Region 4 Winners and Losers

    In comparison to the new Region 4/2 2-disc Special Edition (as reviewed here), the original Region 4/2 1-disc release misses out on:

• A superior video treatment, with better colour balance, improved contrast and black levels and virtual elimination of the MPEG2 overcompression problems that plagued the original release,
• dts 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks (albeit whilst completely new remixes providing only modest improvement over the original Dolby Digital 4.0 (L-C-R-S) mix),
• Improved DVD presentation, with an updated look and jazzy animated menus with audio,
• New Featurette: "Def Jam Presents: Origins Of A Hip Hop Classic" (20:34), and
• Additional subtitle languages: Hebrew, Russian and Icelandic (but note 7 other subtitle languages have been sacrificed - see below).

    If it wasn't for the much improved video treatment, I would honestly say it is a marginal choice, as really the new 5.1 remasterings/remixes are only marginal improvements over the previous 4.0 remix. The new featurette is quite interesting, yet if it was down to just this and the new audio alone I would find it hard to justify recommending the higher price tag for the 2-disc set. However, once you take a look at the new video transfer and do a back-to-back comparison of some scenes, you will soon be convinced of the need to buy this Special Edition, even if you do already own the old version.

    You should also be aware, for the sake of completeness, that the new Region 4/2 2-disc Special Edition doesn't bring across all of the extras and benefits from the old Region 4/2 1-disc release. As noted here, the Special Edition misses out on:

• Extras: Production notes (14 pages of interesting text), Filmographies pages (for the 3 stars), and a Gallery (some 190-odd behind the scenes photos),
• Subtitle languages: German, Dutch, Czech, Polish, Turkish, Hungarian, Bulgarian, and
• Alternate audio track: German Dolby Digital 2.0 mono mix.

    The fact that the new Special Edition doesn't bring across all of these previous extras is criminal in my view, as there was obviously space for them on the second disc. The substantial gallery of behind the scenes photos (OK, many just publicity shots and many in black and white, but still) plus the production notes were interesting inclusions last time. Yet these will not of themselves be factors to sway you back to the old release.

      From all reports so far, the new Special Edition comes with identical specs and extras across the different regions, the only nominal difference I can see so far being that Region 1 also gets two additional audio languages, Spanish and French Dolby Digital 2.0 mono. So you can buy the Region 4 with confidence - in fact, I would recommend it for its superior PAL resolution over the Region 1 NTSC.

    The only other thing to mention here before you rush out and order the new Region 4 SE is that there is also a third release that has just been brought out in the US, a "Scarface 3-disc Deluxe Gift Set". But don't worry (I hear you groaning!), the good news is that this Deluxe Gift Set does not have any new exclusive extras on it unavailable in the normal Special Edition. Rather, all the Deluxe Gift Set does give you in addition is:

• a separate collector's disc, with the original 1932 film Scarface, starring Paul Numi,
• a collector's box,
• a series of 8 collector's "lobby cards",
• a collector's money clip,
• a collector's price tag.

   The decision as to whether or not you see this Deluxe Gift Set as value for money will depend on whether you are an avid collector of all things collectable or a serious fanatic of the film Scarface. For the rest of us though, the Deluxe Gift Set does not offer anything meaningful other than the chance to see the unrelated original 1932 film that only inspired the 1983 classic we now know and love.