WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

‘Breaker’ Morant
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 27 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson, John Waters, Bryan Brown, Charles Tingwell, Terence Donovan, Chris Hayward, Vincent Ball, Lewis Fitz-Gerald & Rod Mullinar

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 2
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Criterion Collection
(Catalog Number): CC1506L
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $49.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 107
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1980
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Bruce Beresford
(Screenplay/Written By): Jonathan Hardy, David Stevens & Bruce Beresford
(Story): NA
(Music): Phil Cuneen
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): David Copping
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Anna Senior
(Editor): William Anderson
(Supervising Sound Editors): NA
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Matthew Carroll

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.82:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Adapted from the play by Kenneth Ross, ‘Breaker’ Morant is a classic military drama about a true controversial incident in Australian history. Tautly directed by Oscar®-nominated writer/director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Tender Mercies), the film tells of three Australian soldiers (dedicated performances by Woodward, Brown and Fitz-Gerald), who are brought to trial for executing Boer prisoners during the Boer War (1899-1902). This intelligent, thrilling drama will surely please fans of A Few Good Men.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.82:1 picture is generally wanting in sharpness and detail. Color fidelity is natural, but dated with fleshtone inconsistencies, warm colors and deep blacks. Sometimes colors seem a bit undersaturated. Shadow detail and contrast is good. Slight noise is sometimes apparent with minor artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is undistinguished and distorted monaural.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(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: