In an interview with writer Robert Towne on the "Chinatown" DVD, he reasons that no Hollywood studio now would provide the budget needed for such a demanding film. It's just as well then that Paramount has restored this film to the point that it looks as fresh and new as the recent "LA Confidential".

"Chinatown" oozes evocative imagery and apart from the odd fleck of print damage the picture quality is stunning. The muted, smoky palette has a haunting depth that immerses you in the character of this absorbing thriller.

The sound has been upgraded to a 5.1 mix that further enhances the atmosphere of this film. Details like the rear seagulls in chapter two or the biting titter of birds in the orange groves in eight is remarkably clear. Jerry Goldsmith's score also gains new depth and clarity.

This is not a disc packed with features. But the interviews with director Roman Polanski, writer Robert Towne and producer Robert Evans are far more interesting than other DVDs packed with useless information on other inferior films. The interviews are quite short but the three get straight to the heart of the matter and throw in various anecdotes that are fascinating to hear. This disc will thrill anyone who loves "Chinatown" and Paramount are to be congratulated on such a fine mastering.

Chapters: 16
Ratio: 2.35.1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Extra Features:Scene selection, interviews with Roman Polanski, Robert Towne, and Robert Evans, trailer, multiple languages, subtitles, English for the hearing impaired.