Dressed to Kill (1980)

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by themp3000

I think the new transfer is pretty gorgeous and it's probably yet another instance where the screenshots don't really do it complete justice. I couldn't stand the MGM BD at all, good riddance. Yuck.

Agreed. Plus, there more image in the Criterion release. It's a teeny bit stretched but overall, the transfer looks totally OK.

[schlock]

Even a teeny-bit stretched is too much. That kind of thing really irritates me while watching a film, just up there with out-of-sync.

[captainjoe]

I like the new colour timing and detail but what the hell happened with that stretching?! The pupils in the eye shot are ovals, they need to rectify this if those screen caps are accurate

[Bates_Motel]

Well, that's definitely not correct. That shot of Nancy Allen especially.

[StingingVelvet]

Yeah, looks slightly stretched and sepia-tone. Weird. Might cancel and get the Arrow release if other reviews agree.

[BluPat]

Wow. That really is a big difference. I think I will stick to my MGM Blu-ray. I don't care for that washed out look.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by captainjoe

I like the new colour timing and detail but what the hell happened with that stretching?! The pupils in the eye shot are ovals, they need to rectify this if those screen caps are accurate

I'm curious to see more myself.
The look of a Depalma film is certainly there, just curious as to how prevalent the stretching is throughout the film as the review did note that it looked like that in some scenes and not others.

[Arch Stanton]

On top of stretching issues, I much prefer the overall look of the other editions.

[PowellPressburger]

Hmm I was really excited for the Criterion release to have the original opening logo intact on the film. (Not sure if Arrow has it or not)

Damn it I really want this CC edition. I will hold onto the MGM one for sure.

There seems to be a teal push in the image of Nancy Allen at the police station UGH I hate that! and yeah this does look washed out!

Does Criterion ever compare to other discs ... it is almost like they wanted to ruin the movie.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Hmm I was really excited for the Criterion release to have the original opening logo intact on the film. (Not sure if Arrow has it or not)

Damn it I really want this CC edition. I will hold onto the MGM one for sure.

There seems to be a teal push in the image of Nancy Allen at the police station UGH I hate that! and yeah this does look washed out!

Does Criterion ever compare to other discs ... it is almost like they wanted to ruin the movie.

Why would they compare to other discs when they have the director involved?
He would know the look of the film better than MGM would.

[AlexIlDottore]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Beaver

I have the Arrow edition. I think that I'll save some money. Thanks.

*I know that dvdbeaver have a bad rep for their screens, but really, I can't imagine that it's beaver's fault that the Criterion screens are stretched.

[Lyle_JP]

I really do prefer the framing on the Criterion edition, the other two are obviously a bit too tight on all sides. But the geometry of the image is goofy. I think I may get this just to squish it vertically on my media server copy.

As for the color timing, MGM/Arrow are more modern looking, but Criterion's is, admittedly, very "De Palma" in appearance.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

Why would they compare to other discs when they have the director involved?
He would know the look of the film better than MGM would.

Didn't help much did it? I mean does DePalma need an eye examination. Some shots I don't need to watch like this CC edition. I was so excited for this release but now it falls into the why did Criterion even bother if they were going to make the movie look bad. The framing doesn't bother me but the color incorrection and washing some of the images out just looks bad.

[cad1981]

I've seen this film in 35mm twice, and the color timing should be more on the red side - like the MGM and Arrow discs.

I'm incredibly surprised/disappointed by those screencaps. Particularly that last one of Nancy Allen's eyes - that shot looks beyond faded in the Criterion. Hopefully this will be better in motion, but I am not impressed so far.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by Lyle_JP

I really do prefer the framing on the Criterion edition, the other two are obviously a bit too tight on all sides. But the geometry of the image is goofy. I think I may get this just to squish it vertically on my media server copy.

As for the color timing, MGM/Arrow are more modern looking, but Criterion's is, admittedly, very "De Palma" in appearance.

I don't remember De Palma films of that period having muted colors or favouring green, so this doesn't look at all like I'm used to seeing the film. If you refer to the slightly filtered, hazy quality of his 70s/80s films, that's still there in the Arrow, just not at the expense of color or contrast.

[Maggot]

Well, unless those screen caps are wrong it looks like I will be keeping my current Blu-ray. The extreme pulling up of the black levels is horrific. The close up shot of Nancy Allen's eyes supremely demonstrates this, let alone several other captures. Then, because they've screwed up the black levels, the picture has now lost it's contrast and looks very washed out and flat, let alone it's very impact as a dramatic movie due to these changes.

[Nada]

Was just about to pull the trigger on the Arrow release and those screenshots certainly didn't change things. It looks kind of off to me and the Arrow and MGM transfers look more consistent.

[schlock]

It definitely looks like a layer of teal has been layered on top of Criterion's transfer, and then the image is washed out even more. Normal flesh colors are practically gone. And then it's also stretched. Well, at least it supposedly has the Filmways logo intact; that could be its only selling point.

Scanners, and now this. I don't have much faith in how The Brood is going to turn out.

[PowellPressburger]

Yep. The Brood is going to be a green mess of a transfer.

[Brad1963]

I guess I am in the minority, I think the Criterion version looks the best.