I wasn't able to determine the average bitrate as the information is not on
this release, but geometry-reservations aside, the compression was handled
well and the film is presented in its original widescreen ratio of 1.85:1,
not the slightly less-wide 16:9 as quoted on the back cover.
The sound quality is perfect though with crisp and clear dialogue and what
it lacks in a speaker-workout that the explosions from an action film would
deliver, it makes up with a gorgeous score from Mark Knopfler which
sounds like the sort he could write in his sleep but is none-the-less
impressive.
The film is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, again a feature only shared by
Boogie Nights,
from EiV's first batch of releases, which downmixes to Dolby ProLogic if you
do not have the requisite DD5.1 equipment.
Extras :
Chapters :
There are 19 chapters to choose from during the 92 minutes of the film which
cover each of the major scenes in the film, but a few more wouldn't go amiss.
Note that on the chapter selection screen - and index inside the case - it's
one out. Chapter 1 is the New Line logo plus the opening statement on how the
film got its name, so when the selection allows a choice of 1 to 18, it's
actually 2-19. A theatrical trailer is also included in 4:3 pan-and-scan.
Languages & Subtitles :
The language and subtitles are in English only, the former coming in Dolby
Digital 5.1. I found to select the subtitles if you're not watching the film
from the beginning, you have no choice but to do this and find your place
again since putting the DVD in and selecting your favourite scene will result
in a text-less picture.
Other extras :
Director's commentary: This is a feature-length stereo commentary by
director Levinson with Dustin Hoffman giving their insights on the making of
the film.
Featurette: From Washington To Hollywood: A 25-minute 'making of'
about the film including chat from several principal crew members.
Biographies and Filmographies: These are given for Hoffman,
De Niro, Anne Heche, director Levinson and screenwriter David
Mamet, but as you'll find out in a minute William H. Macy's face
is shown while Mamet's info scrolls up. Why though?
Interviews: These are brief chats with most of the above, except
for Mamet whose 'interview' slot is replaced with William H. Macy talking
for little more than 30 seconds about his cameo and nothing to do with Mamet,
but perhaps they left the caption there as he was sat in the same chair for...
Macy About Mamet: Six minutes of comments from one man about
another.
B-Roll: An interesting selection from the daily rushes (footage shot
during the film including different takes on some scenes), lasting for 10
minutes.
Production Notes: Pages of information about the background to the
film.
Menu :
The menu system is very nice indeed. As well as being easy to navigate, each
page has selections from the movie soundtrack and some are animated including
the main menu and the scene selections.
On inserting the disc, you see the copyright info, the Entertainment In Video
logo and finally the New Line Cinema logo before the menu appears.
Clicking on "Play Movie" brings up the New Line Cinema logo again before the
film starts.
Overall, out of Entertainment In Video's first wave of DVD releases, this one
is the best of the bunch. It's a very good film albeit with a slow patch during
the middle half-hour and the DVD has an anamorphic widescreen transfer, even if
it does have one aforementioned problem, as well as all the extras of its
American counterpart - something else that most UK DVDs tend to miss out on.
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
