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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Higher Learning
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 16 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Jennifer Connelly, Ice Cube, Omar Epps, Regina King, Michael Rapaport, Kristy Swanson Tyra Banks, Jason Willes & Laurence Fishburne

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 5
    Sound Rating: 4.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 73396
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $$39.95
    (Running Time In Minutes): 126
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1994
    (LD Release Date): 8/1/95
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): John Singleton
    (Screenplay/Written By): John Singleton
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Stanley Clarke
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Keith Brian Burns
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Bruce Canon
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): NA
    (Co-Producers): Dwight Alonzo Williams
    (Producers): John Singelton & Paul Hall

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.82:1

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    John Singleton’s Higher Learning presents a college campus, with students from different countries, different races, different cultures, and different sexual orientations, as a microcosm of society as a whole. The three main characters are Malik, an athlete who is not expected to study, Kristen, a middle-class girl who is not as grown up as she thinks she is, and Remy, an isolated young man who can only find a sense of belonging with a group of skinheads. Serious prejudice, intolerance, racism, sexism, date-rape and murder are the backdrops for this tense and fascinating study of humanity. This is a strong-willed, thought-provoking, and emotionally charged film you won’t soon forget by one of the most talented filmmakers around.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The Sony High Definition transfer is superb. The matted 1.82:1 picture is sharp and de-tailed with excellent contrast and absence of noise, grain and artifacts. The imagery is well photographed and natural in appearance with wonderfully vivid colors.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    A driving Stanley Clarke score is the highlight of the soundtrack. The music is dynamic with powerful deep bass and surrounds are nicely supportive with a subtle ambience.
    (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: