WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

To Die For
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 20 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 73436
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $34.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 106
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1995
(LD Release Date): 4/1/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Gus Van Sant
(Screenplay/Written By): To Die For is based on the book by Joyce Maynard and stars Nicole Kidman as Suzanne Stone in this wicked comedy. Suzanne is a small town girl from New Hampshire with a dream to become a famous TV personality—a dream that becomes a nightmare when her ambition turns to obsession. After landing a job at the local television station, Suzanne decides to produce a documentary about the local kids and their lives, enlisting the help of three teenagers. Together they form a powerful and dangerous bond.
(Story): NA
(Music): Danny Elfman
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Missy Stewart
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Beatrix Aruna Pasztor
(Editor): Curtiss Clayton
(Supervising Sound Editors): Kelley Baker
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Jonathan Taplin & Joseph M. Caracciolo
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Laura Ziskin

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.82:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): SDDS Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
To Die For is based on the book by Joyce Maynard and stars Nicole Kidman as Suzanne Stone in this wicked comedy. Suzanne is a small town girl from New Hampshire with a dream to become a famous TV personality—a dream that becomes a nightmare when her ambition turns to obsession. After landing a job at the local television station, Suzanne decides to produce a documentary about the local kids and their lives, enlisting the help of three teenagers. Together they form a powerful and dangerous bond.

LaserDisc Picture:
The matted 1.82:1 picture was transferred using the Sony HD process and the image quality is superb. The picture is sharp and detailed with excellent shadow detail. Color fidelity is exemplary with natural fleshtones, deep, solid blacks and vivid colors. Absolutely solid the picture has no noise or artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Danny Elfman score is terrific and provides subtle surround envelopment, and dialogue is mostly natural sounding. Otherwise sound effects are virtually limited to mono for an essentially conventional soundtrack.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: