MovieChat Forums > El callejón de los milagros (1998) Discussion > Is there a QUALITY version of this on DV...

Is there a QUALITY version of this on DVD?

posted 19 years ago by aadkins
6 replies | jump to latest

I really like this film, and I purchased a copy of it on DVD from the US. However, it has to be one of the poorest DVD transfers I have ever seen. The sound quality is absolutely horrendous, it is full screen, there are no extra features, and the English subtitles cannot be removed, which is particularly annoying for me since I speak Spanish. It looks like someone just copied the DVD from an old VHS tape. Does anyone know if a better DVD transfer available? I have a region free player, so I really don't care where it comes from. Thanks in advance!

[–] mihllet 19 years ago

you may want to try on www.mixup.com.mx wich is a music mexican store, but you can buy from the states. I honestly don't know if it includes any special features, but give it a try.

[–] arturog 19 years ago

there is another version of this movie in R1, you can buy it from amazon and the publisher is Venevision Intl.

The transfer still is full screen, but at least there are some extras (like the trailer and a featurette) and the english subtitles are optional...

This is not the best version of the film, but at least is a little better than the version that you already had.

[–] langstons 18 years ago

The version you are referring to is no doubt the FOX-LORBER version. I recommend you avoid all FOX-LORBER transfers. Your experience is typical--they are uniformally poor quality, cropped, and w/o extras.

[–] ponchitos_world2002 17 years ago

Yo compré mi copia en MixUp, y es una edición de excelente calidad, y contiene dos discos, uno con la película y el segundo repleto de extras.

[–] susanantani 17 years ago

you can rent or buy a high-def quality version on jaman.com

[–] Kinematico 16 years ago

The mexican DVD (encoded region 1&4) is better than the region 1 dvd, but not by much.

It has also been cropped to fit "standard" (I'd say "obsolete") TV sets, hence so many info is lost, sadly.

The audio is stereo 2.0 with subtitles in english

It has some nice supplements, the best of them all is an audiocommentary by director Jorge Fons.
Besides a 2nd disc contains a featurette. Actually a TV promo about the movie made fo the TV, aired on "Moviecity" channel some years ago and hosted by Salma Hayek. It lasts about 30 min.

besides the theatrical trailer, and the typical "behind the scenes" featurette (about 20 min long).

The DVD is good, the audiocommentary is a great addition, but if the movie would have been presented in its OAR and 5.1 channels then it would have get a 10 in my book or at least a 9.
Being cropped and just in 2.0 stereo makes it less recommendable, still the movie by itself which is a wonderful piece of filmmaking (and not merely a "soap opera" as many gringos keeps telling) worth a purchase.