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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Christopher Columbus: The Discovery
    Genre:Action Adventure

    Reviewed In Issue 03 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Stars George Corraface, Marlon Brando, Tom Selleck, Rachel Ward, Robert Davi, Catherine Zeta Jones, Oliver Cotton, Benicio del Toro & Mathieu Carriere

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 4.5
    Sound Rating: 3
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
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    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 12592
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Retail Price): $39.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 121
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1992
    (LD Release Date): 02/01/93
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): John Glen
    (Screenplay/Written By): John Briley, Cary Bates & Mario Puzo
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Cliff Eidelman
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Gil Parrondo
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Matthew Glen
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Jane Chaplin
    (Co-Producers): Bob Simmonds
    (Producers): Ilya Salkind

    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 SR
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital):
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Christopher Columbus: The Discovery is Mario Puzo’s uninspiring historical drama that spans the years between Columbus’ (George Corraface) initial attempts to secure funding for his “shortcut to the Indies” and his triumphant return from his first voyage to the New World. Painfully obvious in this version are the larger issues of greed and religious hypocrisy that forever altered the indigenous culture of the natives.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The transfer at 2.35:1 retains the expansive scope of director John Glen’s and cinematographer Alex Mills’ composition. The picture is absolutely gorgeous in many scenes—sharp, clean, natural and detailed without a trace of noise artifacts.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The sound, however, does not live up to the picture standard. Sounds are harsh particularly on loud passages. The full orchestral music score sounds bright, thin and hard. Overall definition and clarity are lacking. The surround effects are subtle and infrequent.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
    (Aggressive System Surround):
    (Intense 25Hz Bass):
    (Deep Bass Challenging):
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield):
    (Aggressive Split Surround):
    (Center Back Surround Imaging):
    (Directionalized Dialogue):
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    Superb Cinematography:
    Reference LaserDisc:
    Collector Edition: