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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Miracle On 34th Street

    Featured In Issue 145, December 2009

    Picture4
    Sound4
    WSR Score4
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    2261792
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $34.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    113
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    1994
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    10/06/09
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Les Mayfield
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby Digital 5.0, DTS HD Lossless 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Based on the 1947 screenplay by George Seaton, this 1994 version of the classic holiday tale Miracle On 34th Street is excellent by remake standards. Except for the ho-hum ending, the modernization of the December standard turns out better than most. And a lot of the credit should go to cutie-pie Mara Wilson, who, more than capably stars as six-year-old Susan, the practical girl who doesn't believe in Santa Claus. Her mom (Perkins) is an executive at Cole's department store and in charge of their famous parade's Santa. She believes in being truthful with Susan about the world of make believe. But when Susan meets the department store's new Santa (Attenborough), she has no choice but to believe. (Laurie Sevano)

    There are no special features.

    Compared to the THX®-certified LaserDisc reviewed in Issue 17, the anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVD exhibited a picture that was preferred in all aspects. This new 1.85:1 1080p AVC update is now the definitive rendering. Color fidelity exhibits vivid refinements, with fleshtones appearing even more natural. Colors are bold and nicely balanced, with deep blacks. Hues are rich and velvety warm. Images can be sharp and detailed, but a soft, hazy look is also evident, as was the case with the DVD. This lack of resolution, especially in facial details, is unfortunate because the format is capable of such incredible sharpness and clarity. Sill this is a very pleasing visual experience that is nicely colorful and dimensional. (Gary Reber)

    As with the previous reviewed DVD's Dolby® Digital 5.0-channel soundtrack, the DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack sports a wonderfully enveloping music score that is well recorded. The fidelity for the rest of the sound mix is good, though, not to the exemplary extent of some of today's soundtracks. Sill the DTS® rendering provides improvement. The music is the primary multichannel element of the sound mix, and is impressively expansive, with ample spread into the surrounds. Voices sound natural, with adequate integration with the visuals, the effectiveness of which is somewhat variable. The added .1 LFE channel provides an effective bass reinforcement and extension that enhances the dynamic presence of the sound. This is overall a good soundtrack. (Gary Reber)

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