Brazil: Criterion Special Edition (Region Free)
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It`s only a state of mind
Certificate: none
Running Time: 326 mins
Retail Price: $59.95
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie
Synopsis:
Gathering footage from both the European and American versions, Director Terry Gilliam has assembled the ultimate 142-minute cut of his most celebrated film. Criterion is proud to present its landmark special edition of Brazil in an exclusive three-disc set.
DISC ONE: The restored windscreen transfer of the film with a remastered Dolby Surround soundtrack and Gilliam`s shot-by-shot commentary.
DISC TWO: A treasure-trove of Braziliana: the 30-minute on-set documentary What is Brazil?, Criterions original expose The Battle of Brazil: A video History reassembles the players in the battle over the film`s U.S. release; plus, hundreds of storyboards, drawings, and publicity and production stills; rare raw and behind-the-scenes footage; exclusive video interviews with the production team; and the original theatrical trailer.
DISC THREE: The 94-minute "Love Conquers All" version of Brazil, with all the changes Gilliam refused to make and an audio essay by journalist David Morgan.
Special Features:
Disc 1:
Audio Commentary By Terry Gilliam
Disc 2:
30 Minute On Set Documentary
60 Minute Criterion Documentary By Jack Matthews
Screenwriters Tom Stoppard & Charles McKeown On The Script
Production Designer Norman Garwood On The Look Of Brazil
Costume Designer James Acheson On The Couture Of Fantasy & Fascism
Storyboards Fro Gilliam`s Original Dream Sequences, Many Of Which Didn`t Make It Into The Film
Composer Michael Kamen Unveils The Sources Of His Score
A Study Of The Special Effects Includes Raw Footage Of Unfinished Effects
Theatrical Trailer, Plus Publicity & Production Stills
Disc 3:
94 Minute Cut Of Brazil Includes All The Changes That Gilliam Refused To Make, From The Alternate Opening To The Controversial Happy Ending
Audio Commentary By Gilliam Expert David Morgan
Video Tracks:
Widescreen Letterbox 1.85:1
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital Surround 2.0 English
Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 English
Directed By:
Terry Gilliam
Written By:
Tom Stoppard
Charles McKeown
Terry Gilliam
Starring:
Jim Broadbent
Kim Greist
Peter Vaughan
Ian Richardson
Michael Palin
Bob Hoskins
Ian Holm
Katherine Helmond
Robert De Niro
Jonathan Pryce
Casting By:
Irene Lamb
Soundtrack By:
Michael Kamen
Director of Photography:
Roger Pratt
Editor:
Julián Doyle
Costume Designer:
James Acheson
Production Designer:
Norman Garwood
Producer:
Arnon Milchan
Patrick Cassavetti
Distributor:
Criterion
Your Opinions and Comments
This is one of those discs that arrive and the second you open it you know you`ve got something special - right from the see-thru clouded cover to the discs themselves this reeks quality.
Disc by disc - the first is the film itself in it`s full widescreen glory. I can`t comment on any anamorphic picture as I`ve just got a big normal screen but I can say that I`ve never seen it like this on video or the TV. Colours jump right out, especially during the dream sequences, and somehow it all looks rather like a film from last year, not 1985. Detail is consistently excellent and I didn`t spot a single artifact. Sound and dialogue is crystal clear and explosions pleasingly thumpy (big badda boom!)
Special note should be made of the glorious front menu - just the big neon Brazil floating down a neverending corridor of filing cabinets to the strains of the eponymous tune - very satisfying.
The second disc with all the extras is... comprehensive. Best I can tell anyhows, with more background detail than you could shake several sticks at. A few more hours are gonna be spent before I`ve gone through all of this! Quality is more variable here.
The third disc with the Love Conquers All version is a mixed bag. It`s very interesting to have, especially with the critic`s commentary - watching one after the other is alarming, the editors knife is a cruel instrument. This is, oddly, in full-frame 4:3 and the print quality is significantly lower than the first disc. Still very enjoyable, in a retrospective kind of way.
If you like this film GET THIS VERSION!!! You will be telling all your mates about it for days hehe