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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Akeelah And The Bee
Genre: Family

Reviewed In Issue 113 (Oct 2006) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Keke Palmer, Curtis Armstrong, Tzi Ma & Lee Thompson Young

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 3
DD Sound Rating: 3.5
DTS Sound Rating: NR
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 3.5
Internet Links
www.akeelahandthebee.com

Special Features
Special features include a 22-minute making-of featurette, a brief (less than five minutes) look at the relationship between Director Atchison and Keke Palmer, seven minutes inside the mind of Akeelah, seven deleted scenes, a two-minute gag reel, Keke Palmer


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Lionsgate Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 19596
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Rating Reason):

For some language
(Retail Price): $28.98
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): Yes
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 100
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 2005
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 08/29/06
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): Doug Atchison
(Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
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(Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
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  DVD Picture Information

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  DVD Sound Information

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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Spunky Akeelah Anderson (Palmer), The reluctant winner of the Crenshaw Middle School's Inaugural Spelling Bee, becomes the focus of former professor, Dr. Larabee (Fishburne), when he sees the genuine talent that Akeelah possesses. With proper coaching and training, he feels that she can be a contender in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. As she prepares for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she unknowingly brings a community together. (Jack Kelley)

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 DVD picture looks good, although it can look hazy and washed out. Black levels aren't quite as deep as they could be, and there is a small amount of edge enhancement that is really only noticeable in high-contrast transitions. (Danny Richelieu)

Soundtrack:
The Dolby