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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Seabiscuit

    Featured In Issue 114, November 2006

    Picture4.5
    Sound4.5
    WSR Score5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Universal Studios Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    30035
    (MPAA Rating):
    PG13
    (Rating Reason):
    For some sexual situations and violent sports-related images
    (Retail Price):
    $29.98
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (HD-30)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    140
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    (Theatrical Year):
    2003
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    09/12/06
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Gary Ross
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby Digital+ 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    This is the inspiring true story of a little thoroughbred who, with the help of three men who believed in him, hit the big time! When the Great Depression devastates the country, Charles Howard (Bridges), a wealthy entrepreneur invests in a small racehorse named Seabiscuit...who has yet to even win a race. With the blessing of trainer Tom Smith (Cooper), Howard takes a chance on unusually tall jockey Red Pollard (Maguire). With loving encouragement from his owner, trainer, and jockey, "The Biscuit" is victorious in his West Coast racing career. In an effort to inspire a troubled country, Howard challenges East Coast champion War Admiral to a match race...one that brings Seabiscuit to the Pimlico track in Maryland. Seabiscuit's story proves that everyone loves a longshot! This is an uplifting story, based on the book by Laura Hillenbrand, with superb acting performances by all. Real-life jockey Gary Stevens co-stars as well as Chris McCarron, who also designed the race sequences. (Suzanne Hodges)

    Special features include an audio commentary track by Director Gary Ross and Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh. The Making Of Seabiscuit makes the most of its 15-minute running time, covering interviews with the actors, crew, and Author Laura Hillenbrand, costumes, locations, and race sequence designs. Also included is a five-minute Anatomy Of A Movie Moment, in which director Gary Ross gives detailed insight on how he sets up a pivotal scene; a 15-minute featurette on Seabiscuit: Racing Through History, which offers stock footage of the real Seabiscuit and War Admiral; a fascinating five-minute photo montage of images taken by Jeff Bridges; and a two-minute Seabiscuit Vs. War Admiral, The 1938 Match Race; 20-minute Winner's Circle: The Heroes Behind The Legend; 13-minute HBO First Look; and 13-minute The True Story Of Seabiscuit featurettes.

    With vibrant hues, great contrast, and deep blacks, the VC-1-encoded 2.35:1 HD DVD picture is beautiful. While some fine textures can be slightly less resolved than the best HD releases, it is very easy to get immersed into this highly dimensional presentation. (Danny Richelieu)

    The added fidelity afforded on this soundtrack by the Dolby® Digital Plus encoding improves the dynamic range and, in turn, the believability of the recording. The encoding levels can be dangerously high at key times in the presentation, which can be system-threatening. (Danny Richelieu)

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