OVERALL: R1

The 40th Anniversary CE has a new 4K transfer, 5.1 sound, and a great amount of extras. Due note, the Mono mix is a downmix of the remix soundtrack.


Also note that:
- R0 UK 3-Disc Seriously Ultimate Edition has no audio issues, and 2 interviews not found on the US release(s).
- R2 UE Scandinavia also comes close as it offers the "Family Portrait" documentary and "Quality Comparison" featurette, but loses the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the three interviews and the "Off the Hook" featurette.
- R2 40th Anniversary Scandinavia contains extras not found in some other releases.
- R0 Australia also has the "Killing Kirk" featurette.
- R2 France CE has an exclusive documentary and a short movie, but these extras are in French only.
- R2 Germany Ultimate Collector's Edition includes 2 exclusive featurettes.

General notes concerning the high definition source, restored by Don May of "Synapse Films" and used for all Ultimate Editions (source: HTF - hometheaterforum):
- The new HD transfer was not created from 35mm materials. It was created from the original 16mm vault materials.
- The older version was so noise-reduced (with DVNR) that most of the grain was removed and smoothed out, along with detail and sharpness.
- The grain was there because of the film stock used. Tobe himself told that there was no conscious decision to make the film look "documentary-style", with the graininess, etc. He was trying to film the best movie he could. The heavy grain structure you've seen on prints, etc. were caused by a combination of the film stock used and the cheap 35mm blow-ups done by the distributor at the time.
- The framing was constantly checked throughout the transfer (exactly 1.78:1 - per the request of "Dark Sky Films") and there may be some shots where the framing isn't EXACTLY like the old one.

Notes about the US 40th Anniversary editions:
- The mono track is not the original mono but is a downmix of the 7.1 remix and has an error near the end of the film (some of Sally's screams are missing and looped over with previous ones).
- There are some missing fades (replaced with cuts) to the opening.

All other releases prior to this release do not have these issues.

CUTS:

• R0 25th Anniversary Edition Australia- Force Video - No cuts (83:25 NTSC)
• R0 Deluxe Edition Australia- Force Video - No cuts.
• R0 Special Edition Australia- Force Video - No cuts (83:20 PAL)
• R0 Ultimate Edition Australia- Umbrella Entertainment - No cuts.
• R0 United Kingdom- Blue Dolphin - No cuts.
• R0 3-Disc Seriously Ultimate Edition United Kingdom- Second Sight - No cuts.
• R1 2-Disc Ultimate Edition America- Dark Sky Films - No cuts (83:20 NTSC).
• R1 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition America- Dark Sky Films - No cuts (83:18 NTSC).
• R1 40th Anniversary Edition America- Dark Sky Films - No cuts.
• R1 Special Edition America- Pioneer Home Entertainment - No cuts.
• R1 Special Edition America- Pioneer Home Entertainment - No cuts (83:39 NTSC)
• R1 Special Edition Canada- Pioneer Home Entertainment - No cuts.
• R2 Austria- NSM Records - No cuts.
• R2 Collector's Edition France- Studio Canal/Universal Pictures - No cuts (83:49 PAL).
• R2 Special Edition France- Universal Pictures - No cuts.
• R2 Germany- Laser Paradise - No cuts.
• R2 Ultimate Collector's Edition Germany- Turbine Media - No cuts.
• R2 Holland- Vortex/H.O.M. Vision - No cuts.
• R2 Italy- Digital Studio - No cuts.
• R2 Special Edition Italy- Stormovie - No cuts.
• R2 Scandinavia- Star Media Entertainment - No cuts (83:00 PAL).
• R2 40th Anniversary Edition Scandinavia- Another World Entertainment / Studio S - No Cuts (79:58 PAL)
• R2 Special Edition Scandinavia- Atlantic Film/Midget Entertainment - No cuts:
  -Disc 1 (Non-anamorphic): 83:30 min.
  -Disc 2 (Anamorphic): 80:05 min.
  Both are uncut.
• R2 Ultimate Edition Scandinavia- Atlantic Film / Studio S - No cuts (79:56 PAL).
• R2 Spain- Manga Films - No cuts.
• R2 Special Edition United Kingdom- Universal Pictures - No cuts.

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by Craig on 15/07/01
Comparison last updated by Matthew_B_Harrah on 14/05/23

UPDATE LOG:

16/09/14: Addition of the US 40th Anniversary Edition(s) and DVDActive link and clean-up.
17/09/14: Minor fixes to the R1 40th AE releases.
13/09/17: Title update.
16/10/17: Added run times to Scandinavia UE.
20/12/17: Updated info about the Mono track on the US 40th Anniversary Editions and some clean-up.
10/03/21: Updated the Scandinavian release from Star Media Entertainment, merged the 2 US Pioneer releases, addition of the Germany Ultimate Collector's Edition and the Caps-A-Holic link, and more clean-up.
11/09/22: Added Scandinavia (40th Anniversary Edition).
14/05/23: Added Pioneer (Special Edition) [2003].