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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Butcher Boy, The
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Stephen Rea, Fiona Shaw, Eamonn Owens

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 4
    Sound Rating: 4.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 15522
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $29.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 110
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 11/98
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Neil Jordan
    (Screenplay/Written By): Neil Jordan & Patrick McCabe
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Elliot Goldenthal
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Anthony Pratt
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Tony Lawson, ACE
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Neil Jordan
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Redmond Morris & Stephen Woolley

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Based on the novel by Patrick McCabe, The Butcher Boy stars newcomer Eamonn Owens as Francie Brady a young Irish lad whose shudder-inducing homelife, bizarre relatives and cruel twists of fate turn him into one scary little boy who commits unspeakable acts on his neighbor’s rug. He is sent to several institutions where the administrators are unable to cope with his nightmares and, worse, take advantage of his instability.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture, matted at 1.85:1, exhibits fully saturated colors, with accurate fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, solid blacks. Sometimes the picture appears slightly oversaturated, but colors are usually pleasing. Images are often sharp and detailed with nicely rendered fine detail and texture, though some scenes appear a bit hazy. Minor noise is occasionally apparent, but there are no distracting artifacts for a pleasing presentation.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The sound design is nicely executed on both the Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete and matrix PCM soundtracks. Dialogue always sounds perfectly natural with excellent intelligibility. The music is wonderful and well recorded. Surround is generally aggressive on both versions. Bass extension is excellent, but .1 LFE enhancement is very limited.
    (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:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison: