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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Meet Joe Black
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Claire Forlani, Jake Weber, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeffrey Tambor

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 5
    Sound Rating: 4.5
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Universal Studios Home Video
    (Catalog Number): LD83377-WS
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Retail Price): $39.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 180
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 4/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Martin Brest
    (Screenplay/Written By): Ron Osborn, Jeff Reno, Kevin Wade & Bo Goldman
    (Story):
    (Music): Thomas Newman
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Dante Ferretti
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Joe Hutshing, ACE & Michael Tronick, ACE
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Ronald L. Schwary
    (Co-Producers): David Wally
    (Producers): Martin Brest

    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): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Meet Joe Black stars Anthony Hopkins as Bill Parrish, a wealthy businessman about to celebrate his 65th birthday. He’s also on the verge of a massive heart attack just as “Death” (Brad Pitt),arrives in town for a vacation. Bill is given a little more time when he agrees to serve as host during “Joe’s” visit as a human. The DVD includes a making-of segment, production notes and cast and crew biographies.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The LaserDisc picture, when viewed alone looks fabulous, with excellent color fidelity, completely natural fleshtones and deep, solid blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with good background detail. Contrast and shadow delineation are also superb, for a completely natural looking picture throughout. The LaserDisc’s fine transfer is pleasing, and the picture measures 1.85:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The Dolby® Digital discrete and matrix PCM Dolby Surround soundtracks are different in character. The matrix version creates a more enveloping soundfield, even though the discrete has effective split surrounds. The “Lightning Strikes” scene demonstrates subtle ambient character differences. The PCM’s bass response is dramatically more extended than the Dolby Digital, which delivers virtually no .1 LFE enhancement. In large measure, this is a dialogue picture and, as such, is mono focused. The music is beautifully recorded with an expansive soundstage, even wider on the discrete version.
    (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): Yes
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): No
    (Directionalized Dialogue): No
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    		 Yes
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 Yes
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 Yes
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 Yes
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 Yes
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    The LaserDisc picture, when viewed alone looks fabulous, with excellent color fidelity, completely natural fleshtones and deep, solid blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with good background detail. But when compared to the dual-layered, anamorphic DVD, viewed in component video, the LaserDisc exhibits soft edges and slightly orange fleshtones at times. The DVD is much more refined in chroma resolution and saturation, as well as sharpness. Although fine detail is often apparent on the LaserDisc, the DVD exhibits superb vertical and horizontal resolution for extensive fine detail, texture and clarity. Contrast and shadow delineation are also superb, for a completely natural looking picture throughout both versions. The LaserDisc’s fine transfer is pleasing, but the DVD is absolutely beautiful. The LaserDisc, and anamorphic and letterbox DVD aspect ratios measure 1.85:1. The Dolby® Digital discrete and matrix PCM Dolby Surround soundtracks are different in character. The matrix version creates a more enveloping soundfield, even though the discrete has effective split surrounds. The “Lightning Strikes” scene demonstrates subtle ambient character differences. The PCM’s bass response is dramatically more extended than the Dolby Digital, which delivers virtually no .1 LFE enhancement. In large measure, this is a dialogue picture and, as such, is mono focused. The music is beautifully recorded with an expansive soundstage, even wider on the discrete version.