El Cid (1961/PAL/Region 4) + Fall Of The Roman Empire (1964/PAL/Region 4) + Centennial (1978/Umbrella Entertainment PAL/Region Free/DVD Imports)

 

Picture: C+/B-/C+     Sound: C+/B-/C     Extras: D/D/C     Films/Episodes: B-

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: The Centennial DVD set can only be operated on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Zero/0/Free PAL format software, while the feature film DVDs can only be operated on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Four/4 PAL format software and can be ordered from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment at the website address provided at the end of the review.

 

 

Here are three epics we have previously covered in their U.S. DVD release have now found editions issued in Australia through Umbrella Entertainment.  They include two epic feature films and one TV mini-series, all critical and commercial successes in their time:

 

El Cid (1961)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6482/El+Cid+%E2%80%93+Limited+Collect

 

Fall Of The Roman Empire (1964)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6897/The+Fall+Of+The+Roman+Empire+%E

 

Centennial (1978)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7289/James+A.+Michener%E2%80%99s+Ce

 

 

Picture and sound in all cases are virtually the same as their U.S. counterparts, except that I liked the color and Video Black slightly more on the Cid and Empire, but they have none of the extras of their U.S. counterparts.  This includes a supposed trailer on each, but they have no menus, so there is no trailer of any kind to see either way.  Centennial is practically the same set, down to the same featurette.  You can’t go wrong either way and since all were filmed, maybe we’ll see them down the line on Blu-ray.

 

 

As noted above, you can order these PAL DVD imports exclusively from Umbrella at:

 

http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo