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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Fame

    Featured In Issue 148, May/June 2010

    Picture3.5
    SoundNR
    WSR Score4
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number):
    3000023166
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $28.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    133
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    Not Indicated
    (Theatrical Year):
    1980
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    01/26/10
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Alan Parker
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby TrueHD 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Winner of two Academy Awards®, "Fame" follows the aspirations, struggles, and successes of a group of teens accepted to attend New York's High School of Performing Arts. Inspired by the TV series that followed.


    Special features include commentary by Director Alan Parker, the featurettes "On Location With 'Fame'" (SD 11:56) and a "Fame Field Trip" (SD 10:59), interviews with the cast and crew, and the theatrical trailer. Also included is a four-song soundtrack sampler compact disc.

    The 1080p 1.78:1 VC-1 picture, as with the previously reviewed 1.78:1 DVD in Issue 74, exhibits a picture that has some dated characteristics but is quite solid and smooth, as well as dimensional. While images can have a slightly soft appearance, at times, details and definition are nicely rendered with an overall sharper picture compaed to the DVD. Colors are well balanced, with an understated appearance, though pleasing. Fleshtones, at times, appear slightly brownish, but blacks are generally deep. The source element is quite clean, with no signs of excessive dirt or film grain. Thisi is a quite pleaseing picture that is sure to please fans of the film. (Gary Reber/Suzanne Hodges)

    The Dolby® TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack sounds more refined, compared to the DVD's Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, which had been remastered. Still, the soundtack is stereo for the most part, but at times the music delivers a quite spacious, enveloping presence. Apparently, the original stereo recordings for the music were used for this sonic repurposing. Otherwise, the vintage recording's dated fidelity shines through. The dimensional presence of atmospheric effects is substantially reserved. The use of the spatial soundstage for the music also varies, from full 5.1-channel presence to a balance toward the screen channels. Occasionally, deep bass is noticed, a result of the remastering, with some LFE channel activity. (Gary Reber/Perry Sun)

    Reason #58 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    I read WSR to keep current with the latest A/V gear and technology, gain greater understanding of what's relevant to having a great home theatre, and filter out what's not. Learning that there are levels of quality product (not just bound by price), and once quality is established, it's more about how sight and sound appeal to individual taste.

    Robert Bradshaw
    26864 Mandelieu Drive, Murrieta, CA 92562 • Phone: 951 676 4914 • Fax: 951 693 2960
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