The Ninth Configuration (R1 — U.S.A.) UPDATED

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The Ninth Configuration (R1 — U.S.A.) UPDATED

Postby Markus_Lang » 03 Jan 2010 17:00

I own the R1 release of The Ninth Configuration. I bought it a few weeks ago, still sold in Snapper case. See backcover image here.

It might be mentioned that the backcover has these incorrect specifications:

1. The movie does not have any subtitles whatsoever. The package incorrectly mentions English & French subtitles.

2. The transfer is not anamorphic. The package incorrectly mentions: "Enhanced for widescreen TVs." (However, the deleted scenes are anamorphic, but the image quality is very bad; so is the featurette.)

3. The disc is single-layered. The package incorrectly claims it to be in "Dual-layer format".

4. There are only eight "out-takes" on the disc — nothing is specified as "2 alternate endings".

Here's a more detailed listing of the extras:

"Making-of" featurette (6:47)
8 out-takes with text introductions
– Winged Generals and Angels (1:19)
– The Outrageous Mr. Groper (3:48)
– Everyone's a Fruit and Nut Cake (1:50)
– "Green Soaked Caterpillar Torturing Bastards" (6:21)
– Spinell Goes to the Dogs (0:24)
– Kane's Great Sacrifice (1:05)
– Kane's Letter from Beyond the Grave (1:11)
– Coming Home (0:45)
9 cast & director biographies.

Main feature runtime: 118:03. (Package incorrectly claims: "114 minutes".)

By the way, is the French (R2) release anamorphic or not? The verdict claims it to be, but a review says: "Une image qui accuse le poids de son âge et une absence de restauration. Le master, issu de l'édition zone 1 éditée par Warner, est au format 4/3 et laisse perplexe."
Last edited by Markus_Lang on 15 Jan 2010 17:27, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Ninth Configuration (R1 — U.S.A.)

Postby Erik_Haraldsson » 03 Jan 2010 19:59

About the widescreen package note:
I'm not sure that this is enough to call it an error. I checked against a Warner US West Wing DVD (first I could find) and in the passage before it uses "Matted" instead of "Letterbox" (also talks about TV instead of cinema). That it is enhanced for WS TV, could just mean that it is (normally) preferrable to zoom in on a Letterboxed DVD as compared to a Pan&Scan DVD or something.
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Re: The Ninth Configuration (R1 — U.S.A.)

Postby Markus_Lang » 15 Jan 2010 17:45

I received today my copy of the Italian (R2) release of this movie. Some comments:

1. The Italian subtitles are forced if the English audio track is selected. The audio commentary has optional Italian subtitles.

2. The runtime of the main feature is 113:17. (Package incorrectly claims [as do most reviews]: "118 min".) So it's a legitimate PAL transfer (25 fps).

3. A more detailed list of the extras:

"Making-of" featurette (6:30)
8 out-takes with text introductions in Italian
– Winged Generals and Angels (1:17)
– The Outrageous Mr. Groper (3:36)
– Everyone's a Fruit and Nut Cake (1:48)
– "Green Soaked Caterpillar Torturing Bastards" (6:03)
– Spinell Goes to the Dogs (0:23)
– Alternative Ending: Kane's Great Sacrifice (1:05)
– Kane's Letter from Beyond the Grave (1:14)
– Coming Home (0:44)
Image gallery (6:00)
2 cast & crew biographies
DVD credits (0:29)
DVD-ROM content: Entire script.

Also, a small image comparison between the U.S. and the Italian DVD. They seem to use the same transfer, and the Italian probably is just a blow-up copy of the U.S. one.

Warner/USA transfer bit-rate:
Image

Mondo/Italy transfer bit-rate:
Image

Warner/USA screenshot:
Image

Mondo/Italy screenshot:
Image

Warner/USA screenshot:
Image

Mondo/Italy screenshot:
Image

Warner/USA screenshot:
Image

Mondo/Italy screenshot:
Image
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Re: The Ninth Configuration (R1 — U.S.A.)

Postby Vincent_Bouche » 22 Feb 2010 02:48

Thanks for the specifications and the screencaps... the comparison has been updated!
The French release appears to be non-anamorphic based on a second review:
http://www.dvdclassik.com/Critiques/neu ... on-dvd.htm

And I agree with Erik concerning the "Enhanced for widescreen" matter.

Moved to "Reference".
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