PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Castle, The: Re-mastered and Re-Plastered (1997)

Castle, The: Re-mastered and Re-Plastered (1997)

If you create a user account, you can add your own review of this DVD

Released 7-Nov-2008

Cover Art

This review is sponsored by
BUY IT

Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Comedy Menu Animation & Audio
Alternate Music/Sound Score
Rating ?
Year Of Production 1997
Running Time 81:49
RSDL / Flipper No/No Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By Rob Sitch
Studio
Distributor
Working Dog
Roadshow Home Entertainment
Starring Michael Caton
Anne Tenney
Stephen Curry
Anthony Simcoe
Sophie Lee
Wayne Hope
Tiriel Mora
Eric Bana
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell
Case ?
RPI ? Music Craig Harnath


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s)
English Alternate Audio Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s)
English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles English for the Hearing Impaired Smoking Yes
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    One of the most controversial local DVD releases in recent years was the original 'Poolroom Edition' of The Castle. Our review of this release can be found here by my site colleague DarrenW. Now, some years later, the biggest issue with that original version has been rectified on this new 'Re-Mastered and Re-Plastered' edition. This time it has been released in the original theatrical aspect ratio or close to it. The new disc is 1.78:1 and 16x9 enhanced. More on this in the video section below. Otherwise, this new release is not overly different except that it features more audio options which are detailed in the audio section below. There are still no real extras.

    Personally, I had not seen this film for a few years before I sat down to watch this new release as I refused to purchase the original release. It confirmed in my mind that this is one of the best Australian films ever made despite being low budget. There is a warmth to this film which makes the comedy even more amusing and poignant. The casting is marvellous and extends to minor characters such as Farouk the neighbour. It is also interesting to note Eric Bana and Wayne Hope in smaller roles when they were less well known. This combined with the excellent dialogue makes for a great comedy. The themes are very Australian and the film speaks to some core Australian values such as our sense of fairness and our desire to own and keep our own homes despite what they may be like.

    I won't carry on too much about the film itself as most of our readers would know it well, however, check out Darren's review linked above if you need a refresh. Otherwise the big interest here is in the information below.

Don't wish to see plot synopses in the future? Change your configuration.

Transfer Quality

Video

    The video quality is good but still restricted by its low budget origins.

    The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is the original theatrical aspect ratio or close to it. It is 16x9 enhanced.For those, like me, who refused to buy the previous edition due to it being 4x3 can rest assured that this problem has been resolved here. You can see in the pictures below that the framing is somewhat different to the Region 1 widescreen version. This is especially noticeable in the scene where National Nine News logo shows on the screen.

    The picture is on a par with the previous release in sharpness and clarity terms i.e. not overly sharp. It is interesting to note however that the picture here looks closer to the Region 1 release in terms of brightness and contrast as opposed to the slightly overbright previous Region 4 release. There is some mild grain throughout and shadow detail is only average.

Region 4 Poolroom Edition - 18:46
Obviously part of Steve's arm and Darryl's hand is missing
Region 1 - 19:44
Most of Steve's arm and all of Darryl's hand is visible
Region 4 Re-Mastered and Re-Plastered Edition - 18:46

Region 4 Poolroom Edition - 75:42
This is among the most obvious shots in the Region 4 release that is compromised by the 1.33:1 aspect ratio
Region 1 - 76:39
The same scene on the Region 1 disc and you are easily able to read the full title
Region 4 Re-Mastered and Re-Plastered Edition - 75:42

Region 4 Poolroom Edition - 52:34
This scene shows the benefits of the 1.33:1 aspect. Note there is no annoying empty space to the left of Darryl and you are able to see all of Dennis' head
Region 1
The same scene on the Region 1 disc and there is an ugly empty space next to Darryl and part of Dennis' head is missing
Region 4 Re-Mastered and Re-Plastered Edition - 52:34

    The colour was decent but quite dull showing this film's budget roots. There was some oversaturation especially in early scenes and some minor chroma noise occasionally.

    From an artefacts perspective there was some minor macro-blocking in backgrounds such as at 56:35, some small white spots such as at 15:59 and a green spot at 69:47. Reel Change markers noted on the previous release do not seem to have reappeared here.

    There are subtitles in English for the Hearing Impaired. They were clear and easy to read but somewhat summarised.

    There was no layer change during the movie.
    

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio quality is very good.

    This DVD contains four audio options, an English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack encoded at 448Kb/s, an English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack encoded at 448Kb/s which features extra orchestral score, an English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack encoded at 224 Kb/s and an English Audio Descriptive Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack encoded at 224 Kb/s. I would guess that the first 5.1 track is the same 5.1 remix which featured on the 'Poolroom Edition'. The second one includes more incidental music but is is fairly unobtrusive. Both feature the Aussie dialogue as opposed to the changed version made for the US market.

    Dialogue was clear and easy to understand which is obviously a key factor for this film.

    The surround speakers are used occasionally but certainly add to the atmosphere of the film especially the planes going overhead.

    The sub is used sparingly mostly for planes.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

    No extras are included once again and I can only guess that the explanation offered by Rob Sitch in the previous review still holds true. Of course, recording a commentary track now would not be too hard to organise, you wouldn't think...

Menu

    The menu including scenes and audio from the film but was otherwise unremarkable.

    

 

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    This is now the version of choice to my mind as it has the original dialogue and the original aspect ratio.

Summary

    A great Aussie comedy finally released in its original aspect ratio.

    The video quality is good.

    The audio quality is very good.

    The disc has no extras.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Daniel Bruce (Do you need a bio break?)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Review Equipment
DVDPioneer DV667A DVD-V DVD-A SACD, using Component output
DisplaySony FD Trinitron Wega KV-AR34M36 80cm. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL). This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 576i (PAL)/480i (NTSC).
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Video Essentials.
AmplificationPioneer VSX-511
SpeakersMonitor Audio Bronze 2 (Front), Bronze Centre & Bronze FX (Rears) + Sony SAW2500M Subwoofer

Other Reviews NONE