-to-1.85:1); reputedly a fairly poor encode for "What Have I Done to Deserve This?". But the packaging is very attractive, and the extra features - while sparse - are well-done on the "Kika" disc. Given the overall ugliness of the R1 covers, this may be reason along to get those Optimums.

Does anyone know how the R1 transfers for "Habits" and "What Have I Done" measure up against the Optimums? I guess there aren't other options for "Pepi, Luci, Bom"?

I also picked up the Pathe release of "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!", and I think the transfer is slightly beneath the quality of "Kika", but I was quite satisfied overall.

[Rich Malloy]

A quick re-read of the entire thread provided some answers... the R1 "Dark Habits" is reportedly cut by as much as 14 minutes, and the R1 "WHIDTDT?" is considered to be of decent a/v quality.

[patrick]

All of the Wellspring R1s are decent, in my opinion, but none of them are anywhere near definitive.

The Weinstein Company will be rereleasing Dark Habits sometime this year under their "Miriam Collection" banner (their "prestige" line), and I'd assume the other Wellspring Almodovar discs will follow, but since we're talking about the Weinsteins, who knows if the new discs will be any better than the old ones.

[malcolm1980]

I picked up Bad Education on sale just before it officially became out of print.