Login

Login
Lost Password?
No account yet? Register
 

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Recent HD Reviews

Body Heat Blu-Ray (0) (0)
Category: HD Reviews
Chuck- Season One Blu-ray (0) (0)
Category: HD Reviews
Get Smart Blu-Ray (0) (0)
Category: HD Reviews
Journey To The Center Of The Earth 3D Blu-Ray (0) (0)
Category: HD Reviews
Hellboy 2- The Golden Army Blu-ray (0) (0)
Category: HD Reviews
A Christmas Story- Blu-ray (0) (0)
Category: HD Reviews
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Blu-ray (0) (0)
Category: HD Reviews
Mongol Blu-ray (0) (0)
Category: HD Reviews
Final Countdown, The Blu-Ray (0) (0)
Category: HD Reviews

Recent DVD Reviews

Star Trek- The Original Series- Season 3 Remastered (0) (0)
Category: DVD Reviews
The 4400-The Complete Series (0) (0)
Category: DVD Reviews
Tropic Thunder Unrated version (0) (0)
Category: DVD Reviews
Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Vol. 4 (0) (0)
Category: DVD Reviews
Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (0) (0)
Category: DVD Reviews
Numb3rs - Fourth Season (0) (0)
Category: DVD Reviews
Wall-E 3-Disc Special Edition (0) (0)
Category: DVD Reviews
Kung Fu Panda Double Pack (0) (0)
Category: DVD Reviews
Nash Bridges - The Complete First Season (0) (0)
Category: DVD Reviews

Recent Quick Reviews

Carlos Mencia: Performance Enhanced
Zombie Diaries, The
Tsubasa Volume 9- Renegades And Strays
Pride FC: Total Elimination Absolute
Dragonball Z- Cooler's Revenge and The Return Of Cooler
Death Note Volume 7
Mister Lonely
The Perfect Holiday
Meet Dave
The Flight Before Christmas
xxxHolic- Sixth Collection
All Together Now

Enter Our Giveaway

Shaun The Sheep
 
 CLICK ON THE COVER TO 

ENTER! 

Latest Special Features

Site programming by Cory Webb

Cory Webb logo

Great DVD/Blu-Ray sites

Birds,The  Hot
Reviews DVD Reviews
Written by Staff Writer   
Sunday, 16 January 2005


Favored by 0 users (Register to add this entry to your favorites)

Grade

Content Grade: A
Sound Grade: B
Extras Grade: n/a
Picture Grade: A-

Specs

http://www.universalstudios.com/home Directed by Alfred Hitchcock Universal/MSRP-$24.95 Widescreen-Subtitles in English Dolby Digital Sound Mono, French 120 minutes-Color-1963 Rated PG-13 for violence
Studio/Label: Universal
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Disc Length: 120 minutes

Review

Another great classic Hitchcock release from Universal is presented for our pleasure. Universal has loaded this disc with lots of extras and have restored the picture to pristine condition. The film stars Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren, who play a cat and mouse game of love and fascination for the first part of the story. Filmed in San Francisco and Bodega Bay, the scenery is gorgeous. Also in the cast are Jessica Tandy, as the judgmental mother, a young Suzanne Pleshette as the smoking school teacher ( now you know where she got that low, sexy voice) and a very young Veronica Cartwright.
Daphne Du Maurier's suspenseful story starts off with a pet store scene with Hedren and Taylor sparing with each other. This film has a lot to do with characters and the first third of the film introduces us to both of these dynamic young adults; Hedren who is a spoiled rich girl, and Taylor, a successful lawyer, who spends time away from the city every weekend. The story starts to get bizarre as masses of birds start congregating near Bodega Bay, for no apparent reason. The movie includes many memorable scenes; the birthday party bird attack, the schoolhouse gathering on the school yard climber while Hedren smokes a cigarette, and the swallows coming out of the fireplace. It was a most difficult picture for Hitch, as he couldn't control the birds in the movie as well as the actors. It is a fascinating story, and can be viewed time and time again to find new insights.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Picture and Sound

Picture- The colors from 1963 are a bit muted but still a good balance. While the Technicolor glory is a bit faded, the film has been cleaned up well for this disc. It is presented in widescreen format and while a few dust speckles are apparent in parts, the picture is as good as it will ever be for home video. Sound-Digital Dolby Mono in English or French are included. The sound is very clean and dialog clear throughout. While the sound was not redone as it was for Vertigo, it still is in good shape with every bird squawk and cry distinct.

Extras

Loaded with extras, including deleted scenes, Tippi Hedren's screen test, movie trailer, Hitchcock at the National Press Club, production photos and notes, the original ending, and bios of cast and filmmaker's. It's the way most DVD's should be produced, with plenty of extras. You really get your money's worth with this disc.

Summary

Universal has treated Hitchcock with respect, as with his other releases so far. Each disc seems to get better as studios start using the potential of DVD. This is no slouch but I think Vertigo, with its million dollar restoration was a bit better. While Universal didn't spend the money to do that with this film, it still is a worthy edition for any Hitchcock fan. Celebrate "The Birds". Its a classic, and never looked better. The extras make it well worth the price.
buy now

User reviews

There are no user reviews for this item.

To write a review please register or login.





Powered by jReviews
 
< Prev   Next >

Featured Review

Unbreakable

Category: DVD Reviews
I don't often go to the theater anymore - to see movies, that is. The last time I went the projector flickered so badly and the amount of illumination reaching the screen so poor it was way more than merely distracting - when I complained I was told they'd just had the projector repaired! The time before then, another theater, the presentation was fine, although the optical soundtrack showed screen-left throughout. I have come to the point where my own home theater competes well with all but the biggest and best venues out there, especially when the source material is sterling. There are a lot of advantages to home theater - bathroom breaks are possible without losing precious plot points, the seats are better, popcorn can be made fresh and all snacks are a fraction of the cost. And, if you're not in the mood after a few minutes you can always just stop the disc and go back to it another time, when you're more attuned to the subject matter. Were my significant other and I to go to a movie theater it would cost us at least what a DVD costs us to buy, so we opt for the disc - she loves the way we see them at home too, and the fact that we can watch them again any time we want. That's one of the reasons we have the substantial library of discs we've bought, rather than going to the theater.

Movie Quotes

My mama always said, “Life is like a box of
chocolates. You never know what you're
gonna get."

Tom Hanks
Forrest Gump

Latest Reviews

Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 6

Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 6 Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 6

The 4400-The Complete Series

The 4400-The Complete Series The 4400-The Complete Series

Popeye the Sailor: 1941-1943, Vol. 3

Popeye the Sailor: 1941-1943, Vol. 3 Popeye the Sailor: 1941-1943, Vol. 3

Mind of Mencia - Season 4 Uncensored

Mind of Mencia - Season 4 Uncensored Mind of Mencia - Season 4 Uncensored

Nash Bridges - The Complete First Season

Nash Bridges - The Complete First Season Nash Bridges - The Complete First Season

Alfresco

Alfresco Alfresco

When We Left Earth-The NASA Missions

When We Left Earth-The NASA Missions When We Left Earth-The NASA Missions

Primeval Volume 1

Primeval Volume 1 Primeval Volume 1

Return To Sleepaway Camp

Return To Sleepaway Camp Return To Sleepaway Camp

Numb3rs - Fourth Season

Numb3rs - Fourth Season Numb3rs - Fourth Season

Spin City - The Complete First Season

Spin City - The Complete First Season Spin City - The Complete First Season

Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh

Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh

Doctor Who- Beneath The Surface

Doctor Who- Beneath The Surface Doctor Who- Beneath The Surface

Wall-E 3-Disc Special Edition

Wall-E 3-Disc Special Edition Wall-E 3-Disc Special Edition

New Adventures of Old Christine - The Complete Second Season, The

New Adventures of Old Christine - The Complete Second Season, The New Adventures of Old Christine - The Complete Second Season, The

Recent Music Reviews

Duran Duran - Classic Albums: Rio (0) (0)
Category: Music Reviews
Legends:Live At Montreux 1997 Blu-Ray (0) (0)
Category: Music Reviews
Down The Tracks: The Music That Influenced Led Zeppelin (0) (0)
Category: Music Reviews
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Sweet Home Alabama (0) (0)
Category: Music Reviews
Talk Talk: Live at Montreux 1986 (0) (0)
Category: Music Reviews
High Definition poll
 

Nov. 18, 2008 releases

3-Day Weekend
300
Abraham Lincoln/The Struggle
The Avenging Conscience
Bachelorman
Black Belt
Bones - Season 3
Burke's Law: Season One Volume Two
Cannibal! The Musical: 13th Anniversary Edition
Caveman: V. T. Hamlin & Alley Oop
Charmed: The Complete Series
The Clique
The Complete Monty Pythons Flying Circus - Collectors Edition Megaset
D.W. Griffith: Father Of Film
David Lynch The Lime Green Set
Devil's Playground
Devils Curse
Doctor Who - The Complete Fourth Series
Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan: Celebrity Edition
Doughboys
Encounters at the End of the World
Everest: Season 2
Executive Koala
Fanfan La Tulipe
Garden Party
Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Complete Season Three
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Goya
Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season
Hawaii Five-O: The Fifth Season
Heathers: Limited Edition Locker Set
High School Musical: DVD Game
Jeff Dunham: Very Special Christmas Special
The Last Klezmer: Leopold Kozlowski - His Life and His Music
McHale's Navy: Season Four
Monty Python Holy Trinity
The Odd Couple: The Complete Series Pack
The Odd Couple: The Final Season
Of Love and Eggs
Randy Savage: Macho Madness
Razzle Dazzle
The Rug Cop
Saber Rider & the Star Sheriffs
Sally Of The Sawdust
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Spongebob Squarepants Season 5 Vol 2
Stanley: Special Edition
Star Trek: The Original Series - Three Season Pack
Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 3 Remastered
Tougher In Alaska: The Complete Season 1
Tropic Thunder
Ultimate Death Trance
Wall-E
Wall-E Blu-Ray
Way Down East
The Wedding Director
The Who - Kilburn 1977
Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell
A Wonderful Night in Split
The World Sinks Except Japan
The Zombie Diaries

AddThis Social Bookmark Button