Njutafilms Swedish DVD

[Roareye]

I have returned. Through the frozen wastes of the internet, fighting off the violent creatures of regional-only stockists and having only my hat, Donald, and my right hand for company...
After two months solid searching I found a stockist of Njutafilms' Super Mario Bros DVD that WILL deliver to the UK. The worst is over, now the long trek home with the prize is all that remains.

While I wait on its delivery, I do have some questions for you guys on this particular product.

1. I discovered this 'better' copy by you guys on here telling me about it. But the website doesn't list the item, nor can I find comparison articles online to suggest the copy is of higher quality (though it could be I suck at searching).
2. Other than image quality, is it known what changes/additions there are to the film?
3. When the copy comes through my door, would you like me to write you an article on the differences, where possible referencing different source material to the Buena Vista copy, and a full run of disc specs?
4. My laptop, Behemoth, is built as a full HD movie rendering suite. As such it is capable of accurate digital screengrabs and ripping both video and menus from DVD discs. If you like I could use this facility to get you the highest quality screens, small clips etc for both the comparison article and an image archive for your own site use.

I'm a Blu-Ray nut, but even as DVD I couldn't let a better quality version of a much loved film go without being in my collection XP Looking forward to answers here, and any questions you guys might have on the Njutafilms version, please ask and I'll answer them as best as I can when it arrives.

I have a plan. And it's as hot as my PANTS!

[Phlibbit]

You think you're going to find articles online comparing Super Mario Bros. movie DVDs? Someplace that's not on this website or forum? That's why you haven't found anything

I don't think there are any major changes in the film itself. The deal with this release is that it's the best quality anamorphic widescreen transfer that we've seen. I personally think the USA DVD is probably "better" but it's at a lower resolution so the Swedish DVD still wins out.

However, I do recall some differences in color balance, etc. For example, take a look at the scene in the dig site tunnel, when Daisy and Luigi almost kiss. In the USA version, the tones are brown and the lights are white. On this Swedish version, the lights are a lot more blue and moody. I'm not sure which is the "real" version, but we should know soon enough when we see the film again in theaters

And yeah--please, please, please write us a great article about this DVD with comparisons. I'd really appreciate it and it'd get a front page run.

[Roareye]

Then I'll do it, sounds like a great opportunity to do something with you guys

Just out of curiosity, you stated that the Swedish version is anamorphic and therefore higher in image resolution, and considering the crappy quality of the mainstream DVD, what makes you think the US version is probably better? It's also worth asking if the British DVD is the same as the US one, as it'll be the British DVD I have to compare it to.

Sounds like you've seen the Swedish copy before. Where did you see it, since its not listed as Region Free and it took an ice age for me to find a site that would distribute outside Scandinavia to Europe - America was still not an option even there.

[Phlibbit]

I have the Swedish version, I bought it directly from the Njutafilms website, I think. They had it listed there and everything.

As far as the USA DVD goes, I think it's probably a higher-quality transfer (re: Disney) but it's on a lower resolution, non-anamorphic format. The Swedish version is likely a lower-quality transfer but it's anamorphic and in a higher resolution. If that makes sense.

[ultimateemail5000]

I used to have a Chinese bootleg of the SMB movie, I wish I still had it. Not sure how good the transfer was since I only saw it ona tube television. I think it was 4:3 even. The cover was like a fire background with Mario and Luigi holding their tools on the front. The only gripe I had with it was it cut off durring the credits not showing the Iggy and Spike part, and as soon as I got it not thinking there would ever be a release of the movie, the next day or week they announced a release date for the movie on dvd. I think this was in 2003.

[Redstar]

I'd love to see a write-up from you, Roareye. We actually do have quite a bit of information on the international releases, but have yet to update the Video Releases page. Member contribution is especially appreciated.

I used to have a Chinese bootleg of the SMB movie, I wish I still had it. Not sure how good the transfer was since I only saw it ona tube television. I think it was 4:3 even. The cover was like a fire background with Mario and Luigi holding their tools on the front. The only gripe I had with it was it cut off durring the credits not showing the Iggy and Spike part, and as soon as I got it not thinking there would ever be a release of the movie, the next day or week they announced a release date for the movie on dvd. I think this was in 2003.

Some of the international releases have really cool promotional artwork. The Italian release has a more bubbly, cartoon title logo with Mario's cap set atop it as well as a Yoshi-headed Goomba on the side. The Malaysian poster is just stunning, if you've ever seen it.

[ultimateemail5000]

I'd love to see a write-up from you, Roareye. We actually do have quite a bit of information on the international releases, but have yet to update the Video Releases page. Member contribution is especially appreciated.

Not sure if I've seen the Malysian poster but I have seen the Italian poster, and with the text and hat, its very cool but also 100% missleading. Its like they're trying to say its a live action Super Show movie.

[Roareye]

Okay, I have the Swedish disc. I'm having trouble ripping my UK version of the movie, however I have managed to rip the Njutafilms Swedish version easily enough. I think there may be some issue with my UK disc, however I am going to keep trying and will give you a proper comparison very soon however one thing is very certain to me already - the transfer is much much crisper. Both playing on a PS3 outputting 1080p (Therefore both upscaling) to a 40" Samsung LCD - the Njutafilms/Swedish disc is superior. There are moments where they are both similar however background details etc are all much more crisp and clear. Colour tones and hues are deeper and When I get the UK disc ripped, I shall use it to compare shots so you can see the comparable differences.

However, something for Phlibbit or Redstar to update to the site - have a high res scan of the boxart for your Video Releases page.

http://lindisfarneplayers.co.uk/img/dvdcover.jpg

[1upmushroom]

I've seen the boxart cover and I must say THAT IS MORE LIKE IT!!!!! I mean holy CRAP that box art is just epic!

[Roareye]

If anyone has a ripped version of the standard DVD to send to me, please do. I've looked at the underside of my UK Disc and while it runs on my player just fine, the data rings are warped which means that it corrupts whenever I try and copy it.

In the meantime, here's a high res version of the normal UK DVD Cover.

http://lindisfarneplayers.co.uk/img/ukdvdcover.jpg

Just managed to rip it, so all good to go. They seem to rip at different playing speeds, so eventually the Njutafilms release is actually faster than the UK version. When you line them up side by side, despite seeming identical to the naked ear, they eventually play out of sync.

[1upmushroom]

Could this mean we have an extended version here?

Either that, or there's a scene thats slowed down a bit, either way I'm excited!

[Phlibbit]

The standard DVD plays at a different rate than the Swedish one as well. It's all to do with the framerate standards for NTSC/PAL/etc. I can definitely tell the difference when I watch either version. Most versions other than the USA release seem "sped up" and the soundtrack has a slightly higher pitch.

[Roareye]

The US and Swedish copies do seem to play at differing speeds, however the Swedish one doesn't seem different to the PAL one, meaning it's likely that it's the PAL conversion that causes the speed differences (Likely due to being made for different Hertz ratios back in the 90s).

I have just grabbed a shed load of stills from the Swedish one and now I'm going to bed. 757 individual stills, which will be distilled down to;

i. 10 - 20 shots for comparison to the US/UK variant
ii. Various detail shots showing clearer detail and text across Dinohattan and text on surrounding equipment/signage.
iii. Simon's disappearance. He's very visible in every shot until the exact moment where his death/devolution would have been implemented.
iv. Interesting trivia and items - Koopa towels, Koopa flannel, Koopa Photo Album... all in there.
v. Ask rhetorical questions - There are two towers miles away from Dinohattan in the Koopahari Desert - what the hell are they, cos they're not on Koopa's Globe (The lights leading away from Dinohattan are revealed to be the road to the dump)
vi. Random/Comedy Oddities, Such as a person who looks like Hitler and even an old man in a cheap Mario outfit in the Boom Boom Bar! Oh, and Mario dances with his two muggers (Old lady and Bertha) at the end XD
vii. Hoskins Shots - More for me. Hoskins' expressive face is love XD
viii. Compiling all Dinohattan shots to try and build a map of Dinohattan (Which I'll try and draw out) which can be used to place locations of characters at key timings of the movie - for example when Bertha mugs the Bros, Koopa can see the whole thing from his office at the time (Look at the relative position of Bullet Bills in both the mugging sequence and out of Koopa's office window which take place almost simultaneously).

One major drawback to the Swedish DVD however, though I've yet to check if it's the same on the UK/US version, is that it holds a very stable picture until a certain point. Between the time Mario jumps on Koopa's metal platform (When he uses his shoelace as 'the rock') to the point where Daisy and Luigi use a special tool to pull 'the rock' out of the meteorite is heavily interlaced. The rest of the film prior and after this point holds a filmic quality and I'm uncertain as to why this particular section is so badly rendered.

- In case you don't understand interlacing, it's when two frames are rendered in a venetian-blind style way one after another. It creates a less stable picture, making very noticeable scan lines from left-to-right in the image. The only reason this is used in the industry is because it requires less power and energy to process - but considering the rest of the film is progressive (Each frame is a full complete image) there is no reason why the effect should be so intrusive at this point.

I'll grab the 10-20 US/UK comparison shots tomorrow as it's now nearly 3am and I must sleep x.x

[Redstar]

Sounds like a lot of work you're doing. We really appreciate it. Surely it'll come together into a very informative and encompassing article for the Video Releases page. I'm especially liking the comparison to the UK release since we don't have a lot of information prepared for that either. It should really help in filling out the page that much more.

[Roareye]

Okay, the comparison has been done and sent to the admins.

I have to say doing this has been a real eye opener. Attention to detail was high, except continuity in certain things (Do the police cars have brakes or not? XD)

While we wait for the update, let's have a look at some other stills from the Njutafilms DVD and look for funnies.


Either this is the only Police Car in the movie with Police spelt backwards or someone has reversed this clip.


Likely an intended funny - but what sort of prisoner hangs around like a monkey OUTSIDE the cage?


Why did this car crash? The chase comes from the distance, the chase is still approaching and yet this guy flies from screen left for no reason. "Everybody was doing it, I just wanted to be popular."


Nobody touches my KOOPA TOWELS!


Hmmm. Notice any particular Nintendo mascots in the bottom right-hand corner?


A bit creepy actually. Only in this still is there a ghosted vase hovering on the mid-left of the frame. I are scared.


When the Colombian Drug Baron looks out at all his people's on the dance floor, he knew that life was good.


So that's where Hitler went... (See back left)


And finally - why is Mario hugging his TWO MUGGERS? Bertha has some small sense - she helps them out in the end. But why the old lady that cattle-prodded him?

[SethRex]

To be fair though, Bertha never really mugged him.

[Redstar]

The higher picture quality in this release really does make it that much easier to spot all these little things that we couldn't otherwise. It just demonstrates how much is really going on in both the background and foreground and how much work they put into making the world as real and lively as possible.

Check out a few of my own discoveries in the Little things you notice... thread.

[Serum]

Why does Sweden get a better quality release than the people who made the movie? I guess they must have gotten it with all the money they made from their utility knives...

[Roareye]

Why does Sweden get a better quality release than the people who made the movie? I guess they must have gotten it with all the money they made from their utility knives...

That's why I'm keeping my eye on foreign versions and foreign Amazon sites etc. This is not the only example of this occuring.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0991243/ Yakuza - a game by SEGA Japan with Japanese actors, Japanese sentimentality and a complete Japanese movie experience by the Japanese themselves (Including direction by the famous Takashi Miike) - is only available on Blu-Ray in FRANCE. No reason for this as far as I can see, just the French decided to do a bare-bones BD release whereas Japan, America, UK etc all make do with DVD.

I gather this is due to a foreign company buying the rights to re-release the film in order to enhance their relatively small and/or poor back-catalog in areas the original company who made the film wouldn't bother with.

[Rodkrax]

Could someone make a iso or put the dvd folder on torrent? Im sorry, but i live in Brazil, whatever the price of the official dvd is, here it will be 4 times the price, and it takes A LOONG TIME TO GET HERE.

[Redstar]

Could someone make a iso or put the dvd folder on torrent? Im sorry, but i live in Brazil, whatever the price of the official dvd is, here it will be 4 times the price, and it takes A LOONG TIME TO GET HERE.

We do not support piracy of the film in any way. You're welcome to purchase the DVD online if you can, otherwise you might be able to find it at local stores.

[Roareye]

DVD Cover artwork now available on the site, including statistics similar to those of US versions for additional details.

Strangly, this is the only foreign copy to include the English audio, and it only has the English audio. Despite this its only in Stereo.

[KoopaBro64]

Hey, I'd like to know if anyone knows a site where you can purchase the Njutafilms release. I'm interested in picking a copy up and haven't had any luck finding a site that carries it.

[Redstar]

I unfortunately can't seem to turn up any results, so your best bet would be to contact Njutafilms directly through their site.

However, since we are coming out with a new version of the film for both DVD and Blu-Ray this summer I highly recommend you wait. Not only will the release feature a new transfer sure to trump Njuta's in almost every regard but it will also have bonus content especially made for the 20th anniversary.

[lalalei2001]

It's coming out on regular DVD too!?

EXCELLENT!