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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Escape From New York


Special Edition
Genre: Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 80 (Jan 2004) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes, Season Hubley, Tom Atkins, Charles Cyphers, Harry Dean Stanton & Adrienne Barbeau

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 3
DD Sound Rating: 3.5
DTS Sound Rating: NA
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 4.5
Internet Links
http://www.mgm.com/dvd

Special Features
Escape into this two-disc DVD set that includes, in the packaging, a Snake Plissken Chronicles comic book and two audio commentaries on Disc One with the movie. The first audio commentary track features producer Debra Hill and production designer Joe Alves and the second by Kurt Russell and director John Carpenter. Disc Two is a supplement-only disc and includes the 23-minute Return To Escape From New York featurette, a production notes-style image gallery revealing the making-of John Carpenter


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): MGM Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 1005690
(MPAA Rating): R
(Rating Reason):

NA
(Retail Price): $29.98
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): No
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 99
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 1981
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 12/16/03
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): John Carpenter
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  DVD Picture Information

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  DVD Sound Information

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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Far off in the future...er, 1997, the island of Manhattan is turned into a maximum security prison housing the most brutal of criminals. Once you

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 DVD appears to be virtually the same as the previously released DVD (reviewed in Issue 46). Viewing must take place in a completely blackened room due to the extremely dark character of the picture and limited shadow delineation. Colors are often undefined and plugged-up, though in the brighter scenes, balance is nicely rendered. Images are wanting in definition and fine detail, though some scenes exhibit satisfactory sharpness. There is some film grain inherent in the source element. Edge enhancement is limited, and there is some pixelization noticed at times. (Suzanne Hodges)

Soundtrack:
The Dolby