| ...The full frame 1.33 X 1 image is supposed to be the entire frame the film was shot in, according to a note on the DVD wrapper, but a later Critical Mass Special Edition made a 1.85 X 1 letterboxed image available, with a Dolby Pro Logic 2.0 Stereo remix. The only sound available here, also on the new set, is Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono. Though we are curious about the difference between the two editions, I was very surprised how good and film-like this version tended to look. The sound was also very nice and clear, more so than we usually get for Dolby in this form. If you do not want to spend the extras money on the newer edition, this will satisfy your needs more than you would expect.
Cinematographer Reg(inald H.) Morris does an exceptional job of shooting this film, with an effectiveness that will bring to mind Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1980) and it is fair to say this is a soft matte film like that in that it is meant to be seen from 1.33 X 1 to 1.85 X 1 aspect ratios. That would include 1.66 X 1 and 1.75 X 1 in England, and definitely (by default) for widescreen 1.78 X 1 televisions. The newer edition is not anamorphic, so you might want to consider this edition if you have an HDTV, as when you zoom in on the image, you will get more picture image fitting the set perfectly. Stan Cole's editing is another plus. For another good film shot by Morris, see my review for Clark's Murder By Decree elsewhere on this site. Morris continued to lens many of Clark's films henceforth, and for good reason.
The score by Carl Zittrer is also really good, subtle, effective and powerful in building suspense like the best suspense scores. However, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells from William Friedkin's Exorcist is also slipped in, as well as some holiday standards. I would love to see an uncompressed 6.1 remix for this film when an HD version surfaces. Extras on this edition are few, but include text filmographies of the cast, a trailer with narration by an uncredited James Mason, and two short interview clips with John Saxon. The Special Edition offers much more, but this 25th Anniversary Black Christmas is as valuable and for serious Horror and film fans, it is a must have. |
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