This film has a rather troubled release on DVD, so here are my takes on the Miramax R1 DVD and the Korean SE 2-Disc Set, both of which are offered on this site.

(All * ratings are out of *****)

MIRAMAX R1
Picture Quality - ***1/2
The picture is very sharp and largely free of any artifacing, but it is hideously flawed in that the color scheme is all wrong. The image is sharp, but overly sepia and lacks many of the colors you'll see on the Korean SE. In fact, the print seems to have been untouched by most of the computer-enhanced color effects the film displays.

Audio - ***1/2
We get the original Polish soundtrack in DD 5.1, with additional English and French language dub tracks (both also in DD 5.1), but no way to accurately enjoy any of them. The English subtitles included are innaccurate dubtitles, and the English dub has added narration and changed dialogue, all of which provide the basis of the English subtitles, so when watching with the Polish language track, one has subtitles pop up when no one is speaking, and the changed dialogue is a real loss. VERY annoying.

Extras - ***1/2
The only reason to get this release is for two subtitled extra featurettes, both of which are very informative.

KOREAN SE 2-DISC SET
Picture Quality - ***1/2
Accurate colors! However, the anamorphically enhanced image is window boxed, so that the overall area of the video is reduced. Slightly annoying. Also, there are some problems with artifacing in the main titles, and overall the transfer seems rather soft. But still, it's better than Miramax's blande, all-sepia version.

Audio - *****
Here is where the disc really shines. We get a DD 5.1 EX, as well as a full-bitrate DTS-ES 6.1 Polish language track with accurate subtitles! These are both excellent audio presentations. A DD 2.0 Japanese dub is also included.

Extras - ****
First up is an almost two hour documentary, Days of Avalon, which has no English subtitles but is still well worth watching to see the filming, Oshii's birthday on set (the crew gets him probably the only thing you could get for Oshii - a little bassett hound statuette!). We also Foremniak without the wig she wears as Ash, Oshii driving around in a tank, etc.

Next is the Avalon VFX making featurette, which isn't subtitled, but is included on Miramax's DVD with subtitles. Finally, there is a Visual Image Lib featurette, which is basically a slideshow of the film's concept art set to Kenji Kawai's score, and a selection of trailers and TV spots.

My recommendation is to go with the Korean SE 2-Disc Set, as it has a better picture in terms of accuracy, better subtitles and better audio. If you are a devoted fan, you may want to pick up the Miramax DVD for the subtitled extras, and if you are a HUGE fan of the film, go ahead and buy the R2 Memorial Box edition from Japan, as it as everything the Korean SE 2-Disc Set has, with better picture quality and a book of storyboards, too.