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Eaux d'Artifice (1953)
Eaux d'Artifice (1953) poster
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3.6

Eaux d'Artifice (1953)

Drama • 13m

Overview

A woman dressed elegantly walks purposely through the water gardens at the Villa d'Este in Tivoli, as the music of Vivaldi's Winter movement of The Four Seasons plays. Heavy red filters give a blue cast to the light; water plays across stone, and fountains send it into the air. No words are spoken. Baroque statuary and the sensuous flow of water are back lit. Anger calls it water games.

Director: Kenneth Anger

Best English-Friendly Release

Flicker Alley Masterworks of American Avant-garde Experimental Film 1920-1970 boxset OOP Blu-ray extras

or BFI Magick Lantern Cycle: Kenneth Anger Blu-ray extras

Best Video Release

Flicker Alley Masterworks of American Avant-garde Experimental Film 1920-1970 boxset OOP Blu-ray extras

or BFI Magick Lantern Cycle: Kenneth Anger Blu-ray extras

No comparison available

Format

1080p Blu-ray

Featured Lists

National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 1993

Length

13 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

2 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release

Flicker Alley Masterworks of American Avant-garde Experimental Film 1920-1970 boxset OOP Blu-ray extras

or BFI Magick Lantern Cycle: Kenneth Anger Blu-ray extras

Best Video Release

Flicker Alley Masterworks of American Avant-garde Experimental Film 1920-1970 boxset OOP Blu-ray extras

or BFI Magick Lantern Cycle: Kenneth Anger Blu-ray extras

No comparison available

Format
1080p Blu-ray
Featured Lists
National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 1993

Length
13 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
2 months ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

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MoC 4K Blu-ray and Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray are similar

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Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

House of Wax poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray is the best. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has heavily filtered audio

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray is the best. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has heavily filtered audio

Die Hard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

70mm Six-track mix: THX AC3 or DTS LaserDisc

Die Hard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

70mm Six-track mix: THX AC3 or DTS LaserDisc

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Blu-ray mono mix

As noted at Blah-Ray, the mono mix on the Fox Blu-ray, although not perfect, sounds better than the 5.1 remix and at least as good as earlier LaserDiscs, which suffer from being murky.

Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Blu-ray mono mix

As noted at Blah-Ray, the mono mix on the Fox Blu-ray, although not perfect, sounds better than the 5.1 remix and at least as good as earlier LaserDiscs, which suffer from being murky.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Warner Bros LaserDisc (for original mono track)

Additional Info:

1996 Warner Bros 25th Anniversary LaserDisc has isolated music and effects track (incorrectly labeled "music minus vocals") not present on any other release

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Warner Bros LaserDisc (for original mono track)

Additional Info:

1996 Warner Bros 25th Anniversary LaserDisc has isolated music and effects track (incorrectly labeled "music minus vocals") not present on any other release

All That Jazz poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Japan Fox Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray

All That Jazz poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Japan Fox Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray

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HD Streaming
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HD Streaming 

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HD Streaming

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HD Streaming
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HD Streaming 

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HD Streaming

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

5.1: Warner Bros Blu-ray

Hairspray poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

5.1: Warner Bros Blu-ray

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1080p Blu-ray
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BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray

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The Hidden Fortress poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray has excellent master and grade, no DNR and tasteful HDR

Best Audio:

Restored original mono mix: Toho Japan 4K Blu-ray
Unrestored original mono: 2014 BFI Blu-ray

BFI 4K Blu-ray has OG Perspecta (in 5.1 container) and a stereo downmix of it; no original mono.

Additional Info:

The unrestored track on BFI's earlier release appears to be an almost entirely unmanipulated transfer of the original mix. It suffers from a distracting low-frequency hum. The 4K restoration comes with a restored track, which appears to be the same transfer, but which appears to be cleaned up with a moderate amount of noise reduction and some EQ, nicely opening up the high-end, and which is likely to be preferable to most listeners. All earlier releases sound poor.

Perspecta isn't a discrete surround format, instead only relying on manipulating volume and panning of the mono track across L/C/R channels, based on embedded control tones. As such, even the Perspecta track is technically just the mono mix, though the omission of the proper mono on BFI's 4K is still unfortunate.

Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray has excellent master and grade, no DNR and tasteful HDR

Best Audio:

Restored original mono mix: Toho Japan 4K Blu-ray
Unrestored original mono: 2014 BFI Blu-ray

BFI 4K Blu-ray has OG Perspecta (in 5.1 container) and a stereo downmix of it; no original mono.

Additional Info:

The unrestored track on BFI's earlier release appears to be an almost entirely unmanipulated transfer of the original mix. It suffers from a distracting low-frequency hum. The 4K restoration comes with a restored track, which appears to be the same transfer, but which appears to be cleaned up with a moderate amount of noise reduction and some EQ, nicely opening up the high-end, and which is likely to be preferable to most listeners. All earlier releases sound poor.

