6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
A girl causes chaos on the streets of Paris after she runs away from her transvestite uncle.
Starring: Catherine Demongeot, Philippe Noiret, Hubert Deschamps, Carla Marlier, Annie FratelliniForeign | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
French: LPCM Mono
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Louis Malle's "Zazie dans le metro" a.k.a. "Zazie in the Subway" (1960) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include the film's original theatrical trailer; exclusive audio interview with filmmaker William Klein; video interview with writer-director Jean-Paul Rappeneau; episode of the French television program Cinq colonnes a la une; two interviews with the author of Zazie dans le metro, Raymond Queneau; and more. The disc also arrives with 18-page illustrated booklet containing an essay by Professor Ginette Vincendeau. In French, with optional English subtitles. Region-A "locked".
Zazie
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Louis Malle's Zazie dans le metro arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray disc:
"This new high-definition digital transfer was created on a Spirit Datacine from a 35mm interpositive. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, warps, jitter, and flicker were manually removed using MTI's DRS system, while Digital Vision's DVNR system was used for small dirt, grain, and noise reduction.
Telecine colorist: Richard Deusy/Scanlab, Paris.
Blu-ray mastering: Radius60, Los Angeles.
I have seen only the R4 Australian DVD release of Zazie dans le metro, which I understand uses the same transfer Optimum Home Entertainment had to work with in the United Kingdom when they prepared their Louis Malle boxset.
Criterion's Blu-ray release represents a strong upgrade in terms of image quality. This may not be immediately obvious if one compares the old R4 DVD with the Blu-ray release strictly by looking at screencaptures, but detail and especially color reproduction are clearly superior. Furthermore, the macroblocking patterns that are noticeable on the DVD are also effectively addressed. The background shimmer, particularly during the daylight footage, is eliminated as well. Though not well resolved a layer of light grain is now easy to spot here, but not on the DVD release. This being said, because of the intended cartoonish look - which favors plenty of unnaturally warm and soft colors and subdued contrast levels - the film has a tendency to look somewhat soft at times. This is not to say, however, that detail is compromised; this is a stylistic preference which compliments the satirical tone of the film. Lastly, edge-enhancement is not a serious issue of concern. The high-definition transfer is also free of debris, stains, cuts, and large damage marks. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: French LPCM 1.0. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.
The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray disc:
"The monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the positive print soundtrack. Clicks, thumps, hiss, and hum were manually removed using Pro Tools HD. Crackle was attenuated using AudioCube's integrated workstation."
Fiorenzo Carpi and André Pontin's score benefits the most from the lossless treatment. The dialog also sounds slightly clearer than it does on the DVD. Balance, however, is practically identical. For the record, I did not detect any annoying pops, cracks, hiss, or audio dropouts to report in this review. The English translation is excellent.
I believe it is fair to say that without Louis Malle's wonderful Zazie dans le metro Jean-Pierre Jeunet would have never made Amelie. It is a beautiful, hilarious, witty and refreshingly politically incorrect film, the kind that it is no longer possible to shoot. Criterion's Blu-ray release is excellent -- the film clearly looks the best it ever has. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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