Outlander - Canadian Release Information

[MattJoseph]

Just received my copy in the mail and thought I'd let folks who might be looking to import this from Canada in on a few details since The Weinstein Company is not releasing a Blu-ray version anytime soon in the U.S. and many of you may be looking to import the disc when it is released on May 26th.

The movie is NOT in the original theatrical aspect ratio. Alliance has made the terrible decision to put the movie on the disc at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, not the film's original 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

I suspected that it might be a case of them putting a full frame presentation on the disc, but after comparing the Blu-ray to the DVD release I have found this not to be the case. Alliance has cropped the film on each side to make the 2.35:1 film 1.78:1 on the disc. The BD is still a step up from the DVD, but then again the U.S. DVD is in the correct aspect ratio.

On the plus side--even though no mention is made on the packaging--all of the special features from the U.S. DVD release are present--including all of the deleted scenes, animatics, galleries, and audio commentary--and the audio is available in either English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 or Dolby Digital 5.1.

Reliable information about this disc has been hard to come by and I thought some of you might be interested to know what you're purchasing before it arrives in the mail from Canada. I'm not happy at all about the OAR foul-up, but the video quality of the Blu-ray is regardless a step up from the DVD version and I'm relieved that the special features from the DVD made it onto the disc.

Caveat emptor.