jonathan.e
06-02-2002, 16:03
http://www.play.com/covers/98754m.jpg
First the good news - this is light years better than the heinous Laserlight NTSC disc, which itself was probably the best available version of Arkadin up until this point. Where the US disc looked as if it were mastered from a cheap VHS recorded off TV in LP mode, this new R0 PAL disc from Metrodome has a crisp, contrasty print which is almost a physical relief to watch in comparison to the American DVD. The R0 disc gives the film back it’s noirfeel which must have been evident on it’s original release but was eroded by the washed out transfer of the Laserlight disc and the all too rare TV showings.
The sound also is significantly improved from the wobbly, muffled track of the US disc. This new version obviously still carries a Mono track but as with the picture, dialogue is clearer and crisper: pretty important as much of the narrative flow is carried via voiceover. It should be pointed out that Welles’ penchant for overdubbing dialogue as opposed to recording it live is probably responsible for some occasional lip-synch problems rather than a fault of the transfer. Menus are also worth singling out as being very tastefully designed and entirely appropriate for the movie, as is the packaging itself.
The less good news is that Metrodome have chosen not to do much (if any) restoration to the print this disc was mastered from. It is a relatively decent print for a film of this vintage but there are simply far too many dust marks and minor scratches which could (and should) have been so easily removed. Particular problem areas are highlights and shadows which are plagued by these marks and are quite distracting. Also there is a fluctuation in the image in the midtone areas such as overcast skies and any greys, almost a visible dipping from light to dark. This is throughout the length of the movie. Additionally I also found the print a tiny bit too soft for my tastes and would have like to have seen a little more sharpness and detail.
Were I seeing this movie for the first time ever, I’m sure my comments would be much more harsh and indeed I would go as far as saying that a movie in this condition should not have been transferred to disc in this state but I, and I’m sure other Welles’ afficionados, realise that the chequered history of this movie and it’s previous appalling treatment on disc render any such comments moot because this is simply the best the film has ever looked on any home video format. Approach it as a long lost masterpiece that we are lucky to have at all and the faults I have described above will cease to matter but view it expecting B&W image quality like The Man Who wasn’t There and you will be very disappointed.
In summary I would definitely have liked (and expected given the £19.99 price point) some simple restoration done by Metrodome to rid this transfer of the very intrusive dirt and scratches and also to correct the weird fluctuation in density but on the other hand I’m pathetically grateful that it looks as good as it does and that I can at long last get rid of the disgraceful Laserlight disc. The only real extra of note is a scored image gallery which has some excellent quality stills from the production and demonstrates the kind of quality that should have been strove for in the mastering of the feature. It goes without saying that a commentary track from Welles’ confidant, Peter Bogdanovich would have been much appreciated but it was not to be.
Cautiously, highly recommended (if that’s not an oxymoron!).
First the good news - this is light years better than the heinous Laserlight NTSC disc, which itself was probably the best available version of Arkadin up until this point. Where the US disc looked as if it were mastered from a cheap VHS recorded off TV in LP mode, this new R0 PAL disc from Metrodome has a crisp, contrasty print which is almost a physical relief to watch in comparison to the American DVD. The R0 disc gives the film back it’s noirfeel which must have been evident on it’s original release but was eroded by the washed out transfer of the Laserlight disc and the all too rare TV showings.
The sound also is significantly improved from the wobbly, muffled track of the US disc. This new version obviously still carries a Mono track but as with the picture, dialogue is clearer and crisper: pretty important as much of the narrative flow is carried via voiceover. It should be pointed out that Welles’ penchant for overdubbing dialogue as opposed to recording it live is probably responsible for some occasional lip-synch problems rather than a fault of the transfer. Menus are also worth singling out as being very tastefully designed and entirely appropriate for the movie, as is the packaging itself.
The less good news is that Metrodome have chosen not to do much (if any) restoration to the print this disc was mastered from. It is a relatively decent print for a film of this vintage but there are simply far too many dust marks and minor scratches which could (and should) have been so easily removed. Particular problem areas are highlights and shadows which are plagued by these marks and are quite distracting. Also there is a fluctuation in the image in the midtone areas such as overcast skies and any greys, almost a visible dipping from light to dark. This is throughout the length of the movie. Additionally I also found the print a tiny bit too soft for my tastes and would have like to have seen a little more sharpness and detail.
Were I seeing this movie for the first time ever, I’m sure my comments would be much more harsh and indeed I would go as far as saying that a movie in this condition should not have been transferred to disc in this state but I, and I’m sure other Welles’ afficionados, realise that the chequered history of this movie and it’s previous appalling treatment on disc render any such comments moot because this is simply the best the film has ever looked on any home video format. Approach it as a long lost masterpiece that we are lucky to have at all and the faults I have described above will cease to matter but view it expecting B&W image quality like The Man Who wasn’t There and you will be very disappointed.
In summary I would definitely have liked (and expected given the £19.99 price point) some simple restoration done by Metrodome to rid this transfer of the very intrusive dirt and scratches and also to correct the weird fluctuation in density but on the other hand I’m pathetically grateful that it looks as good as it does and that I can at long last get rid of the disgraceful Laserlight disc. The only real extra of note is a scored image gallery which has some excellent quality stills from the production and demonstrates the kind of quality that should have been strove for in the mastering of the feature. It goes without saying that a commentary track from Welles’ confidant, Peter Bogdanovich would have been much appreciated but it was not to be.
Cautiously, highly recommended (if that’s not an oxymoron!).