WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Angels and Insects
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 23 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patsy Kensit, Jeremy Kemp, Douglas Henshall & Annette Badland

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Evergreen
(Catalog Number): ID3313HL
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 117
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1995
(LD Release Date): 7/9/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Philip Haas
(Screenplay/Written By): Belinda Haas & Philip Haas
(Story): NA
(Music): Alexander Balanescu
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Jennifer Kernke
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Belinda Haas
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Lindsay Law
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Joyce Herlihy & Belinda Haas

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): Dolby Stereo SR
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on A.S. Byatt’s novella Morpho Eugenia, Angels And Insects is a mesmerizing and beautifully filmed journey of working class biologist, William Adamson (Mark Rylance). He takes up residence at the aristocratic Alabaster family’s estate, schooling the young children and niece Matty (Kristin Scott Thomas) while falling deeply in love with his benefactor’s beautiful daughter, Eugenia (Patsy Kensit). When she agrees to marry Adamson, he is unaware that such a marriage will cause jealousy and intimidation, stemming from his lack of breeding and wealth. But Adamson soon learns the horrifying secret behind the Alabaster family— a secret beyond any husband’s darkest fears.

LaserDisc Picture:
The matted 1.85:1 picture is overly bright in some scenes, exhibiting generally natural fleshtones and somewhat oversaturated colors. The picture is sharp and detailed with the slightest noise and artifacts throughout.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is conventionally produced with subtle surround envelopment provided by the softly textured orchestral score and subdued ambiant effects. Occasionally, the surround presence has a more aggressive character. Dialogue is ADR-produced and sounds “manufactured” with poor spatial integration, sounding only slightly better in interiors.
(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: