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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Exorcist, The
    Genre:Horror

    Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Jason Miller & Linda Blair

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

    Supplementals
    Special features on both include a BBC documentary, audio commentary and introduction by William Friedkin.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 16176
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 122
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1973
    (LD Release Date): 10/98
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): William Friedkin
    (Screenplay/Written By): William Peter Blatty
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Krzysztof Penderecki
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Bill Malley
    (Visual Effects): NA
    (Costume Designer): Joe Fretwell
    (Editor): Evan Lottman
    (Supervising Sound Editors): NA
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Noel Marshall
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): William Peter Blatty

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.78:1

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    A tale of possession that shocked millions, The Exorcist won Academy Awards® for Best Adapted Screenplay (William Peter Blatty from his own novel) and Best Sound. A desperate mother (Ellen Burstyn) seeks help for her possessed daughter from the doubtful Father Karras (Jason Miller) and a dedicated Jesuit exorcist (Max von Sydow).

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The LaserDisc, while exhibiting slightly dark, brownish colors, is softly focused. Shadow detail and contrast exhibit poor delineation. Background noise and artifacts sometimes distract. The LaserDisc aspect ratio measures 1.78:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack has been remastered and encoded in discrete 5.1 Dolby® Digital. The sound fidelity is extremely harsh and strident throughout. The prominent character is monaural, except for the music score and the occasional sound and dialogue effect. The matrix PCM version is preferred for its greater spatial dimension and subtle surround presence. Bass extension is deep, especially in certain scenes in which the discrete .1 LFE enhancement is engaged.
    (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:
    		 No
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    The anamorphically enhanced special edition DVD appears to be the same transfer as the anamorphically enhanced DVD reviewed in Issue 26. The DVD picture is sometimes natural with vibrant colors and natural fleshtones and other times plugged up with brownish fleshtones and undefined blacks. Images are sometimes extremely sharp and detailed, while other times wanting. The LaserDisc, while exhibiting slightly darker colors, is softly focused by comparison. The DVD’s shadow detail exhibits poor delineation, but when compared to the LaserDisc, is much better defined. Both versions exhibit background noise and artifacts, but the DVD is much more solid and is preferred. The LaserDisc, anamorphic and letterbox DVD aspect ratios measure 1.78:1. The soundtracks on the Special Edition DVD and LaserDisc have been remastered and encoded in discrete 5.1 Dolby® Digital. The sound fidelity is, as on the previous DVD, extremely harsh and strident throughout. The prominent character is monaural, except for the music score and the occasional sound and dialogue effect. The matrix PCM version is preferred for its greater spatial dimension and subtle surround presence. Bass extension is deep, especially in certain scenes in which the discrete .1 LFE enhancement is engaged.