The menu is static and silent with options given at first for the language
required from the same choice of two as for everything else on this disc
and then for the film ratio.
Along with The Big Lebowski and Hard Rain, this is one of the
first few DVDs to contain both picture formats on the **same side of
the disc**. Usually, releases containing both versions will be on
opposite sides of the disc but these break the trend. It's a more welcome move,
but on a technical note, I'd rather the fullscreen version be scrapped
altogether if it means the widescreen version remaining can benefit from higher
bitrate, resulting in a better picture.
To me, A Life Less Ordinary should simply have been renamed
Lifeless, but if you liked it, aren't bothered about the extras and
can put up with an average picture, then take a look, but it might be better
to rent it first before buying.
NOTE: At the time of writing you may have trouble finding this DVD in
the shops. The title has been recalled because it breaks the VPRC's packaging
rules of not displaying the BBFC certificate on the front cover. Whether all
outlets return their DVDs remains to be seen.
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B
37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Jan 2011: Intel Quad Core Dell XPS 8100, i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80Ghz, 8Gb RAM, nVidia GeForce GTS 240, Windows 7
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
