Skoobooz
Stunt Coordinator
- Joined
- May 8, 2001
- Messages
- 195
- Real Name
- Jay
I bought Strictly Ballroom today, and it looks good. The picture is clean, but rather soft. The colors are well represented, but again, everything feels a bit soft (I think it's just how it was shot, but...). There is some grain on the shots with titlecards (ie: the introductions), and, oddly enough, on a shot of President Barry Fife when he declares "no new steps" (perhaps because there was a dissolve). It's also anamorphic. The 5.1 remix is fine and conveys dialogue nicely. The music also comes across well. As for extras, Mr. Luhrmann himself described it pretty well on his recent interview at The Digital Bits. To paraphrase: "Strictly Ballroom was a smaller movie, and the extras represent that." There's the commentary with Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin (whom he keeps calling CM, in this and in Romeo + Juliet), and choreographer John O'Connell. Baz gives away some long-kept "secrets" during the commentary, and it's informative. There is the original 30-minute documentary which inspired Strictly Ballroom, presented full frame in 2.0 sound, which looks fine for an extra. It's an interesting documentary, but is a little long and somewhat repetative. Then there's a "Design Gallery," which has about 5 narrated photo gallerys (except one isn't narrated because it's about ten seconds long). There are CG transitions to each gallery. Finally, there are "sneak peaks," including trailers for Chocolat and others...but no Strictly Ballroom trailer. Also, there is an Easter Egg containing a deleted scene from the film, which runs for about a minute and a half, and seems pretty important (shows what Wayne does for Mr. Fife). The sound is bad, and the picture looks like rough film...but it's fine. Anyway, I think it comes out on Tuesday, and it's a good disc, overall.
