WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

When Harry Met Sally
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 08 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): New Line Home Video
(Catalog Number): ID2712SU
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 95
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1989
(LD Release Date): 04/01/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): Yes

Credits Information
(Director): Rob Reiner
(Screenplay/Written By): Nora Ephron
(Story): NA
(Music): Marc Shaiman
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Jane Musky
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Robert Leighton
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): Jeffrey Stott & Steve Nicolaides
(Producers): Rob Reiner & Andrew Scheinman

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
When Harry Met Sally... is a wonderful romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner. It stars Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal who meet as disagreeing car-pooling college graduates on their way to New York City. Years later, fate takes a turn, and they meet again. This time they become great friends, giving each other support as they both help each other endure the personal crisis of failed relationships. They end up finding they need each other in more ways than friendship and become romantically involved realizing they were always meant for each other.

LaserDisc Picture:
This THX Laser Disc is superb. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1. Detail is exemplary. It is so good that even makeup is clearly defined on closeups. The picture appears over lit a bit in some scenes and fleshtones are a bit unnaturally rendered due to excessive makeup. The picture is vividly appealing with excellent contrast, focus, sharpness and deep blacks. There is an occasional distracting artifact blip but overall the picture is sure to please.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack features a wonderful score featuring Harry Connick Jr and Louis Armstrong. The recording quality is excellent with a well defined stereophonic soundstage which enhances the mood set by the classic pop songs used in the soundtrack. Other than the music score this is a mono soundtrack without any distinguished directional effects except for the stereo dialogue in the split bedroom scene.
(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: