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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    War Of The Roses, The
    Genre:Comedy

    Reviewed In Issue 06 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3
    Sound Rating: 3.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): 1856-85
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $69.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 116
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1989
    (LD Release Date): 8/91
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Danny DeVito
    (Screenplay/Written By): Michael Leeson
    (Story): NA
    (Music): David Newman
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Ida Random
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Lynzee Klingman, ACE
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Polly Platt & Doug Claybourne
    (Co-Producers): Michael Leeson
    (Producers): James L. Brooks & Arnon Milchan

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo SR
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    The War Of The Roses tells the story of a once happy marriage that disintegrates into an escalating war as Barbara Rose (Kathleen Turner) decides to divorce Oliver (Michael Douglas) who doesn’t want a divorce. The proceedings turn into something genuinely frightening and genuinely funny. This is Danny DeVito’s second feature motion picture effort (after Throw Momma From The Train) and was shot almost entirely on studio sound stages except for a rain scene shot in Seattle.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture quality suffers on this transfer from a slight haze throughout and a reddish-orange cast which makes the fleshtones unnatural. While the theatrical projection was 1.85:1 this transfer has been matted at 1.66:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack is generally good with excellent dialogue intelligibility although with a distinctive mono presence. The surrounds are subtle which restricts the sense of dimensionality.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
    (Aggressive System Surround): No
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): No
    (Aggressive Split Surround): No
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): No
    (Directionalized Dialogue): No
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    Superb Cinematography:
    Reference LaserDisc:
    Collector Edition: