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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Practical Magic
    Genre:Comedy

    Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Goran Visnjic, Chloe Webb, Aidan Quinn

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

    Supplementals
    The LaserDisc features cast and crew commentary and a behind-the-scenes documentary.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 16322
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Retail Price): $29.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 103
    (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): Griffin Dunne
    (Screenplay/Written By): Robin Swicord, Akiva Goldsman & Adam Brooks
    (Story):
    (Music): Alan Silvestri
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Robin Standefer
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Elizabeth Kling
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Mary McLaglen & Bruce Berman
    (Co-Producers): Robin Swicord
    (Producers): Denise Di Novi

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Super 35
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1

    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:
    Based on the novel by Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic tells the story of a family of women saddled with an ancient curse that causes the men they love to meet with untimely deaths. Sweet and sensitive Sally (Sandra Bullock) suffers the heartache of this curse, while free spirit Gillian (Nicole Kidman) plays the field to avoid any trouble.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture quality on the LaserDisc is quite pleasing when viewed alone. Images appear generally sharp and detailed with good shadow delineation and contrast. Color fidelity is warm and natural in all aspects. Visual information is nicely rendered, though the 2.40:1 LaserDisc is missing minute image details. There is no excessively distracting noise or artifacts for a picture that is generally pleasing.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The sonic character is similar between the Dolby® Digital 5.1 DVD and matrix PCM soundtracks. Fidelity is excellent. The music score is nicely recorded with a wide and deep soundstage that is slightly better defined by the discrete version, though the matrix PCM sound delivers a more enveloping surround presence. Bass sounds natural throughout, even with occasional .1 LFE enhancement on the discrete. Dialogue is very articulate and sounds perfectly natural and at times is nicely integrated spatially. The discrete’s surround envelopment is distinguished by independent channels, but the matrix is satisfying as well.
    (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:
    		 No
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    The picture quality on the LaserDisc is quite pleasing when viewed alone. Images appear generally sharp and detailed with good shadow delineation and contrast. Color fidelity is warm and natural in all aspects. However, when directly compared to the component anamorphic DVD, the LaserDisc is extremely hazy and wanting in sharpness with distractingly orange fleshtones. The DVD is dramatically refined with deep, pure blacks and superb shadow delineation. Visual information is better resolved in the darkest scenes on the DVD, while the LaserDisc loses minute details. The LaserDisc is framed at 2.40:1, but the anamorphic and letterbox DVD measure 2.35:1. The sonic character is similar between the Dolby® Digital 5.1 DVD and LaserDisc and matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtracks. Fidelity is excellent. The music score is nicely recorded with a wide and deep soundstage that is slightly better defined by the discrete version, though the matrix PCM sound delivers a more enveloping surround presence. Bass sounds natural throughout, even with occasional .1 LFE enhancement on the discrete. Dialogue is very articulate and sounds perfectly natural and at times is nicely integrated spatially. The discrete’s surround envelopment is distinguished by independent channels, but the matrix is satisfying as well.