Region 4 Winners and Losers

Madmans Directors Suite release of Le grand bleu has many positives and few negatives, particularly in comparison with some of the international Blu-ray releases of Le grand bleu.

Firstly the French Paramount Blu-ray release is a three disc set. Le grand bleu (Version Longue) is featured on the first Blu-ray as a stand-alone feature, with the only option the Dubbed French DTS HD Master soundtrack; no subtitles are included. The second Blu-ray disc is Atlantis, directed by Luc Besson, which has been released by Madman as part of the Directors Suite title range as a stand-alone title. The final disc is a DVD which includes the making-of (which is included on the Madman release) without English subtitles and it also includes the 41 minute 'Festival de Cannes' press conference, which is also in French without English subtitles.

The UK Optimum Blu-ray release like the French release only includes the dubbed French language as a PCM stereo soundtrack - presumably with English subtitles. The extra feature content on this release is identical to the Madman release; The French theatrical version of Le grand bleu, the 90 minute Making-of, L'Aventure de Grand Bleu, and the French teaser trailer and U.S theatrical trailer.

In comparison, the Madman release is the clear winner as it includes the original English language soundtrack, but unfortunately in a standard audio format. Both the theatrical and extended versions of the film are also included; however on the same Blu-ray. Extra feature content is comprehensive and is only missing the 41 minute 'Festival de Cannes' Press Conference, which is included on the French Paramount Blu-ray release on a separate DVD with Atlantis. The omission of Atlantis as an extra feature and sold as a standalone Blu-ray is debatable (it was also released separately in the UK) but as a whole the current Madman release is a winner.