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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Beloved
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 33 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3.5
    Sound Rating: 4.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
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    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Touchstone Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 15966 AS
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.99
    (Running Time In Minutes): 171
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 04/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Jonathan Demme
    (Screenplay/Written By): Akosua Busia, Richard LaGravenese & Adam Brooks
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Rachel Portman
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Kristi Zea
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Carol Littleton, ACE & Andy Keir
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Ron Bozman
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Edward Saxon, Jonathan Demme, Gary Goetzman, Oprah Winfrey & Kate Forte

    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 Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): DTS, SDDS & Dolby Digital
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Toni Morrison, Beloved stars Oprah Winfrey as Sethe, a former Kentucky slave now living with her daughter Denver (Elise) in freedom. When Paul (Glover) an old friend from the plantation reappears and moves in with them, Sethe is forced to confront the mysteries and horrors of her past—especially after a strange young woman who they name Beloved (Newton) appears at their doorstep. The DVD includes a production featurette.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture, which takes place in the late 1800s, opens with a stylized aged appearance. Throughout the film, disturbing images, flashbacks and visions are also stylized—sometimes oversaturated, sometimes filled with noise, and other times filtered with vibrant colors. The LaserDisc, matted at 1.85:1, exhibits sharp and detailed images, with some apparent edge enhancement. Artifacts are apparent throughout.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The discrete 5.1 soundtrack is dimensionally spatial with aggressive split surround envelopment that produces an effective holosonic experience. At times there is no discrete surround signal while on the matrix version, surround envelopment is present and helps to support the dialogue with spatial integration. The music score is beautifully recorded and expansive. Ambient sound effects are terrific and directionalized. Bass extension at times is deep and powerful with .1 LFE enhancement. While the discrete Dolby® Digital soundtrack is preferred when all the channels are engaged, throughout a large part of the soundtrack, the matrix PCM track delivers a more satisfying experience.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
    (Deep Bass Challenging): Yes
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
    (Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): Yes
    (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:
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    The picture, which takes place in the late 1800s, opens with a stylized aged appearance. Throughout the film, disturbing images, flashbacks and visions are also stylized—sometimes oversaturated, sometimes filled with noise, and other times filtered with vibrant colors. The LaserDisc and non-anamorphic DVD, both matted at 1.85:1, are similar in appearance, with the DVD being slightly sharper with finer detail and definition. Images are sharp and detailed on both versions, with some apparent edge enhancement, and both discs exhibit video and aliasing artifacts. The DVD often appears digitized. The DVD and LaserDisc discrete 5.1 soundtracks are dimensionally spatial with aggressive split surround envelopment that produces an effective holosonic experience. At times there is no discrete surround signal while on the matrix version, surround envelopment is present and helps to support the dialogue with spatial integration. The music score is beautifully recorded and expansive. Ambient sound effects are terrific and directionalized. Bass extension at times is deep and powerful with .1 LFE enhancement. While the discrete Dolby® Digital soundtrack is preferred when all the channels are engaged, throughout a large part of the soundtrack, the matrix PCM track delivers a more satisfying experience.