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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Pleasantville
    Genre:Comedy

    Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Tobey Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, J.T. Walsh, Don Knotts, Reese Witherspoon

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3.5
    Sound Rating: 4.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals
    The LaserDisc includes a behind-the-scenes featurette, director’s audio commentary and a Fiona Apple music video.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): New Line Home Video
    (Catalog Number): ID5426LI
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Retail Price): $39.99
    (Running Time In Minutes): 124
    (Color Type): Black & White With Color Sequences
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 3/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Gary Ross
    (Screenplay/Written By): Gary Ross
    (Story):
    (Music): Randy Newman
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Jeannine Opewall
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): William Goldenberg
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Michael DeLuca & Mary Parent
    (Co-Producers): Allen Alsobrook, Allison Thomas & Edward Lynn
    (Producers): Gary Ross, John Kilik, Robert J. Degus & Steven Soderberg

    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:
    Just before the annual Pleasantville marathon on TV, ‘90s teens David (Tobey Maguire) and Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon) argue over control of the remote and are magically sucked into the black-and-white ‘50s sitcom where innocence is worn like a badge of honor—that is, until a little color begins to seep into their lives.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    There is an introduction that invites the viewer to adjust the color levels on their TVs to create natural looking fleshtones. However, fleshtones throughout the film do NOT match the fleshtone examples used in the introduction and, suspiciously, are ugly, and muddy-orange. The LaserDisc lacks natural definition, but is otherwise sharp and detailed. When the film proceeds to the black-and-white scenes of Pleasantville, luminance is excellent with superb contrast and shadow delineation. The LaserDisc is matted at 1.85:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 and the matrix PCM soundtracks are different in character. Essentially, the matrix version resolves more low level ambient sound, and surround envelopment is more effectively presented. Aggressive surround presence is quite dimensional on both versions, but better delineated with split surrounds and deeper bass due to the discrete’s .1 LFE enhancement. The music score is lovely and dialogue sounds generally natural, though limited spatially.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
    (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:
    		 Yes
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    Both the LaserDisc and DVD have an introduction that invites the viewer to adjust the color levels on their TVs to create natural looking fleshtones. However, the LaserDisc’s fleshtones do NOT match the fleshtone examples used in the introduction and, suspiciously, are ugly, and muddy-orange. The anamorphically enhanced DVD, viewed in component video, is superb in its color rendering with refined, natural looking fleshtones, superb clarity and detail, while the LaserDisc lacks natural definition. Images are extremely sharp and detailed on the DVD, no doubt due to increased vertical and horizontal resolution. When the film proceeds to the black-and-white scenes of Pleasantville, luminance is excellent with superb contrast and shadow delineation. The LaserDisc, anamorphic and letterbox DVD ratios are matted at 1.85:1. The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 DVD and LaserDisc soundtrack, and the matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtrack are different in character. Essentially, the matrix version resolves more low level ambient sound, and surround envelopment is more effectively presented. Aggressive surround presence is quite dimensional on both versions, but better delineated with split surrounds and deeper bass due to the discrete’s .1 LFE enhancement. The music score is lovely and dialogue sounds generally natural, though limited spatially.