WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Grand Canyon
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 01 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Danny Glover, Kevin Kline, Steve Martin, Mary McDonnell, Alfre Woodard.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 559685
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $49.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 134
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1991
(LD Release Date): 08/01/92
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Lawrence Kasdan
(Screenplay/Written By): Lawrence Kasdan & Meg Kasdan
(Story): NA
(Music): James Newton Howard
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Bo Welch
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Carol Littleton, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Lawrence Kasdan, Charles Okun & Michael Grillo

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
A fine ensemble cast working with a first-rate Kasdan script take a fix on the realities of urban living, circa-Los Angeles in the early 1990s. The movie bounces around the city, from ghetto to wealthy hillside, from the desert to the beach, allowing the characters to mix and mingle in ways they never thought possible. Coming off the “me-too” ‘80s, this was a call for fin-de-siecle togetherness.

LaserDisc Picture:
The presentation is sharply focused with excellent color fidelity. The widescreen Panavision® 2.35:1 composition is true to the original projection.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The digital soundtrack was post-produced and re-recorded for this aggressive Dolby Surround® presentation at Skywalker Sound, a division of LucasArts® Entertainment Company. As is a welcome trend, the original film sound was recorded in a THX® sound system theatre. The sound on this disc is dynamic and punchy. The excellence of the soundtrack recording really shines during the end credits sequence coming out of a beautiful, expansive scene of the Grand Canyon. There is a wonderful orchestration by Marty Paich. The music score by James Newton Howard is masterfully recorded by John Richards and fully complements the on screen action to heighten the urban anxiety.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: