WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Substitute, The
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 22 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Tom Berenger, Ernie Hudson, Diane Venora, Glenn Plummer, Marc Anthony, Cliff De Young, Sharron Corley, Richard Brooks

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

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Live Entertainment
(Catalog Number): LD60196-WS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 114
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1996
(LD Release Date): 8/9/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Robert Mandel
(Screenplay/Written By): Roy Frumkes, Rocco Simonelli & Alan Ormsby
(Story): NA
(Music): Gary Chang
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Ron Foreman
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Patricia Field
(Editor): Alex Mackie
(Supervising Sound Editors): Mark Stoeckinger
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Steven Backalar & Deborah Cutler
(Co-Producers): Juanita Diana & Lou Fusaro
(Producers): Morrie Eisenman & Jim Steele

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): Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Shale (Berenger), a former CIA mercenary, takes on a phony resume and name and goes undercover as a substitute teacher in a menacing classroom full of noisy students, rap music and violent gang-members. Soon, Shale discovers that the high school is the haven for drug traffickers protected by its corrupt principal.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture is matted at 1.85:1. Picture quality is a bit problematic with color fidelity and fleshtone inconsistencies. Some scenes appear overly bright and washed out with poor contrast. Images are generally sharp and detailed with excellent shadow detail. Noise is not obtrusive and there are no artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is effectively rendered. The discrete 5.1 Dolby® Digital version is precise in its spatial character with an expansive soundstage and directional effects. The matrix PCM version is excellent but slightly less well defined in imaging though expansive and surround enveloping with better depth perspective. Dialogue is equally well defined on both versions but is ADR-produced and wanting in natural spatial integration. While .1 low frequency effects are often not a factor, deep bass extension is deep and powerful. The discrete version is further distinguished by subtle directional sounds in the surrounds.
(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: