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    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    Whale Rider
    Genre: Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 79 (Dec 2003) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton & Cliff Curtis

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 3
    DD Sound Rating: 3.5
    DTS Sound Rating: NA
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: 4
    Internet Links
    http://www.sonypictures.com
    Special Features
    Includes audio commentary with writer/director Niki Caro, eight deleted scenes, a 27-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, an 11-minute Building The Canoe featurette, an art and photo gallery, and promotional material (trailer, TV spots, soundtrack promo).


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): 02272
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Rating Reason):

    		 Brief language and a momentary drug reference
    (Retail Price): $26.95
    (DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
    (Widescreen Edition): Yes
    (Full Screen Edition): No
    (Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
    (Running Time In Minutes): 102
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Regional Coding): 1
    (Theatrical Year): 2002
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 10/28/03
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): Niki Caro
    (Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
    (Story): Subscribe Now!
    (Music): Subscribe Now!
    (Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
    (Production Designer): Subscribe Now!
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    (Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
    (Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
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    (Academy Awards): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Picture Information

    (Principal Photography): Subscribe Now!
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
    (Measured DVD Anamorphic Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
    (Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Sound Information

    (DVD Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
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      WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Believing that their ancestor Paikea was saved from drowning after arriving on the back of a whale, the Maori people came to understand that their first-born males were leaders, someone who would lead the people out of the darkness and make everything all right. After Porourangi

    DVD Picture:
    The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 DVD exhibits a picture that can appear a bit dim at times, though contrast can be satisfying. Colors are rich and nicely balanced, with lots of rich greens, natural fleshtones, and deep, but undefined blacks. Images are generally sharp, but finer details are wanting, appearing smeared at times. Distractions come in the way of edge enhancment and pixelization, which can contribute an unnatural

    Soundtrack:
    The Dolby

    Reason #114 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    I appreciate the technical nature of your DVD reviews; that is, the way you rate the sound and picture quality of newly released DVDs. The reviews in most other magazines are concerned not with how good the DVD is, but with just the film itself: quality of the script, actors' performances, etc., all of which are subject to the critic's personal tastes, which may be wildly different from my own.

    Paul Mulik
    26864 Mandelieu Drive, Murrieta, CA 92562 • Phone: 951 676 4914 • Fax: 951 693 2960
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