• Login
    • Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    Phone Booth
    Genre: Thriller

    Reviewed In Issue 74 (July 2003) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    Arian Ash, Tia Texada, Paula Jai Parker, Josh Pais, James Macdonald, John Enos III, Keith Nobbs, Richard T. Jones, Radha MItchell, Katie Holmes, Forest Whitaker, Colin Farrell & Kiefer Sutherland

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 4
    DD Sound Rating: 4.5
    DTS Sound Rating: NA
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: 3
    Internet Links
    http://www.phoneboothmovie.com
    http://www.phoneboothdvd.com
    Special Features
    Includes an audio commentary track by director Joel Schumacher.


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): 2008048
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Rating Reason):

    		 Pervasive language and some violence
    (Retail Price): $27.98
    (DVD Type): Dual Side, Single Layer (DVD10)
    (Widescreen Edition): Yes
    (Full Screen Edition): Yes
    (Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
    (Running Time In Minutes): 81
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Regional Coding): 1
    (Theatrical Year): 2002
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 07/08/03
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): Joel Schumacher
    (Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
    (Story): Subscribe Now!
    (Music): Subscribe Now!
    (Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
    (Production Designer): Subscribe Now!
    (Visual Effects): Subscribe Now!
    (Costume Designer): Subscribe Now!
    (Editor): Subscribe Now!
    (Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
    (Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
    (Executive Producers): Subscribe Now!
    (Co-Producers): Subscribe Now!
    (Producers): Subscribe Now!
    (Academy Awards): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Picture Information

    (Principal Photography): Subscribe Now!
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
    (Measured DVD Anamorphic Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
    (Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Sound Information

    (DVD Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
    (Theatrical Sound): Subscribe Now!
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
    (DTS Bit Rate): Subscribe Now!
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate): Subscribe Now!
    (Additional Languages): Subscribe Now!
    (Subtitles): Subscribe Now!
    (WSR Superb Sound Qualities): Subscribe Now!

      WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Stu Shepard (Farrell) is a self-centered New York city publicist who suddenly finds himself on the deadly end of a high-powered riflescope. When he decides to answer the ring of a public phone, the voice on the other end warns him that if he hangs up, he

    DVD Picture:
    The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 DVD picture exhibits a stylized picture of desaturated grays that visually sets the thrilling tone of the story. Vibrant red and bold blue spot colors pop through the desaturation, and blacks are deep and solid. Images are sharp and detailed, though when compared to the D-VHS

    Soundtrack:
    The D-VHS Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, in comparison to the DVD, sounds slightly smoother and more refined in the midrange. For whatever reason, imaging seems a bit more defined for the D-VHS audio, but there's a little more envelopment for the DVD version. The presentation has been very well-produced, but also sounds slightly prominent in terms of overall volume level. The fidelity is excellent, and is certainly reflective of the current state-of-the-art. There's an impressive perception of spatiality throughout. The music is clearly one of the most important sonic factors in the storytelling for this suspenseful, emotionally unsettling movie. With very good recording quality, the music just sweeps wide across the screen with notable depth into the surrounds, and a clean, sometimes prominent low-end presence provides for an effective undertoning as a visceral foundation. Another aspect of the sonic crafting that adds to the eeriness is the voice of the caller, which emanates from the screen and surround channels. Voices seem quite effective in spatial integration and have very good fidelity. This is a sound mix that clearly is integral to the experience of this movie. (Perry Sun)

    This Disc Contains The Following WSR-Rated Superb Qualities:
    Subscribe Now!

    Reason #112 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    The first thing that grabbed my interest was the DVD reviews. But after I purchased that first issue and read the reviews, I got hooked on all of the other information contained in each issue. I had adopted the DVD format fairly early on, and I have had a strong preference for widescreen, dating back to my VHS days. The technical information is a godsend. I feel that I have saved so much money by avoiding inferior quality DVDs. I was very ignorant about the technology out there for home theatre and was not aware of the resources I had that were really going to waste. (5.1 in my movie collection) I read and read and read and finally updated my antiquated system. It is such a wonderful joy to turn down the lights, turn up the sound, and enjoy movies more than I ever could at a theatre. I knew it was worth it even more when my wife said, “Cool” as we watched The Others with true surround sound. Widescreen Review has actually helped improve my quality of life!

    James Thompson
    26864 Mandelieu Drive, Murrieta, CA 92562 • Phone: 951 676 4914 • Fax: 951 693 2960
    Copyright © Information • All Rights Reserved • www.widescreenreview.com • Web Site Established In 1995 • Privacy Policy • Partners