It looks good, sure… but do I really need a third copy of 400 Blows from Criterion on my shelf?
Probably not, Brandon. I guess it depends on if you think it’s worth the upgrade. Many people are perfectly happy with upconverting their DVDs.
It’s one of those films which you might want in the absolute best format available.
Gotta love filmdom’s first slacker.
I am getting this…
Getting this and The Last Metro next week. Thank you Criterion. How about Shoot the Piano Player?
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/Reviews/400_blows.htm
DVD Beaver is giving the blu-ray edge to the region 2 Warner / MK2 – Region 0 version for picture and sound.
I have to take issue with Criterion’s release of The 400 Blows. The special features and print are quite nice, but the subtitles are mediocre. They have no rythym compared to the release of fox lorber dvd release of the film. Criterion has got to improve in this area. Many of these arthouse classics will only be released on blu-ray or dvd by Criterion in America. The subtitles to Breathless are also lagging. I fear for the next two Godard films being released on dvd. If anyone agrees or disagrees are is aware of any changes for the better please respond in the next post. Thank You.
I noticed that with “Masculin Feminin”. The subtitles sort of just plop on the screen without following the nuances of the actor’s line reading and the translation feels a bit simplified. I saw a version of this movie at film festival and the translation was really colorful and caught all the slang and idiosyncrasies of the French language. If felt like in the Criterion release they simplified it to make the language seem less obscure somehow. Then again… the new Chungking Express’ subtitles are by far the best of any Criterion I’ve seen. Maybe they’re improving.
pmpboarder
Blu-ray.com has posted their (rather early) review of The 400 Blows. It seems to have blown away the reviewer!
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=3441&show=review
Movie – 5.0
Video – 4.5
Audio – 5.0
Extras – 5.0
Overall – 5.0
Final words:
Criterion deliver again! Truffaut’s timeless The 400 Blows looks and sounds spectacular! I am unsure what to say here that hasn’t already been said better by other film critics. So, I would simply like to encourage you to do whatever it takes to add The 400 Blows to your film collections. Simply put, they will be incomplete without it. Very Highly Recommended.