7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
An American bartender and his prostitute girlfriend go on a road trip through the Mexican underworld to collect a $1 million bounty on the head of a dead gigolo.
Starring: Warren Oates, Isela Vega, Robert Webber, Gig Young, Helmut DantineDrama | 100% |
Western | 27% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 2.0
Italian: LPCM 2.0
Italian
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Sam Peckinpah's "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia" (1974) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Italian distributors Koch Media. The only extra on the disc is the film's original theatrical trailer. In English, with optional Italian subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
Ain't life funny?
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Sam Peckinpah's Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Italian distributors Koch Media.
Despite the fact that the high-definition transfer has been struck from a dated source, the film looks quite good. Detail and especially depth (during the desert sequences) are much improved. Generally speaking, colors are also stable and richer than those from the out of print R1 DVD release of the film. The best news, however, is that attempts to re-polish the film and make it look 'cleaner' and 'sharper' have not been made. In other words, there are no traces of heavy degraning and edge-enhancement, and this really is what makes this release worth owning. This is not to imply that there is no room for substantial improvements, but even though the high-definition transfer isn't from a new scan, the film definitely looks like a film of its age should. This said, light noise, some minor contrast fluctuations, very light edge flicker, and some flecks are occasionally noticeable here and there. However, though aged, the basics are certainly in decent condition. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: English LPCM 2.0 and Italian LPCM 2.0. For the record, Koch Media have provided optional Italian subtitles for the main feature. English subtitles for the short exchanges in Spanish in the beginning of the film are also included (see screencapture #7).
The English LPCM 2.0 track is solid. The audio has good depth and even a good range of dynamics. Especially during the shootouts, the improved clarity is very easy to hear. The dialog is stable and free of problematic background hiss. Additionally, there are no pops, sudden audio dropouts or distortions to report in this review.
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia is one hell of a film, a true classic directed by one of America's greatest filmmakers, Sam Peckinpah. Though far from perfect, this Italian release, courtesy of Koch Media, represents a pretty good upgrade in quality over the now out of print R1 DVD release of the film, which MGM produced back in 2005. The disc is also very attractively priced. My advice to you is to consider importing it, because there has been absolutely no news about a possible North American release. RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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