Region 4 Winners and Losers

    This is complicated. The Rock has been released in Region 1 at least twice. The best Region 1 version is part of the Criterion Collection - it is a two disc set. The video transfer on the Criterion edition is of equal quality to this one, although it is a touch darker. The Criterion edition has nothing but English (soundtracks and subtitles) - this version has lots of languages. The only other thing this one has that the Criterion edition doesn't is the Tour The Rock subtitle track.

    The Criterion version has (in addition to the features of this disc):

• Dolby Digital (5.1 and 2.0) and dts soundtracks
• audio commentary (director, producer, actors)
• video interview with producer
• special effects featurettes
• discussion of gunplay
• documentary on Alcatraz
• storyboards, design drawings, stills
• outtakes
• more chapter stops (32 instead of 22)
• a booklet

    That's a lot, but apart from the dts soundtrack, none of it affects the experience of the movie itself. The Criterion edition is expensive. If you want the most detailed background to the movie, then I have to recommend the Criterion version (even though it doesn't have the extra subtitle track). I suppose you could always get both the Criterion and this Region 4. On the other hand, if you are primarily interested in the movie, then this Region 4 version is the obvious choice - much cheaper. One thing I must say: do not buy the earlier editions - the quality is not up to this standard.