WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Les Miserables
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, Claire Danes, Hans Matheson, Reine Brynolfsson, Peter Vaughan

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 23996
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $29.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 134
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Bille August
(Screenplay/Written By): Rafael Yglesias
(Story): NA
(Music): Basil Poledouris
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Anna Asp
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Janus Billeskov-Jansen
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): Caroline Hewitt
(Producers): Sarah Radclyffe & James Gorman

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Panavision
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Beautifully filmed and epic in both production and historical significance, Les Miserables tells the wonderful Victor Hugo story, featuring some of today’s most highly acclaimed actors and actresses.

LaserDisc Picture:


LaserDisc Soundtrack:
(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:
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
The color fidelity on both LaserDisc and DVD is stylized and often grainy, both exhibiting a plugged-up quality that lacks definition and clarity, especially in the dark scenes. The dual-layered anamorphic DVD, when viewed in the component video output, exhibits sharper and more detailed images that deliver fine background detail not apparent on the LaserDisc. Brighter exterior scenes look quite natural with accurately rendered fleshtones, warm colors and generally deep blacks. There are some inconsistencies, but hues are better defined on the DVD. Contrast and shadow detail are generally nicely rendered. Slight noise is apparent on both versions, in the darker candlelit scenes, but there are no artifacts. The DVD letterbox and LaserDisc aspect ratios are framed at 2.35:1, while the anamorphic version is 2.23:1. The soundtrack is wonderful, and both the DVD and LaserDisc Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete, and LaserDisc matrix PCM renderings are excellent. There is a beautiful orchestral score with a wide and deep soundstage. The discrete surrounds are distinguished with directionality, though they are not always engaged as with the matrix version. When engaged, surround envelopment is aggressive and expansive. The Dolby Digital does not resolve low level ambience as well as the PCM version, nor does the soundstage presence seem as expansive. Bass sounds natural and extended, but the .1 LFE channel is hardly used. Dialogue spatial integration is generally good and always sounds natural on both versions, but Foley effects are sometimes over-emphasized. While there are subtle sonic differences in the two versions, the sound is sure to please.