Perspecta isn't a discrete surround format, instead only relying on manipulating volume and panning of the mono track across L/C/R channels, based on embedded control tones. As such, even the Perspecta track is technically just the mono mix, though the omission of the proper mono on BFI's 4K is still unfortunate.

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BFI 4K Blu-ray

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BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 R1 WB DVD (slightly)

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Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 R1 WB DVD (slightly)

High and Low poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta > Criterion 4K Blu-ray see caps: https://slow.pics/c/s7AfL3XW

Grain is sharper/clearer on the new Carlotta/Criterion 4K; BFI's grain resolves slightly worse and more so in motion, being a standard Blu-ray; The Toho 4K's grain is softer, probably DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Toho 1993 LaserDisc

BFI Player used to have the same mastering available to stream in 2019.

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta > Criterion 4K Blu-ray see caps: https://slow.pics/c/s7AfL3XW

Grain is sharper/clearer on the new Carlotta/Criterion 4K; BFI's grain resolves slightly worse and more so in motion, being a standard Blu-ray; The Toho 4K's grain is softer, probably DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Toho 1993 LaserDisc

BFI Player used to have the same mastering available to stream in 2019.

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray has better encode than Criterion

Best Audio:

2001 MK2 DVD

Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray has better encode than Criterion

Best Audio:

2001 MK2 DVD

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2025 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 BFI Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray, a lot better encoding. See caps https://slow.pics/c/DW2jtYxN Criterion seemed to did some additional adjustment to the original grading

Both France Capricci and Japan Blu-ray are worse than Criterion and BFI.

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray largely sounds better, but attentuates away some low-frequency ambient noises. BFI Blu-ray has hum, dropouts, pops, noticable patching and beeping.

Best English-Friendly:

2025 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 BFI Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray, a lot better encoding. See caps https://slow.pics/c/DW2jtYxN Criterion seemed to did some additional adjustment to the original grading

Both France Capricci and Japan Blu-ray are worse than Criterion and BFI.

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray largely sounds better, but attentuates away some low-frequency ambient noises. BFI Blu-ray has hum, dropouts, pops, noticable patching and beeping.

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray upcoming
New 4K restoration without Ritrovata color timing

Best Video:

Italy CG Entertainment Blu-ray is 4K resto, but horrible colours. 2019 BFI Blu-ray is the older master but better encode + extra footage than Criterion

Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray upcoming
New 4K restoration without Ritrovata color timing

Best Video:

Italy CG Entertainment Blu-ray is 4K resto, but horrible colours. 2019 BFI Blu-ray is the older master but better encode + extra footage than Criterion

Invasion of the Body Snatchers poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or 2018 Olive Films/BFI or 2012 Olive Films/Italy Sinister Films Blu-ray, all three are not ideal.

Best Video:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or 2018 Olive Films/BFI or 2012 Olive Films/Italy Sinister Films Blu-ray, all three are not ideal.

  • Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has frozen grain, sharpening, lots of debris, and handles lesser materials. The supposed non-Superscope version is false advertising. It merely reveals more picture information. 

Best Audio:

1992 Republic Pictures LaserDisc PCM Mono

Additional Info:

Criterion LaserDisc has exclusive commentary. Olive Films Signature Blu-ray and BFI Blu-ray each have exclusive extras. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has exclusive commentary.

Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or 2018 Olive Films/BFI or 2012 Olive Films/Italy Sinister Films Blu-ray, all three are not ideal.

Best Video:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or 2018 Olive Films/BFI or 2012 Olive Films/Italy Sinister Films Blu-ray, all three are not ideal.

  • Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has frozen grain, sharpening, lots of debris, and handles lesser materials. The supposed non-Superscope version is false advertising. It merely reveals more picture information. 

Best Audio:

1992 Republic Pictures LaserDisc PCM Mono

Additional Info:

Criterion LaserDisc has exclusive commentary. Olive Films Signature Blu-ray and BFI Blu-ray each have exclusive extras. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has exclusive commentary.

The Innocents poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray or maybe 2020 Capelight Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Criterion > BFI & 2012 Capelight, not sure about 2020 Capelight

Best Audio:

2012 Capelight Blu-ray?

The Innocents poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray or maybe 2020 Capelight Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Criterion > BFI & 2012 Capelight, not sure about 2020 Capelight

Best Audio:

2012 Capelight Blu-ray?

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HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

BFI 720p Streaming: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/the-march-of-time no longer available

Unofficial Youtube Streaming

Best Video:

BFI 720p Streaming: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/the-march-of-time no longer available

Unofficial Youtube Streaming

Best English-Friendly:

BFI 720p Streaming: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/the-march-of-time no longer available

Unofficial Youtube Streaming

Best Video:

BFI 720p Streaming: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/the-march-of-time no longer available

Unofficial Youtube Streaming

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Eaux d'Artifice (1953) backdrop

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