7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Just out of prison, ex-con Ugo Piazza meets his former employer, a psychopathic gangster Rocco who enjoys sick violence and torture. Both the gangsters and the police believe Ugo has hidden $300,000 that should have gone to an American drug syndicate boss.
Starring: Gastone Moschin, Barbara Bouchet, Mario Adorf, Frank Wolff, Luigi PistilliForeign | 100% |
Drama | 23% |
Crime | 13% |
Action | Insignificant |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Fernando Di Leo's "Milano Calibro 9" (1972) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Raro Video. The supplemental features new audio commentary by critic Rachael Nisbet; archival audio interview with actor Gastone Moschin; three archival documentaries; and vintage promotional materials for the film. In Italian or English, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
"They call it the Mafia, but they're just gangs now. Gangs fighting each other. The real Mafia doesn't exist anymore."
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Milano Calibro 9 arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Raro Video.
I have two other Blu-ray releases of Milano Calibro 9 in my library but the only one worth addressing is this Region-B release that Arrow Video produced in 2015. The Region-B release is sourced from an outstanding 2K master. Raro Video's release is sourced from an exclusive new 4K master. Earlier tonight, I viewed the new 4K makeover of Milano Calibro 9 and then did extensive comparisons with the 2K makeover.
The 4K makeover is very, very healthy and produces plenty of impressive visuals. In several areas, the former reveals superior density levels, but I am unsure whether the difference can be described as a meaningful improvement because the 2K makeover boasts outstanding visuals as well. Delineation, clarity, and depth are very good but they are optimized on the 2K makeover, too. The most obvious discrepancies between the 4K and 2K makeovers emerge from the color schemes. On the 4K makeover, there is a very light yellow(ish) hue that affects virtually all primaries and several ranges of nuances. I think that it affects the dynamic range of the visuals too, which is why the 2K makeover ultimately looks more appealing. White and red are the two primaries that are affected the most. The footage from the nightclub where Barbara Bouchet is seen dancing will provide you with the best examples demonstrating how the dynamic range of the visuals is impacted because of the grading choices that were made on the 4K makeover. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks very healthy, too. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.
In the past, I have always viewed Milano Calibro 9 with the Italian track and it is the one I prefer. The Italian track is the one that has been properly restored, too. However, quite a few actors are overdubbed on it, so there you will notice unevenness. The English track sounds quite a bit weaker. For example, in many areas, the audio is quite thin. Some quite obvious dynamic fluctuations are present on it as well. The English track features overdubbing, too.
Raro Video's release introduces a brand new 4K makeover of Milano Calibro 9 that was completed at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematograpfia - Cneteca Nazionale in Italy. It is a fine 4K makeover but it could have been graded more convincingly. I prefer the 2K makeover that Arrow Video introduced with this release in 2015. I think that the 2K makeover has a superior color scheme and produces visuals with better dynamic range. On the other hand, in certain areas the 4K makeover boasts superior density levels. Raro Video's release retains all of Minerva's excellent archival bonus features that are included on Arrow Video's release. RECOMMENDED.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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