And it is partially through his eyes that we get to bear witness to the tragic and atrocious acts that these people inflict upon each other. Anthony Hopkins shows us once again why he is considered one of the best actor of our time, and likewise does Jessica Lange, but there isn't a single cast member here that doesn't deliver utterly stunning performances. Harry Lennix, Colm Feore, Laura Fraser, Angus MacFayden, Alan Cumming, Matthew Rhys and Jonathan Rhys Meyers all deserve high praise. The visual grandeur that the viewer is treated to is nothing short of breathtaking, and Director of Photography Luciano Tovoli has managed to perfectly capture this strange world of both beauty and brutality. The image still holds up perfectly, and it also displays amazing detail and depth.
Black levels are also solid thoughout.
The surround channels are excellently used during the Penny Arcade Nightmare sequences, in which they really come alive, but otherwise they are mostly used for Elliot Goldenthal's excellent score and some occasional atmospheric effects. And last, but most importantly, the dialogue is as solid as they come from begging to end. On disc 1 the only extra features are the three audio commentaries provided. The scene-specific commentary by Anthony Hopkins and Harry Lennix is a nice feature, and especially nice is the fact that you are given a list displaying the chapters in which they do offer some insight into this film and their own personal experiences. Julie Taymor's commentary is a lot more informative, and all though it runs for the duration of the film it is always interesting.