UNDER THE COVERS #651: “BADLANDS” (dir. Terrence Malick)
“Little did I realise that what began in the alleys and back ways of this quiet town would end in the Badlands of Montana.”
So The Criterion Collection’s edition of “Badlands” is finally here, and Terrence Malick’s first feature hasn’t looked this good since the first prints were struck back in 1973. to my untrained eye, this is one of the most beautiful HD transfers i’ve ever had the pleasure to witness… rich, dreamy, and film-like. as for the package design… well, this has been a controversial one ever since the pulpy art was debuted a few months ago. i wasn’t one of those who was particularly offended by the cover design, but the inside certainly doesn’t feel quite as aesthetically loaded as Criterion’s packages for Malick’s other features… but then again, revisiting this casually mythic (only quietly transgressive) film, perhaps that was the most appropriate tact.
The Criterion Collection will release “Badlands” on 3/19/2013.
