Films
/
The Fountain (2006)
The Fountain (2006) poster

The Fountain (2006)

Drama, Adventure, Science Fiction, Romance • 1h 36m

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Best English-friendly & video release

International Fox Blu-Ray or German Kinowelt Blu-Ray?

1080p Blu-ray
Video notes:

International Fox Blu-Ray or German Kinowelt Blu-Ray? > US WB Blu-Ray

Updated 8 months ago


Best audio release

International Fox Blu-Ray


About the film

Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world.

More from Darren Aronofsky

See more →

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Italy Eagle Pictures or Germany Plaion 4K Blu-ray?

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Best English-Friendly & Video:

A24 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

NTSC DVD has the best dynamics for the original stereo, France BAC Films Blu-ray has the best original stereo in lossless

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly & Video:

French Pathe Blu-Ray

Director: Darren Aronofsky

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Director: Darren Aronofsky

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Director: Darren Aronofsky

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

More Drama on Blu-ray

Director: Robert Altman

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Vinegar Syndrome Cinématographe 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Cinematrographe's HDR grading is overcooked, which is a known VinSyn tendency. Additionally, their booklet mis-credits the encode to FiM.

YMMV, but for some, the included BD encoded by Marcus Johnson—ironically may make for a more pleasing experience.

Director: Roman Polanski

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Carlotta France 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

UK 4K teased by 88 Films https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?p=24252379

Video Notes:

Carlotta France 4K Blu-ray > Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray (better encode on Carlotta without any low-pass filtering, more extras and English subtitles on Vinegar Syndrome)

Director: Alan J. Pakula

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Olive Films Blu-ray

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Best English-Friendly & Video:

MGM Blu-ray

Director: Steve Gordon

Best English-Friendly & Video:

WB Blu-ray

Director: John Woo

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray or Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

Plaion Germany 4K Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Arrow has a different grade and a better encode than the Shout! Factory, though the difference in either is not major. Imprint release, which leaves Shout! Factory's master and subtitles as is, is encoded by FiM. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=24473097&postcount=56

Best Audio:

Original mix: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Alternate mix: Scanbox Nordic PAL DVD

Surround remix: HK Video France 4K Blu-ray (5.0)

Audio Notes:

Original mix: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray (similar to Criterion LaserDisc, but less distorted)

Alternate mix: Scanbox Nordic PAL DVD

Surround remix: HK Video France 4K Blu-ray (5.0)

Arrow used the alternate mix, but with extra filtering and lowered dynamic range. The alternate mix has much better fidelity.

Imprint presumably used the Shout! Factory original mix and left it as is, though no official confirmation.

Additional Info:

Arrow has a much better translation.

Arrow LE has the Taiwan Extended Cut which will not be present on the standard edition. However, Imprint is FiM and has its own archival extras not present on the Arrow.

Director: Richard Brooks

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Video Notes:

4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

Director: Vincent Sherman

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Video Notes:

4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

Director: Jonathan Demme

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Best Audio:

1991 Orion LaserDisc vs 2024 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion Blu-ray has exclusive extras

Edit history

3 edits

Researched and maintained by

tyyux

· last reviewed 8 months ago

Every recommendation follows the same method — how these calls are made.