Director Peter Weir has always made films that were visually striking, "The Last Wave", "Witness", "Fearless", etc., but they also had definitive conclusions, if not altogether satisfying conclusions.  "Picnic at Hanging Rock"  raises numerous questions and offers no answers in its ending, but this serves to make it more powerful.  The fictional tale involves an Australian Young Girls School taking a Picnic to "Hanging Rock", a volcanic outcropping at the turn of the century.  Before the film ends, people will be lost forever, and their disappearance is the basis for the film's mystery.  The cinematography is outstanding, and the DVD transfer perfectly captures the subtle color  changes, contrasts, and fleshtones perfectly.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 surround  was created especially for this release.  Although there is little in the way of   sound effects, the musical score adds more to the films eerie atmosphere than ever before.. 

One of the best crime films of the '70s has just made it onto DVD with a great transfer with the CRITERION dvd release of "The Long Good Friday".  Although Bob Hoskins is still probably better known for his role in the blockbuster, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", it's here that he shines the most!  Completely convincing as a London mobster trying to make a big payoff by securing london dockyard property and redeveloping them in preparation of the "then" upcoming 1988 Olympics.   Unfortunately, everything is going wrong for him on the "Good Friday" he's scheduled to meet with the American mob boss to finalize his business plans.   The transfer adequately preserves the 1.77:1 framing, but we're disappointed CRITERION refuses to enhance their titles for 16:9, causing 16:9 tvs to loose some information all around!  The transfer looks good, with excellent fleshtones and contrast, although the film has a graininess present as it did in its theatrical release. The mono sound is fine.