This is the big one - the 1992 Bram Stoker's Dracula Blu-Ray. I've bought this movie on video, laserdisc (even though I never had a player), DVD, SuperBit DVD, and now Blu-Ray. The movie is so exquisite visually and aurally (which it won an Oscar for) that I always want the best version I can lay my hands on.
Well, this one is not just the ultimate version of the movie (the improvement in the picture is not enormous, but still noticeable) but a vastly improved set of commentaries (recently made) that give a lot more insight into Coppola's vision for the movie. What I learned generally is that as bad as I think the final cut was in terms of being over the top - it could have been far worse. They filmed stuff that was even more bizarre. And it did explain to me that much of what I didn't like (the overblown costumes, etc.) were just part of the overall image Coppola was shooting for. They weren't intended to be accurate for the period - they were just intended to be beautiful. I sort of knew that already, but after watching the crew talk about what they were trying to do, I realized that they had in mind an image - as unique in its way as Frank Miller's 300, as drawn and filmed - that wasn't intended to reflect reality.
In watching the film, I continued to catch more that I had not seen before. I still think that as brilliant as Gary Oldman is, he was not able to overcome the silly facial hair and Kabuki hairstyle they put him into. He was a startlingly original take on the character, but I still think the whole love story angle was a mistake. I can't help but think that they needed Sam Kinison working on the script screaming "he's a monster. A MONSTER! OH! OHHHHHHHH!" to keep them off the "oh, isn't he sweet" approach to Dracula. The more I think about it, the more I think that - aside from the accent - Tom Selleck would make a good Dracula. He has the presence, and the ability to project silent menace that I see as the character's principal traits. But of course no one ever asks me.
Anyway, great DVD - I haven't watched it yet with the Coppola commentary track on, but I intend to one of these days and see what he says they were trying to do in some of the scenes.