6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Hoping for positive publicity, a tobacco company offers $25 million to any American town that quits smoking for 30 days. Amidst a media frenzy, Eagle Rock, Iowa accepts the challenge while the company's PR man tries to sabotage the effort.
Starring: Dick Van Dyke, Pippa Scott, Tom Poston, Edward Everett Horton, Vincent GardeniaComedy | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Norman Lear's "Cold Turkey" (1971) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Olive Films. There are no supplemental features on the disc. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
She means business
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Norman Lear's Cold Turkey arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films.
The release is sourced from a very nice remaster that must have been struck fairly recently. In fact, my only minor criticism pertains to the presence of some tiny white flecks that pop up here and there as well as a few small scratches. MGM could have spent a bit of time to remove them because there are not that many of them and they would have had a very solid remaster. The rest, though not ideal, I like quite a lot. There are a few areas where density should be better, but detail typically ranges from from good to very good while depth remains pleasing. What I like the most, however, is the fact that the entire remaster has a strong organic appearance and even when projected it retains a very convincing filmic quality. The ranges of primary colors and nuances is good, though I am certain that an elaborate restoration would have expanded both. Image stability is very good. All in all, while there is certainly room for some improvements this is a fine organic presentation that makes it very easy to enjoy Cold Turkey at home. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The audio is free of age-related imperfections. It is stable, clean, nicely rounded, and properly balanced. I don't know if any serious remastering work was performed, but the impressive stability and good depth is what I expect to hear from these types of catalog releases.
Unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray release.
In the hands of a master director like Robert Altman a project like Cold Turkey almost certainly would have turned out to be something very special. Norman Lear gets a few things right but the mayhem that becomes the story of his film never really engages the mind as he undoubtedly intended. The whole thing very quickly evolves into a big circus of silliness that is an hour longer than it deserves to be. If you have been waiting for a proper release of Cold Turkey you will be pleased to know that Olive Films' upcoming release is sourced from a very nice organic remaster. However, there are no bonus features on it. RECOMMENDED, but if you can find it on sale.
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Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
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