WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

JFK: The Director’s Cut
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 03 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon, Tommy Lee Jones, Laurie Metcalf, Gary Oldman, Michael Rooker, Jay O. Sanders, Sissy Spacek

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals
A 90 minute (CLV) documentary entitled Beyond JFK The Question Of Conspiracy features commentary from the actors and clips from the film with an overview of the primary conspiracy theories, focusing on the individuals who were said to be involved with the shooting. Knowledgeable theorists and journalists views are presented which discredit the “single gun man” theory and present dissenting viewpoints. The elegant five-disc set is housed in a sturdy box with chapter stops printed within. No doubt his is a collectable you will want to own and watch with family and friends.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
(Catalog Number): 35574
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $149.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 206
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1991
(LD Release Date): 02/01/93
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Oliver Stone
(Screenplay/Written By): Oliver Stone & Zachary Sklar
(Story): NA
(Music): John Williams
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Victor Kempster
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Marlene Stewart
(Editor): Joe Hutshing
(Supervising Sound Editors): Wylie Stateman & Michael D. Wilhoit
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Arnon Milchan
(Co-Producers): Clayton Townsend
(Producers): A. Kitman Ho & Oliver Stone

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.49:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
The Academy Award®-winning direction by Oliver Stone and editing combines color, black and white and documentary footage into a seamless visually engrossing presentation. Costner stars as District Attorney Jim Garrison who turns investigator in a turbulent search for the truth about President John F. Kennedy’s murder.

LaserDisc Picture:
The transfer of the film is impeccable, bright and clear without a trace of video noise. Color saturation in the beginning scenes and through much of Sides 1 and 2 are reduced to make the scenes look very pale in color. This is the intention of cinematographer Bob Richardson, who personally supervised the digital video transfer

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
In the highly respected Academy Awards technical categories of Best Sound and Best Sound Editing, LucasArts’® Skywalker Sound Division’s engineers were nominated for JFK. There is an excellent sense of surround envelopment in the Dolby Pro Logic Surround® mode. The opening drum cadence dramatically underscores the excellence of the recording while effectively establishing the solemn and serious nature of the subject matter. This is an excellent demonstration sequence.
(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: