Cleopatra [DVD] [1963]

I bought the 2 Disc edition because Cleopatra (Special Edition) [DVD] [1963] was unavailable at the time. This 2 Disc edition is most definitely not from a restored print, or even a good quality print. It looks *horrible*. The picture ranges from soft and smeared through very noisy to pebble dashed. The less noisy parts are terribly soft and smeared, with a cartoonish lack of texture,resolution and detail. The colours are somewhat faded. Sometimes there are horrible edge artefacts where outlines have a ghost outline (or did they have Ready Brek in ancient Egypt?). I've seen some of the restored edition and it looks superb. This two disc edition stinks, as does the fact that Amazon's description and praise of the picture quality is misleading because it refers to a completely different and better edition. I'll be asking for a refund on the basis of that misdescription. If you want to enjoy this film then spend the extra on the restored edition and avoid this 2 disc set.

edit: I now have the three disc special edition and it is the same edition after all. I have no idea how the amazon reviewer had the gall to write "this handsome three-disc set spreads the restored four-hour print of the movie across two discs. The anamorphic widescreen print looks quite magnificent..." This is simply untrue. I can only believe it is not an honest review but simply a regurgitation of the studio press release. The picture looks *horrible* and is clearly and obviously not any kind of restoration but in fact just a patchwork of cuts from different prints, each with their own problems with some of those being severe, well below the quality of even a decent VHS tape. Meanwhile The blu-ray edition *is* from an actually restored edition, its picture quality is flawless, perfect and astonishing and it *would* merit the kind of praise that has been lavished on this pig in a poke.

If amazon offer a DVD movie review it should be more than simply recycling out the vendor press pack. Actually watching the movie would seem to be the minimum requirement, followed by an honest and factual representation of the picture and sound quality, the included extras etc. It's deceitful to take people's money on the back of official reviews that thoroughly misrepresent the product.

This amazing film must rank amongst the very greatest. I bought the 2 disc, 4 hour-long uncut version in 2:40 aspect ratio (cinemascope) and am in awe of the sheer visual spendour of the picture. It has been well restored for this DVD release, and they were clever enough not to try and cram it all onto one disc. When I consider each of the separate elements : the actors, the sets, the costumes, the make-up, the music, and all the masterful editing (some scenes turning into a fresco before the following one appears), I think of how ingenious people were back then. Such a colossal amount of money was spent on this over-the-top, no-expenses-spared lavish production, that it almost made the studio (20th Century Fox), go bankrupt. Compared to this version of Cleopatra, every other one seems "small".

What a wonderful film!!We sure do not make them like this one anymore!! I was enthralled with this film, and am glad that I purchased it!! It was one of the best films that I have seen recently!! Elizabeth Taylor was excellent as Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, and the acting was as exact to history as it could be-I enjoyed this film! I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys all good films that were done on a big budget!!