7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 3.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Ten tales of love and lovemaking, linked by the story of Nuredin and his search for his kidnapped slave girl.
Starring: Ninetto Davoli, Franco Citti, Franco Merli, Ines Pellegrini, Franca SciuttoForeign | 100% |
Drama | 97% |
Romance | 25% |
Erotic | 19% |
History | 10% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Italian: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
BFI (British Film Institute) introduce the third installment in Pier Paolo Pasolini's Trilogy of Life, "Arabian Nights" (1974). The film has been newly transferred in High-Definition using the original 35mm negative film elements. An alternative English-language version of “Arabian Nights” and a collage of deleted sequences are amongst the special features the disc offers. Region-B “locked”.
A door to another world
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Pier Paolo Pasolini's Arabian Nights arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of UK-based BFI (British Film Institute).
Similar to the other two films from the Trilogy of Life, Arabian Nights has been newly transferred in High-Definition using the original 35mm negative film elements. The film was restored using HD-DVNR and MTI restoration systems, removing dirt, scratches, warps, torn or missing frames and improving stability issues. Unsurprisingly, the Blu-ray transfer BFI offer is leaps and bounds above every other SDVD release that I have seen (I have seen a total of four, including the Carlotta, BFI, and Eagle Pictures releases). There are still quite a few minor contrast fluctuations on this transfer, but I feel very comfortable stating that this is the best looking presentation of the film currently available in any format. Detail and clarity in particular are very pleasing. As noted above, scratches, dust and debris have been removed and, as far as I am concerned, without a full-blown restoration, Arabian Nights is unlikely to look any better. Finally, similar to The Decameron and The Canterbury Tales, Arabian Nights remains pleasingly stable when blown through a digital projector. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" release which you won't be able to play on your Region-A PS3 or SA. In order to view this disc, you have to have a native Region-B or Region-Free player).
There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: the original Italian LPCM 2.0 track and an English LPCM 2.0 dub (available as an extra). Once again, I believe that those of you who have seen some of the old SDVD releases for Arabian Nights, and paid attention to the quality of the Italian track on them, will be fairly impressed with this new LPCM 2.0 track the Blu-ray disc contains - this is a clear and pleasingly crisp track that suits the dialog exceptionally well. Furthermore, there are absolutely no disturbing pops, cracks, hissings or dropouts that I could detect. Ennio Morricone's soundtrack is also given plenty of room to breathe and, as expected, there aren't any issues to report with it either. This being said, more than likely, you are going to notice that there are plenty of audio overlapings but, as I already mentioned in the reviews for The Decameron and The Canterbury Tales, these are a byproduct of the post-production dubbing the Italian film industry favored at the time).
BFI have also supplied the "official" English dub for Arabian Nights, which was found on many United Artists releases back in the days. As far as I am concerned, this is a fairly successful track, which you could certainly experiment with, should you find the Italian track impossible to tolerate. Its quality is good – there aren't any disturbing pops, cracks, hissings, or dropouts that I could detect. For the record, BFI have provided optional English and English HOH tracks for the main feature.
Arabian Nights arrives with a lovely 18-page booklet containing a number of informative essays (some already available in the booklets for the other two films in the Trilogy of Life): "The Trilogy of Life" by Sam Rohdie (a scholar and author of The Passion of Pier Paolo Pasolini), "Arabian Nights" by Roger Clarke (an author and critic), "Arabian Nights Reviewed" (originally published in Monthly Film Bulletin in April 1975), and "Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922-1975)" by Geoffrey Nowell-Smith (originally published in the Oxford History of World Cinema).
On the actual Blu-ray disc you will find a collage of deleted sequences (in 1080p), the original theatrical trailer (in 1080p), and the alternative English-language version of the film.
Arabian Nights, the last of the three films in Pier Paolo Pasolini's Trilogy of Life, arrives with a pleasing transfer that certainly looks leaps and bounds better than what previous SDVD releases of the film have revealed. BFI are once again to be commended for their commitment to bringing timeless classics and important films to Blu-ray. The Trilogy of Life is essential for every serious film library and, obviously, we RECOMMEND it.
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