Cinema Paradiso

Although the DVD transfer is flawless, there are a few scratches on the original print. They don't detract from the film, but it's surprising that such a popular picture as this hasn't been tidied up for DVD. The sound quality is fine for a movie of this style.

It should be noted that whilst the subtitles are easy to read and contain no errors, they are solely used for translation. They won't be ideal for people who are hearing-impaired, although they may just suffice.

There is a problem when viewing the director's filmography on the theatrical version disc. The link to the main menu doesn't work. Pop in your director's cut disc and access the filmography from there, where it works perfectly. It's a shame that the filmographies don't extend beyond the director.

As far as extras go, this two-disc collector's set is frustratingly empty. The most obvious absence is a total lack of explanation as to why there are two different versions of the film. It may be that this explanation features in the eight page information booklet (which was missing from my review sample), but it would have been nice to have it on the disc, perhaps as part of a wider documentary.

Cinema Paradiso is a film you should own. Being able to compare the theatrical version and the director's cut makes this collector's edition worth purchasing, but a few more extras wouldn't have gone amiss.