Arthur/Arthur 2: On the Rocks (Comedy Double Feature)

For the price this is definately worth it. It comes on 2 discs in one case, a must have for comedy fans like me. Dudley Moore is at his best in these to classic 80's comedy hits. This is a plus considering that it's on 2 discs and not on the single 2 sided disc that seems to get scratched all the time and you have to decide which side of the disc you want to keep in good mint condition.

This (Arthur)being a favorite from years gone by, was excited to see it ON BLU-RAY, and 'WIDESCREEN'! Yippee, until I started to watch it. I then compared it to my old "full frame" copy (blu and reg dvd machines, comparing back and forth). Funny what they consider widescreen now days. My original says "formatted to fit your screen". I beg to differ, but the newer "W/S" is. Case in point, I froze the screen at 1 min. 18 sec on both copies, the scene where the streetwalkers are standing in front of a store/restaurant. The full screen has so much more image than the newer wide: the signage is more complete top and bottom, as well as the characters' lower bodies. Left and right also has more picture. It's as if a w/s matte (rectangular shape) was placed over the full screen image, to create a "widescreen" image. Sorry, but I am not impressed. The blu picture (what image they left of it) IS of a brighter nature, and the signage in this particular scene IS now clear to read. The original dvd picture had looked like this scene was filmed in shadows, but the newer (smaller) image is clearer to make out. I have not watched entire film yet, perhaps update later. I, for one, do not mind side bars, if the original screen image is left intact. Still a fan of film, but am increasingly disgusted with modern film marketing tactics. (footnote: this film does not really 'need' to be widescreen, and newer fans will likely not know what they're missing with newer version. Is still head and shoulders above the dreck remake, but I'm an old guy, so what do I know!) UPDATE (4/20/11): Confusion and consternation abound! Comparing a later scene (office receptionist), w/s has more image to the right side of screen, but is cut-off at the bottom, from full screen! Oye! BOTTOM LINE: film is a hoot, in any format (Sir John Gielgud richly deserved his Oscar). The 1.0 audio is ok for a dialogue driven film, but at least stereo would have been nice. Blu-ray has audio dubs in German, French, Spanish; subtitles same, plus English. My opinion, film: 5 stars, blu video: 4 stars (cleaned up, but not 'eye-popping': it's an older film!), and 3 stars for overall blu-ray release (pluses for language options, picture improvement; negatives for 1.0 audio, zero extras, and weird formatting.) Bonus update #2: Finally watched A2. UGH! I lost count of how many none-too-subtle references/rip-offs to original film there are, and the delightfully scripted/acted original characters (Linda's Dad, A's grandmom, Burt Johnson) are dreadfully treated in #2. Almost tarnished my enjoyment of original (file under "What Were They Thinking?").

So i've always been a Dudley Moore fan, and I wanted to buy the classic Arthur before that idiot Russell Brand screws up the franchise by polluting it with vulgar humour and sleazy sex jokes (at least more vulgar and sleazy than the original). Dudley Moore just brings a level of class and sophistication and even sympathy to everyone's favorite drunken playboy!

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