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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Billy Elliot


Genre: Drama

Reviewed In Issue 49 (June 2001) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Jamie Draven & Jamie Bell

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 4
DD Sound Rating: 3.5
DTS Sound Rating: NA
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 4
Internet Links
http://www.universalstudios.com/home

Special Features
Includes a 23-minute making-of featurette, biographies, production notes, the theatrical trailer, and DVD-ROM extras.


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Universal Studios Home Video
(Catalog Number): 21134
(MPAA Rating): R
(Rating Reason):

Rated R for language.
(Retail Price): $24.98
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): No
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 110
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 2000
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 04/17/01
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): Stephen Daldry
(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!
(Co-Producers): Subscribe Now!
(Producers): Subscribe Now!
(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!
(Theatrical Sound): Subscribe Now!
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
(DTS Bit Rate): Subscribe Now!
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate): Subscribe Now!
(Additional Languages): Subscribe Now!
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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Motherless eleven-year-old Billy Elliot (Bell) is a young lad from a coal mining town in North East England. The town is struggling to survive

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVD picture is very natural in appearance, with sharp and nicely detailed images. Still, some scenes are slightly soft. Colors are well balanced, with accurate fleshtones, rich hues, and deep blacks. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered throughout. There are occasional details that shimmer slightly, and minor edge enhancement is noticed. (Suzanne Hodges)

Soundtrack:
The sonic presentation is somewhat pleasing, though also rather inconsistent in terms of dimension. This 5.1-channel Dolby


  WSR DVD-ROM Review
DVD-ROM Enhancements Rating:
Superb

DVD-ROM Review:
After installing the PCFriendly compatible DVD-ROM features included with Billy Elliot, you are brought to the main menu, with links for the Story, Images, Cast and Filmmakers, Trailer, Features, DVD Newsletter, and Play Movie. In the Story section, you can find a story synopsis, and pre- and mid-production notes. Each is very easy on the eyes to read. The Images section contains 14 still photos from the film. They can be enlarged into a new window by clicking the thumbnails. Biographies for four cast members and four filmmakers can be found in the Cast/Filmmakers section. The original theatrical trailer, linked from the DVD-Video side of the disk, can be found by clicking the Trailer link. A special video, Billy Elliot: Breaking Free can be found in the Features section. This includes behind the scene footage, as well as interviews with the cast and crew during production. This title is well done, with great bonus features available. However, a script would have been welcomed with open arms. (Danny Richelieu)