WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

First Knight
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 18 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Sean Connery, Richard Gere, Julia Ormond, Ben Cross, Liam Cunningham

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 3
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 71176
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $44.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 133
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1995
(LD Release Date): 1/1/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Jerry Zucker
(Screenplay/Written By): William Nicholson
(Story): Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton & William Nicholson
(Music): Jerry Goldsmith
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): John Box
(Visual Effects): Available Light Limited & D-REZ
(Costume Designer): Nana Cecchi
(Editor): Walter Murch, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors): John Morris
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Gil Netter, Eric Rattray & Janet Zucker
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Jerry Zucker & Hunt Lowry

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): SDDS (8) Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
This romantic version of legendary Camelot stars Gere as the skilled swordsman Lancelot and Ormond as Lady Guinevere—the betrothed queen to King Arthur (Connery). Lancelot is portrayed as a fearless drifter who rescues Lady Guinevere during a chance encounter and instantly falls in love with her. The King honors Lancelot’s valiancy and loyalty by making him one of the Knights of the Round Table. But King Arthur discovers her secret love for Lancelot and accuses her of betrayal, forcing Guinevere to decide whom she truly loves.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.85:1 picture was transferred under THX® quality assured supervision. The imagery appears overall soft and unfocused, but fleshtones are always natural and the colors are vivid with deep blacks. Some slight noise is apparent, but there are no artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The dialogue is reliant on ADR and the sound is wanting in fidelity and resolution. The music score provides the subtle surround ambience.
(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: