Writings > DVD Image Comparisons > Opera/Terror at the Opera

Opera/Terror at the Opera

Region 0 (USA) Limited Edition - Anchor Bay
vs. Region 2 (UK) Arrow Pictures

Details

Bit Rate

R0 USA

R2 UK

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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Example 8

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Example 9

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Comments

I can't honestly say that I prefer one transfer over the other. The UK release shows a bit more information at the bottom of the image, although because this film was shot in Super35 with a 1.85:1 hard matte and then further matted to 2.39:1 to obtain the intented ratio, it's difficult to ascertain whether or not this extra material was meant to be seen. Barring the discoloured opening credits (see Example 1) and final shot (see Example 9), the UK release has a slightly colder hue, although it's nothing major. At a push, I'd give a slight edge to the US release, due to slightly weaker encoding on the UK disc (visible, but only just, in Example 6).

Audio is where it gets trickier. The US release provides three different English mixes, but none are the original stereo track. All, instead, were culled from a new 6.1 mix created by Anchor Bay, which leads to some discrepancies in the overall volume levels - although nothing like as bad as the hatchet job they did on Suspiria. Indeed, I very much enjoy the DTS mix. The UK version, meanwhile, provides English and Italian stereo tracks (although the Italian track has been flagged for surround playback). These are not remixed, and as a result are more in line with Argento's original intentions, although there is a slight hiss to the English track.

(Note that there are two different English dubs in circulation, with the UK release including the original, pre-Cannes version. The US release contains a slightly different version, replacing the voice of Inspector Santini with one that sounds less effeminate, but doesn't fit with the rest of the voices.)

Really, it's your choice. I'm scoring both releases equally for audio, but I suspect that purists will be happier with the UK disc. It misses out on some very cool extras, though.

Summary