BLU-RAY REVIEW

What Dreams May Come

Featured In Issue 125, November 2007

Picture3.5
SoundNR
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):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
61032935
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Themtic elements involving death, some disturbing images and language
(Retail Price):
$28.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (HD-30)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
116
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
1998
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
08/14/07
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Vincent Ward
(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+ 5.1
(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):

Previously reviewed in Issue 33 on DVD. Based upon the novel by Richard Matheson, What Dreams May Come stars Robin Williams as Chris Nielsen, a man whose spirit tries to stay close to his wife Annie (Sciorra) after he is killed in an accident. But so distraught is Annie, she kills herself, and Chris and his friendly Spirit Guide (Gooding, Jr.) set out to rescue her from eternal damnation. (Stacey Pendry)

Special features include an alternate ending, The Visual Effects commentary by Joel Hynek and Josh Rosen, a photo gallery, and two original theatrical trailers.

While colors are bold and vibrant, the VC-1-encoded 2.32:1 HD DVD doesn't have the same dimensionality of the best high-definition releases, with images often looking flat and lifeless. Details are captured well, but edge enhancement can be noticed. (Danny Richelieu)

The Dolby® Digital Plus 5.1-channel soundtrack can be quite good, with a good use of each channel to create a full dimensional soundscape. Occasionally, though, the soundtrack can collapse down to the center channel, but generally the soundtrack is very good. (Danny Richelieu)