| PHENOMENA DACFILM ; ITALY dvd specification |
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| [video][sound][extras] |
| Thanks to Christophe "Arioch" Lemonnier from DeVilDead for the screen captures! video |
| First, the ratio of this dvd is not the usual 1.66:1 we're used to seeing. It's been framed with a 1.77 ratio so that it fits a 16/9 widescreen TV. Yet, if compared to the Anchor Bay dvd, you have more informations on the left and on the right, and as much picture at the top and at the bottom of the screen! The definition is stunning, the picture is much clearer and fluid than the Anchor Bay dvd. Much more detail can be noticed too (even a nice bunch of technicians being reflected in the yellow bus when it leaves Jennifer in the mountains!). No artifacts or compression trouble are to be noticed. The titles are in French and the movie looks quite clean. BUT a big weakness is to be noticed : the colors are ugly! There's obviously been a problem with this dvd. The usual dark blue which is the main color of the movie turns into a terrible grey-green; Fleshtones become pink; blood looks slightly orange ... It does not look natural at all. This is not "Phenomena" anymore. Frankly, I don't feel at all like buying this TF1 dvd. I will rather keep my AB dvd, although it's not perfect. |
| sound |
| Two soundtracks are available. The English one is mono (big let down: the movie was recorded in Dolby stereo!) and is very clear and powerful. It has subtitles which can't be turned off. The French one is a mono soundtrack (as far as I know, it is normal). It is harsh and has a low level, yet it is quite clean. The English soundtrack is still the best one. |
| extras |
| The main menu starts with a few pictures from the movie (the stick of the killer, stairs...) and the "Flash of the Blade" song by Iron Maiden. The menus are animated once more (windows with black and with excerpts from the movie, flies moving around the screen). The "Select" icon is a fly. The "back to menu" icon is a pair of scissors (used in the opening murder). From the main menu you can go to: Chapters: This menu starts with the 'cloud of flies' getting to the Richard Wagner school. It has one animated window for each of the 15 chapters. Soundtracks: This menu lets you hear Jennifer's heartbeats and sighs. You can choose English audio with French subtitles OR French audio with no subtitles. Link: Once again, this is supposed to be a link to the TF1 vidéo website. Bonus: It leads you to the bonus menu. The bonus menu starts with flies covering a window. Here is what you can get: Interview: It has been taken from a video of a festival at Montréal, and lasts about 20 minutes. It seems that it's been made in the early 90s (maybe 1993...). The quality is not too good. Dario speaks a strange mix of Italian, English, French and Spanish, but fortunately it has French subtitles! The beginning of this document shows us Dario receiving an award for his work, and making a little speech, in which he says that the 80s have been bad for horror movies but that he is proud of making this kind of films, and that he does not want to give up this genre. He complains about censorship. Then you have an interview made by French journalists. Dario sits with the Spanish director Álex de la Iglesia ("Action Mutante", "Day of the Beast"...) and they are supposed to answer the questions together. This document is heavily cut, and you don't hear much from Álex de la Iglesia. First, Dario speaks about the problems he had with Lombardo, the boss of "Titanus" for "Bird with the Crystal Plumage". Then he speaks about influences in cinema and how directors are influenced by each other. Dario slowly skips to one of his favourite issue: Brian De Palma, of course! He talks about the last shot from "Raising Cain" which is "inspired" by "Tenebre". He and Álex de la Iglesia seem very pleased to say mean things about De Palma, while the interviewers try to defend him... Then Dario says that he loves cinema so much that he never hates any movie. He explains that his style is very strong, because he wants to show that a movie is only the director's look: it has nothing to do with pure reality. You may have noticed that all of this has nothing to do with "Phenomena"... Biographies: It contains a complete filmography for Dario (producer, writer, director...). Jennifer Connelly has a short bio and a complete filmography. Donald Pleasance has a good bio and a selective filmography. More horror...: This leads you to a few trailers for TF1 horror dvds put end to end. You will find : "The Dentist" (1996) de Brian Yuzna, "Phantom of the Opera" (1998) de Dario Argento, "House" (1986) de Steve Miner, "House II" (1987) de Ethan Wiley , "The prophecy" (1995) de Gregory Widen, "Hellraiser" (1987) de Clive Barker, "Hellbound : Hellraiser II" de Tony Randel and "New Nightmare" (1994) by Wes Craven. This is really a cheap bonus !!! |
| reviewed by Emmanuel Denis |
| cover artwork |
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| main menu |
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| extras menu |
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