Writings > DVD Image Comparisons > The Omen

The Omen

Region 1 Special Edition (USA) - 20th Century Fox
vs. Region 1 Collector's Edition (USA) - 20th Century Fox

Details

Bit Rate

R1 SE

R1 CE

Screen Captures

Example 1

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Example 2

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Example 3

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Example 4

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Example 5

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Example 6

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Example 7

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Comments

Big improvements all round in the new 2-disc Collector's Edition, although I'm not quite sure how clear they are in these screen grabs. The big difference is in the overall brightness and colour levels - the new version is noticeably brighter, while the colours have much less of a red tint to them. The framing is also slightly different, with the newer version losing some information at the top and right but gaining at the bottom and left. Encoding is also much improved (see especially Example 4), while edge enhancement has been tamed (see Example 5). Some digital clean-up has been carried out to remove print damage (see Example 6), but there are no unwholesome artefacts on display. Judging by director Richard Donner's comments in his introduction on the second disc, he is extremely happy with this new transfer.

The sound also gets a major boost. Normally I am against remixing, but in this case I consider the CE's 5.1 remix to be a most welcome bonus, as Jerry Goldsmith's wonderful music score has been resourced from the original stereo recordings rather than using the mono version that was featured in the 2.0 surround remix on the previous release. (Interestingly, the LaserDisc release featured the stereo score, giving it a one-up over the earlier DVD.) The dialogue in both this new mix and the original mono mix sounds considerably cleaner than it did on the earlier DVD.

As for extras, the CE is once again the clear winner, with everything from the previous release having been ported over. The only downside is the poorer menus, which have an abrasive Jeepers Creepers style to them that seems out of place for a film that is so restrained in its depiction of horror.

Summary