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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Hamlet
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 26 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Kenneth Branagh, Julie Christie, Billy Crystal, Gerard Depardieu, Charlton Heston, Derek Jacobi, Jack Lemmon, Rufus Sewell, Robin Williams & Kate Winslet

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 5
    Sound Rating: 3.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 94996
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Retail Price): $69.99
    (Running Time In Minutes): 242
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1997
    (LD Release Date):
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Kenneth Branagh
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
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    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): SDDS & 70mm 6 Track Dolby
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital):
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Kenneth Branagh fulfilled a lifelong dream when he starred in the title role and brought the entire text of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet to the screen. Featuring an all-star cast including Charlton Heston, Julie Christie, Robin Williams and Jack Lemmon, this intoxicating tragedy earned four Oscar® nominations.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    Seemingly, no other LaserDisc touches the beauty of this one. The picture quality is exemplary. Images are sharp and detailed with perfectly natural fleshtones, vibrant colors and deep, solid blacks with extraordinary definition. Shadow detail is superb with no noise or artifacts to distract. The 65mm Panavision® Scope Super 70 aspect ratio is perfectly framed at 2.35:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack is an excellent production with a sweeping music score and natural sounding dialogue, but fidelity sounds a bit veiled and often wanting in warmth and dynamic presence. Surround is both subtle and effectively aggressive in some scenes. Overall, the soundtrack is a disappointment considering this was an epic 65/70mm theatrical production.
    (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: