Titanic
(1997) Special Collector’s Edition DVD
(Region
1)
2005
DVD Release Review
Part 3 - Feature Film Video
& Audio Presentation Review
The Video
Presented in 2.30:1 anamorphic widescreen, Titanic
(1997) has never looked any better than this, even probably on the theatre
screens. A previous non-anamorphic release is a great disappointment. If you
read any of the DVD review sites, you could see criticisms of the previous
release being non-anamorphic on top of being a vanilla release for such a major
feature film.
The DVD transfer is spotlessly clean, free from
film and compression artefacts, as it is taken from the HD masters (specially
done for this SE release) instead of using the original film elements directly.
If you admire the picture quality of Star Wars DVDs and LOTR DVDs, the transfer
on this release will be considered on par with them and will not disappoint any
of the home-theatre enthusiasts and Titanic (1997) fans.
Under some of the bright scenes, the picture
sometimes seems to lose its definition/contrast, although quite unnoticeably,
unless one keeps staring at it for problems.
The single frame pixel error does exist at the
point 1:19:19, when you view is on the set-top DVD players but how it appears
on the screen is a different story. My copy did not have the errors stretching
over to Jack’s face, so I can bear with that. The error is almost non-existent
when you play it on a PC/Mac.
Score: 5 / 5
The Audio
If you have a DTS decoder (whether built-in or
on a separate box, DTS 5.1 or DTS-ES 6.1 decoder), I will recommend that you
watch Titanic in DTS-ES 6.1 first instead of the Dolby Digital 5.1 EX. Whether
you own a 5.1 set or a 6.1 speaker set, it doesn’t matter as the decoder will
matrix the rear surrounds for the 5.1 speakers. Trust me, the moment you watch
the DVD again in DD5.1EX, you will want to switch back to DTS-ES 6.1. For most
of the first half of the film, the rear surrounds were not very actively
engaged; it is mainly used by the score. But for the second half of the film,
the sound FX kicks in when the ship hits the iceberg and all the sinking and
drowning scenes, the rear surrounds were fully engaged to create an atmosphere
as though the audience is there when the sinking is happening.
If you do not have any DTS decoder, the DD5.1EX
works just as well in terms of the audio department. It’s just that DTS-ES 6.1
track packs in more punch. The 6.1 audio is specially remixed for this release,
so clearly the audience is getting the best aural experience possible from
Titanic (1997), rivalling even that of its theatrical premiere.
Score: 5 / 5 (Reference quality)
Stay tuned for Part 4 (Disc One & Two
Supplemental Materials) of this review.
Review Part 3 – 16 December 2005
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Lelliott. All rights reserved.
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