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| Horse Whisperer |
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Genre:Drama
Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review®
Stars:
Robert Redford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sam Neill, Dianne Weist, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Cooper |
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 DVD General Information |
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| (Studio/Distributor): |
Touchstone Home Video |
| (Catalog Number): |
15623AS |
| (MPAA Rating): |
PG13 |
| (Retail Price): |
$39.98 |
| (Running Time In Minutes): |
168 |
| (Color Type): |
Color |
| (Chaptered/Scene Access): |
Yes |
| (Closed Captioned): |
Yes |
| (Theatrical Release): |
1998 |
| (LD Release Date): |
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| (THX® Digitally Mastered): |
No |
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| Credits Information |
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| (Director): |
Robert Redford |
| (Screenplay/Written By): |
Nicholas Evans |
| (Story): |
NA |
| (Music): |
Thomas Newman |
| (Director Of Photography): |
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| (Production Designer): |
Jon Hutman |
| (Visual Effects): |
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| (Costume Designer): |
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| (Editor): |
Tom Rolf, ACE, Freeman Davies & Hank Corwin |
| (Supervising Sound Editors): |
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| (Re-Recording Mixers): |
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| (Executive Producers): |
NA |
| (Co-Producers): |
Joseph Reidy |
| (Producers): |
Robert Redford & Patrick Markey |
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| DVD Picture Information |
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| (Principal Photography): |
Panavision |
| (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): |
2.40:1 |
| (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): |
2.30:1 |
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| DVD Sound Information |
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| (DVD Soundtrack): |
Dolby Digital Surround |
| (Theatrical Sound): |
DTS, SDDS & Dolby Digital |
| (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack): |
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| (Remastered Dolby Digital): |
No |
| (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): |
No |
| (Additional Languages): |
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| WSR Narrative Review |
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Story Synopsis:
Based on the highly acclaimed novel by Nicholas Evans, The Horse Whisperer tells the story of a woman desperate to help her daughter (Scarlett Johansson), who is physically and emotionally scarred after terrible riding accident with her beloved horse. Grace’s mother Annie (Kristin Scott Thomas), embarks on a search for someone to help Grace and salvage her immensely troubled horse. She learns of Tom Booker (Robert Redford), a horse whisperer, whose unique gift works to rebuild the lives shattered by the accident.
LaserDisc Picture:
LaserDisc Soundtrack:
| (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): |
Yes |
| (Aggressive System Surround): |
Yes |
| (Intense 25Hz Bass): |
No |
| (Deep Bass Challenging): |
No |
| (Aggressive 0.1 LFE): |
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| (Holosonic Soundfield): |
No |
| (Aggressive Split Surround): |
Yes |
| (Center Back Surround Imaging): |
No |
| (Directionalized Dialogue): |
No |
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality: |
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Superb Music Score Recording Quality: |
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Superb Special Visual Effects Quality: |
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Superb Color Fidelity: |
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Superb Cinematography: |
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Reference LaserDisc: |
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Collector Edition: |
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DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
One cannot help but be puzzled as to why this DVD was not anamorphically presented. The picture is denied the sharpness and detail it deserves, and even worse is the LaserDisc which is disappointingly fuzzy. Shadow detail practically doesn’t exists on either version. Color fidelity is naturally rendered with accurate fleshtones and rich colors but resolution is mediocre with few differences between the DVD and LaserDisc. Filmed in anamorphic Panavision®, the film’s first half hour was presented theatrically in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, then, symbolically, the image expands to 2.35:1 as the family drives out west. The DVD and LaserDisc present the first half hour in an approximate 2:1 ratio, while the rest of the film measures 2.30:1. The soundtrack presentation is uneven, especially the Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 version on the DVD and LaserDisc. The discrete too often is absent surround envelopment though at times delivers exciting and dynamic aggressive surrounds that are fully delineated. The LaserDisc matrix PCM version is more consistent and surround envelopment and soundstage dimension is more engaging. Dialogue sounds natural throughout and is often nicely integrated spatially. The music score is beautiful and well recorded. At times there aggressive split surrounds and deep, powerful bass, especially .1 LFE.
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