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I generally have mixed feelings about Criterion Collection treatments. Usually, if I have any disappointment, it centers around the audio. There's no such reservation here. The 5.1 soundtrack was sampled at 24 bits from a 6-channel magnetic master, and everything about it is much improved. Dialog, especially, is clear and properly located, often a challenge in a film that features numerous scenes with large groups of people shouting, sometimes at other large groups. The air added to the outdoor shots matches the horizonless space of the high prairie. I'm a happy camper with this wonderfull soundtrack. Really happy. Unlike the audio, there wasn't much video to work with, at least in the traditional sense. Existing negatives were all of the criminally mutilated 149-minute second theatrical release in 1981. Fortunately, a full 216-minute yellow-cyan-magenta separation master set had been preserved. These three monocolor copies were scanned at 2K, digitally recombined and painstakingly restored, and presented in a 2.40 wide aspect ratio. The result captures the infinite beauty of the landscape that served as a contrasting backdrop to a tragic storyline. The reworked sepia-tinged interiors reveal shadow detail that was, frankly, just missing in all previous versions. It's all beautiful. On a separate disk, Criterion adds some very distinctive extra features that are as entertaining as they are informative. Kudos all around. Also included is a 42-page booklet, highlighted by an engaging essay by film critic-curator Giullia D'Agnolo Vallan. Good show, Criterion. This Criterion Collection version of "Heaven's Gate" is everything that writer-director Cimino had envisioned four decades ago. Maybe more. Almost as significantly, finally it rightfully takes its place as a brilliant follow-up to everyone's top-10 "The Deer Hunter." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Sharp, bright and good color tons. Loaded with some great information on the making of the film.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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