5+ DVDs...
Dear Gary: Does WSR have a list of movies that received a “5+” in the video rating? I tried doing a search on the WSR site but it only came back with movies with a 5. Also, is there a list of movie tracks that are excellent in video or sound that one might use to really show off their system?
Ken Davis
Staff Writer and Research Editor Michael Coate Comments:
We’ve only issued a “5+” rating for the audio presentation of certain DVDs (and LaserDiscs); the ceiling for video has been a “5.” Is there a list of movies that have excellent video or sound? Not really, but our Web site’s interactive DVD (and LD) database is set up in a manner that allows users to access such a list by asking for the desired information. For instance, discs that received a 4.5 or higher for both picture and sound would come up in a “reference quality” search. Keep in mind that the discs that received a high score four, five, or six years ago, for example, might not seem quite as impressive as they once were when compared to more recently issued discs even though the score would suggest otherwise. In the print magazines, the DVDiscography is where you would find this type of information. The information is neatly arranged in columns for easy reference. We also included a reference list of titles—grouped by score—in our 2001 Ultimate DVD Movie Guide Special Edition issue. A few examples of recently issued discs with impressive image quality would include: Star Wars: Episode II—Attack Of The Clones, Austin Powers In Goldmember, XXX, most of the “Superbits,” and nearly all recent animated titles (particularly Monsters, Inc. and Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron). If you contact our picture reviewer, Suzanne Hodges (suzanne@widescreenreview.com), or our sound reviewer, Perry Sun (perry@ widescreenreview.com), they might be able to provide more specific info. However, please keep in mind that the staff stays busy with the magazine’s many duties and requirements and they may not be able to reply to every email, particularly since our magazine and Web site is presented in a manner where information can be very easily accessed by our readers on their own. A final note: We’ve found the D-VHS D-Theater titles to have superior picture quality to their DVD counterparts. So if you’re seeking the absolute best image quality currently available, D-VHS would be something to consider.
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