Review Detail
9.7 3 10
Overall rating
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
9.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
10.0
Brooding, atmospheric black n white rendering of Polanski’s classic. To improve pacing, MusicEd trimmed scenes here and there. Few will notice or mind. No major plot alterations.
Video - 720p, MP2V. As noted, black n white. Image is rather soft, though nice looking. My preference would have been for boosted contrast, aiming for the Noirish feel. Still, this edit is served well by black n white. Cuts and transitions are smooth and well done.
Audio - 2 Channel, 192 Kb. No subs, though not necessary because the dialogue is wonderfully caught. This has always been an insidious film where viewer are forced to eavesdrop on to uncomfortable conversations and sounds, yet denied audio information in other scenes. As before, MusicEd’s editing is top notch.
Narrative - The edit is cohesive and flows quicker than before. Note to “modern viewers” this remains a leisurely paced experience. This is also not a pick-up, put-down, pick-up film, or one to screened whilst multi-tasking. This is best seen in one full sitting. MusicEd’s edit progresses logically with nothing awkward.
Note - I think the foreign man in the white outfit was referenced more in Levin’s book, but I’m not sure. I leafed through my wife’s vintage paperback without success. In it’s day, Ira Levin was wildly popular and “Rosemary’s Baby” was a monster best-seller. Many more people read then and film makers relied on collective memory to fill in details.
Enjoyment - I enjoyed this a lot. I understand - actually, I don’t understand - I realize many viewers do not like black n white. The pace is also deliberate, which often causes impatient sorts to scratch the FF button. Know thyself.
During a second look, at one point I switched off the audio, liked what I saw, and kept it off until the credits. The actors were mostly old pros, accustomed to conveying a great deal of emotion and intensity with their faces alone. Expressions, facial tics, and reactions were arresting. If you know the film, this works great as a silent and is a tour de force for drama buffs.
Applause to MusicEd for the anagram for All Of Them Witches (also in Levin’s book). Great touch.
Video - 720p, MP2V. As noted, black n white. Image is rather soft, though nice looking. My preference would have been for boosted contrast, aiming for the Noirish feel. Still, this edit is served well by black n white. Cuts and transitions are smooth and well done.
Audio - 2 Channel, 192 Kb. No subs, though not necessary because the dialogue is wonderfully caught. This has always been an insidious film where viewer are forced to eavesdrop on to uncomfortable conversations and sounds, yet denied audio information in other scenes. As before, MusicEd’s editing is top notch.
Narrative - The edit is cohesive and flows quicker than before. Note to “modern viewers” this remains a leisurely paced experience. This is also not a pick-up, put-down, pick-up film, or one to screened whilst multi-tasking. This is best seen in one full sitting. MusicEd’s edit progresses logically with nothing awkward.
Note - I think the foreign man in the white outfit was referenced more in Levin’s book, but I’m not sure. I leafed through my wife’s vintage paperback without success. In it’s day, Ira Levin was wildly popular and “Rosemary’s Baby” was a monster best-seller. Many more people read then and film makers relied on collective memory to fill in details.
Enjoyment - I enjoyed this a lot. I understand - actually, I don’t understand - I realize many viewers do not like black n white. The pace is also deliberate, which often causes impatient sorts to scratch the FF button. Know thyself.
During a second look, at one point I switched off the audio, liked what I saw, and kept it off until the credits. The actors were mostly old pros, accustomed to conveying a great deal of emotion and intensity with their faces alone. Expressions, facial tics, and reactions were arresting. If you know the film, this works great as a silent and is a tour de force for drama buffs.
Applause to MusicEd for the anagram for All Of Them Witches (also in Levin’s book). Great touch.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
DVD
V