WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

New Land, The
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Max Von Sydow, Liv Ullmann, Eddie Axberg

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 2
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
(Catalog Number): 13226
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $49.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 204
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1972
(LD Release Date): 10/98
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Jan Troell
(Screenplay/Written By): Bengt Forslund & Jan Troell
(Story): NA
(Music): Bengt Ernryd & Georg Oddner
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): P. A. Lundgren
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Jan Troell
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Bengt Forslund

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on the novel by Vilhelm Moberg, The New Land tells the story of Karl and Kristina Nilsson and their hardships and triumphs in the wilds of Minnesota in the mid-1800s. Their troubles in Sweden and subsequent journey to the United States were chronicled in 1971’s The Emigrants. In The New Land, we see the Nilsson family’s determination to find prosperity in the rich North American soil, their isolation from the neighbors as well as the horrible plight of the Sioux Indians whose very existence was being threatened.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture exhibits a slightly dark appearance, with mediocre contrast and shadow delineation. Colors are inconsistently rendered throughout, often appearing oversaturated and plugged up with brownish orange fleshtones, but blacks lack true depth and definition. Images appear sharp, but the film’s dark haze makes the picture seem to lack detail and definition, especially in interior scenes. Noise and minor artifacts are apparent for an overall experience that is wanting in natural clarity. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is undistinguished monaural that sounds compressed and distorted throughout.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
No
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
No
Superb Color Fidelity:
No
Superb Cinematography:
-
Reference LaserDisc:
No
Collector Edition:
No
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison: