WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Footloose
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 13 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, Dianne Wiest, John Lithgow.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 2.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Paramount Home Video
(Catalog Number): LV 1589WS
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $$39.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 107
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1984
(LD Release Date): 12/1/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Herbert Ross
(Screenplay/Written By): Dean Pitchford
(Story): NA
(Music): NA
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): NA
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Paul Hirsch
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Daniel Melnick
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Lewis J. Rachmil & Craig Zadan

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Footloose is the spirited story of youthful exuberance against the rigid morality of a Midwestern farm town. Ren McCormick (Kevin Bacon) has moved from the big city and finds himself in an uptight town where music has been banned. Ren rebels against the ordinance and with a group of friends, Willard (Chris Penn) and the minister’s daughter ( Lori Singer) they fight for the right to have a senior prom, and transform a barn into a dance hall. With some wonderful dancing and a great music score the movie jumps with joy.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture is matted at 1.85:1. The picture is marred by a blurriness and lack of definition in some scenes and excessively filtered interior scenes. Colors are vivid and natural looking with good contrast, but poor shadow detail. There are artifacts and some apparent noise throughout. This film needs a lot more work before it can rival the better presentations.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby Surround® soundtrack has subtle surround envelopment with a terrific music score. For the most part the surrounds are abandoned for a mono presence. Fidelity and dynamic bass extension is wanting as the sound recording is dated.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: