• Login
    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Pure Country
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    George Strait, Lesley Ann Warren, Isabel Glasser, Kyle Chandler, John Doe

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

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 16105
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Retail Price): $29.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 113
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1992
    (LD Release Date): 7/98
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Christopher Cain
    (Screenplay/Written By): Rex McGee
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Steve Dorff
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Jeffrey Howard
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Jack Hofstra, ACE
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): R.J. Louis
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Jerry Weintraub

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.78:1

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Pure Country stars country music superstar George Strait as Dusty Wyatt Chandler, a shining star in Nashville who becomes weary off all the hype, smoke and strobe lights that have become his career. So one night after a stadium show, he hitches a ride on an 18-wheeler and retreats to his country roots. Lesley Ann Warren is his conniving manager whose only concern is her 15 percent. DVD special features include cast and crew biographies and George Strait discographies plus data on his rise to country music stardom.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The LaserDisc aspect ratio is matted at 1.78:1. The LaserDisc looks fabulous with excellent color fidelity, accurate fleshtones, vibrant colors and deep, true blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with excellent shadow delineation and contrast. There is minor digital noise, however, as well as occasional artifacts.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack delivers a dynamic country music score punctuated with tight sounding bass guitar mixed to the .1 LFE channel. The matrix PCM version is equally effective with the music score. While the discrete soundtrack is better delineated, it is slightly bright. Spatially, both deliver superb dimension with aggressive surround. While the matrix version better resolves low level ambience, the discrete sometimes delivers effective split surrounds. Dialogue sounds generally natural, except during ADR-processing. Country music fans will love the music score which is extremely well produced.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
    (Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): No
    (Directionalized Dialogue): No
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    		 Yes
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 Yes
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 Yes
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    The LaserDisc, and anamorphic and letterbox DVD aspect ratios are matted at 1.78:1. The LaserDisc looks fabulous with excellent color fidelity, accurate fleshtones, vibrant colors and deep, true blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with excellent shadow delineation and contrast. But the anamorphically enhanced DVD exhibits images that are even sharper with better clarity, no doubt due to the increased vertical and horizontal resolution. This is especially apparent in the opening concert sequences. There is minor digital noise, however, apparent on the DVD, as well as occasional artifacts. The LaserDisc appears only slightly subdued when directly compared to the DVD. The DVD and LaserDisc Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack delivers a dynamic country music score punctuated with tight sounding bass guitar mixed to the .1 LFE channel. The matrix PCM LaserDisc version is equally effective with the music score. While the discrete soundtrack is better delineated, it is slightly bright. Spatially, both deliver superb dimension with aggressive surround. While the matrix version better resolves low level ambience, the discrete sometimes delivers effective split surrounds. Dialogue sounds generally natural, except during ADR-processing. Country music fans will love the music score which is extremely well produced.