| SUSPIRIA SEDA SPETTACOLI ; ITALY dvd specification |
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| [video][sound][extras][conclusion] |
| If you want a review of the actual film, click here. |
| video |
| This transfer appears to be exactly the same as the one that was used on the Nouveaux VHS of Suspiria. This was taken from a LaserDisc which, although acceptable for video is certainly not for dvd. As a result this release does not look a lot better than that video. Sure, the dark area's are suitably black but everything has a soft, blurry look to it, not at all what you would expect from dvd. The vibrant use of colour that this film is famous for suffers as well. It looks washed out on occasions, not at all what Argento intended. The one plus point is that it is widescreen (not quite 2.35:1) and uncut. |
 
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| sound |
| The good news is that this dvd has the original stereo soundtrack which adds greatly to the Suspiria experience. There is surprisingly little hiss considering the film is over 20 years old. It is not Dolby Digital and in fact does not say anywhere on the packaging that it is stereo except in the write up on the back which has clearly been lifted straight from the video as it refers to it being in HiFi Stereo. |
 
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| extras |
| Now this is a joke. There are no extra's at all on this disc. That's right, after all the speculation about interviews or commentaries, nothing. The filmography and stills gallery that are listed on the rear are not even on the disc! Not only that but you can only access the first four chapters from the scene selection menu. This is a piss poor, shoddy rip off! They can't even be bothered to get what is there to work right. If any Argento film was crying out for a commentary it was Suspiria. |
 
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| conclusion |
| This is a complete slap in the face for all Argentophiles. What a wasted opportunity. Nouveaux have gone down in my estimation dramatically, I thought they cared about Argento and his work, instead they throw out a dvd that they know people will buy no matter how crap it is. Whoever they are, they should hang their heads in shame. Obviously they are just money grabbing wasters. |
 
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| If this all sounds very vitriolic for an Argentophile reviewing Suspiria, then it is supposed to be. To my mind they have totally lost sight of what dvd is for. It is not just to re-release old VHS masters and make more money, it is a way of presenting great films in the best possible way. |
| reviewed by NJD |
| cover artwork |
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| disc artwork |
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