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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Ever After
    Genre:Fantasy Adventure

    Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Jeanne Moreau

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3.5
    Sound Rating: 4
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): 0039285
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Retail Price): $39.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 121
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 3/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Andy Tennant
    (Screenplay/Written By): Susannah Grant, Andy Tennant & Rick Parks
    (Story): George Fenton
    (Music): George Fenton
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Michael Howells
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Roger Bondelli, ACE
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers): Kevin Reidy & Timothy M. Bourne
    (Producers): Mireille Soria & Tracey Trench

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Super 35
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
    (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:
    Ever After is the “real and true” story of Cinderella told by one of her ancestors to the Brother’s Grimm. Turns out that her real name was Danielle (Drew Barrymore) and she did indeed have a wicked stepmother (Anjelica Huston) but only one of her stepsisters was hateful and neither one was ugly. The prince wasn’t so charming, but she did lose her shoe, although nothing turned into a pumpkin and she didn’t have to be home by midnight. Did they live happily ever after? Watch it and see.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    Despite lovely scenery and locations, the 2.32:1 LaserDisc often exhibits an extremely soft appearance, with hazy images and colors that appear muddy and smeared. When a softer focus is utilized, the picture appears almost out of focus. Color fidelity is nicely rendered. Hues are rich and warm with natural fleshtones and deep, true blacks. View this film in a completely darkened room to appreciate the rich, dark candlelit interiors. Contrast and shadow delineation are wonderfully rendered, and when viewed in a blackened room, even the ultra-dark scenes exhibit good detail.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    This is a nicely produced soundtrack with effective Foley and ambient sound effects. The matrix PCM LaserDisc version wonderfully resolves low level ambience and conveys a subtle surround presence. The 5.1 discrete Dolby® Digital version is less convincing during the same scenes, but when fully engaged is effectively spatially dimensional. Dialogue sounds natural but not always spatially integrated. The music score is beautifully rendered with an expansive soundstage, especially on the discrete version. The discrete version delivers effective .1 LFE enhancement.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (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:
    		 Yes
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 Yes
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    With lovely scenery and locations, the DVD viewed in component video, though not anamorphic, is sharper with better detail and definition when directly compared to the LaserDisc. The LaserDisc often exhibits an extremely soft appearance, with hazy images and colors that appear muddy and smeared. When a softer focus is utilized, the LaserDisc appears almost out of focus. Color fidelity is very similar, though more refined and natural on the DVD. Hues are rich and warm with natural fleshtones and deep, true blacks. View this film in a completely darkened room to appreciate the rich, dark candlelit interiors. Contrast and shadow delineation are wonderfully rendered, and when viewed in a blackened room, even the ultra-dark scenes exhibit good detail. Both discs are framed at 2.32:1. This is a nicely produced soundtrack with effective Foley and ambient sound effects. The matrix PCM LaserDisc version better resolves low level ambience and conveys a subtle surround presence. The 5.1 discrete Dolby® Digital DVD and LaserDisc is less convincing during the same scenes, but when fully engaged is effectively spatially dimensional. Dialogue sounds natural but not always spatially integrated. The music score is beautifully rendered with an expansive soundstage, especially on the discrete version. The discrete version delivers effective .1 LFE enhancement.