WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Wild America
Genre:Family

Reviewed In Issue 27 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Devon Sawa, Scott Bairstow, Frances Fisher & Jamey Sheridan

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 4
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
(Catalog Number): 15580
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $34.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 107
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): William Dear
(Screenplay/Written By): David Michael Wieger
(Story): NA
(Music): Joel McNeely
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Steven Jordan
(Visual Effects): OCS/FreezeFrame/Pixel Magic
(Costume Designer): Mary McLeod
(Editor): O. Nicholas Brown
(Supervising Sound Editors): Per Hallberg
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Gary Barber, Steve Tisch & Bill Todman, Jr.
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): James G. Robinson, Irby Smith & Mark Stouffer

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.32:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Wild America is a family action adventure about three troublemaking brothers who dream of filming America’s diminishing wildlife in the late 1960s. Marty (Scott Bairstow), Mark (Devon Sawa) and Marshall (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) Stouffer set out with a 16mm camera and a fascination of nature to create what was to become the real-life television documentary series Wild America. Watch for a cameo by Danny Glover.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture, framed at 2.32:1, uses an exquisite amount of color and cinematography in the earlier scenes. Everything looks natural with accurate fleshtones, beautiful color and deep blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with excellent shadow detail and contrast. There is only the slightest chroma noise apparent.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The PCM matrix soundtrack resolves low level ambience better than the Dolby® Digital, though the discrete projects a slightly wider soundstage. While surround effects are sometimes discrete, the deep bass energy in the .1 low frequency effects channel is overpowering. Dialogue sounds natural, though at times is ADR-produced.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): Yes
(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: