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    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    Watermelon Man
    Genre: Comedy Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 90 (Nov 2004) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    Godfrey Cambridge & Estelle Parsons

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 3
    DD Sound Rating: 3
    DTS Sound Rating: NR
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: 3
    Internet Links
    www.sonypictures.com
    Special Features
    Includes an introduction by director Melvin Van Peebles and previews.


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): 05053
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price): $24.95
    (DVD Type): Single Side, Single Layer (DVD5)
    (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): 1970
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 9/14/04
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): Melvin Van Peebles
    (Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
    (Story): Subscribe Now!
    (Music): Subscribe Now!
    (Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
    (Production Designer): Subscribe Now!
    (Visual Effects): Subscribe Now!
    (Costume Designer): Subscribe Now!
    (Editor): Subscribe Now!
    (Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
    (Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
    (Executive Producers): 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:
    Jeff Gerber (Cambridge) is a bigoted middle-class man living a middle-class life with his wife Althea (Parsons) and their two kids. Imagine his surprise when he wakes up one night to discover that things have changed; he's now a black man! With no explanation for the transformation Jeff discovers what it's like to live in a black man's world and is ashamed that he ever thought to call another person a Watermelon Man. (Tricia Littrell)

    DVD Picture:
    The anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVD picture has a dated appearance, with not only a color palette straight from the 1970s, but one that can seem a bit weak in saturation. The picture is generally soft and lacking in fine definition. The source element is revealing of some film grain and dirt, but little is considered excessive. There is occasional edge enhancement and pixelization apparent at times. Most of what is undesirable about this picture is related to the source material, and the visual experience can be generally pleasing at best. (Suzanne Hodges)

    Soundtrack:
    The Dolby

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