WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Far And Away
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 01 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Thomas Gibson, Robert Prosky, Barbara Babcock, Colm Meaney, Eileen Pollock, Michelle Johnson, Douglas Gillison, Wayne Grace, Barry McGovern, Niall Town, Rance Howard, Clint Howard & Cyril Cusack

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 5
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MCA/Universal Home Video
(Catalog Number): 41415
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 140
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1992
(LD Release Date): 11/01/92
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Ron Howard
(Screenplay/Written By): Bob Dolman
(Story): Bob Dolman & Ron Howard
(Music): John Williams
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Jack T. Collis & Allan Cameron
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Joanna Johnston
(Editor): Michael Hill & Daniel Hanley
(Supervising Sound Editors): Anthony “Chic” Ciccolini, III
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Todd Hallowell
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Brian Grazer & Ron Howard

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Panavision Super 70
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.20:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.21:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo SR & 70mm 6 Track Dolby
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in this romantic epic about the love story and struggles of Joseph (Cruise), an itinerant farmer, and Shannon (Kidman), his landowner’s feisty daughter who leave the repression of 19th century Ireland for the promise of a better life in America. But there, they find hardships, when Shannon’s assets are stolen and Joseph takes up brutal bare-fisted boxing to earn his living and slowly make his dream come true—finding the perfect property in the Oklahoma Territory land rush.

LaserDisc Picture:
It is one incredibly great-looking movie that has received a great deal of care in the telecine transfer to insure that its looks are as the filmmakers intended. The visual intensity and richness of detail of cinematographer Mikael Salomon is a pure delight framed beautifully in a 2.21:1 widescreen aspect ratio, 70mm’s full frame.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is impeccable. The sound design and production sound mix places you in the scene-to-scene action. You can sense the acoustic space of every scene with one of the best Dolby Surround® presentations ever produced. The surrounds are at aggressive levels, an effect that can be further enhanced to taste to create a sense of stereo directionality in the surround channels. The wonderful Irish-flavored music score of John Williams was recorded by Shawn Murphy, one of the premiere recording engineers known for his meticulous attention to quality, right down to his Monster Cable® microphone runs. The full orchestral scope of the music is punctuated by the unusual sounds of pan flutes and Uilleann pipes.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: