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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Titanic
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 29 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill, Jonathan Hyde, Danny Nucci, Gloria Stuart, David Warner, Victor Garber, Bill Paxton

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

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Paramount Home Video
    (Catalog Number): LV334812-WS
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Retail Price): $49.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 194
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1997
    (LD Release Date): 4/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): Yes

    Credits Information
    (Director): James Cameron
    (Screenplay/Written By): James Cameron
    (Story): NA
    (Music): James Horner
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Peter Lamont
    (Visual Effects): Digital Domain
    (Costume Designer): Deborah L. Scott
    (Editor): Conrad Buff, ACE, James Cameron & Richard A. Harris
    (Supervising Sound Editors): Tom Bellfort
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Rae Sanchini
    (Co-Producers): Al Giddings, Grant Hill & Sharon Mann
    (Producers): James Cameron & Jon Landau

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Super 35
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.25:1

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    No other film can rival the epic spectacle and breathtaking grandeur of James Cameron’s Titanic. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are the star-crossed lovers who find themselves fighting for survival on the doomed luxury liner. The highest-grossing motion picture of all time, Titanic won eleven Oscars® including Best Picture and Best Director.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    This is the “director’s cut” in that every detail of telecine and sound mastering has been scrutinized and supervised by Cameron himself. The picture quality is exemplary, exhibiting accurate color fidelity with perfectly rendered natural fleshtones, richly hued colors and deep, solid blacks with outstanding definition. Contrast and shadow detail are excellent. With images that are sharp and detailed the LaserDisc is a beautifully rendered visual experience that delivers reference picture quality. The aspect ratio is 2.25:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    While the Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 soundtrack delivers enhanced soundfield delineation with aggressive directionalized surrounds, the matrix is just as, if not more, effective in creating a holosonic soundfield experience. The matrix PCM soundtrack is level-consistent, compared to the Dolby Digital which, while maintaining a constant dialogue level, inconsistently varies in dynamic range of the other elements. Deep bass actually is better delineated on the PCM soundtrack, though at times bass in the .1 low frequency effects channel is extremely powerful. The bass energy below 25Hz on both versions is capable of window cracking vibration and effectively heightens the impact of the sinking. The discrete’s directionalized sound effects are impressive. Dialogue sounds natural, though ADR-processing is occasionally wanting in spatial integration. The romantic music score is beautifully recorded with excellent soundstage depth. The differences in sonic character between the soundtracks are not dramatic in every scene without direct comparison, and both soundtrack presentations deliver an emotionally breathtaking experience.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
    (Deep Bass Challenging): Yes
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
    (Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): Yes
    (Directionalized Dialogue): Yes
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    		 Yes
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 Yes
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison: