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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Parent Trap, The
    Genre:Family

    Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, Lisa Ann Walter, Elaine Hendrix, Simon Kunz, Lindsay Lohan

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

    Supplementals
    LaserDisc extras include audio commentary by director and crew, Lohan’s screen test, a special effects featurette and a deleted scene.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Walt Disney Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 10559 AS
    (MPAA Rating): PG
    (Retail Price): $39.99
    (Running Time In Minutes): 128
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 12/98
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Nancy Meyers
    (Screenplay/Written By): David Swift, Nancy Meyers & Charles Shyer
    (Story):
    (Music): Alan Silvestri
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Dean Tavoularis
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Stephen A. Rotter
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers): Bruce A. Block
    (Producers): Charles Shyer

    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:
    When look-alikes Hallie Parker from California and Annie James from London (both played by Lindsay Lohan) meet at summer camp, they discover an amazing coincidence—they have the same parents; meaning they’re twins! Thus begins the retelling of the Haley Mills classic The Parent Trap. The girls decide to switch places so they can each get to know the parent they’ve never met... and when it comes time to switch them back, maybe, just maybe, the girls can get Mom (Natasha Richardson) and Dad (Dennis Quaid) back together.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    When viewed alone, the LaserDisc exhibits sharp and detailed images, natural color fidelity with accurate fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, solid blacks. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered, with excellent visual information in the darkest scenes. There are no distracting artifacts or noise. Both discs measure 1.85:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The opening song, sung by Nat King Cole, is delivered in big fat mono on the discrete 5.1 Dolby® Digital soundtrack. The matrix PCM Dolby Surround version presents the same song but in the center channel. Otherwise, dialogue is perfectly centered, though forward sounding. The music score is terrific with often excellent soundstage imaging. Surround is limited to the music and occasional ambient effects, and is effectively both subtle and aggressive. Split surround energy is not particularly apparent. Bass sounds natural throughout, but the credited .1 LFE is not present except—would you believe—only in the end credits song.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
    (Aggressive System Surround):
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): No
    (Aggressive Split Surround):
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): No
    (Directionalized Dialogue): No
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    When viewed alone, the LaserDisc exhibits sharp and detailed images, natural color fidelity with accurate fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, solid blacks. The non-anamorphic DVD is similar, but exhibits more refined color resolution with subtly more natural fleshtones and sharper images, even noticeable in the twins’ freckles. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered on both versions, with excellent visual information in the darkest scenes. There are no distracting artifacts or noise. Both discs measure 1.85:1. The opening song, sung by Nat King Cole, is delivered in big fat mono on the discrete 5.1 Dolby® Digital DVD and LaserDisc soundtrack. The matrix PCM Dolby Surround LaserDisc presents the same song but in the center channel. Otherwise, dialogue is perfectly centered, though forward sounding. The music score is terrific with often excellent soundstage imaging. Surround is limited to the music and occasional ambient effects, and is effectively both subtle and aggressive. Split surround energy is not particularly apparent. Bass sounds natural throughout, but the credited .1 LFE is not present except—would you believe—only in the end credits song.