Writings > DVD Image Comparisons > Danny the Dog/Unleashed

Danny the Dog/Unleashed

Region 1 HD DVD/DVD combo (USA) - Universal
vs. Region 2 (UK) - Universal
vs. Region 2 Ultimated Edition (France) - Europacorp

Details

Bit Rate

R1 USA

(R2 UK bit rate unavailable, sorry!)

R2 France

Screen Captures

Example 1

Mouse over to switch between versions:
US | UK | France

Example 2

Mouse over to switch between versions:
US | UK | France

Example 3

Mouse over to switch between versions:
US | UK | France

Example 4

Mouse over to switch between versions:
US | UK | France

Example 5

Mouse over to switch between versions:
US | UK | France

Example 6

Mouse over to switch between versions:
US | UK | France

Example 7

Mouse over to switch between versions:
US | UK | France

Update, August 20, 2006 (R1 USA): As far as I'm aware, the standard definition version included on the flipside of the HD DVD/DVD combo release is identical to the US R-rated release, barring the absence of bonus trailers for Cry_Wolf and Carlito's Way: Rise to Power. It compares reasonably favourably to the UK release, but sports slightly more edge enhancement and, due to more compression artefacts, has a less smooth appearance. It also gains a DTS track, which the UK variant doesn't have, although it loses a number of extras. The fact that it includes a sumptuous HD DVD version on the other side should make this a no-brainer for those who have the correct equipment, but those still locked in standard definition would be better served by the French release.

Comments

For such a recent film, it is surprising to see such a discrepancy between the two transfers. Because two different cuts of the film exist (the UK release contains the shorter American cut while the French release gets the more character-oriented European cut), two separate video masters have clearly been created, resulting in very different visuals. Beyond the marginal cropping on the French release, it has much higher contrast levels, resulting in the whites in outdoor scenes being (intentionally, I think) blown out, while the UK transfer by comparison looks very murky (see examples 3, 6 and 7). Overall, it seems to me that the digital colour grading on the UK transfer is more pronounced than its French counterpart: this results in the warm-tinted scenes looking warmer (see example 5) and the desaturated ones looking more monochromatic (see example 6). It's not applied consistently, though (for example, shot 4 has a more extreme blue tint on the French transfer). Overall, because this is a French film from a French director, I am going to assume that the transfer given to the French cut is the closest to the director's original intentions. Your mileage may vary, though.

The French release has more detail than the UK variant, but also more edge enhancement. Overall I favour the French version, but it's up to you. The French version is also the clear winner in terms of audio (gaining a magnificent DTS track) and extras (commentary, isolated score and effects track, and the inclusion of the short segments included in the US version but not the European version). It also comes in a very nifty tin case, if you care about that sort of thing.

Summary