Eraserhead (1977)

In American cinema, surrealism is all but a dirty word, but David Lynch has been its standard bearer since 1977.

Aspect ratios: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Number of discs: 1 Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Street date: 12/13/2005 Distributor:

In its initial DVD release from DavidLynch.com, Eraserhead came packaged in an 8"x8" collector's box custom-designed by Lynch. Unfortunately, despite the novelty, this box isn't such a good thing. For starters, it isn't easily stored alongside your other DVDs (with the possible exceptions of DumbLand and The Short Films of David Lynch). In fact, in this version, the disc has no case of its own—only a cardboard sleeve that threatens to scratch the disc (I'm sure many discs get scuffed in the packaging phase).

On the brighter side, the box also houses a large-sized, twenty-page booklet with production photos, sketches, an excerpt from Lynch's original story outline, and an description of the film's elaborate restoration for DVD.

More recently, the disc has been repackaged in an standard-sized amaray case, which is, on balance, preferable. The trade-off: no booklet, though an insert thoughtfully informs you that you can purchase the collector's edition, with booklet, at DavidLynch.com. (Another option: order the deluxe box, a blank amaray case, and print your own cover, but there's no guarantee the disc surface will arrive pristine.)

Since Lynch supervised them personally, the transfer and sound are positively glorious (the disc was delayed for years under Lynch's quality control—note the Eraserhead 2000 design). The source print is pristine, with no significant compression artifacts; the all-important soundtrack is true and clear. Unfortunately, the disc includes no subtitles or close-captioning for the hearing-impaired.

[To purchase Eraserhead, go to DavidLynch.com or check out TLAVideo.com's David Lynch promotion (purchase one of the David Lynch-produced DVDs, get 25% off other Lynch titles).]

Review gear:

• Panasonic Viera TC-P55VT30 55" Plasma 1080p 3D HDTV
• Oppo BDP-93 Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
• Denon AVR2112CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver
• Pioneer SP-BS41-LR Bookshelf Speaker (2)
• Pioneer SP-C21 Center Speaker
• Pioneer SW-8 Subwoofer