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    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    Dances With Wolves


    MGM / Special Edition
    Genre: Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 74 (July 2003) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene & Rodney A. Grant

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 4
    DD Sound Rating: 4
    DTS Sound Rating: NA
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: 4.5
    Internet Links
    http://www.mgm.com/dvd
    Special Features
    The expanded 236-minute film is spread over both sides of Disc One. Two audio commentary tracks are included along with the feature: (1) cinematographer Dean Semler and editor Neil Travis, (2) director-star Kevin Costner and producer Jim Wilson. The B side (which is mislabeled as "Special Features" - MGM: did you forget that the second half of the movie is also included on Side B?) adds the 1990 featurette The Making Of Dances With Wolves and a music video of a surprisingly good (or at least interesting) pop version of John Barry's Dances With Wolves theme. Disc Two is filled with a trailer, TV spots, a poster gallery, and a nicely done nine-minute photo montage of Ben Glass's still photography from the production which includes a photographer introduction. Also included is what is perhaps the highlight supplement of the package: J.M. Kenny's 81-minute retrospective documentary Dances With Wolves: The Creation Of An Epic.


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): MGM Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): 1003949
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Rating Reason):

    		 NA
    (Retail Price): $29.98
    (DVD Type): Two-disc set: DVD-18/DVD-5
    (Widescreen Edition): Yes
    (Full Screen Edition): No
    (Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
    (Running Time In Minutes): 236
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Regional Coding): 1
    (Theatrical Year): 1990
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 05/20/03
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): Kevin Costner
    (Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
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    (Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
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    (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!
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    (Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Sound Information

    (DVD Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
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      WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Winner of seven Academy Awards

    DVD Picture:
    With a noticeably more vivid color palette, this new anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 DVD exhibits quite an impressive picture, even when compared to the visuallly appealing previously released DVDs. While color fidelity was very nicely rendered on the previous editions, the sky appears bluer, fleshtones more sunkissed, and blacks slightly deeper. For example, when the skinned herd of buffalo is discovered, the spilled blood is a more gruesome shade of red. A direct comparison of a close-up shot of thick, freshly spilled blood puddled in the grass (1:49:01 on the Special Edition, 1.23:01 on the previous) offers a natural separation of color between the blood and the grass, while the entire shot is nearly awash in red on the previous editions. Shots of the stunned natives who arrive at the scene are crisp and clean, while appearing somewhat hazy on the previous editions. Edge enhancement is apparent, but not quite as bothersome and

    Soundtrack:
    The Dolby

    This Disc Contains The Following WSR-Rated Superb Qualities:
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