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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Knight


Genre: Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 54 (Nov 2001) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany, Shannyn Sossamon, Alan Tudyk & Laura Fraser

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 4
DD Sound Rating: 4
DTS Sound Rating: NA
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 3
Internet Links


Special Features
Includes audio commentary, several featurettes, deleted scenes, an HBO making-of special, a Robbie Williams and Queen music video (


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 06143
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Rating Reason):

Action violence, some nudity, and brief sex-related dialogue
(Retail Price): $27.96
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): No
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 132
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 2001
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 09/25/01
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): Brian Helgeland
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  DVD Picture Information

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  DVD Sound Information

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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
(If you are not a Queen fan, surely you watch football...so here we go...) Heath Ledger plays a poor man, a poor man named William, and William wants to be a big man some day. He wants blood on his face...to please His Grace...jousting in disguise all over the place. The tagline

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 DVD picture exhibits sharp and detailed images, with pleasing clarity and depth. At times, images can seem a bit soft. Colors are well balanced, with rich hues that appear natural (as opposed to oversaturated), accurate fleshtones, and deep blacks. Especially impressive are the subtle exterior hues, like the lush, green forests, gray stone castles, and dusty roads. The source element is often revealing of film grain. Edge enhancement and pixelization are apparent. (Suzanne Hodges)

Soundtrack:
The Dolby Digital


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

DVD-ROM Review:
After inserting the DVD into your DVD-ROM drive, you will notice an extremely rare phenomenon: no InterActual features are anywhere to be found. A Knights Tale is the first DVD-ROM disc since the ever popular Godzilla (received a rating of Mediocre) and What Dreams May Come (Disappointing) to go the non-InterActual route, and also follows those title's quality benchmarks. Close examination of the window that pops up soon after inserting the disc reveals its two main features: Web Link, and Install A Knights Tale Screensaver. The site that you are directed to after clicking the Web Link button is Sony's official A Knights Tale Web page, where you can find information on the rules and history of jousting, as well as information relating to the film. Clicking the Screensaver button will install the very impressive Knights Tale screensaver, which was created by WildTangent. Once the screensaver is installed, you have to click settings and choose the Knights Tale item on the left to load the actual screensaver. Even though the DVD does not include InterActual features, you can view the film using the InterActual player if it is the only DVD viewer you have installed on your computer. I was very disappointed to not find any actual jousting games included for DVD-ROM users, but the fully 3D screensaver was barely enough to get that rating machine rolling up to Mediocre.