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| Title | Best |
| Leon: The Professional (Léon) (Directors Suite) (Blu-ray) | R1 |
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The US SONY region-free Blu-ray release of Léon includes the same content as the Australian Madman Blu-ray release and additionally - The German Kinowelt Steelbook Region B Locked Blu-ray release of Léon Ultimate Edition - has the Version Intégrale and Theatrical Version of Léon with English: DTS-HD HR 7.1 and German: DTS-HD HR 7.1. This release includes identical extra feature content as the R4 Blu-ray, and additionally an isolated music score, Fact Track in German and photo slideshow. The UK Optimum Blu ray release of Léon, which is derived from the French Paramount Blu-ray release is (almost) identical to the local release - The audio specs are - English 5.1 DTS-HD High Resolution audio and French 5.0 DTS-HD Master Audio options on the Theatrical Cut and English 5.0 DTS-HD Master Audio on the Version Intégrale and French and French HoH subtitle options.
In regards to how the local Blu-ray release holds up against international release: - The transfer of the Madman (AU)/Optimum (UK)/Paramount(FR) releases vs. Sony (US) – I unfortunately do not have the appropriate software to take screen captures but the easiest explanation after doing a side by side comparison is that the transfers on the Madman(AU)/Optimum(UK)/Paramount(FR) releases the contrast is on the ‘hot’ side – ‘white-hot,’ while on the Sony release the colour is subtle with more detail intact. Now here’s the dilemma – Besson reportedly actually approved the Paramount transfer – therefore the same transfer which appears on the Madman(AU)/Optimum(UK) releases. Personally I don’t think one transfer is better than the other - it’s down to personal preference. Being a feature film almost twenty years old, I did not expect to the soundtrack to be of the quality of a recent feature – that said, in regards to the nature of the film, I believe the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. soundtrack is suitable – as explained in the audio section – it is mostly located at the front, but the rears are audible on occasion, namely during action sequences – it is a solid affair but the Sony release has a soundtrack with a higher bit-rate (96 kHz / 5829 kbps / 24-bit) and the German Kinowelt release has a 7.1 DTS-HD HR English soundtrack which has excellent reviews but the transfer is reportedly similar to the Paramount (FR) release – therefore it could be similar to the UK and AU Blu-ray releases. I have yet to see this release so I can’t do a definitive comparison. Overall I have no qualms with the local Madman release – I believe it is a solid release – particularly as this is the first time the film has been released locally since the VHS release. I maintain it is error-free – the transfer and audio options are what they are – it’s up to the buyer to see what they prefer – in terms of transfer and audio. |
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