WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Waiting to Exhale
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 20 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, Loretta Deviner.

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

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 894685
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 123
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1995
(LD Release Date): 4/1/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Forest Whitaker
(Screenplay/Written By): Terry McMillan & Ron Bass
(Story): NA
(Music): Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): David Gropman
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Judy L. Ruskin
(Editor): Richard Chew
(Supervising Sound Editors): NA
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Terry McMillan & Ronald Bass
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Ezra Swerklow & Deborah Schindler

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on the best-selling novel by Terry McMillan, Waiting To Exhale is a funny and touching film about four friends bonded together through their unsettled love lives. Savannah (Houston, who also produced the chart-topping single, “Exhale”), Bernadine (Bassett), Robin (Rochon) and Gloria (Devine) are all searching for “the real thing”—true love. Bernadine thought she had it until her husband left her for another woman. Savannah and Robin are successful in business, but their love lives are bankrupt. And divorcee, Gloria, is getting back in the game by flirting with her very eligible new neighbor (Gregory Hines).

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture quality is stunning and is consistently natural looking with vivid colors, natural fleshtones and deep, solid blacks. Shadow detail is also excellent and there is no noise or artifacts. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is terrific on both versions, with stereo imaging and spatiality better defined in the 5.1 mix. Dialogue is natural and the music score envelops aggressively.
(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: