I rented it way back but I don’t remember if there was anything wrong with the video. I do remember I was disappointed with it, despite that awesome ending.
The Anchor Bay SE easily bests the cropped and non-anamorphic Criterion (see also: The Long Good Friday). However, I’d hang on to it for the exclusive commentary. A great listen.
I own the Criterion Time Bandits – it is 1.85:1 (the packaging is correct). However, it’s just not anamorphic – i.e. enhanced for widescreen tv’s. Many of the older Criterion DVD’s are similar – 4:3 letterboxed versions – non-anamorphic.
Others are:
Silence Of The Lambs
Robocop
Tokyo Drifter
Branded To Kill
Long Good Friday
Time Bandits
Armageddon
Sid & Nancy
This Is Spinal Tap
original release of Charade / they re-released it in anamorphic
I’m sure there’s others that I’m overlooking.
I’ll probably pick up the Anchor Bay SE of Time Bandits, but I always keep the Criterion as a collection. As for others like, Silence Of The Lambs & Robocop, I purchased the SE’s that are now enhanced for widescreen tv’s. It’s always the hope that Criterion will do a re-release 16×9 version.
Vishal
I recently purchased the Criterion DVD of Time Bandits and was disappointed.
The cover mentioned 1.85:1 but it was not so.
Has any one else experienced the same?